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Deformaty

Origin: None

Since 1998, Deformaty has been an unrelenting, and powerful force in the Electronic Dance Music community. His music is often powerful and emotional, riddled with massive drops, huge builds, dirty basslines, and dreamy pads. People have been known to be overwhelmed to tears during some of his sets. He began to DJ in the Psytrance scene in Portland, playing Psychill, Downtempo, Lounge and Ambient, but his true passion lied in heavy energy genres, like Psytrance, DNB, Techno, and House. His skill as a DJ is impressive alone, often flashing some turntablism a midst smooth, flawless mixing, seemingly effortlessly on vinyl and digital medias. He has had a lifetime love and background with music, playing guitar and bass in Punk and Jazz bands, so EDM production came naturally to him, and eventually became a very versatile producer, pumping out quality Techno, House, Breaks, Dubstep, Trance, and DNB. He officially began releasing tracks in 2005, with 5 EPs released with the net label, Manifest NW, and a 3 track EP released in early 2012 with Sanex Music and Eastar Records, and now has killer releases with V.I.M. Records, Kick It Recordings, and many more. This DJ/Producer has made the industry his life, he lives, and breathes Electronic Dance Music.

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I see music as a gateway. A portal, if you will, into the human soul and mind. It can unlock emotions, memories, thoughts, and dreams, often without any need for words or direction. How can one note change one’s mood; these complex, invisible vibrations moving through the air, moving through us, and changing us in ways that we don’t fully understand? Why does the human brain light up like a Christmas tree when exposed to music, much like it does when exposed to LSD, or while dreaming? From an early age I saw the value and felt the raw power of music-my emotions always seemingly at its mercy. I had always wanted to make music. I would play my grandmother’s piano, just by ear, imitating whatever song I heard on the radio with surprising accuracy. As I aged a bit, I started playing guitar, bass, drums and keyboard. Anything I could really get my hands on. Then it was trying to record. I was big on recording everything I did whether it was a song I had written, or just some funky idea. I still have many of those hissy, old ass tapes. To me, music is a loyal friend, though tough times, through great times and will always be so.

 

Interview


Home Town: Portland, OR
Currently Living: In Portland—I love this town
Origin Of Name: My name was given to me, and I think the point was that the music I played at the time was really obscure. Deformed music.
Weapon of Choice: Breakbeat and house music. I do like shooting guns, though: 308, M-4, AK-47 and the 911 tactical series.
Source of Power: I grew up with John Digweed, Dieselboy, Dara, Oakenfold, Frankie Bones, and such, but before that I listened primarily to Deftones, Tool and Alice in Chains. They, along with classical music and some jazz really inspired me to make music, and I think a lot of my music shows those influences. These days, however, I am really digging Access Denied, Aggressiveness, Far Too Loud, Kill The Noise…those are some dope ass producers.

Was there one particular moment in the recording or mixing process for your Discovery Project entry that made you feel like you were creating something pretty damn special?
I think at some point I realized that this remix was kicking some serious ass, but not really more so than some others I was doing at the time. I was really just doing it for fun, but the original vocals had so much power, the rest of the track just came together naturally.

Are there any dots to connect with where/how you grew up to your musical output?
I would say so. I started going to EDM shows at an early age, but before even then, I always loved music; I always wanted to be a musician. Any support and influence I received along the way, and the sacrifices and suffering that comes with mastering any craft, certainly shaped the kind of musician I am today.

What do your parents think of what you are doing?
My parents are super supportive. My mother and father both really enjoy my music. I think it would be a curious sight to see an older woman driving down the road bumping some tear-out breaks, but my mom does, and it’s awesome.

Anything about being a DJ and producer that makes you shake your head in wonderment?
I think the thing that gets me the most is how a lot of other musicians in this field treat the music and the community. Many are in it for the wrong reasons. The craft of DJing, itself, has undergone a transformation. From vinyl to CD to controller…but the digital vs. analog debate isn’t something I really want to dive into at the moment.

What’s the biggest misconception about being a DJ?
Many people have the idea that being a DJ is hyper glamorous, or that we live this drug fueled, sexually charged, alcohol drowned lifestyle, free of worry or responsibility. I can’t speak for everyone, but for me personally, DJing is hard work, not to mention producing. That’s a whole other world of stress, yet also equally rewarding, as is DJing. I’m not rich from being a musician, at least, not monetarily.

How does what you do for a living affect you on a day-to-day basis?
My friends are definitely all involved in the scene. I have been doing this for 15 years now, so my life has been fully encompassed by EDM and its community. I have literally been engrained by it, and it by me, as I have definitely left a mark—be it a skid mark or whatever, it’s there.

What is your ultimate career dream?
My dream career other than being a musician, of course, (which I am doing currently) is and has always been to be a scientist. I am currently going to school for marine biology.

Are you impulsive with your work or do you have a sketch in mind before you start?
I definitely know what I want a song to sound like when I begin the process, but the path I take to get there is up to chance, and the result is often not what I had planned, but I am usually satisfied regardless.

How, if at all, does listening to music figure into your creative process?
Damn, to be honest, inspiration comes to me from everywhere. No one artist or song really gets me in the mood to write, but it’s usually more of a collage of creative input that I collect prior to my scheduled studio days that ends up on in the track. I do hear a lot of crazy cool ideas that sometimes make their way into my music, but in general, it all comes from my experiences and emotions at the time.

What’s the most important piece of gear in your studio?
Tough question…I would say the computer is the obvious answer, but all of my gear works together to get the job done. The PC, monitors and keyboard are all pretty important.

How important is it for you to experiment and take on the risk of failure?
Very. The best music comes from chance and accidents. To fail is to rise and try again.

Do you have a list of people you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
I would love to work with Access Denied, or Kill The Noise, but you know… I really just enjoy working with anyone who is skilled and creative enough to write dope tunes.

If we pressed Shuffle on your iPod while you went to the bathroom, what would you be embarrassed to come back to us listening to?
Hell if I know. I only listen to awesomeness.

What sound or noise do you love?
I love nasty saws and neuro bass right now, but I always dig a thick synth or pad. Yum.

What should everyone just shut the fuck up about?
Trap. Seriously, screw trap in the mouth.

What gets you excited when you think about the future of electronic music and club culture?
I get excited about where music is headed in general. I don’t think people could even fathom what our music today would have been from, say, 20 years ago.

When you look at electronic music and the surrounding culture, what worries you about the future, what do you wish would change or that you could change?
I just wish the culture would drop this douche heavy bro-ness that it’s taken on. There are a lot more assholes in the club these days, it seems.

What are your weaknesses?
My weaknesses are food and love.

Do you have a secret passion?
Yup.

How would you describe your sound to a deaf person?
I have some deaf fans and they describe it in intriguing ways, like feeling shapes. I can’t even imagine what it’s like.

Is success physical or internal?
Depends on what the success is, but I would say, in most cases, it takes both. To be successful, in my opinion, is to be happy with what you’re doing.

What do you remember about your first DJ gig?
I remember I was scared to death. I was so nervous I could hardly even place the needle on the record. I remember it was this dope outdoor festival and I felt really pressured to perform well, so when I actually got on stage, I think I remember thinking I might actually die from stage fright, but I did play, and it was a good set, and in time that fear was eliminated.

What’s the hardest professional lesson you’ve learned thus far?
The hardest lesson is definitely to never ever give up on your dream. Not ever.

Tell me about your most memorable night out as an artist or as a fan.
I can’t. There are too many. Playing Beyond Wonderland was pretty incredible though. I will never forget that.

What advice would you offer someone thinking about entering the Discovery Project competition?
Believe in your music. Believe in yourself.

Winning Track:

 

Winning Mix:

 
 

 


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