DJ Denise
Origin: None
DJ Denise is no stranger to electronic music. She first cut her teeth in the San Francisco underground scene in the late-1990s. A natural talent behind the decks, she was instantly recognized for both her technical abilities and unique energy. Her nonchalant fader flicks and mixer tricks combined with seemingly effortless beatmatching skills were intriguing to many trainspotting fans. Word of her success spread quickly and soon she was being booked for gigs spanning the San Francisco Bay Area and across North America and Hawaii. In the early 2000s she worked as a vinyl buyer for Skills DJ Workshop, which has evolved into one of the most successful EDM production companies on the West Coast.
In 2004, eager to develop as an artist, Denise began engineering her own music. She launched a vinyl record label in 2006 named Mizumo Music, and within the first year, Mizumo had established itself as a quality brand for house music. Always one step ahead, Denise transitioned the label from vinyl to digital format in order to keep up with the ever-changing technology in the industry. This Bay Area homegrown label currently boasts over 150 releases from local and international artists including Donald Glaude, Angel Alanis, Calvertron, Stupid Fresh, Mike Balance, SpekrFreks, The Sloppy 5th’s, Robert Ortiz and many more. Mizumo Music has naturally also become a home for many of Denise’s original productions, remixes and collaborations. It is evident that her talents in the studio successfully equate to her ability for moving dance floors.
In addition to managing Mizumo Music, Denise has steadily refined her production and engineering skills and has releases on over 50 international labels including but not limited to: Cubic (UK), A-Squared Muzik (US), CRUX (US), Clubstream (Sweden), Champion Beats (Canada), and Sequential Sounds (Australia). DJ Denise’s music has been selected by well-respected and top EDM artists including DJ Shortee, Simply Jeff, and SOS (from the British super-club Ministry of Sound), who have all licensed songs for mix compilations. In an original collaboration with the legendary DRC, “Sassy Frass” was selected for release on Epiphyte Record’s “LovEvolution,” the official 2009 CD for San Francisco’s street festival modeled after Germany’s famous Love Parade.
At present, you will find Denise delicately balancing her time between DJ bookings, the production studio, and managing the Mizumo Music label. She continues to perform in venues – both intimate and massive – in the San Francisco EDM community, as well as at major festivals such as Burning Man (Nevada desert).
//
One fateful day in the summer of 1998 I was taught on a complete whim how to DJ. That day marks the beginning of the rest of my life, as I cannot envision my life without music, whether it be through DJing, producing, live performance, or any other avenue I have yet to discover. I think I was put here on this planet to make people happy, and 15 years later I can honestly say I think I’ve been doing just that. However, I feel like the best has yet to come, so please, keep on listening…
Interview
Home Town: Mountain View, CA
Currently Living: Oakland, CA
Origin Of Name: I used to go by “DJ D” when I first started, I liked the simple palindrome of it. But as I delved deeper into the music industry, I realized there were a thousand other DJ Ds in this world, and one in particular from the UK who was already releasing vinyl. Knowing that I eventually would want to release my own music, I decided to switch over to just my real name—nice and simple, à la DJ Dan. So far, I haven’t found any other DJ Denises out there, so I think the name change was wise.
Weapon of Choice: My brain
Source of Power: Coffee, electricity and the world around me
Are there any dots to connect with where/how you grew up to your musical output?
I grew up playing musical instruments, so I think that really laidout the foundation for DJing. From the song flute in 3rd grade, to flute, to French horn, and finally trombone through 1 year of marching band (my freshman year of high school). Remember that one time in band camp? Well yeah—I actually went to band camp. Granted, I didn’t stick flutes up my…oh nevermind!
What do your parents think of what you are doing?
Ah, my parents aren’t too stoked on my DJing, my mother especially. She worries that it’s dangerous because I stay out late at night and sometimes I go to gigs by myself. She also worries that it’s taking away from what we’re “supposed” to do in life (get a job, get married, have kids, buy a house, etc). However, both my parents have been to a couple of my gigs and have shown some support. My tiny little Asian mom looked a little out of place. She had huge fluorescent orange earplugs sticking out of her ears and was sitting there behind the DJ booth with her other little old Asian friend. A candy raver friend of mine was being hospitable and gave them each a candy bracelet. On another occasion, my dad didn’t know how to dance to the “techno” music so he just stood near the DJ booth and jumped up and down for my entire set. It was kinda cute, I guess!
What’s the strangest part of your job? What makes you shake your head in wonderment about being a DJ and producer?
Well, not necessarily the strangest part of the job, but really one of the most interesting aspects is meeting all the different people in our strange and unique community of EDM lovers. From the Japanese tourists to the thizzed-out kiddie ravers, to the middle age business professionals—we really are a diverse group of people! I always love meeting new and interesting characters.
What’s the biggest misconception about being a DJ?
When I talk to people who don’t have a clue how DJing works, I find it endearing that most of them think we’re up there doing some crazy real-time mixing of separate elements of a song, like mixing a kick drum with an acapella or something like that. Or they think we can remix a song on the fly using some magical powers. I guess with technology today and a little bit of preparation, we can do that…but not in the traditional “2 turntables and a mixer” sort of way.
What is your ultimate career dream?
I’d like to have a consistent (not necessarily frequent… just stable) DJ tour schedule across the globe. I love traveling to places I’ve never been, and being able to DJ there at the same time is ideal!
Are you impulsive with your work or do you have a sketch in mind before you start?
For the studio: It really depends on what project I’m working on. If it’s a remix, then of course you already have a sample pack and the original mix to base your ideas off of. I try to use just a few key samples from the original track and make up my own sounds to give the remix a unique flavor. If I’m working on an original, then yeah I guess you could say that’s impulsive. I usually just start with a small 8- or 16-bar loop, develop the hell out of it, and then expand from there.
For DJing: I’m completely impulsive! I think for my first five to 10 DJ gigs back in 1998-1999 I planned out my set, right down to the point where I’d drop in the next song! But once I became comfortable I realized that planning out your DJ sets is not the best way to cater to a crowd. So in the vinyl days I’d bring my crate of 50-100 records and just wing it. Now that I play CDs I do a similar thing—I bring a CD book, have my CDs organized by genre and key, open up my CD book about five minutes before my set time, and go from there.
Do you have a list of people you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
The cool thing about the interwebz is it has become very easy to collaborate with people who don’t live in your geographical vicinity. For example, the original song I submitted for the Discovery Project was a collaboration between an Australian artist, Riggers, and myself. He had an unfinished project, emailed me the stems and I finished it. Easy peasy! I have future collaborative plans with Incredible Melting Man (Canada) and The Sloppy 5th’s (Miami, USA). I’m always open to collaborating with new people, so long as they can hold their own in the studio and have a creative and like-minded vision.
What sound or noise do you love?
White noise! Chhhhhhhhhhhhhh! And of course sidechained saw bass.
What should everyone just shut the fuck up about?
The whole “vinyl vs. digital” battle really needs to die. And also people arguing about what DJ gear/software is better. Leave everyone alone and worry about your own shit. I must admit that I am a little nostalgic for the vinyl days because these arguments didn’t exist. It was just you, your record crate, two Technics and a mixer. The only thing you could argue about was the DJ’s skills. It was an equal battleground.
Do you have a secret passion?
Bread and cheese…although for those close to me, this is not a secret.
How would you describe your sound to a deaf person?
I’d probably just dance around like a maniac and try get them to join me.
Tell me about your most memorable night out.
I’ve had some pretty memorable nights out as a DJ. As much as I like playing for crowds of all shapes and sizes, I must admit some of my favorite gigs have been for the large (1,000+) crowds. Massive 10,000+ events were a regular thing in the San Francisco area in the 1990s-early 2000s, and I had the pleasure of playing after Christopher Lawrence in a humongous tent that held 5,000 people (Coolworld’s “Spring,” 2000), and another time I had the honor of opening up for Donald Glaude in a tent that easily held a few thousand people (Moonshine Over America 2000). Good times!
What advice would you offer someone thinking about entering the Discovery Project competition?
Go for it! What have you got to lose (aside from perhaps a small blow to your ego)? If you think you have skills and you have the time, definitely give it a go. The reason why I entered the competition is because I’ve never played at EDC, so if I enter the competition and lose…I’m still in the same position as I was before! No harm done.
Winning Mix:
Winning Track:
Share
You might also like
