RJ Van Xetten

Origin: None

I see myself as eclectic; I love a lot of music, a lot of genres…most EDM, some non-EDM. I’ve been a musician since I was seven; at that time acoustic guitar was my weapon of choice. Learned to read sheet music, and learned to play by ear, then went on and started to take interest in becoming a D.J. From then on, I wanted to delve deeper into the creation of music so I became a producer. Boring I know not much to tell, but I’ve been around music for many years.

 

Interview

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Home Town: Norwalk, CA
Currently Living: Norwalk, CA
Origin Of Name: The artist Heatbeat gave me this name
Weapon of Choice: My weapon of choice would be two Turntables, two Ortofon, any mixer and any vinyl that has a 4×4 to it
Source of Power: For many years I grew up listening to electronic music. There are so many I cannot name them all, but here’s a few: Heatbeat, Armin Van Buuren, Jordan Waeles & Chris Vinckier (First Effect), Sean Tyas, Simon Patterson, Judge Jules

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 just closed my eyes and listened to each song, as I would mix them and listen to how they would intertwine and marry each other as the 4×4 beats flowed together in harmony.

Are there any dots to connect with where/how you grew up to your musical output?
I’ve been inclined with music since I as little. The music rhythm aspect started around four when I would put different sized pots and pans together to get different tonnages and pitches out of them.

What do your parents think of what you are doing?
They don’t care, aren’t really supportive, and see it as, “If I’m not making money, why am I doing it?”

What makes you shake your head in wonderment about being a DJ and producer?
How many people become your “Friends” as soon as you gain some momentum and how quickly these “Friends” disappear when you need them the most.

What’s the biggest misconception about being a DJ?
We are not button pushers. If you’re going to be a DJ, do it the right way…learn your tools before going digital with Traktor, or virtual DJ. If you think you got what it takes, find a friend with some turntables, and learn on vinyl…if you can mix vinyl you can mix anything. Please for the love music, learn to beat match and learn song phrases. That way your lead-ins and lead-outs sound clean…none of this drop mixing

Tell me about your most memorable night out.
I got to play at freakin’ EDC man; I’d have to say that’s pretty memorable.

Do you have any memorable moments from past EDC’s or any other Insomniac party?
Last year was my first time ever attending and EDC. To say the least it was great except for it getting shut down on Saturday because of high winds.

How does what you do for a living affect you on a day-to-day basis?
I work at a pharmacy every day…music is a hobby for me.

What is your ultimate career dream?
Eventually to start being able to produce music daily, and be able to work for myself independently to support my family.

Are you impulsive with your work or do you have a sketch in mind before you start?
DJing wise, the only sketch I paint in my head is how the crowds will react with each song depending on the size of the event I’m playing at. Producing not too much impulse, I usually draw out what I want from my head and work the magic from there.

How, if at all, does listening to music figure into your creative process?
Ummm I don’t really have any songs that trigger that, but sometimes I’ll hear a melody somewhere, and try to reproduce it, and go from there. The last song that did that to me has to have been Tiesto “I Will Be Here,” that song is amazing. Tiesto please come back to the light and “Just Be” yourself, and take that “Suburban Train” away from the “Lethal Industry.” Please be careful while sitting in “Traffic” that you’re not late for “Flight 643,” and head back to us. Don’t worry because “Love Comes Again” even after “The Love We Lost” has moved on. Please don’t leave us “In the Dark” within the “Silence.”

What’s the most important piece of gear in your studio?
My brain, without that I don’t think anything could be possible.

How important is it for you to experiment and take on the risk of failure?
I loathe failure…loath it, but without failure there isn’t any success…so I need to get over that.

Do you have a list of people you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
Chris Schweizer, Orjan Nilsen, Tom Fall, and of course, Armin Van Buuren. These guys always make soulful, beautiful music that touches the heart.

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?
My love for Bemani series (i.e. Dance Dance Revolution, Beatmania, etc…) songs, lol.

What sound or noise do you love?
Dirty basslines with talking basses. I don’t know why, it’s just something about them.

What should everyone just shut the fuck up about?
Please stop saying “Turnt Up.” It’s “Turned Up.” Improper Grammar is not a fad.

What gets you excited when you think about the future of electronic music and club culture?
That it is now widely accepted by everyone, and don’t look at you as the weird guy that listens to “techno.” You know how it was all once categorized as dance, trance, and techno.

When you look at electronic music and the surrounding culture, what worries you about the future?
All of these new kids that are coming in are going to drop out after the music becomes stagnant…it’s already happening. I would change how networking is done like before…go to clubs, hand out demos, wait for emails, get a test gig so they can see you live…that would be a great way to weed out the DJs that are real, and the people who pre-mix CDs

What are your weaknesses?
Fear of failing…I don’t like failing at all. It scares me into not wanting to produce sometimes or to DJ.

Do you have a secret passion?
I love to draw. I used to draw a lot when I was younger, but I don’t have time now that I have a family and work all the time.

How would you describe your sound to a deaf person?
I would tell them to put their heads on the speaker so that they can feel it deep within their body to move them, and make them feel every soundwave.

Is success physical or internal?
I think it’s a little bit of physical, and internal. You have to physically go and get it, and you have to internally (soulfully) believe in yourself. Success is what you make of it, and whether you’re making $1000’s of dollars on a daily basis or playing for free, it can mean something different for everyone. To me success is getting my music out for everyone to hear, to dance to, to vibe to, to enjoy as it brings us all together in unison.

What do you remember about your first DJ gig?
I was nervous as all hell, and no one was there, but it was my first gig, and I still hammered it out like a pro and only three months into DJing too! It was 05-03-2003 at a Club called “Good Hurt.” I think it was a fetish club, but it wasn’t really all that during the day.

What’s the hardest professional lesson you’ve learned thus far?
Never erase your online presence; it makes coming back a living nightmare. Your fan base leaves, and it’s hard to get them all back. You basically have to start from scratch. Also stick with two aliases…one for one thing, one for another side project. It keeps you from getting bored of doing the same thing over and over again.

Do you have a favorite all-time mixed CD or series?
Tunnel Trance Force series! OMG, bring back Hands-Up.

What advice would you offer someone thinking about entering the Discovery Project competition?
Just have fun with it, whether you win or lose it’s all about having fun. If you lose sight of that, you will start to hate what you’re doing and eventually quit, because things aren’t working out the way you envision them.

Winning Track:

 

 

Winning Mix:

 

 

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