When it comes to prime DJing gigs, one of the best would
have to be playing alongside those partying and dancing rock stars, LMFAO.
You’d get to travel around the world, meet celebrities, play on TV, etc.
The tough part would be to not let it go to your head and get carried away with
the partying leaving the aspirations you had when you started far behind.
Earlier this week I got the chance to talk with DJ Dainjazone, who actually is
the DJ for LMFAO and found out the position doesn’t go to your head and you
don’t lose yourself if the music remains in your heart.
MCB: What was the first record you bought with your own
money?
Dainjazone: It was a record by Caution called “What
You Want to Do?” I believe that was on Ice Cube’s Lynch Mob label. I bought
that off ebay and it was a big west coast hip hop hit. I wasn’t thinking about
DJing yet I just wanted that record.
MCB: Did you start out on turntables?
Dainjazone: I was so big on hip hop I wanted to represent
one of the elements and DJing was what I could do. I started off on CDJs then
turntables which I thought was more true to hip hop. But now it’s all lap tops
or a USB stick into the CDJ.
MCB: What do you think separates you as a DJ?
Dainjazone: Well, I don’t like to compare myself to other
DJs, I’ll leave that up to critics and other people writing the checks. I just
focus on myself and try and stay ahead of the curve by coming up with new
ideas. It’s easy to get swallowed up in the touring life, just put your gear in
neutral and coast. It’s challenging to stay on top of music and see what’s
going to be the next thing or maybe even create what the next sound is going to
be. I take what I do seriously. Every time I come home I try and create
something new and have a new DJ set. I like the challenge.
MCB: What’s your life like today compared to 5 years ago?
Dainjazone: 5 years ago I was running around party gigs
trying to get bigger gigs and private events in Universal Studios Citywalk. It
was nothing to take home but it was a nice check when I did it. I was every bit
about setting up equipment, breaking it all down into the wee hours of the
night. I was doing everything that I could to DJ and earn some money.
MCB: What got you to that next level?
Dainjazone – It was a lot of little things. If you do
anything successfully, you build by making relationships and over time this
person you meet knows that person and so on. It all came to fruition and
contributed to getting me to where I’m at right now.
MCB: And that was working with LMFAO?
Dainjazone: Well I was on my way before that. I was playing
clubs around the US. Getting the gig with LMFAO was like Supermario getting a
super mushroom, it just took me to another level. It cranked things up a couple
notches and I haven't turned it down since.
MCB: How many shows do you think you played in 2012?
Dainjazone: Well, I’ve been working the last 7-8 months,
about 3-4 shows a week, so let’s say close to 80 shows. We didn’t do any shows
in September, but we did the Party Rock Takeover shows. We played North America,
Europe, Asia, and Russia. South America might be the only continent we
didn’t hit.
MCB: How do you survive the constant hotel and living on the
bus?
Dainjazone: You learn to adapt. We spent some time off the
tour bus which was nice. Even though there is a bed on the tour bus, it’s nice
to get off and be in a regular bed. I don’t mind the different hotels at all.
There’s some excitement to a new hotel and seeing your new surroundings for the
next day.
MCB: Tell me about working with LMFAO…
Dainjazone: I knew they were party guys, they were known
around LA always playing somewhere. You got used to seeing them around. I got
to know them before I started playing with them. What struck me was how
musically intelligent they are. It blows me away how they put their work
together. But, they are as much party animals today as they were the first day
I met them.
When I first went out with LMFAO we did club songs, like “I’m in
Miami Bitch” they came up making money in the clubs. Then when they put out
“Party Rock Anthem,” it just became so universal, from old women to kids,
everyone loved it. It spoke to everybody and broke the barriers. “Sexy and I
Know It” was genius and silly, because everyone knew not to take it serious.
The fan base is incredible.
MCB : Any crazy stories to share?
Dainjazone: It just amazes me how much they go out of their
way to dress the part, look like the crew and be a party rock soldier. Some of
the things the buy and wear, and some don’t even come from Party Rock
Clothing.com. It’s stuff they go out and make, I’m always impressed. There’s
guys in speedos.
We have these Party Rock Takeovers which is like an LMFAO
show minus Reddfoo. So we got all they Party Rock dancers out there doing their
routines. We bring the crowd more into it. It’s probably one of the best
parties I’ve seen. There’s confetti blasts and blow up animals being tossed
around.
MCB: You have a podcast you keep your mixes on?
Dainjazone: Yeah the podcast gives me a chance to reach out
to the people and let them know what I’m working on and what’s new in the music
world. A lot of friends tell me they don’t know what’s new until they hear a
podcast from me. I’ve been slacking on the podcast, not because I’m lazy but
I’ve been working on some new ideas on my mixes.
You can keep up with DJ Dainjazone by subscribing to his
podcast and checking out his soundcloud.
This Post by Mikel O.D. of
