"If I can get just one person to dance their ass off while I'm up doing my thing, every hour, penny, and everything else invested was all worth it."
DJ Zero, a.k.a. Chris Martin, a Phoenix, AZ native, has come from very humble beginnings. He's been interested in mixing music since 1989, and picked up his first music program, called "Hip-Hop Ejay," in 1999. This program left him craving more of an electric sound. In high school, DJ Zero bought his first mixing equipment: two Gemini basic CD players and a Gemini two-channel mixer. Nowadays, he uses his new and improved gear: Two Pioneer CDJ 2000s and a Pioneer DJM 800. Although he appreciates trance, DJ Zero has been experimenting more with happy hardcore.
"[Happy Hardcore] is my favorite music to perform because, to me as a party kid, it always [did and it still does] fill me with a high energy feel." His favorite happy hardcore track is Ultrabeat's "Pretty Green Eyes (Hixxy, Styles, and Breeze Remix)" because it is a "very settling song with a good rhythm."
When asked which DJs inspire him, he cited a few from different genres. From the trance genre, he names John Digweed and ATB. "[I like] John Digweed just for his attitude and [because] he was one of the first 'Super DJs' to spin in an innovative way. ATB was an artist I have always enjoyed listening to and [I've] tried to become [like him]." He also likes gabber artist Rob Gee because of "his general attitude about music and [how he] presents it to the masses." From the style of UK Hardcore, he counted Hixxy, Breeze and Styles, and Scott Brown amongst his influences.
DJ Zero hopes to see the local scene become more diversified. "I personally try to raise that bar by bringing tracks in the happy hardcore world that were classic, vintage, and remixed forms of tunes that most everyone can relate to, or have heard a different form and go, 'Wow, that's awesome!"
Too many DJs are in this for the wrong reasons. "I think that all DJs should revive the music they are the most passionate about and be in the world for the music, not for the other things like fame, money, and lust like most are these days unfortunately."
DJ Zero sees himsmelf making DJing his full-time career. He'd also like to see himself spinning massive parties where good vibes are the main priority.
When asked for any bits of advice to aspiring DJs, he stresses that having confidence in one's self if highly important. "Stay true to your passions and never be afraid to follow your dreams," DJ Zero says. "If you give up on that, you will never be successful in that, or anything you want to do in life!"
He hosts monthly radio broadcasts and wants to host weekly broadcasts that feature special guest DJs. "The first run of the monthly featured DJ XIII, which turned out really well." The site is: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kromozomezero.
DJ Zero hopes to launch his own entertainment company sometime this or next year called Kromozome Zero Entertainment. Check out his facebook page, the basis for his promotions and social networking, at facebook.com/kromozomezero.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
DJ Blakeland
2/3/2011
“It’s not love for music, it’s a passion, and it goes beyond liking, and beyond a hobby. It’s about a way of living…Music is essential for my life.” Armin Van Buuren
The quote above is one that Blakeland Ellis Lazcano, also known as DJ Blakeland, lives by. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Blakeland has been spinning in the valley for six years now.
“Watching other Djs perform was a big push for me to start Djing,” he said. “You could just feel the emotion in the room changing as you watched these people putting their heart and soul into what they were doing. I felt that same passion and it’s what drove me to do what I do today.”
Blakeland’s style of music he likes to play the most is trance. “I can express myself through this genre. It only took one track to hook me, it washed over my soul and I fell in love.” His favorite trance song is Tiesto’s “Forever Today.”
Local and big name Djs equally inspire Blakeland to spin. It’s hard for him to choose a few because so many make a big impact on him and his music. “If you have a chance to see some huge name act you will always just stare in awe as they do their thing,” Blakeland said. “Even local Djs here in the valley will surprise you; you can feel the passion for the music radiating off them.”
According to Blakeland, Djs should not only inspire one another. “I think that most Djs should be open to helping each other achieve their goals because we all want the same thing,” he said. “Who says we can’t grow together?”
There is one big change he would like to see in the local scene, and that’s more interest in the actual Djs. “I’d like to see kids become more interested in the music rather than hanging outside of parties just to be seen.”
Blakeland has performed at many events here in the valley, including Wonder 4, every Powersurge and FREEZE, Hackers 2, Cyberlia, Rainbow Brite, the last 4 Mary Xmas events, Diablo 2, and many more. He’s also played at Unity 2 in Miami, Florida. He would love to play one of the big event shows in the valley. “I would love to see my name on a flier for Electric Daisy Carnival in California or Ultra Music Festival in Florida,” Blakeland said. “One day, though, I will be performing in front of 40,000 people at Sensation in Europe. That’s the dream.”
What’s one thing that some may not know about Blakeland? He’s a self-proclaimed video game and anime nerd! “I love sitting down in front of the Xbox and rocking out some RPGs,” he said. “I love watching Japanese Anime, I also frequent local anime and video game conventions here in Arizona.”
He has a piece of advice for those who are aspiring Djs: “Keep at it! Don’t give it up! If you feel passionate about it, don’t let anything stand in your way.” Oh, and one more thing: “Practice, Practice, Practice!”
Blakeland is not interested in just keeping Djing as a hobby. “I could see myself Djing as a full-time career, traveling all over the world and playing for 100 to 100,000 people,” he said. “I love performing, it means the world to me.”
Blakeland is working on a new mix that he hopes to have done within the next month, in his words, “definitely before Bubble Bobble 3.” Stay tuned.
“It’s not love for music, it’s a passion, and it goes beyond liking, and beyond a hobby. It’s about a way of living…Music is essential for my life.” Armin Van Buuren
The quote above is one that Blakeland Ellis Lazcano, also known as DJ Blakeland, lives by. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Blakeland has been spinning in the valley for six years now.
“Watching other Djs perform was a big push for me to start Djing,” he said. “You could just feel the emotion in the room changing as you watched these people putting their heart and soul into what they were doing. I felt that same passion and it’s what drove me to do what I do today.”
Blakeland’s style of music he likes to play the most is trance. “I can express myself through this genre. It only took one track to hook me, it washed over my soul and I fell in love.” His favorite trance song is Tiesto’s “Forever Today.”
Local and big name Djs equally inspire Blakeland to spin. It’s hard for him to choose a few because so many make a big impact on him and his music. “If you have a chance to see some huge name act you will always just stare in awe as they do their thing,” Blakeland said. “Even local Djs here in the valley will surprise you; you can feel the passion for the music radiating off them.”
According to Blakeland, Djs should not only inspire one another. “I think that most Djs should be open to helping each other achieve their goals because we all want the same thing,” he said. “Who says we can’t grow together?”
There is one big change he would like to see in the local scene, and that’s more interest in the actual Djs. “I’d like to see kids become more interested in the music rather than hanging outside of parties just to be seen.”
Blakeland has performed at many events here in the valley, including Wonder 4, every Powersurge and FREEZE, Hackers 2, Cyberlia, Rainbow Brite, the last 4 Mary Xmas events, Diablo 2, and many more. He’s also played at Unity 2 in Miami, Florida. He would love to play one of the big event shows in the valley. “I would love to see my name on a flier for Electric Daisy Carnival in California or Ultra Music Festival in Florida,” Blakeland said. “One day, though, I will be performing in front of 40,000 people at Sensation in Europe. That’s the dream.”
What’s one thing that some may not know about Blakeland? He’s a self-proclaimed video game and anime nerd! “I love sitting down in front of the Xbox and rocking out some RPGs,” he said. “I love watching Japanese Anime, I also frequent local anime and video game conventions here in Arizona.”
He has a piece of advice for those who are aspiring Djs: “Keep at it! Don’t give it up! If you feel passionate about it, don’t let anything stand in your way.” Oh, and one more thing: “Practice, Practice, Practice!”
Blakeland is not interested in just keeping Djing as a hobby. “I could see myself Djing as a full-time career, traveling all over the world and playing for 100 to 100,000 people,” he said. “I love performing, it means the world to me.”
Blakeland is working on a new mix that he hopes to have done within the next month, in his words, “definitely before Bubble Bobble 3.” Stay tuned.
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