Interviews

Interview With DJ Matt B

May 24, 2011 7:15 pm
Michigan Evening Out
1 Comment

As electronic music continues to turn into a life of its own in the U.S., DJ’s around the world are going to have to start to step up their appearances in the club. While some show up to their club gigs and simply stand behind their laptop, others go the “concert” route, really giving the audience a reason to come out and catch the “show.” DJ Matt B is one of these DJs, delivering a performance that’s worthy of immense praise each time he steps behind a deck. We recently caught up with the DJ at Club Sixx, where he prefers to play in the Michigan.

Matt Bowman officially known as DJMattB is from Wyoming, MI but currently resides in Grand Rapids, MI. Music is one of his hobbies or should we say more like a passion. DJMattB just moved into a new house, so apparently, home repair and landscaping have become a couple new hobbies. He also enjoys cars as well. He has done the whole swap an engine, turbo this, NOS on that, suspension, rims, audio, you name it, one or all of his cars have had it replaced and upgraded.

MIEVENINGOUT: So DJMATTB whats your Music/Mix Of Choice?

DJMATTB: My music of choice? Wow, that’s a hard question. I’ve been involved with so many different genres of music in my life, it’s hard to narrow it down to one. I think my musical choices are reflective of my mood, the weather, what the current season we are in, etc. I definitely choose music based on those attributes. Currently, with my new house with an awesome patio and pool – with outside speakers, I listen to a lot of trance. There’s just something about the way Trance sounds while sitting in the sun by some water and drinking a cold, cold, super cold beverage.

MIEVENINGOUT: Give us alitte history on you and how you started djing, why do you love it and what type of information would you give to someone just starting?

DJMATTB: well, I blame my love of music on my parents. They are both lovers of sound and exposed me to many different genres of music as a young child. I think my goal to become a DJ started back when DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince came out with the album, “He’s the DJ, I’m the rapper”. I just wanted to be a DJ.

MIEVENINGOUT: Hey there’s nothing wrong with being the DJ!’

DJMATTB: I would make mixtapes as a young buck back in high school, editing songs and creating my own little mix that had it’s own sound. I spent years in my parents’ basement with my Technics 1200′s; that’s right, I didn’t mess around. Buy the best. My focus back then was turntablism mixed with Jungle/Drum & Bass. I would watch hours of the invisibl skratch piklz and their videos and learn from them the techniques of scratching and beat juggling.

I joined up with a couple friends, David Meyers, AKA DM3, John Ward, AKA Ward or he has a million other DJ names to create REMEDY. We played many college parties, birthday parties, threw our own raves/parties, etc. This continued for about 6 or 7 years.

Then I was introduced to a man by the name of Corey Hart. DJ Corey Hart. He was the BDIC. He was on the radio, played EVERYWHERE and had the connections. He sat down with me at Szechuan Garden for some Chinese and laid down the rules and laws of the DJ/Promotions game. It included going out almost every night, making my presence known, introducing myself to bar owners, managers, promoters, DJ’s, bartenders, servers, patrons, etc. Shaking hands and kissing babies. It was definitely a learning experience. That time and effort paid off. I landed my first big gig in Grand Rapids and the rest is history.

Why do I love it? Well, playing music to a crowd and seeing them enjoy themselves is what makes the night. Knowing that they had the time of their lives while I supply the soundtrack is amazing. Being able to give people new music to experience, exposing them to new styles of music that they wouldn’t normally hear on the radio – that makes it worth it. Having people shake my hand at the end of the night, or cheering and clapping when I’m done DJing. That makes it worth it.

Advice? You need to stick with it. My career didn’t start overnight and neither will yours. Don’t assume since you bought a computer program for your laptop and maybe some high end gear that you are now a DJ. Programming is key. You could slam every mix, but if you know what the hell to play and when to play it, you’ll keep the crowd happy and the bar busy. But in your spare time, please learn how to mix as well. If you can program to your crowd and make the night feel like one continuous mix, I applaud you. Also, if I’m DJing, please don’t ask me how or when you can DJ with me, how to get into the club I’m in, if I can teach you how to DJ, etc. Introduce yourself, shake my hand, add me on facebook or shoot me an email later. While DJing is a fun job, it is still a job. DJ’s are constantly working. Watching the crowd reactions to songs, watching the bar, planning the next few songs in their heads, etc. Not socializing and holding a conversation about how you are the best DJ in the Sigma Alfalfa Pi Crust house. Respect your fellow DJ’s. We’ve all put in the time and effort to get where we are at and all have the same passion and love for what we do. Bad mouthing another DJ to the manager, patrons or promoters will get you no where. It will black mark you.

MIEVENINGOUT:After hours of DJing, sometimes it may be best to get away from the studio monitors. Where does a DJ like you go to grab a drink on a night off?

DJMATTB: I enjoy craft beers. I like patios. I like fireplaces. Depending on season, that’s how I pick my place of libation. We have quite a few breweries in Grand Rapids and I enjoy frequenting those locations as well as some of the other “small plate” restaurants with an extensive beer list. I like variety, so ordering an entree doesn’t really do it for me. 5 or 6 different small plates makes me happy. Especially when you add in a beer list longer than Dead Sea Scrolls.

MIEVENINGOUT: You’ve always been an DJ that’s in high-demand, meaning the hours can get pretty extensive. If there was one restaurant you could take with you where ever you go, which would that be?

DJMATTB: Man, that kind of limits me. One restaurant? I don’t think I can pick just one. I hate the “shit on the wall” corporate restaurants that specialize in an “everything” menu. “You want Chinese, pizza, Italian, Mexican, American, Indian, Home Cooked food? We have that on our 42 page menu!” No thanks.If I were to pick one breakfast joint to bring with me, it would be Sundance Grill, downtown Grand Rapids. I love their Morningstar Scramble with the Sundance Spuds. Amazing. They also have the largest Cinnamon rolls I’ve ever seen.

If it were a lunch place, it would have to be Cherry Street Deli. Awesomely huge sandwiches, great soups, chips, sodas, etc! You can’t beat this place for lunch.

Dinner. I’m going to go with Beltline Bar in Wyoming, MI. I absolutely love Mexican food and although not authentic, I love it. The famous wet burrito is to die for. The Mexican style tacos are awesome. Hot salsa for my chips? Yep! Beltline Bar also has a pretty decent beer list, which we all know makes me happy.

I have quite a few other places I love to frequent as well, Monkey Bar at The BOB has awesome Asian small plates, The Winchester on Wealthy, The Green Well, and even Rockwell’s/Republic for some patio cocktails and snacks. Oh, I forgot Sushi! I love Marado Sushi downtown Grand Rapids. It’s your fault, you got me talking about food!

MIEVENINGOUT: We’re sure you’ve seen the rise and fall of many trends in the club. What aspect in club culture do you think has changed the most since the start of your career?

DJMATTB: The people. They’ve changed the most. Over the last 6 years, the crowd has become totally different. I know people grow up, start families and have career paths chosen that don’t allow as much clubbing as before, but even the attitude and acceptance of different music is totally different. There seems to be quite a bit more open minded people around now. I feel I am able to flex my musical muscle a little more now than when I first started DJing in a club atmosphere.

MIEVENINGOUT: You’ve played some of the biggest clubs in the Michigan I am told. If there’s one venue that just feels like home every time you play it, where is it and why?

DJMATTB:Crush Nightclub at The BOB. It was the first club I played in Grand Rapids and the staff, even though it’s changed a bit, are still family. It’s just a good feeling when I walk in the doors, shake the security staff’s hands, walk in the club, get a few hello’s yelled from across the bar and all night, just have a positive environment all around me. That’s what it’s all about.

MIEVENINGOUT: There’s nothing like a good cocktail to celebrate a successful night in the booth. What’s your poison for such an occasion?

DJMATTB: Funny you should ask. I have my own signature cocktail I developed over the years, aptly named, THE MATTB. Both Sixx Nightclub and The BOB have a button programmed on their computers just for the drink. If you go to the bar and ask the bartender and they have no idea what it is, message me and I’ll let you know. If I’m DJing, I’ll tell you on the spot. Shots? I prefer orange crush. Or the Slurpee Special. You can only get that shot at Sixx from Sarah Rich at the top bar though. It’s her signature shot.

MIEVENINGOUT: Everyone’s had an issue or two with a doorman every now and then. Have you ever had a run-in with a cocky doorman?

DJMATTB: There’s good doormen and bad doormen. When I work in a club, I try to introduce myself to anyone I haven’t met before and get to know them a little. As far as having a run in with a doorman? Not me. I’m pretty easy going and get along with most. Some of them take the job a wee bit serious, but not with us. I think the only time I’ve had problems with a member of security was at an old residency of mine, where one of the guys would come to the booth, close to 2am and tell me to cut the @#$&*% music. This happened on a few occasions and I had to tell him to #&%# off and let me do my job.

MIEVENINGOUT: So where can we hear your mixtapes?

DJMATTB: Check out my Soundcloud at http://soundcloud.com/djmattb-1 or you can check out my website djmattb.com