VMU: Hey DJ -X- TECH, how are you?

TECH: Good man, Thanks for asking.

VMU: Where are you from and how long you been djing?

TECH: I was raised outside of Ft. Lauderdale and
Chicago mainly. And have been djing and producing for
roughly a decade.

VMU: How many releases have you put out and who
produced?

TECH: I produce all of my own music, I like to keep my
hands in everything so that way I am sure that its
mine. My first release will be out shortly and I am
working on my second CD now.
 
VMU: Were the recordings done digital or analog? (if
comps what programs)

TECH: Mostly digital. The only “analog” piece of
equipment that I have is the Korg Electribe MX which
has the old analog tubes in it. Other than that I
pretty much stick to the digital solution.
 
VMU: So you also DJ for clubs?

TECH: I have djed at clubs in the past. I havent been
on that track in a little while now. I have been
spending most of the time in the studio recording new
music.

"That’s why we live in this country, freedom of
speech." - TECH

VMU: Do you prefer live or studio recording?

TECH: Most definitely studio. If you fuck up on
something in the studio, at least no one is there to
see it!

VMU: How's the local music scene in your home town?

TECH: Chicago is extremely diverse. You could be
rollin down the street and hear at one traffic light
some Eminem and Dr Dre bumpin and get to the next
light and its guns and roses. So there’s definitely a
good variety of music here, even though most of it is
hip hop and house on the electronic side of it.
 
VMU: Do you just mainly do instrumentals or are there
lyrics in your music? (if lyrics what do you express
in your music)

TECH: Mainly instrumental. I have done some vocal
stuff, but the vocals are usually provided by someone
else considering I cant sing my way out of a paper
bag. I will sample my voice saying one word and put it
through the vocoder to get some good effects going but
that’s about it on the vocal side of things.
 
VMU: How do you feel about other artists expressing
their beliefs in music? (Religious or political)

TECH: That’s why we live in this country, freedom of
speech. I think its great that people express their
opinions wether it be religious or political or
anything else. You can learn something from everyone.
I mean, Eminem would not be where he is now if it
weren’t for his lyrics.
 
VMU: Could you explain in detail what musical/dj gear
you use?

TECH: Too much to list… a brief rundown… for shows I
use 2 Neumark fusion CD decks with a fusion mixer. I
use a computer in my live shows as well because I use
this program called virtual d.j. to assist with mixing
and effects. And of course, I don’t think any computer
is complete without Reason in it. I also use a wide
variety of Korg and Roland products.
 
VMU: Who are your musical influences?

TECH: HA HA, Again, Too much to list. As Sammy Davis
Jr. said, “The only bad music, is no music at all.” I
listen to everything from Frank Sinatra to Beethoven
to Infected Mushroom to Eminem, you can find
inspiration anywhere you listen! 
 
VMU: Any tours in the works?

TECH: Keep checking back at www.djxtech.com for that
info.
 
VMU: How did you do the recording process?

TECH: All directly recorded from programs and
equipment into the computer and output to DAT and WAV.
 
VMU: How do you feel about the mainstream music scene?
(USA and overseas)

TECH: Hey, were all trying to make it there. However
for the most part there’s a lot of groups who loose a
lot of respect in the mainstream for trying to hard to
keep up with the image. Take Metallica for example,
That is still my all time favorite metal band because
its who I grew up with. But I don’t listen to them
anymore because they sold out to the masses. I mean, I
can see it if they gradually changed over the years,
but you’re not going to go through that much of a
dramatic change in the time it takes to put out an
album. They got too greedy in my opinion, sold out for
money rather than fans who loved them.
 
VMU: Any deals in the works?

TECH: I am signed with a major record label in Los
Angeles, as well as starting my own label and I have
some distribution contracts in the works. 
 
VMU: New recordings in the works?

TECH: Like I mentioned earlier, THE OUTER LIMITS is
going to be out soon and I am working on my new album
which is going to be called 4 ON THE FLOOR.
 
VMU: Any advise to other indie artists?

TECH: Go get this song from wherever you get your
music from… just please, don’t steal it, were all
artists here and are working towards the same goal…
but go to mp3.com or somewhere, look for THE STREETS
and download their track STAY POSITIVE. That’s some of
the best advice you can get. Other than that, never
forget who you are, be true to yourself, be a
shameless self promoter and advertise anywhere you can
but don’t burn any bridges and be careful who you step
on on the way to the top because you’ll be seeing them
on your way down.
 
VMU: Do you own a home studio? (What gear)

TECH: Well, it’s a virtual studio… Cubase, Reason,
Cool Edit and Cakewalk to name a few.
 
VMU: Why do you do what you do in music?

TECH: I love House and Trance. I believe that it is
the classical music of our time. I love working on
music in general, I love it and there’s nothing that
can replace that.
 
VMU: Thank you so much for your time!! Any last words?

TECH: Stay Positive! I have gone through a lot in the
past 10 years in the music business and do a lot of
promotions for up and coming groups. If you ever need
any help, I can help get you distributed and heard.
You can always email me at djtech@djxtech.com . Other
than that, catch me live on Krush Radio at
www.krushradio.com and check back with the mother site
to keep up with whats going on with me at
www.djxtech.com . Thanks for the time VM.
 
VM UNDERGROUND

March 9 2005

www.v-m-u.com