Hop in the Passenger Seat of Houston DJ MizzMegan’s RV [TRILLVO Interview]

Written by Sina Watson

Last week we had the chance to premiere Houston based DJ and now producer MizzMegan “RV Edits”. There’s a lot more than meets the eye about this Houston native, shes a dancer, a student, a teacher, and if you’ve started following her on Instagram an incredible cook!Now that you’ve had the chance go take the trip down memory lane, lets get to know the lady behind the wheel.

How long have you been producing/DJing?

DJing 2 years, Producing 9 months

What made you want to start producing/performing?

I’ve performed as a dancer since I was 4. Justin Jay encouraged me to produce music because of my dance background, specifically tap dance, and my lifelong relationship with music.

Who are some top dream collabs and inspirations?

Pharrell, Timbaland, Prince, Justin Jay, Vance Lawrence. I want to make some edits with Danny Goliger!

Where did you get your start? 

I threw my first show and played my first DJ gig the same night, for Henry Was while he was on tour with Thumpasaurus. This show grew into the first-ever Fantastic Voyage (FV) residency, and got my name out for other bookings.

What are some of your biggest musical influences or sources of inspiration?

I grew up on 90s dance, disco, funk, and early pop music. Prince and Michael Jackson were megastars around that time. I got into hiphop music in the early 2000s so Pharrell and Timbaland were producing huge hits then. As far as my immediate friend group, people that inspire me daily, definitely Justin Jay. Even though we don’t live close he’s great at making me feel supported even from a distance. He has supported me while I’ve stepped into new parts of myself I was afraid of before.

Vance Lawrence is someone I love being in the studio with. We vibe really well together, and the workflow is fun. He’s open and creative, and he made me realize I can really get down on tambourine, lol. He has a larger perspective on the industry because he’s had success as a DJ overseas, so I can really dream big with him and not get bogged down in the small stuff.

What is your creative process like?

When it comes to making music, I just try shit, lol. If I have an idea, I at least always make a note or start the project right then, and see what comes of it. Sometimes I stick with it for 10 minutes, and table it. Sometimes it catches momentum, and in a few hours I have a complete song. Justin gave me great advice about always trying to finish projects, so I try not to let things sit for too long untouched. I’ve become less of a perfectionist, so I see the value in something being finished rather than perfect. I’m a lot more comfortable having an imperfect draft and knowing I can work through the rough spots, instead of quitting a project because it isn’t “good” enough.

How would you describe your sound and how did you develop it?

I think my sound is pretty percussion-driven because I’m a tap dancer. I gravitate to music that has a groove, that’s sort of primal in the way it makes me want to move my body. If it makes me dance, it goes in my library. As a dancer and choreographer I’ve spent most of my life making decisions about music based on whether or not it makes me want to move. DJing and producing dance music came pretty naturally to me in that regard, when I finally let myself just go for it. 

I’m also a sucker for sax samples, because I was a sax player when I was younger, specifically in jazz band, so I like dance music that’s rooted in jazz also. Jazz music and tap dance have an entangled history; a lot of musicians I find myself vibing with also have some type of jazz background. Funk. Disco. I also love most songs that have a soul clap in them lol

What do you want people to know / understand about the music you create?

Making music is an amazing way that I’ve found to honor myself and my creative spirit. Music was always in my heart, but for years I came up against a lot of pushback that success looked like something else that wasn’t rooted in creativity at all. I was an avid people pleaser and for a long time I gave in to those ideals of what being successful looked like and the path I should take to get there. I hid away huge parts of who I really was, and my journey with DJing and music has been, above all, a huge celebration of accepting that person back a little more every day. This journey has made me happy and whole again, it’s led me to some of the most valuable relationships of my life, and I hope when people hear my music they feel that big piece of my heart that I’m so grateful to have said yes to again.

What has been your favorite performance?

I played this small room upstairs at Axelrad in Houston, and the energy of that crowd was something I’ve never experienced anywhere else. There weren’t that many people there when I started playing, but at one point I looked up from the decks and suddenly the room was almost completely full. Turns out they’d started playing my set on the speakers downstairs, and people just started coming up in groups. The crowd was very vocal about letting me know what they were feeling, their energy was so easy to read and match, and then we just rode the wave for the rest of my set. They were shouting and whistling, the whole room was dancing, I felt so much love from them; I could’ve played for them all night. 

What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

Aside from dance music, I’m really involved in the dance community in a lot of other ways. I’ve been teaching dance for over ten years, and I also study Human Performance and Clinical Research, specifically Dance Science and Dance Medicine. I love academia, and I hope to contribute research to the dance community that will help clinicians understand dancers as athletes the same way Sports Medicine recognizes professional athletes of other more commercialized disciplines. NBA and NFL medical teams are hugely staffed and funded, while its hard for professional dancers to even get proper health care coverage through company contracts. I’m a huge advocate for dancers’ healthcare and wellness. Dancers are athletes but they are also artists and storytellers and it’s so important to afford them the proper care for their bodies so that they can have longer professional careers and can continue to express themselves through movement, and so that we can continue to experience their art.

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

Enjoy being a beginner! When I first started DJing and making music, I constantly reminded myself, “this is the worst you will ever be at this as long as you keep trying.”

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

I wish more people would genuinely support each other, and realize that someone else having success doesn’t take anything away from your own ability to be successful. I’ve gotten most of the opportunities that I have because I had the courage to say yes and the guts to see it through, and I didn’t have to take anything away from anyone else to make it happen. I’ve actually done my best work when I’ve extended my opportunities to others, and tried to create things that would build people around me also. I’ve never been stingy with success or seen it as just mine. A lot of people operate from a place of worry that there isn’t enough of anything to go around. Business can take the heart out of the art, and its unfortunate when events feel empty and like they’re rooted in fear and competition.

Something your fans would be surprised to know about you?

Most people are usually just surprised by my age, lol. I have a pretty good baby face, I always get told I look 10 years younger than I am. I’m 33! I also didn’t start DJing until I was 31, which is “late” to a lot of people. There’s this weird pressure to have your shit figured out before you’re 30, but for me it’s been really fun to keep stepping into new parts of myself, becoming more of who I am all the time. I used to think about my age a lot more, and let it scare me out of stuff, but I’m grateful in a lot of ways for where I am right now. I know myself a lot better than I did in my 20s, and I probably couldn’t have handled all of this pressure when I was younger.

What is one message you would give to your fans? What does your music aim to say?

Everything you want in life is out there for you, if you’re looking! I hope people look at this journey I’m on and feel like they can keep working and achieving whatever they want. I never imagined I would find myself in music the way that I did, in the time that I did. But I can look back and see all the ways that I was getting prepared for this for a while now. Just trust the path you’re on, keep leaning in to things that feel like they’re made for you. Stay curious, and follow that curiosity. Look for more solutions and less problems. Don’t be afraid to suck at something, and if you love it enough just keep at it. It won’t feel like work all the time, and when it does, the work will be worth it…

Life is truly a Fantastic Voyage.

What does the future hold and what are you hopes for the songs you’re about to release? 

Once we’re able to travel again, I would love to expand the FV shows to a few more cities where I have great friends that I would love to collaborate with, and also do a second round of our residency in Houston. 

I’ve made a few more edits since wrapping up this first EP, but I think my next project will be really focused on exploring my MIDI-interface tap floor, and combining my worlds of dance and music in a more concrete way. I can’t wait to see all of the new things I can discover with this unique way of creating music, and to do things that no one has done before.

 I hope this first EP gives people a peek into the songs I grew up jamming fused with the sounds I’m digging today, and that there is at least one track on the collection that makes someone smile or dance. I’d love to hear some of these edits played by DJs who can reach even more people than I would be able to, but really I’m just proud of what I’ve made on this first release, and even if everyone hates all of these songs I at least proved to myself that I could finish this project and do something that once felt impossible to me.

I can’t wait to hear more of MizzMegan’s future edits. Her “RV Edits” now available to purchase on Bandcamp. Listen on Spotify below.

Kyle Kinch Talks Tampa House and His Duke Dumont Remix “The Fear” [TRILLVO Interview]

Written by Sina Watson

Earlier this year Duke Dumont debuted his first full-length album featuring some familiar favorites and introducing us to new ones. He finally gave his hit song “Ocean Drive,” a home, while showcasing his musical talents as a producer. Following the success of the album, he released a star studded remix album this month with remixes from house music biggest names such as Purple Disco Machine, Will Clarke, Tensake, and Kyle Kinch

There’s only one word to describe Tampa Bay House producer Kyle Kinch: Groovy. Deep rooted in his Jazz and Disco obsession, Kyle finesses these influences to blur the lines between house, disco, and techno.

Doing what he does best, Kyle flips the original ballad “The Fear,” for a more dancefloor ready tune. With a catchy groovy bassline and hypnotic rhythm, Kyle’s remix is sure to get your body moving.

I had the chance to chat with Kyle about quarantine and getting to remix a track for one of house music’s biggest arts, Duke Dumont.

Hey Kyle hows it hanging? What have you been doing this year to stay sane? Any new hobbies/skills?

I’ve been great. I’ve always been a gamer so my Nintendo Switch has been keeping me company. Also, I’m working on a new project with my album arts. I’ve been framing them and painting the frames with UV & glow in the dark paint. My wall looks crazy now basically lighting up my memories. Painting is super soothing and therapeutic.

What are you most grateful for right now?

I’m grateful for all the opportunities I’ve been given during this time. Believe or not, my career has continued to ramp up even with no gigs. I’ve been working with new artist and labels to consistently release music and doing features for huge publications like Forbes. Honestly, I feel stronger as an artist than I did before lockdown started.

As a former Tampa resident, I’d love to know how living in Tampa/Florida influenced your sound?

Tampa is all about energy. No matter what style of music, there’s always a high energy vibe here. I try to match that energy, but also try to add an emotional aspect to it. When they hear my music, I want people to feel me on multiple levels.

Ya dude I totally get that. I actually saw Duke Dumont for the first time at Beach Bar Labor Day weekend in Tampa. He was one of the first Djs to convert me to House music. What was it like remixing “The Fear”?

You know that feeling when you were meant for something? Like everything you’ve done up to that point prepared you for that moment. When Duke reached out to me I was crazy excited. Literally pacing around my house. After my last lap though, I sat down calm and determined with clear idea of where I was going with this remix.

Can you tell us more about your creative process for this track?

I wanted to capture that 4am warehouse vibe. A gritty driving style beat with dark synths to counter Duke’s version. I wanted to combination of Duke’s elements and mine to create a yin & yang balance within the track. If his was about the fear, I wanted mine to be no fear!

If you could remix another track from Duality which one would you choose and why?

Definitely “The Power”! I see so many possibilities with that vocal and the energy of the track. I would love to get my hands on that one.

2020 has been a big year of music for you: EP, Realm Release, and now your Duke Dumont Remix. Any other surprises in store for the rest of the year?

I just had another remix release on Simma Black. As for the rest of the year, you can expect a new release every month.

You’ve had the chance to release on some incredible house labels (Solotoko, Realm, Holy Mole music), is there a dream label you want to release on?

Defected and Toolroom. I feel like most house artist aspire for those labels, but I always find myself connecting to Defected’s releases spiritually. They’ve been the epitome of house music for a long time. As for Toolroom, Mark Knight was probably the heaviest influence on my music at the beginning. I still rinse his tracks on a daily basis.

Okay final question. What is your favorite Duke Dumont track?

“Won’t Look Back”

Kyle Kinch talent has caught the attention of house music’s heavy hitters Camelphat, Fisher, and Gorgon City, propelling him forward as a rising house star. He has Kyle spread his signature sound across the country playing at iconic venues such as Brooklyn Mirage and sharing the stage with Chris Lake, Kaskade, and Lee Foss.

Be sure to keep your ears on Kyle Kinch for new releases every month. ” His newest track “Wine on Red Kups” featuring Vanilla ACE is out this Friday.

Connect with Kyle Kinch

SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Connect with Duke Dumont

SoundCloud | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

EZEKIEL Unveils His Latest Work With New EP, GOD MACHINE [INTERVIEW]

Written by Victoria Garces

Buckle in folks, you’re in for a wild ride with the latest from EZEKIEL. Releasing with Wicked Records, Houston native, EZEKIEL, gives us his power packed EP, GOD MACHINE. Corey Zielke is no stranger to the producing game. He first entered the DAW world when he was 15 and started with hiphop beats, like most producers do. The love for dubstep came when he got introduced to the UK grime sounds and the rest was history.

photo by Victoria Garces

Wicked Records · EZEKIEL – GOD MACHINE EP

GOD MACHINE takes on a grimey trap journey inside the mind of EZEKIEL. The thematic EP gives us dark trap drums and high energy growls like in “DIVINITY ENGINE” and wicked sound design in “BLOCC.” We got a change to chat with the rising producer and talk to him about his release.

TRILLVO – Thank you for joining us! Congratulation on your EP! How have you been doing during these tough times?

EZEKIEL – It’s been hard for everybody I think, and it’s hit the music industry especially hard. Live shows and events have always been a big part of the inspiration behind my music, and without them it’s been difficult to find inspiration for creating. I had only just gotten comfortable playing my music in my sets before COVID happened, and this EP was originally designed to be full of the music that I was playing out at my shows.

That being said it’s given me a lot of time to improve my craft, and I think this EP does a really good job of showing that.

T: How long have you been producing for and getting this EP ready?

E: I started producing when I was like 15 years old on a cracked version of FL10, I didn’t do much with it. I made hip hop beats mostly because at this point I had never even heard much EDM or dance music before, it was actually my interest in UK grime music that sparked my ultimate interest in dubstep and bass music.

The thematic concept of this EP has been around for about a year now, but I’ve been working on the 3 songs that actually made the cut since just before quarantine started back in February.

T: How is it working alongside Wicked Record for this release?

E: Wicked has been really awesome throughout this whole thing. Its actually kinda crazy because originally I was only going to be releasing “Blocc” with them. That track was the first of the EP that I finished and I had pitched it to them originally as a single, and I was going to self release the EP a few months later.

Skip forward a few months later and I had the first demos for God Machine I was sending out to labels and blogs, I sent a copy to Wicked and they locked down the rest of the EP within 24 hours.

T: What was your creative process for the GOD MACHINE EP?

E: When I start a project for EZEKIEL, whether its a single or a group of releases, I usually start with a thematic concept and build from there.
 
The idea for the God Machine project came to me one night when I was brainstorming some potential themes for my EP. There is a concept in science fiction called Clarkes Third Law that basically says that technology can be so far advanced and ahead of its time that it is indistinguishable from magic.

That concept is the inspiration behind the sound and thematic elements of the whole EP.

The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.

-Arthur C. Clarke

T: Who were some inspirations for these tracks? 

E: Well I mentioned the thematic inspirations for the project, but as far as who inspired the actual music, that would for sure have to be STUCA and Oddprophet, they are the driving force behind my sound.

T: Where do you see the EZEKIEL project going?

E: Well I have some big goals of eventually releasing on NSD: Black Label and Jadu Dala, my release structure moving forward is going to be more like releasing a couple of really good EPs a year rather than dropping singles all year long. 

I also have some big ideas for large scale productions eventually, I want my live events to be an experience, something you can’t find anywhere else. EZEKIEL is very thematic, and I want that to be reflected in my music and my shows.

T: Thank you so much for your time! Make sure to follow EZEKIEL on all his socials!

FOLLOW EZEKIEL

Soundcloud | Spotify | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Gentlemens Club Release Bassline Track “What You Want” on a Familiar Label CruCast // EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Written by Victoria Garces

The UK trio known as Gentlemens Club keeps the ball rolling, as they release this UK Bassline track “What You Want” on a familiar home CruCast.

CRUCAST · Gentlemens Club – What You Want

As the Gentlemens Club project grows and grows, the trio looks to other genres to bring out their creative selves. You may be more familiar with their tracks like “Rough Rider” or “Little John” which has more of the hybrid and dubstep sound, but this is a groovy one. “What You Know” brings out more of the House UK vibes. Its heavy bassline and synths get you grooving no matter where you’re at.

 

TRILLVO: Thank you for joining us and taking some time out to answer some questions! This new single, “What You Want” is out now with UK forefront label, CruCast, and it’s a vibe! It’s very housey and groovy. What pushed you guys to flow in this direction compared to more of your UK Dub style? 

GC: We were fans of Bassline music long before we started producing. Listening to the likes of TRC, Burgaboy, Piddy Py and absolutely rinsing the EJucation mix series by DJ EJ. It was a natural progression for us to create Bassline. We enjoy too many genres to confine ourselves to just one, so our goal in 2020 is to really open the doors and create what ever we feel! “What You Want” is our first solo Bassline song under the Gentlemens Club imprint and it was a great introduction into the Bassline world!

TRILLVO: Tell us about your long lasting relationship with CruCast. They’ve been right alongside y’all since the XX92 days!

GC: Crucast have always welcomed our music with open arms and have been a great home for our music, we’re really excited to work more with them in the future!

TRILLVO: As the world is still moving forward with everything happening, I hope you guys have been doing okay mentally during this wild time right now. How’s the quarantine life been for you guys and how have you adapted your workflow?

GC: Quarantine has been a rollercoaster of emotions for us, but the glory of a trio is we can rely on each other and keep ourselves grounded. We have really knuckled down during quarantine and produced some of our most versatile and best productions to date. 

TRILLVO: What habits or skills have you learned during this time in quarantine?

GC: Take plenty of breaks, it’s essential. If something isn’t working, walk away and revisit when you’re ready.

TRILLVO: With quarantine, producers have been cranking out tracks and with that, spotlight has been shining on some faces. Do you have any up and coming producers we should have on our radar? What about their sound design draws you in? 

GC: Not necessarily an up and comer but Zero is the absolute don at the moment. His production quality is unmatched and he’s a top geezer as well.

We also love Cajama. He has his signature sound and never fails to nail out bangers. 

TRILLVO: Dream collabs? (Dead or Alive)

GC: Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, J Hus

TRILLVO: What can we expect from Gentlemens Club in the future? Any collabs in the works?

GC: LOTS of music, including collabs… we can’t mention names right now but we have some big ones in the pipe line.

With the world getting pulled in multiple directions, its great to see artists make the best of their time and still thriving through it.

FOLLOW GENTLEMENS CLUB

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | SoundCloud

FOLLOW CRUCAST

crucast.com
Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud | Instagram

Mental Health & Addiction in the Community with TenGraphs

Photo from Facebook

Written by Haley Darbonne

Do you ever catch yourself talking about our culture to other people outside of the community? Trying to describe the beauty and love we have for each other? Explaining to a stranger how wonderful you cherish every moment spent at a show or a festival surrounded by your loved ones? Reminiscing on memories you have made and the people you have met. Our scene is something so many know of, but not one that everyone has experienced. We take a moment and we make it a lifestyle.

But what about the struggles you have encountered? The problems you have faced or the dark places you found yourself in? What about that makes you afraid?

Within the EDM realm comes the unwanted conversation of what we do to ourselves. A downward spiral of abuse to our well being that we never think can harm us. Because we are invincible right? We are ravers for God’s sake. We take back the night and conquer every milestone put before us. However, we rage a war within, a mental one at that. We push ourselves to a place where we cannot seem to pull ourselves out of and we sometimes do nothing but make matters worse. Worse as in, where we can not undo what we have done.

Lexi Jude Photography

How often do we really come across someone openly willing to share their journey of mental health and addiction? Wanting to step forward and describe the clashing of both problems and how they have struck a chord within to make a change for the better in their life? Let us dive into one of the ugly truths to our culture. The one where we actually talk about making bad choices and dealing with the harsh consequences.

Trillvo has been given the opportunity to have DJ/producer and label manager of Crowsnest Audio, Marc Distexhe, TenGraphs explain his journey to sobriety and a clean slate with himself in the scene and becoming the man he is today.

Photo from Facebook

Trillvo: How has your mental health improved since facing addiction head on?

“My mental health has evolved immensely from the day I checked myself into rehab. From learning to practice daily self love to actively orchestrating my own mental and spiritual growth, and reducing depression and anxiety. I’ve basically managed to cover, or at least address, the majority of the facets I needed to address about my mental health. I’ve become fully aware of my traumas, have addressed many of them, and am able to identify new ones as they happen.”

Trillvo: When you were at your lowest point what did you turn to to make yourself happier? 

“Music. It’s always been my lifeline. I’d be dead many times over without it. It brought me out of the street, it brought me out of the darkest space, and it gave me a reason to get better.”

Photo by Nathen Lane

Trillvo: What finally made you realize you weren’t in a good head space for yourself?

“I woke up one day in a lukewarm bath with razor blades next to me on a heroin down. Realizing what I was trying to do, and realizing that my first response to it was more drugs. Then I flashed and realized that if I did it again I was going to die within the next 24 hours. So I checked myself into rehab the next day.”

Trillvo: How long have you been sober? And what accomplishments have you had since? 

“I’ve been sober for 4 years, 1 month and 23 days at the time of writing this.
I got out of homelessness. I created a career in music in 4 years. I learned to become a functional human being. I’ve traveled the world for music. I’ve met and gotten engaged with the most loving human being. I’ve made it onto regional news multiple times. I’ve worked and gained the support and respect of some of my biggest idols. I’ve developed true friendships. Most importantly, I’ve learned to love myself.”

Photo from Nathen Lane

Trillvo: Mental health and addiction go hand in hand now days, do you have any input on how we as society can improve this problem? As well as improving ourselves along the way?

“We need support systems publicly accessible. We need to decriminalize and remove the taboos related to drug use and addiction. We need to start believing in the decades of scientific research and proven methods to help addicts and people suffering with mental health. We need to take examples from countries like Portugal and Canada that have proper infrastructure in place to deal with issues like these. The list goes on.
But the most important thing is that the conversation needs to be had.” 

Marc Distexhe is not just another DJ with a story to tell. He is a human being with the knowledgeable understanding that with every choice we make there is not only a consequence to be faced, but an outcome to work for. An outcome that can be made for the better because two wrongs do not make a right, but making the right choice can be life-altering.

Let’s just be honest here, we have all had our times in need to realize we were in tough situations with ourselves. However, you are not alone. More people than you know battle with these same issues and same problems. Sometimes others are just better at hiding the pain they are feeling.

Take myself for instance, a couple of years ago I was just starting out in the scene, wilding out every weekend with my friends, falling further and further down the rabbit hole of substance abuse. Not giving a care in the world to what I was doing because I was never the type of person to be weak minded when it came to my mental abilities to take care of and love myself. However, I knew I went too far one time, and it only took one time to find myself lost in the darkness I created for myself. I couldn’t figure out what I did and I didn’t know how to undo what I had done. During that time, I spent my first year at my dream university not just learning in my college courses, but also trying to teach myself to not hate every aspect of who I had become. I was alone for a while too, they weren’t lying when they said college was a rough place to make friends and all my childhood friends had just taken off for new lives for themselves far away from me. Things were rough for a while.

One thing I learned from my childhood was that it takes time to get over a situation you manifested for yourself. Whether it is a year, five years, or even a decade, you will move on from what has broken you and forgive all the wrong done. So I sobered up, I washed myself of everything that made me scared of myself and I grew up. Though, I am no longer the girl I once was before all the drug abuse. I know the trouble I caused for myself and owned up to the damage I had made. I worked hard to be happy again, even if it tried to kill me.

Struggling with mental health and addiction is a battle that only the strong can handle. You constantly are at war with yourself over what is right and wrong as well what makes you feel good about yourself. You will have your bad days, but you have to remember that you are fighting for all the good days to come. You won’t always feel like the world is crumbling around you as long as YOU work toward’s a better living.

It takes one day at a time. As long as you understand it will not always be this way and one day you will find yourself in that happy place you dream about. Because it’s only a bad day, not a bad life.

Siris Hill Artwork

Follow Marc:

Instagram|Twitter|Soundcloud|TenGraphs

Follow Crowsnest:

 Facebook| Soundcloud

Local Lowdown: Raddix | Interview

Written by: Victoria Garces

Hailing from San Antonio, TX, Josh Martin is a photographer by day, for the U.S. Air Force, and by night he is Raddix a Hip Hop and EDM vocalist who produces his own unique frequencies, while staying true to the sound. What a double lifestyle. Raddix has been leaving his footprints all around and it’s caught our eye. We had to get to know the artist more our self.

His tracks caught the attention of some heavy hitters in EDM (Flux Pavilion and Marshmello) which lead to an influx of all eyes on Raddix. With these footprints, there have also been milestones in his journey to the top. Performing at Dancefestopia and sharing the stage with EDM legend Steve Aoki, this kid is not letting anything get in the way of his dreams and goals.

We got a chance to ask some questions and really pick at Raddix‘s brain. Please enjoy our interview with the producer below.

TRILLVO: Tell us a little more about yourself. Where did you grow up? What were some of your 1st musical experiences? What inspired you to get to where you’re at now?

Raddix: I was born and raised in San Antonio Texas. I’ve always been involved with music in some way shape or form since I was eight years old. Whether it was playing guitar, drums, trombone, piano or even singing I’ve always had a love for music. When I think back I can remember getting an NSYNC album from a radio station booth that was posted up outside an Albertsons when I was six years old. 

My friend Jay Longoria actually got me into writing and helped me buy my first recording set up back in 2012. We would always talk about being the biggest artists in our city and making an impact on the community. He never got the chance to see all the cool things I accomplished over the past couple years because he got cancer and passed away after his 25th birthday. I miss him like crazy but I vowed I would never let anything stop me from making  that dream a reality. This past year I finally became one of the biggest artists coming out of San Antonio and I hope he’s looking down proud, all because of what he started. I honestly never thought I’d even make music, let alone get to the point I’m at now. But I keep pursuing this dream in memory of Jay and in hopes to make my hometown a better place for musicians to thrive and to not be afraid to pursue a career in music if that’s what they want in life.

TRILLVO: We’re starting and ending off the New Year pretty strong huh?!! With you being adopted by Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden and playing Freak Fest with Steve Aoki and Blaisè! What other things are in the works for Raddix?

Raddix: This year we have a lot in store including a tour in the works with stops across the US and potentially in other continents. We were recently asked to even play at Shaq’s Fun House in Miami at the end of January. I’ve always been a fan of Shaquille O’Neal and a lot of the other artists on the lineup so I was extremely excited to get the news.

TRILLVO: Recently mental health has had a spotlight, which is an amazing thing to start happening. We here at TRILLVO are big advocates of mental health and pursuing a healthy and happy lifestyle. What are some tricks you may have to cope with your own mentality? What’s been a difficult bump in the road to success that you’ve recently overcome with your tricks?

Raddix: I’ve struggled with mental health myself but I’ve found multiple ways to get myself back into the right mindset. Including going for hikes out in nature with my dog, listening to some of my favorite music or even just surrounding myself with good friends and family. I also try to have positive friends that really encourage me and push me to be better, keeping busy with making music for others also helps keep my head straight. A lot of these tricks help get my mind off of criticisms I may receive from fans and other artists alike. Being in the music industry can be cruel sometimes but I’ve learned that the people that make a positive impact are more meaningful than the ones that can be hurtful in my opinion. I’ve always been a strong believer in helping out one another and supporting people’s ambitions and goals.

TRILLVO: We have entered a whole new year, a new decade at that. That means more and more new music. How do you plan on taking your music to the next level? Tell us about a dream collaboration.

Raddix: I’m expanding my sound a lot this year including working with artists in other genres and incorporating new sounds in my music that I typically wouldn’t use together. My upcoming album at the end of this year will have influences from EDM, Rock, Blues and even Hip Hop. It would be a dream to make collaborations with Blackbear, Two Feet or even The Chainsmokers. I’ve always loved their choice in melodies, lyrics and the way you can feel it in your soul with their songs.

TRILLVO: Any parting words or message you wanna give to our readers and your fans?

Raddix: I hope all of us can come together and support one another’s goals, including the local artists and music community. It’s the beginning of a new year and decade. Also hydration is critical, everyone should be sure to maintain healthy water levels in 2020. Lastly, everyone goes through hard times, artists and fans alike – so in the new year and beyond I would love to see more people looking out for one another and being conscious of everyone’s individual circumstances.

It’s 2020, don’t let anything stop you from being Rad!

Be sure to check back in THIS Friday, 1.24.20, for our exclusive guest mix with Raddix! He packed it full of unreleased IDs for us all to preview the bright year he has planned ahead!

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Freaking Out Over Golf Clap & MASTERIA’S New Track ‘Freak It Out’

Written by Sina Watson

2019 has been an unbelievable year for Detroit based house artists Golf Clap and MASTERIA. Both artists have been spreading their music across the country, while producing heavy house heaters. After the huge success of their last collaboration, “Mystery Scene,” that was released on mau5trap and Insomniac Records, producers Golf Clap and MASTERIA are back again with, “Freak It Out.”

This high energy four-on-the-floor house track combines hip-hop vocals, house drums, and a thumping bassline. The long build up is contrasted with the “Freak it Out,” vocals before heading into the drop. This catchy house tune continues to showcase both Golf Clap and MASTERIA as household names to watch.

Golf Clap has been building major momentum after their nation-wide Come Alive Tour as their fan base continues to grow from their Country Club Disco imprint. The label has seen great success with the release of Country Club Disco Radio on Insomniac Radio every Wednesday. Staying true to their roots, this release comes by way of Golf Clap’s very own Detroit-based label, Country Club Disco.

MASTERIA has had an insanely impressive breakout year in 2019. He has spent 2019 traveling across the country playing for multiple Space Yachts, while supporting major artists Chris Lake, Tchami, Drezo, and Malaa. He recently played Freaky Deaky festival in Houston and has just announced Bass Country Winter 2020. His hard work and success has helped solidify him as one of the fastest-rising house music producers. With recent support from Jauz, Zeds Dead, Oliver Heldens, Alesso and more, MASTERIA shows no signs of slowing down in 2020.

Freak It Out for yourself:

Connect with Golf Clap

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Connect with MASTERIA

Soundcloud | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Check out our interview with Masteria!

Interviews at Ever After Music Festival w/ Wax Motif, GG MAGREE, and LICK

We were fortunate enough at Ever After to get to sit down with a couple of amazing producers/DJs and get the inside info on everything from their latest tracks to their favorite ramen. Ever After was such a crazy vibe. I was lucky enough to sit down with Wax Motif, GG Magree, and LICK while I was there. They all had such amazing vibes and it showed when they performed. Read on how “WET” from Wax Motif came about, GG Magree’s “wish you were gay” remix and the style she decided on, and even a couple of unnamed exciting shows coming up for LICK.

Wax Motif

Your set had crazy energy! I heard you play out WET for the first time since you released, how do you feel?

The set was wild. I test all of my songs and I’ve been testing it [WET] for a few months. It wasn’t meant to be a song I was going to put out, but I kept getting DM’s for the song from fans and DJs kept asking for the ID. I’ve just learned to listen instead of pushing what I want sometimes.

What inspired your new track WET on mad decent?

I wanted the simple early g-house music that we started with, everything is getting so complicated now with sound design. It started as an edit for my sets. It was half a days work and I did it for fun, then just said fuck it.

What track got you noticed/got your name out there?

Crush groove that was on my first Mad Decent EP. I put out four songs on that EP but that one really took my career off. I Just met Kaskade for the first time and he was the first DJ I probably ever saw and he told me crush groove was so good, he’ll never not play it. It means something big to my friends back home.

How do you deal with the constant stress of everything?

Lately my new car (M4). It’s a good question because for the last few years I’ve been ignoring that and I did start feeling it earlier this year and I didn’t get why I wasn’t super happy all the time. Last few months, I took some more personal time and stepped out of the studio because I’m so ahead of my release schedule. Taking time to fix up my car and hang with my new girl. I’ve had bad shows before and I was in a group chat with a bunch of DJs and I texted them that and they would tell me how many times they played for one person. I think it’s important to play the same energy for 5 people as I do for 500.

If you could make your dream festival what would it look like?

Probably do it in Australia on this island in the harbor called Cockatoo Island. It’s sick out there.

How would you compare the scene from Australia to LA?

The spectrum is really wide and it’s cool and diverse. It’s cool because we’re all friends with each other because we all played the same dive bars. Anna Lunoe is my favorite, we’ve done collars in the past but we might have to back to back sets happening in the future.

What advice to you have for producers trying to find their unique sound and how can set themselves apart from everyone else?

Finding a unique sound is hard because at the beginning you have to mimic other people’s sound. But once you are able to hear someone’s song and dissect how they made it, THEN you’ll be able to create your own sound. I’d say keep mimicking until you find yourself. Grab some sample packs and watch YouTube tutorials.

Okay now I’m going to rapid fire some questions at you: chocolate or vanilla, cold weather or hot weather, nikes or adidas, cats or dogs?

Chocolate, hot weather, adidas, dogs.

GG Magree

Yo yo yo, this is Stephskiii repping Trillvo in Canada with ya girl GG Magree. How are ya feeling? That was some crazy energy!

I’ve been looking forward to playing here because I kept getting a ton of DMs and when you play early, you never know and it’s the last day of the festival but the turn out was sick. I have some super die hard fans, one girl had a sign that said I drove ten hours to see GG. One girl started crying and it almost made me cry. I try to be humble and real. Key to my life is to be happy.

I’ve heard of your clothing brand. What’s the inspiration behind “Yeah Pussy”?

You get so scared to put shit out there. It’s a piece of you. “Yeah Pussy” is so bold and you have to be bold. It clicks with me because yeah I care, but I would rather the world see my flaws then not. Something I could put out people could love and something I could put out people could hate. At the end of the day, I just have to be myself. People are going to look at you, laugh at you, love you. “Yeah Pussy” makes you vulnerable. Just do you in the best way possible. My boyfriend says I date myself and that he’s my side bitch, but HELL YEAH.

Alex, her videographer, walked up with a massive drink in a watermelon. Enjoy listening to GG Magree’s review of the beverage.

You rap, you sing, you DJ, you produce, you have a clothing line, what inspires you to try so many new things and how do you manage the stress?

I do whatever I can. I don’t push myself to force ideas out. If I can’t think of any music, I switch to clothes.

You just released a “wish you were gay” remix, how do you like the feedback?

You could hear her mouth movements in the vocals, everyone wanted me to do something hard core with it, but I wanted it to be vibey and sexy. It makes you want to grind.

One thing I hate that people ask is how is it being a woman in the industry. Instead, what mentality do you have as a woman and how do you keep pushing?

I get it girls do girls all that stuff. Everyone’s a human and everyone struggles, I just think the most important thing is to stay true because otherwise you’ll get lost in everything. People are going to tell you you suck, people are going to tell you will lose. No matter what gender you are.

LICK

I heard your obsessed with ramen!

It’s so simple to make and I’m Asian (Chinese). It’s always my go to meal. We even want to plan a “Lick n Slurp” at Red Rocks as a meet and greet at a ramen shop.

How was playing in my home state in Tampa first stop of your tour at Sunset Music Festival?

The second stage I played was like Ultra. The energy was unreal, and I had a lot of fun! Most excited for tour with Deadbeats. Really excited for some shows that haven’t been announced yet. Red Rocks is going to be super dope and we have some surprises for that.

You’re playing Electric Forest correct? Are you excited?

The hype behind forest is crazy, I feel like I’m going to meet a lot of my loyal fans. The energy is going to be crazy for 4 days, I can’t wait.

What future releases and collaborations do you have in store?

Just finished my album which will drop in July so right now we’re releasing songs bi weekly. Working with some amazing singers. I’m a firm believer in working really hard and only a little bit of luck. Stay humble and continue to do what you do.

Favorite ramen?

It’s the type of broth that I’m in love with. Spicy miso is like an orgasm in your mouth.

I hope you guys enjoyed learning a little bit more about these three artists. We were so fortunate enough to be able to interview them at Ever After this year, and we want to thank each of them for taking the time to sit down with us. By this time next year they’re going to be achieving their dreams, and were excited to follow their journey!

Straight From Mau5trap, Julian Gray Gives Us An Insight Into His World

Written by: Michael Placencia

 

Mau5trap’s most recent artist, Julian Gray, has been making some serious waves over the past few years. His unique combination of Progressive House, Techno and Electro have even garnered so much attention that his own fans have dubbed his style as an entirely new genre which they call, “Progresso.” Julian’s one of a kind style was so innovative that it caught the very own king of Mau5trap’s attention. That’s right, Deadmau5 himself was enthralled and sure enough Julian’s tracks became featured on various Mau5trap releases such as the “We Are Friends” compilation series. If you haven’t yet heard of this insanely talented musician, then we’ve got you covered. Julian was kind enough to let us interview him. Here’s what he had to say on a lot of interesting topics.

Photo Credit: Robpolgar2

What made you want to become a DJ/Producer?

“Well first I consider myself more a musician than a DJ/Producer necessarily. My family is very musical. I grew up in a family of music lovers and creative people. My mom was a really big music fan and grew up on the cusp of new wave and industrial music, my dad is a guitarist and had a home studio in the house. Music was always around me when I was young, so it was a natural progression that I’d become a musician myself.”

Who are your influences for your music/sound?

“Definitely Deadmau5 and Porter Robinson, those are obvious ones. Some less obvious ones I’d say are Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles who taught me the importance of counterpoint harmony and countermelodies at a young age, Pink Floyd for their immersive composition, and Coldplay for their incredibly catchy songwriting. Really though it’s hard to narrow down influences as I listen to an absurd amount of music of many genres. I just take things I like from whatever I’m listening to at the time and try to use it in my own work. Artistic expression to me is showcasing a culmination of some of the things you like or are moved by in your own work in a physical sense, whether it be a song, painting or otherwise.”

Photo Credit: Brady Lavigne

How would you describe your sound/music?

“Silly, un-apologetically me, ever-changing. My biggest goal when writing is to always stay true to what I love and the music I’m enjoying. My style shifts around a lot because of it. Some days I’m writing trance, others house, and others still I’ll be making techno, it really depends on my approach for each song. One thing you’ll always find though is a focus on melody and harmony, that’s embedded in the DNA of my production.”

Aside from making music, what do you like doing in your spare time?

 “I’m also a graphic designer, computer enthusiast, and an educational content creator on YouTube. I teach and mentor up and coming musicians from around the world. It’s something I’m really proud of, and may actually find it more gratifying than creating itself. Something is truly special about helping someone actualize their creative vision.”

Photo Credit: Brady Lavigne

Which artist(s) would you want to collaborate with in the future?

“SO many! Some off the top of the head, Skrillex, EDDIE, American Football, Panic At The Disco, Fleetwood Mac, Coldplay, and Paramore.”

Just recently, Julian played EDC Las Vegas and we were fortunate enough to ask him his take on how the entire experience felt.

What was it like playing EDC and how did it feel emotionally once you finished your set?

“EDC was just like any other set: An incredible experience sharing some of my favorite music and some of my own music with everyone. That being said there was definitely something special about it. The production and the view from the stage of the entirety of EDC and the crowd at my set was incredible, and there’s a certain energy in the air at festivals like that you cant find in club shows. I loved performing EDC 2019, and am looking forward to similar events in the future!”

Photo Credit: Brady Lavigne

Last but certainly not least, we asked one of our favorite questions. The answer Julian gave was more than humble and kind.

What do you hope to accomplish in your career over the next few years?

“Keep on growing as an artist, perpetuating creativity, and supporting fellow creative people in my life. Art is really what everything is about at the end of the day. Thanks for having me!” -J

Julian Gray has cemented himself within the music industry as a young, gifted, humble, and exceptional musician, as well as a great person. As he progresses further in his career, so does his experience and talent. With already having played one of the biggest EDM festivals in the country, Julian is soaring to new heights at the speed of light. We think it’s safe to say he’s done enough to make even deadmau5 himself proud. Mau5trap only continues to grow with its vast plethora of talent; And just like Rezz and i_o, Julian Gray is quickly becoming one of the rising stars of the bunch. Only time will take him even further to greatness.

For more on Julian Gray, follow him on his socials below, and also check out one of his newest songs with Dezza, called “Cold Outside”, also posted below.

Soundcloud |Official Website |Twitter |Spotify

 

Ponzoo Talks Latest Tracks, Women in Music, and More In Latest Exclusive Interview

First we had a guest mix with him, then we had an exclusive track release, and now we at Trillvo have the honor of releasing this exclusive interview with Ponzoo. Making waves as a Dj/producer in the bass music scene, it was an honor getting a chance to talk to him. Check out what he had to say below.

 

What inspired you to create “The End?”

The song actually started out as a remix, I feel a lot of my peers go through this process at times. For whatever reason I couldn’t put the track out, and it didn’t sound right just as an instrumental. I decided to scrap the bulk of it, but keep some elements of the drop the same. So I found the vocal I wanted to use, put on some effects to make it sound more interesting, fixing the pitch and whatnot. On top of that I wanted a synthwave vibe to add a twist to the track. I’ve always loved 80’s synthwave, my mom played a lot of 80s music around the house when I was a kid.

What kind of music got you interested in producing?

This may sound kind of textbook but the first time I heard “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” by Skrillex really made me say “what the fuck”. I first heard it at my buddy Christian’s house (now known as graves), he played it for me and it was just the craziest shit ever. At first I didn’t even understand it, it took me a while to actually digest that album, and I became infatuated with it. I really think that word [infatuated] is a major keyword. At that point I started writing a bunch of cheesy dubstep project ideas, just like what a lot of people probably did, trying to emulate what Skrillex did. Haha good times.

You have an upcoming track with DJ Romar and Lil Debbie, a very talented rapper. What can you tell us about what to expect and how it was working with her?

Lil Debbie has been killing it of course. She’s amazing. So basically my manager and her manager go way back and he wanted to see if we could connect, see what I could do as far as tracks to send over. Romar and I sent one over, they loved it, she recorded vocals over the song. It was so much more lit than I thought it was gonna be that we actually just ended up completely scrapping the whole beat, and made another separate one that works completely around Lil Debbie’s vocals. The original is trash compared to the final version. 

I love seeing more women succeed in this industry. It’s such a male-dominated field, and it’s great seeing her, and DJ friends of mine such as Wenzday, Callie Reiff and more just killing the game. I’ve heard stories firsthand about guys treating female artists like trash and it’s disgusting. If you’re talented and have good ideas you can succeed in the music industry, and it’s important not just for little boys to have people to look up to but the little girls to have those role models too.

How did you first meet with your manager, Clinton Sparks? 

Clinton is fucking phenomenal. He’s amazing. Long story short, I was doing pop production for a team at a well known studio here in LA, and we were both in the kitchen, eating cookies, and a buddy of mine introduced us, (shoutout to MZ). We started talking, found out we had more mutual friends, exchanged info, and went from there. We sent ideas and tracks back and forth, and worked on a bunch of hip-hop tracks together. In September of 2017 Cardi B’s Bodak Yellow came out, and I was working on a remix of it. I sent it to Clinton, and told him I was gonna release it the week after. Clinton said “Yo this is fucking sick.” At that point he started asking questions about my career. Up until that point we were production partners, but after he heard that remix he said he wanted to manage me as an artist, I said of course. Starting from there he’s been my manager and a really good friend. He’s like a big brother to me. He’s helped the careers of so many like DJ Snake, Tchami and so many more so he knows what he’s doing in both hip hop and electronic music. 

Where do you see the electronic music industry right now and in the future?

I see a lot more experimentation going on, a lot more blending of genres. From a production standpoint it’s going to just get bigger with the blending of samples and new plugins popping up every day, splice & ofcourse Native Instruments Sounds platforms (which I have a number of my own sample packs available on), it’s just going to get better, bigger and more collaborative. Things are gonna get more creative down the road. Throwback sounds are coming back too, with artists putting their own spin on it.

 

Artists like Troyboi, UZ, and Carmack are young legends who are going to not only keep winning by being unique but inspire others to be unique as well. It’s just going to keep getting more diverse. I’m excited to see where it’ll go. 

What is one interesting thing on your bucket list?

I want to make the hardest fucking trap beat while on a floating pink flamingo in some swimming pool in Santorini, Greece. Yeeeee! 

What is the furthest underwater that you’ll go?

Far enough to swim and have fun but not enough to where sharks go. I know probably all there is to know about sharks, that being said, I’ll just stay on the shallow end of a swimming pool my g! 

What is a hot dog? Is it a taco or a sandwich?

It depends on how you eat it. If you eat the hot dog the way it’s supposed to be eaten then I would consider it America’s taco. If you’re a crazy person and you eat it from the middle, then it’s a sandwich. 

On top of that, would that make a corn dog a calzone?

That would make a corn dog either a calzone or an American Chimichanga.

While on the topic of food, what is your favorite food to eat at home?

I don’t cook the only thing I know how to make are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. If I’m going out to eat I’d do sushi or tacos. 

Are there any people that you’ve been surprised are fans of your music?

Without singling out any artists, since there have been quite a few lately, I’ll say this. I’m always surprised whenever anybody likes my music, and I mean that in the best possible way. I’m always amazed when I get DMs from people in other countries. Someone across the world actually listened to something I made on a laptop, in a dark room. It’s an amazing feeling when someone says that one of my tracks means something to them, it’s why I love doing this.

Is there anything else you want to say to your fans, friends, or haters?

If you don’t like me, Trillvo, or this interview, you probably eat hot dogs like sandwiches.

 

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