Westword Music Showcase 2005

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

Jay-Z.

Football or foosball?

I don't like sports.

Parting shot?

Drugs are for suckers.

DJ CHONZ
NOMINATED IN DJ: DANCE -- CLUB/HIP-HOP
9:15 P.M., SERENGETI UPSTAIRS

Website: www.djchonz.com

Native or transplant?

Native.

What’s in a name?

It’s a Spanish slang word for “underwear.”

When did you start performing?

1993.

Who or what do you sound like?

I sound like me.

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Illmatic (Nas); No One Can Do It Better (the D.O.C.).

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

Mr. Choc, Kid Capri, DJ Babu and DJ Spinbad.

How do you pay the bills? What is your day job?

I work for KS 107.5. I’m on air and mix from 5 to 6 p.m. every weekday. I also have a marketing company called Radio Bums Marketing.

Finish this sentence: If I didn’t have to worry about money, I’d . . .

Travel.

Finish this sentence: I’d rather be . . .

Sleeping.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself as a music or program director for a radio station.

What’s the biggest misconception about you?

That I only can play one genre of music.

Give us a random factoid about yourself:

I’m the very first live commercial DJ to mix on Denver commercial radio.

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

I’m gonna go with Jay-Z.

Football or foosball?

Football.

DJ CYSKO ROKWELL
NOMINATED IN DJ: TURNTABLIST -- HIP-HOP
8 P.M., VINYL PATIO

DJ IDIOM
NOMINATED IN DJ: TURNTABLIST -- HIP-HOP
5:30 P.M., VINYL PATIO

Website:www.djidiom.com

Personnel:

Me.

Native or transplant?

Liver transplant.

What's in a name?

A name can be nothing or everything. In my case, I chose Idiom because I needed a name to write on a CD a few years ago, and I felt it was descriptive of my style and mentality.

When did you form/start performing?

Two and a half years ago.

Releases/discography:

Portrait of the Artistmix CD (May 2002 -- this wasn't actually released; it was just a CD I originally made for my friends and then ended up selling burned copies of until late last year). Nursery Rhymesmix CD (January 2005, for Sherbert magazine).

Who or what do you think you sound like?

Honestly, I used to sound similar to DJP and Z-Trip. I was friends with DJP when I was getting into hip-hop as a youngster, and his thing was mixing whatever he wanted, regardless of what style of music it was. Hearing his blending genius really opened my eyes in terms of how I perceived hip-hop. He blended '80s, metal, kids' songs and almost everything else and made it sound like hip-hop somehow. Even though I wasn't deejaying back then, I was getting a subliminal lesson every time I heard him mix. Thanks to him, once I started spinning, I wanted to mix everything that was influential to me from music and film into one mix tape and make it hip-hop. Thus, I was mixing a lot of rock with hip-hop, which is now universally seen as the Z-Trip and DJP sound -- and rightfully so. Lately, I've only been buying old jazz records, and I'm heading in that direction with my mixing, which I hope will mature into a new style and a sound of its own.

What are some of your noteworthy recent feats?

One-shot parallel parking job, a month ago. Opening for the Digable Planets show, last night. Blue Ribbon, 2005 Denver Dog Grooming Championships. Runner-up, standing long jump, 2005 Colorado State Games. Honorable mention, 2005 Colorado State Chili Cookoff. Bronze medal, 2005 U.S. Amateur Figure Skating Championships. Finalist, Scion free up mix-tape competition (www.scion/mix).

What albums have had the biggest impact on you?

Reachin (Digable Planets); Midnight Marauders (A Tribe Called Quest); Endtroducing (DJ Shadow); Pre-Millennium Tension (Tricky); Uneasy Listening (DJP and Z-Trip); Protection(Massive Attack); Post (Björk); Apropat (Savath & Savalas); 70 Minutes of Madness(Coldcut); Automate Everything(Cacheflowe).

What artists have had the biggest impact on you?

Those mentioned above, as well as lots of local artists who have pushed me to develop as a musician. And, of course, others I can't think of right now.

How do you pay the bills? What is your day job?

Paying the bills is always questionable. I work at Twist & Shout Underground and Hapa in Cherry Creek.

Finish this sentence: If I didn't have to worry about money, I'd...

Be on a spaceship.

Finish this sentence: I'd rather be...

On a spaceship.

Who would play you in the screen adaptation of your life?

Sideshow Bob.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Minimum-security prison.

What's the biggest misconception about you?

That it's possible for me to make a living as a DJ in Denver. It just ain't happening.

Give us a random factoid about yourself:

I just found out that I have the same b-day as Sun Ra.

Elliott Smith or Jack Johnson?

Jackiot Swinson.

Weezer or Winger?

Wizger.

Jay-Z or Z-Trip?

J-Zap.

Football or foosball?

Foostball.

Parting shot?

Vote Quimby.

DJ IVY
NOMINATED IN DJ: DANCE -- CLUB/ELECTRONIC
8 P.M., VINYL DOWNSTAIRS