VibeSquaD mastermind Aaron Holstein on life as a producer and family man

Comments (0) By Britt Chester Wednesday, Feb 20 2013

Aside from touring as a solo act under the VibeSquaD moniker, Aaron Holstein has found the perfect balance between his duties as a highly sought-after EDM producer and those of being a father. Following a successful stint on Bassnectar's VaVaVoom tour, Holstein has settled in for 2013 by touring with electro-jam rockers Lotus.

Aaron Holstein, VibeSquaD mastermind.
Daniel Zetterstrom
Aaron Holstein, VibeSquaD mastermind.

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Fox Theatre

1128 13th St.
Boulder, CO 80302

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Boulder

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VibeSquaD, with Project Aspect, Seied and Check One, 9 p.m. Friday, February 22, Fox Theatre, 1135 13th Street, Boulder, $18.50-$20, 303-443-3399.

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Based here in Denver, one of America's EDM hotbeds, Holstein creates music that straddles several genres, blurring the lines between breakbeats and bass without straying far from his hip-hop roots. Live, a VibeSquaD show can quickly go from Holstein setting the groove with a nice house tempo to an insane, raging, full-blown dance party.

Westword: Tell me what it's like being a touring DJ with a family to support and how you maintain a healthy relationship with them.

Aaron Holstein: Touring is a challenge, even when you're single. It's certainly a big challenge with a wife and two kids. Balance is key. I'm fortunate to have a great family who supports what I do, but, in turn, I work really hard to be present and helpful when I'm home. I try to make it to as many karate-belt testings, hockey games, piano recitals as possible. I take my kids to the skate park and tear it up with them; I make music with them. I drive carpool to school and activities. And I work really hard on music during the day while my kids are at school and my wife is at work. I try to make sure I don't travel too much and leave for too long. It's definitely challenging, but worth it.

To me, breakbeats were a natural evolution for dance music. Why have you enjoyed this realm so much?

I've always been a fan of funk, hip-hop, soul, etc. I really like backbeats. They create movement and motion and rhythmic "conversations" in the music that I resonate with. When I first heard breakbeat music, like Tipper and SOTEG, I was like, "That's my shit! Let me at this!"

Did it ever occur to you to move into the dubstep world, or drum-and-bass, or trance? Those are some very broad terms nowadays, and your music touches on all of them, but how do you maintain your integrity as an artist while making music you love?

I listen to tons of different music styles, and I borrow lots from different genres. It never feels right to copy a trendy style just to be more "in." I learn from styles and genres, and I like to hear them emerge and evolve, but I don't like to imitate. I just make music that I love and hope that others will like it, too.

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1 comments
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monopod
monopod

Love to see Aaron having success.  He's a great guy, hilarious, and makes great music. Go see him, you won't regret it.

 
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