Every Friday we spotlight the hottest cats (and kittens) behind the decks in the MHC, grilling them to gain some insight on what it takes, exactly, to get the party rocking, to find out about their most treasured crate digging experiences and what they really think when we stumble up to them half cocked and ask them to play that new song by such and such -- you know, the one that goes...
This week: DJ Dragon, a widely regarded DJ who has performed at an array of high profile dance events, from Global Dance and Electric Daisy Carnival in both Denver and Los Angeles to Ultra Music Festival in Miami and the Caffeine Festivals. These days, in addition to holding things down on Thursdays at Beta and Fridays at the Church and spinning on KTCL's E-leven every Saturday, he's spending more time in the studio creating. Read the full interview with Dragon after the jump.
Name: Dragon but my mom calls me John Le
Club night(s): NRG Thursdays at Beta; Global Fridays at the Church
Style(s) of music you spin: House, Progressive and anything that gets the girls dancing.
So what's your story, in 100 words or less? DJ/Producer who was born in Connecticut and migrated to Colorado a long time ago. I've been a fixture in the club and party scene for ten years now. I've been fortunate to play at some of the world's coolest events including, Global Dance, Electric Daisy Carnival (L.A. and Denver), Ultra Music Festival in Miami and the Caffeine Festivals. Now I'm taking more time in the studio to conquer this aspect of my crazy journey.
Name of a track you can't get out of your head: Kostas K featuring Elizah - "Into the Night." The vocals give me chills. If there is a definitive "last track of the night," it's this. Keep your ears out for this BOMB!!!
Name of an artist you're currently championing in your DJ sets: Mark Knight. Anything this guy creates turns to gold.
What's been your best crate digging experience in another country (if you've had a good one)? I never really got to do much crate digging. The last few times I've gone overseas, its been during the age of Beatport; now I can get any song from anywhere around the world with a few clicks of a button. However, the best music is definitely coming out of Sweden, Holland and France.
Best club experience in another country (again, if you've had a good one)? Fabric in the U.K. I've always heard about the legendary club and to finally step into that place was amazing. It was nothing more than a dark warehouse with tons of fog and pumping house music.
Musical mantra: Play music people like.
Favorite DJ experience: Playing at Red Rocks at Global Dance when the sun was setting. Nothing more amazing then standing there watching 9000 people freak out as the music and visuals come together.
Worst request: Any time I get a request. I'm not a F*@king jukebox.
Worst club faux pas you've committed: Got too drunk and stopped the wrong CD player. It doesnt happen anymore; I've built quite a tolerance for any type of liquor.
Most treasured vinyl score: All my records. Even though they are sitting in my studio collecting dust, each track is linked to a special time in my life. The whole journey of digging through record bins and listening to each tune is special to me. The young DJs now will never really know what that is like, and it's kind of sad.
What other music-related projects are you currently working on? In the studio right now with a lot of great producers: Satori-C, Shawn Astrom, Joman, Kostas K, Lea Luna, Blend, Es ChinoRey and many more. Also holding it down on Channel 93.3's E-Leven every Saturday night.
What's something happening in the local music scene that should be getting more attention? Colorado has TONS of fantastic dance music producers, and I think this is the year where the world will start to recognize the talent.
What elements would your fantasy club night entail? Hmm...it would probably involve Beta, since it's simply the best club in the U.S, all my friends and fans, bottles of Grey Goose flowing and everyone dancing until we are all too tired to move.
Question we didn't ask you but you often ask yourself: Is that your real hair?
Next time we can see you spin: Beta on Thursdays / Glo 3 on 1/23 and I'm scheduled to play Artopia in February.
