Exclusive Interview: DangerWayne

 Dangerwayne has been making some serious moves as of late. This local talent has been impressing in the hottest Chicago clubs and has been able to catch the eye of some out side attention. He recently booked a gig in Miami during the last week of march, which is one of the biggest times and places for electronic music.  You need to pay attention to this guy, because we certainly are.

What made you want to start djing/producing?  

I first started at the age of 15 with a friend under the name “Dance Floor Massacre” we took out a loan to buy equipment & taught ourselves how to mix. As long as i can remember I’ve always been the “go-to” guy for music. I used to burn CDs for all my friends and those eventually turned into mixes. I took time off while in college and have been pursuing it full force since i graduated in 2012.

Who is your biggest influences?

I originally got my love for dance music from listening to local Chicago DJs like Bad Boy Bill, Alex Peace, Mixin Marc, Steve Smooth, Inphinity, & a bunch of others.  As far as big name producers, I’ve always been a huge fan of Wolfgang Gartner, Chris Lake, Eric Prydz, & Tiesto (Just to name a few).

Whats you’re favorite record of all time?

It’s hard to narrow it down to just one song, but if I had to pick it would be Fonzerelli’s Moonlight Party. This song was the anthem of my senior year spring break trip in Mexico. It’s always been special to me, so much so that I listen to it very sparingly so it never gets old.

What is your favorite party in Chicago?

Pure Soul Entertainment hosts a “Takeover” party once a month at bevy nightclub. Always a good crowd and quality music. Other than that I like any club that is based on music rather than bottle service & swank. The Mid, Spybar, Soundbar, & evilOlive are among some of my favorites.

Who do you want to collaborate with?

I’d love to collaborate with Pleasurekraft. They’ve managed to create a very unique sound and style that nobody has been able to replicate.  It would be cool to work in the studio with them. I’d also love to work with Duck Sauce (A-trak & Armand van heldin). They are always sampling old records in their productions and the end product always makes the dance floor move.

What’s the most embarrassing thing thats happened to you at a show?

I was closing for Marcus Schossow at dolphin last year. I was frantically trying to cue up my first track and had no sound in my headphones (for about 5 minutes).  Marcus saw me struggling, plugged in my headphones, slapped me on the back and walked away laughing.

What do you like to do when you’re not working on music/djing?

Music has definitely been taking over my life more and more especially now that I have a studio space to work in.  In my spare time I workout (while sifting through music), & spend time with my girlfriend.

What is your opinion on the current EDM scene?

Clearly EDM has blown up over the past year, which is awesome because the music that I love to play is now tolerable to way more people.  The problem is that a lot of people get into the scene for the wrong reasons. People want to become DJs to be cool or famous. EDM shows and festivals are selling out quicker and quicker, increasing ticket prices, & almost every big producer is dropping the same-sounding big-room progressive house bangers in an effort to top the charts.  Mainstream EDM has gotten cheesy, so as a DJ I try to find the common ground between mainstream and underground to keep everybody happy.

What do you think will be the next big thing in EDM?

Personally I’d like to see dance music put its focus back onto the simpler traditional forms of House music. Deep house is undoubtedly making a comeback. Tiesto has dedicated some of his Clublife podcasts to deep house mixes & its a refreshing change to the recycled high energy, hands-in-the-air builds n’ drops.  As I move forward in my production endeavors, I plan on making music that makes people dance, not jump up and down. I think thats the style of music that represents Chicago best.

Is there any upcoming releases/shows we should keep an eye out for?

Yes, I’ll be playing in Miami at the end of the month during Winter Music Conference. Doing a college tour mid-April (3 universities) [Dates TBA], & I’ve been booked for Spring Awakening at Soldier Field in June. You can also hear me on the Electric Playground radio show. (101.1FM on saturday nights). For my full weekly schedule visit: www.DangerWayne.com

Extra Links:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/04004B749BEB4670?camefrom=CFC_SOLDIER_FIELD_SAMF14_102