Exclusive Interview: Twitchin Skratch

In the artist spotlight this week we have none other than Chicago’s very own, Twitchin Skratch. Twitch is the owner of Murky Beatz and After Dark Recordings. He has been in the game for over a decade and has many accomplishments under his belt, such as songs licensed for commercial use (Jackass 3.5 [The Movie], E! Entertainment, MTV, Nintendo, VH1, and more). We got a chance to chat with Twitch and her’s what he had to say:

 

What Made You Want To Start Djing/Producing?

From The Moment I Stepped Foot In Club Xl And Industry Nightclub, Over 10 Years Ago, I Fell In Love With Electronic Music. Sure, Electronic Music Has Evolved A Lot Since Then, But The Energy And Vibe That The Dj Created Was Something That I Wanted To Do Myself. I Already Owned Turntables At That Point Because Scratching Is Something That Caught My Interest At An Even Earlier Age, So All I Needed To Do Was Start Stocking Up On Club Worthy Records. As Far As Producing, After Djing For 7 Or 8 Years I Felt Like Playing Gigs Was Cool And All, But I Wanted To Play My Own Music During My Sets.

 Who Is Your Biggest Influence(S)?

When I First Started Djing I’d Say My Biggest Influences Were The Scratch Djs: Bad Boy Bill, Mix Master Mike, Roc Raida, Shadow, Z-Trip, Qbert, Etc. As Far As Electronic Music Goes, Today My Biggest Influences Are Deep House And Techno Artists Such As: Claude Vonstroke, Dusky, Jay Lumen, Justin Martin, Joseph Capriati, Maya Jane Coles, Nicole Maudaber, Pig & Dan, Richie Hawtin, And Uto Karem To Name A Few.

 Whats You’re Favorite Record Of All Time?

That’s A Tough One. For Some Reason “Johnny Vicious – Moments Feat. Mindy K” And “The Horrorists – One Night In Nyc” Are Still At The Top Of My List. They’re Pretty Old Tracks, But It Definitely Has Something To Do With The Memories Associated With Those Tracks.

 What Is Your Favorite Party In Chicago?

Well, Since The Music I Produce Is Dark (Whether It Be Deep House Or Techno) I’d Have To Say All Of The Underground Afterhours Are My Favorite Parties. That’s The Only Place I Can Get Away With Playing My Own Production.

 Who Do You Want To Collaborate With?

I’ll Start With Any Of The Electronic Artists I’ve Listed Above… Outside Of Electronic Music, I’d Love To Do An Official Remix For Karin Park Or Lana Del Rey.

 What’s The Most Embarrassing Thing Thats Happened To You At A Show?

I Can’t Recall Too Many Embarrassing Moments. Maybe Grabbing The Needle Off Of The Wrong Vinyl…

 

What Do You Like To Do When You’re Not Working On Music/Djing?

I Eat, Sleep, And Breathe Music… I’m Pretty Miserable If I’m Not Near My Studio.

Tell Us A Little Bit About Your Labels, Murky Beatz & Afterdark Recordings

I Started Murky Beatz Back In 2008 As An Outlet To Make My Music Available On Every Major Download Site. Back Then I Just Started Producing And My Music Was A Lot Different Than It Is Today. In 2012, I Decided To Start Afterdark Recordings As A Sub-Label Of Murky Beatz. I’m Releasing Anything From House To Progressive To Techno To Electro On Murky Beatz Now And Afterdark Recordings Is Strictly For The Underground Sound.

 What Is Your Opinion On The Current Edm Scene?

Ummm… No Comment.

What Do You Think Will Be The Next Big Thing In Edm?

I Can’t Predict The Future, But I Can Only Hope That Deep House And Techno Will Be On The Rise.

Is There Any Upcoming Releases/Shows We Should Keep An Eye Out For?

Of Course! At The End Of May Mine And Domino’s Original “Bird Brains” Will Be Dropping On Afterdark Recordings With A Remix By Brian Boncher, My Original “Hazy Feat. Jerry” Will Also Be Coming Out At The End Of May On Murky Beatz, And I Have A Few Originals And Remixes Coming Out Soon On Labels Across The Globe, Including Decide, Which Has Already Attracted Well Known Artists Such As: Daniele Petronelli, Gaty Lopez, Jay Lumen, Nice7, Nicole Maudaber, Pig & Dan, Sasha Carassi, And More). Other Than That, I Just Debuted Episode 1 Of My New Podcast “Twitchcast” On May 1St. I’ll Be Dropping A New Episode Every 1St Of The Month Featuring Some Of The Finest House, Deep House, Tech House, And Techno. Here’s The Link To Download It For Free: Http://Soundcloud.Com/Twitchcast

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