Exclusive Interview: Shane-O

Today we have our friend Shane-O in the Artist Spotlight. Shane-O has been Djing for about 6 years. He will be doing his annual birthday celebration with United2nite/House Music Saved My Life this Saturday, February 7th at Afterlife. If you’ve never seen him preform before, we highly suggest you come see him this weekend. Read the interview we did with him below.

How did you first begin DJing/Producing?
An old friend named Trevor moved to the burbs and started getting into the EDM music scene. He would come back to our hometown and tell me about it. I started to get really interested, so I saved up and got my first set of CDJs in September of 2009.

Who is your biggest influence(s)?
Mark Farina has opened up my eyes to music more than anyone else.

What’s your favorite record of all time?
Dr. Dre – The Chronic (2001).

What was your favorite party of all time that you have played?
The first public event I ever played is probably my favorite. It was at a small venue in DeKalb, IL called The House Café. It has a capacity of around 250, but doesn’t commonly reach it. We had the place packed. All of my best friends and close acquaintances came out. It was nothing but smiles on the dancefloor.

Who do you want to collaborate with in the future?
I would love to collab with the Golf Clap guys. They have made some solid moves lately, are amazing at DJing, and seem like all around fun guys to kick it with. J.Phlip is another name on my list. Girl DJs/producers are few and far between, so I think that working with one would be an awesome experience.

What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you at a show?
Shortly before my first public show (mentioned above), I knocked my two front teeth out on accident at my buddies birthday party that I was DJing.

What do you like to do when you’re not working on music/DJing?
Working for an IT department as well as running my own personal one, going out dancing with my girl, Frisbee golf, reading, fitness, and social networking.

What is your opinion on the current EDM scene?
I’m happy that it is growing in popularity and that the modern producers are pushing the boundaries of genres. The amount of festivals and events has bloomed a lot as well. It’s nice being able to choose from a wide array of options in areas all over the country. I especially love how Chicago has become one of the biggest cities for EDM in the world .

What do you think will be the next big thing in EDM?
Gangsta House (G House). It combines the dance-ability of house and the popularity of rap music. I’m excited to see where artists like Destructo and Fractal System take the genre, and if it can make it to the mainstream.

What do you think about all these “frauds” in the EDM scene using ghost producers, buying likes and purchasing their own tracks on Beatport?
I don’t let it bother me, but I also don’t have much respect for these artists. The people that are really into EDM and its scene know where the real winners are at. The authentic ones may not have the biggest and most frequently sold out shows, but we know they bring the music that comes from their heart and makes us dance the most.

Is there any upcoming releases/shows we should keep an eye out for?
I’m am personally not releasing any music, but I’m always excited for new releases from Dirtybird, Four40, Hot Natured, and This Ain’t Bristol record labels. I am also excited to be playing #Afterlife this weekend.