Steven Sacks - deephouse.com podcast/interview #001
For our first deephouse.com podcast, we've got an exclusive mix from Steven Sacks, founder of deephouse.com. He also took some time to answer some questions for us.
Be sure to check out the podcast track listing after the interview, which includes links to purchase all of the tracks featured.
How’d you get into DJing? Was there a defining moment you realized you actually wanted to delve into the craft even more?
I grew up in San Francisco and went to my first rave in 1991. I immediately felt at home. I was 18 years old, sneaking into 21 and up deep house parties like Spundae back when it was in the basement of 111 Minna. I was listening to DJs like Doc Martin, Dutch, Carlos, and the Wicked crew, Jeno, Markie and Garth, as well as Mark Farina and Derrick Carter when they came through. I paid a DJ at a club in SF $100 to teach me how to DJ, and we spent a few hours at his studio where he taught me how to practice beatmatching. After that, I started buying records and practicing every day at friends' houses until I could afford my own used pair of 1200s. It wasn't until 1996 when I heard DJ Harvey play a legendary set and fully felt how powerful an experience a great DJ can provide that I dedicated myself to learning how to DJ at a much deeper level.
Can you tell us a bit about your influences growing up?
I was always into music growing up. I listened to wide variety of rock, funk and disco as a kid, and as I became a teenager, I started listening to rock and metal, as well as Devo, Talking Heads, The Cure, Front 242, lots of alternative dance music, as well as RnB and hip hop. My biggest DJ influences have been Harvey, Derrick Carter, Kerri Chandler and Rick Preston. Harvey because anyone who's heard him play can tell you he's one of the finest journey DJs ever. Derrick because I don't think there's anyone more technically gifted behind the decks than him. Kerri because one of the first records I bought was "Inspiration" and I've been a huge fan since. And Rick is simply fantastic. I always enjoy his sets.
You recently moved from the US to Tokyo, tell us what that's like.
Tokyo's deep house scene is really amazing. Any night of the week, I can go hear great deep house music somewhere and there are a lot of people here who are really into the underground. There's always great talent coming through and Tokyo is also one of the greatest cities in the world to live in.
Tell us about your mix... anything we should be looking out for?
I wanted to showcase a range of the type of music that we'll be curating on deephouse.com. I start off with some upbeat, jazzy and funky stuff, and work my way into some deep tech house. There's a chain of four tracks that I really like starting around the 33 minute mark. In particular, one mix that I think is very "me" is a long mix of Detroit Swindle "That Freak Stuff" with Laid "Punch Up". I like finding mixes where two tracks are "having a conversation" with each other.
What are your top 5 tracks at the moment…?
In no particular order:
- Junktion "I'm Wishin"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/im-wishin-original-mix/7817065" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/3214638/im-wishin"] - Oh Yeah "Nothing But The Beat" (Hot Toddy Vocal Mix)
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/nothing-but-the-beat-hot-toddy-vocal-mix/7114063" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/3065696/nothing-but-the-beat-hot-toddy-vocal-mix"] - Detroit Swindle "Live at the Cosmic Carnival"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/live-at-the-cosmic-carnival-original-mix/6687016" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/2518472/live-at-the-cosmic-carnival"] - Kiko Navarro "Isao feat. Amor" (DJ Fudge Afro Beat Remix)
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/isao-feat-amor-dj-fudge-afro-beat-remix/7020318" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/2727263/isao-feat-amor-dj-fudge-afro-beat-remix"] - Art of Tones "The Rainbow Song"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/the-rainbow-song-original-mix/6655398" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/2503137/the-rainbow-song"]
What would your dream gig be like?
Playing a venue that holds about 200 people max, right in the meat of the night, 2am-5am. A place where everyone there loves deep house and came to get down and get lost in the music.
On that same note, tell us about your dream collab?
I'd love to make something with the likes of Chris Todd, Todd Middleton or the one and only Kerri Chandler.
What's still left in store for 2016?
Full steam ahead on the launch of the all new deephouse.com. I'm looking forward to doing podcasts with world class DJs and artists from around the world and working hard to make deephouse.com the best destination for deep house music lovers - whether it’s in Europe, North America or Asia.
Keep a look out for exclusive mixes from world class artists in future podcasts.
Podcast Track Listing
- Harvey Sutherland "Bermuda"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/bermuda-original-mix/6794336" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/2589330/bermuda"] - Onsra "Funky Town"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/bermuda-original-mix/6794336" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/2580490/funky-town"] - Cupcakes "New Position"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/new-position-original-mix/5931656" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/2044095/new-position"] - Ninetoes "Finder"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/finder-original-mix/4258701" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/1409997/finder-original"] - Jacob Bech "Bright Nights"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/bright-nights-original-mix/5803829" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/2052983/bright-nights"] - Shadow Child & Doorly "Piano Weapon" (Instrumental)
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/piano-weapon-instrumental/5787616"] - Jayson Brothers "Monster Box"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/monster-box-original-mix/4615961" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/732134/monster-box"] - Detroit Swindle "That Freak Stuff"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/that-freak-stuff-original-mix/4934281" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/3357198/that-freak-stuff"] - Laid "Punch Up" (Wozsonik Vox)
[buy traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/16422/punch-up-spoken-remix"] - Saab "I Can Do It"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/i-can-do-it-original-mix/894453"] - Lovebirds "Love And Happiness"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/love-and-happiness-original-mix/1542291" traxsource="http://www.traxsource.com/track/1021492/love-and-happiness"] - The Bongo Man "Crab Drums"
[buy beatport="https://www.beatport.com/track/crab-drums-original-mix/8086344"]
