EDIT: If you download from the player, delete the last “/download” from the URL
DJ i6 has returned with “Electric Midnight”, his new 12-track followup to his successful debut “Music Is My Religion” EP. He starts things off big at the beginning mashing some Top 40 vocals over Porter’s “Moar Ghosts” Bootleg and doesn’t ease up on the gas until the whole album is done. If high-octane EDM mashups like those of Kap Slap are your style, this is your EP. He also takes a stab at original productions towards the end, which is definitely worth checking out. I recently sat down with i6, so hit the jump for a short interview that discusses his creative process, his place in the mashup world, as well as his own future.
How do you feel you’ve grown since “Music Is My Religion”?
The “Music Is My Religion EP” was a fun project I worked on and released in January of this year. Since then, I’ve definitely started to put more time perfecting tracks and really making sure they’re the best they can be. I also think I’ve refined my own style and sound in the time since and have really focused in on developing my identity. MIMR was definitely a big step in the process of getting to the point I’m at on the creative end.
You obviously have a special relationship with 3LAU. How do you think his mentorship has helped guide you to where you are today?
Good timing on this question; last night I got to see 3LAU and spend some time catching up at his show in Newport which was a lot of fun. I became familiar with him pretty early on in his career as “3LAU” and have been lucky enough to get to know him pretty well and even perform with him, which was a great experience. I remember when he was still somewhat of an unknown, I heard the EP he did with Kap Slap before they released it and thought “wow, this guy’s about to blow up,” and you know the rest of the story. 3LAU has definitely been one of my biggest inspirations because guys like him and Kap Slap really brought a whole new scene in the mashup game, fusing it with EDM and creating something really special. As some of my long-time fans can attest, my style has really changed tremendously over the years, now being almost entirely EDM-based, which can definitely be at least partially attributed to these guys. It’s great to have him to bounce ideas off of, and I’m lucky to call him my friend.
Any other big influences in the mashup/EDM game?
Like I mentioned, Kap Slap is definitely up there, Basic Physics, Trademark, and many more. As far as EDM goes, there’s no way I could name just a few…I have so many artists I look up to that it would take forever to list them out.
Have you tried taking some stabs at original production?
I have. I’ve been practicing my production skills for quite a while, and plan to start releasing more and more originals/remixes. So far I’ve produced a remix to Paul Loeb’s “Let the Music Come to Me” which is featured on “Electric Midnight” and I also produced the beat for PJ Simas’ “Turn Me Up”, and there’s a lot more in the works.
What’s next for DJ i6?
Like I mentioned, planning on stepping up on the original production side, but my mashups aren’t going away anytime soon. After “Electric Midnight”, I’ll probably take a short break then go right back to working on new material. No plans set in stone yet for releases, but there won’t be too long of a wait. Also, I’m going into my last year at Cal Poly, and I’m sure I’ll be travelling and doing a bunch of shows throughout the year. For booking inquiries, email booking@dji6.com. Thanks DML!
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