Brandon Black
Follow The Beats : BreakBeat Energy’s Monthly EDM Newsletter – April 2009
Brandon Black (center) and Axiom (right) at Return to the Loft, 2008. Photo by Fitsum Belay.
Imagine this: You’ve been invited to a super secret party dubbed Secret Sessions, set in a ridiculously posh mansion – designed in such a way to radiate the chill atmosphere that was meant to celebrate Valentine’s Day (candles, rose petals, dimmed lights, incense – all that was missing was Luther Vandross playing in the background). You don’t know what to expect, there was no real lineup and you don’t know any of the guests—most of whom seem to be well-educated urbanites who get down to the likes of all the heavy-weight R&B and hip-hop artists.
Venture downstairs to the basement, and there you find throwing down the chillest, funky deep house set is Brandon Black – always out of the spotlight but very much around. When Brandon is on the decks, his passion and excitement for music radiates intensely—he entertains his audience as he grooves to his own beats, making him one of the more pleasurable DJs to party it up with.
BreakBeat Energy: Let’s kick this off from the very beginning – how did you get into the EDM scene?
Brandon Black: I remember hearing all this to-do about raves back when I was like 13 or 14. By the time I was junior in High School I was ready to check one out. Of course “underground illegal parties” had been dead for quite awhile, but growing up in DC, I had access to the Edge and Buzz. I went to my first party at the Edge. It was Bionic Buddha. I was seventeen and made it in with a fake ID that I got in Georgetown at this shady video store on Pst. After that I was pretty much hooked. Later I would end up in the Midwest (Minneapolis) and experience what I had missed in the RAVE scene – truly renegade illegal parties that had some of the most insane vibes and talent I’ve ever experienced.
BreakBeat Energy: Tell us the story behind your first time on a set of decks or playing out at a party for the first time.
Brandon Black: Well this would be freshman year in college. I was 18 and at American University, I got the chance to do a radio show. I figured “sweet I can finally play the music I love for other people.” I knew two kids on campus that had turntables I asked if I could come over and practice with some of my records (“I had begun buying records at a shop in Georgetown called ‘Music now and Bohemia’ that later became ‘Yoshitoshi’) To my surprise matching beats was absolutely impossible. It was so bad that the kids who owned turntables told me I had to stop. I left with my tail between my legs and decided I need to get my own set of decks to learn properly.
BreakBeat Energy: Give me an overview of your growth as a DJ – what style did you start with, how has it changed over the years, and where would you like to take it from here?
Brandon Black: When I started I was no doubt a JUNGLIST. It was all I listened to 25 hours a day. ODI and DB mixtapes at first. Then I found out where the music came from and my love for DNB reached even higher heights. I was intrigued by the culture of DNB. The esteem it seemed to hold in the UK. Soon I was spending all my money on jungle records. I stated buying records in 98, so my collection is pretty packed with late 90s DNB. At the time I was in the MIND CONTROL CRU. This consisted of Axiom, AB Logic, Godfather Sage, Sionfrancco and Myself. We spent any and all available time in the session. Axiom had already begun producing. We were all catalysts for each others creativity. It was a great place to be to learn and progress in all things EDM related.
As the sound of DNB got progressively darker I found myself losing touch with it. Many of the melodic and soulful elements I craved were no longer there. I spent a few years just playing my old records but truly lost for direction. It was at the urging of my old friends from Mind Control that I found House music. I never really explored House when I was playing DNB. I found that it had everything I craved. It had soul, melody, funk and above all feeling. Music was once again tugging and my emotions. I have been playing house for the past 3 or 4 years and loving it. I have found that my tastes in house are always progressing (something that failed to happen with dnb). I use to stay in one genre when I first started playing house. A set would have to be all jackin or all deep. As I watched the DJs who really inspired me at the time (weeks, farina, etc) and those who inspire me now I have realized that a truly great DJ plays across many genres in one set, but it is done effortlessly and with great skill. This is what keeps a set interesting, both to hear and to play.
BreakBeat Energy: Tell me about the best experience you’ve had as a DJ? And what’s the most memorable event you’ve played at/put on?
Brandon Black: I really don’t know. I have so much fun every time I play out. I live for it. I had a blast at our party at the loft in October. One night at Five, Axiom and I played on the roof all night long and it was packed from beginning to end, that was fun. I also love playing out of town in Philly, Nyc and Miami. I really, really like playing house parties especially when they are packed to the ceiling and the walls are just sweating.
BreakBeat Energy: Which gives more satisfaction – production or DJ’ing?
Brandon Black: DJing, because I really get to see people enjoying the music. Production is very rewarding too. The feeling of creating something from scratch is awesome. The first time I got something signed was an incredible feeling. I couldn’t believe that someone liked something I had made enough to sign it. The bottom line is that both are a lot of fun, although, sometimes the creative process with producing can be very frustrating. When you hit a wall you have to find a way around it. But that is also the best way to expand your knowledge and grow as a musician.
BreakBeat Energy: How many CDs and digital tracks have you produced? Do you have a particular favorite out of everything you’ve produced?
Brandon Black: I have signed 17 tunes. I currently have 2 EPS out now (one on vinyl) as well as a remix I did for Llama Farm. The rest are coming out between now and June. I think my favorite track I have produced is probably the recent remix on Llama. Here is just a few:
Axiom and Brandon Black ~ Fried Chicken Rennesaince EP ~ flatpack vinyl
Brandon Black – The Ketchup Thief EP – Llama Farm
Sandwich Chris – A Little Better – Brandon Black Remix – Llama Farm
Minister Black – Dum Dum – Dirty Boots
Brandon Black – Cavity Creeps – 1200 Traxx
Brandon Black – Redemption EP – Dustpan Recordings
Brandon Black – Poor Man’s Son – Alphabet Music
Pete Le Freq – Burned (Brandon Black) Remix – Llama Farm
Brandon Black – Living for the Lifestyle EP – Deep II Disco
BreakBeat Energy: You’ve been around for a while. You’ve seen the trends all these years, in what direction do you see the House scene going from this point forward?
Brandon Black: It’s hard for me to say. On the national and international tip I see it continuing to evolve with producers discovering new ways to play with soul, funk and even more tech elements. Look at Detroit Drum Ensemble!!!! Wow that guy knows what’s up. Locally we need unity. No doubt about that. For a while our scene (in DC) had diminished. There was almost nothing going on. Then Graham and the 88 kids started doing LODA. The scene desperately needed something like that. LODA breathed new life into our scene and before you knew it, there were parties everywhere. Now, crews have started competing for their share of Friday and Saturday night. I decided awhile ago that I wasn’t going to throw any more parties. There are already TOO MANY! Now I’m all about DIY but if there are too many parties then the crowd will be spread too thin and none of them will succeed. Its just simple logic.
BreakBeat Energy: What’s your favorite tune at the moment?
Brandon Black: There are so many tunes that I like at any given time. If I had to choose one it would be “OST & KJEX – FEDERGEWIGHT.” It has the feeling of both funked out Techno and straight Disco.
BreakBeat Energy: Who are some up-and-coming local DJs that could or is on the way to making it “big”?
Brandon Black: My tag partner AXIOM lives in DC and he has been hard at work as the producer for the HOODFELLAS, who have quite a following and also watch out for DIMITRI MAX who is blowin up as we speak.
BreakBeat Energy: Where do you plan to go from here (are you trying to stay just local or were you trying to get yourself out of state)? What are your goals?
Brandon Black: Axiom is one of the owners of Smoke City Music. As far as goals go, I’d like to just keep playing as much as possible. Not sure there is really any chance of becoming a BIG NAME DJ. I think those days are past, but that is OK. I am more than happy just being a part of my local scene and playing the occasional out of town gig. The truth is that I have alot going on in my life right now that is not music related. Life is about balance. I have a caring and beautiful wife named Heather. We just bought our first house and I have to make sure that I save time for us to just be us and not spend every minute doing DJ related activities, but at the same time I can’t ignore that part of my life because it is so deeply a part of who I am.
BreakBeat Energy: Any additional information or things you’d like to express?
Brandon Black: Thanks for the opportunity. Please catch Axiom and Myself at the 5 SPOT RENUNION on 4.8.09 at LOTUS. Please peep my website (www.djbrandonblack.com) and dl my new mix.
http://www.sendspace.com/file/azqatq
1. Gimikk – Dancing on the Stars
2. Marshall & Libex- Turin Quality Clubbin
3. ?????????? – ???????????
4. DJ Dealer – Whatcha Gonna Do
5. Ost & Kjex – Federgewicht
6. Guillaume and the Coutu Dumonts – I Was on My Way to Hell
(a big thanks to Axiom for introducing me to this tune if it wasn’t for him I never would have come across it)
7. Kevin Yost – Get the Horns
8. Jay Bliss – Goose (Hoodfellas Remix)
9. Prompt – Salix
10. Damien Bailey and Andy Kinky – Call of Duty
11. Uptown Funk Empire – Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now (Patchworks Mix)
12. JY – Quaaludes
13. Twisted Rhythm – Losing You
14. DJ Funkso – Beach House Disco
15. Marvin Gaye – What’s Goin On (1200 Mix)
