Daniella Downs

FOLLOW THE BEATS: BreakBeat Energy’s Monthly EDM Newsletter – May 2009

With the mention of the name “Daniella Downs”, you might get a smile and laugh – or a scowl and shake of the head. But rarely will you get a blank stare, as Daniella Downs is a largely known figure among the locals in the DC scene. He’s played out on both coasts of the country and has plenty to say about the state of the EDM scene, breakbeats, techfunk, and all things relating to the label that he works for.

Daniella Downs has been a significant contributor to the DC scene – along with other projects he has worked on, he has played a large role in bringing headliners such as Myagi, Groove Diggerz, Nick Thayer, 30hz, and Elite Force to DC. However, there is plenty that the public doesn’t know about Daniella Downs, so we took the opportunity to chat with him about his dealings in the scene lately:

BreakBeat Energy: How did you develop into Daniella Downs?

Daniella Downs: I thought I was really clever when I came up with my first DJ name – DJ Mirage (totally after the transformer). Upon learning that some DJ in Florida had it, I had to change it. I was sitting with an ex girlfriend at the time, I told her to come up with a slutty sounding female name. Daniella Downs was the first thing she came up with. I don’t exactly remember why I had wanted a slutty porno sounding name, but I figured it would be different, and there wouldn’t be another DJ with my name. I’ve found pornstars with names that are close, but never my name. You know, I get asked this question more than anything else. I could be the world’s biggest DJ, and i’m still going to get asked why I have a girl’s name. Comes with the territory though, I suppose.

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.

Daniella Downs: Oh man. My first party was this little gig in PA. I was shaking like you would not believe. I don’t really remember much of it other than I was freaking out before I played. My first gig around here was actually for DJ Proxxy at the Wearhouse at like 8am. Luckily, there weren’t that many people there. I tell you what though, the first time I ever played at Alias when it was at Nation was a life changer for me. I was tagging with Joe Kopasek, who was on a serious rise at the time, and it gave me a good rub. If he’s reading this, he’s going to laugh at me saying that. I remember the first time I ever played at Buzz, and I thought it was the most amazing thing ever. As a DJ around here, Buzz was always the place you wanted to play. Getting the opportunity the first time to play there was the most nerve racking experience ever. The actual gig was amazing loads of fun, but I was so nervous leading up to it.

BreakBeat Energy: Give me an overview of your growth as a DJ – what style did you start with and how has it changed over the years?

Daniella Downs: When I first started DJ’ing, I was living with my friend Eyleen. She played deep and funky house, so that’s what I learned on. I think I actually have a tape somewhere of myself playing old paper and tango type stuff. I played all kinds of random stuff until I started tagging more and more with my old partner Marco. He got me more into breaks, and I played a good amount of oldskool breaks stuff for a good while.

Marco introduced me to Splitloop, and they were the first producers to really get me into playing newer breaks. I hated the Nuskool trend when it was big. I fought it pretty vehemently, but once the music started to change and it wasnt all about who could have the most technical drums and darkest bass, I really started to get into it. I played a wide variety of styles of breaks up until the first time I heard Lee Coombs. He is easily the biggest influence on my DJ’ing career. I was sold on Techfunk from then on.

The musical market was moving towards that direction around 2003-2004, so there was countless loads of new things for me to wet my whistle with, so to speak. I’ve been trying to push Techfunk since then on, as I think it’s so much more a versatile style than most others. It encompasses house, breaks, techno, electro, whatever. It’s not outwardly funky or booty, but if you can look past external shells, it has loads of depth.

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?

Daniella Downs: My favorite gig I’ve ever played has to be Otakon. I played in the main area after Tony Contino one year, and there were easily 2000 kids in that room. Note that I had spent a good 2 hours at the bar across the alleyway, so I was pretty lit, lol. I played a good amount of techfunk, but the weirdest thing happened. Towards the end of my set, I was looping the vocal from Josh Wink’s “I am Ready” over top of something and I cut the other tune out so all you could hear was “I am Ready” across the speakers while I cued up House of Pain’s “jump Around” to close with. Every time the vocal repeated, the crowd screamed and cheered. It was not something I expected at all, but was an awesome surprise. I let it go for about a minute until they were frenzied, and then cut it to Jump Around. The place went completely off, and the floor was actually shaking with people jumping up and down at that point. It was, and still is the biggest rush I’ve ever had DJ’ing. I wish it was on video, because I’d just like to watch it again and again.

The most memorable event i’ve ever put on would have to be Superfunkidiculous. That party took loads of effort between the Ground Zero kids and myself, and was kind of a wake-up call to the scene around here that the rave was still alive and kickin. I’m sure most people weren’t there for either Myagi or Greg J, but they both absolutely killed it that night. I have never been more proud of something I’ve done than that night.

BreakBeat Energy: Who are your music idols and how have they influenced you as an artist?

Daniella Downs: Numero uno would be Lee Coombs. From his mixing style, to his musical style. He is first and foremost my biggest influence. People like Elite Force and Meat Katie have been as well, but I really got into them from my love for Lee. I have to say that having worked for Lot 49 (Meat Katie’s label), and U&A (Elite Force’s label), and being able to talk to people that you’ve idolized for years is the most amazing concept on the planet. The fact that I can go to any of the bigger techfunk people in the scene and just shoot the breeze with them is something that I don’t think I’ll ever get really accustomed to. It blows my mind even to this day. I still get somewhat nervous talking to Lee though, as he was the biggest catalyst for everything that I’m striving for now. Mark (Meat Katie) used to laugh at me when I would talk to him about my worshipping of Lee, but I can’t help it.

BreakBeat Energy: What projects are you working on these days?

Daniella Downs: Nowadays I am the label manager for Dead Famous Recordings. Dead Famous is the label that was started by the Robosapiens, and one that I started to really like a few years back. I had just about everything they’ve put out and I was at the point where I’d worked for various labels for a few years – so I was ready to try my hand at being the actual decision-maker for one. I had co-run Scrape recordings with Zar of the Cereal Killaz, but when the opportunity to take the helm of Dead Famous came along, I could not pass on the opportunity.

Dead Famous hadnt really done much in 2008, as both Robosapiens had babies and were focusing more on family matters, but there was the itch to start doing things again. Jamie offered me the job, probably thinking that I would do some bits here and there and allow him to focus on music a bit. I have taken the ball and run with it to a massive extent. Since coming on board, we’ve gone from a label that was solely breaks, to one that encompasses techfunk on the whole – house, breaks, techno, and even a dab of DnB and dubstep.

Dead Famous went from not doing much in 2008, to having one of the busiest release schedules planned for 2009. We have originals and remixes lined up this year from people like Future Funk Squad, EK, Break the Box, Myagi, Andrea Lai, Kickflip, Will White (Propellerheads), High Eight, Nick Thayer, Kid Kenobi, Cut la Roc, Product 01, Klaus Hill, Vandal, the Beatmonkeys, and many many more. While I have a full time job and a Fiancee, I try to spend at least 3-4 hours daily working on things related to pushing Dead Famous back into the consumer’s eye. Running a label that I loved for years, and being able to guide its future is easily the most fun i’ve had in years. I would not give this up for anything at this point.

It’s the perfect job for someone who is as motivated as myself. My fiancee supports me, but i’m sure she’s tired of me sitting in front of a computer. Once again, it comes with the territory though. There is no success without work. People love to expect things to magically come to them, but you need to wake up and realize that almost nothing comes without a price. I did digital promotions for years, for labels such as Lot 49, U&A, Passenger, 777, Sinister, Dead Famous (early on), Flat Out, and other responsibilities for labels like Diverted Traffic, and Title Fight. Having put in years of work to make the contacts and be in the position i’m in now is so much more rewarding than if I just was handed the position I currently have off the bat.

Also, I am the head reviewer for the breakspoll award winning website, www.nuskoolbreaks.co.uk. While I’m not as active on the review side nowadays due to other projects, on occasion I’ll still sit down and write. I also do digital promotion for Mickey Slim’s label, Bombsquad, and work closely with Klaus Hill for Title Fight. On top of all that, Proxxy, Zak Davis, and myself run an artist management agency and do US representation and set up tours for an assortment of international breaks artists. Somewhere in there, I also manage to throw parties in conjunction with local promoters to expose the area to talent that I personally think is pretty cool. We just had Nick Thayer in the area, and expect a few more surprises up my sleeve this year.

BreakBeat Energy: What’s your favorite tune(s) at the moment?

Daniella Downs: While biased towards my label, I’m scouring the internet daily to find new stuff that gets me wet. My favorite producer right now is Eshericks. From Japan, and speaking no English, this kid completely knows what he’s doing, and is going to be huge I think. He’s recently done a remix for us of Fisso & Spark’s “You are Right” which is out May 15th (alongside remixes from Andrea Lai, LuQas, Wasabi, and Washington DC’s own, Hyx) that is completely out of this world. When he first sent it over, I no joke listened to it in my car for 4 days straight. His remix of Nangi’s “Vivid” is out of this world, and I think would destroy any breaks loving floor.

The Robosapiens Re-Write of Digital Base’s “White Line” that we just put out is something i’m feeling pretty big, I must say. Both Jamie and Steve (the Robosapiens) have a massive love for acid music, and acid is easily my most favorite thing on the earth, be it in any genre. We recently signed 2 new EK tunes (Speak Your Grind, and Exit Enlightenment), to which i’m extremely pleased at, as I pretty much refused to let them be signed to any other label. I heard them, and was in love immediately.

The forthcoming Future Funk Squad album has a host of awesome tunes on it that should pretty much quell the breaks are dead rumors. The output of poeple like Beta, Mesmer, Kickflip, Robosapiens, Myagi, Mike Hulme, Zodiac Cartel are continually rocking my world atm.
As far as tunes that are released and not on Dead Famous, Karton’s remix of Liz Melody’s “Skeptical” is especially off the chain. Taking a step in a different direction on this one, Karton turn out something that is a clever nod to early plumps and a proper Nuskool banger. Every time I play it, even I kirk out. it’s *that* badass I think. As you can tell, the nuskool sound is something that’s grown on me in the last 5-6 years.

BreakBeat Energy: Who are some up-and-coming local DJs that you think could be or is on the way to making it “big”?

Daniella Downs: TWell, I’m living proof that you don’t need to be a producer in order to make an impact. That said though, I dont think most locals really have the drive or patience to put in years of work like I did, and I’m nowhere near big yet. That said, I think people like John C are well on their way. I’m a big fan of his stuff, and would love to see him try his hand at techy breaks. John – if you’re reading this, you have a mission. Lately i’ve been trying to get Adegen to start producing again. That one remix he did for Stellar years back, I *still* like, and he also did this one tune called “Big Pimpin” that sadly will never see the light of day, nor get finished. I have played it out several times, and tbh, if he re-created it, and updated it a bit, i’d put it out in a heartbeat. Awesome tune. If he can get motivated to start making music again, I think the world is his oyster, as his musical direction is amazing. I’ve heard a couple of Tzeech’s recent works, and i’m thoroughly impressed. There’s also Jay Selway, who I hear wants to start making breaks again after a (still) successful run in the trance realm. Alexandria’s own R3volve has put out some great tunes. His progressive breaks remix of Imogen Heap’s Hide and Seek was massive. Most people don’t even know he lives around here.

BreakBeat Energy: Speaking of “big” DJs – there’s been a lot of talk about the strength of the DC EDM scene and whether or not high-profile DJs are worth their cost – when there’s a great deal of local talent to be had. What’s your take on this subject?

Daniella Downs: Yes and no. It really depends on what you want out of a DJ. We have loads of capable DJs around here, but if it honestly depends on what you want out of the experience you get out of seeing the DJ. There are lots of headlining DJ’s that have come through here that do things (even if it’s just play tunes that no one else has) that 99% of locals around here couldnt do. I do agree that there is a great deal of local talent to be had around here, but it’s hit or miss as far as a genre breakdown.

Take breaks for example – there’s a rack of DJ’s that love to play big rockin funkier stuff. In fact, most breaks DJs around here are like that. That said – if that’s what you want, you’ll get it in spades around here. If that’s not what you want, then your options are severely limited. So my answer here is – yes and no. However, If the question had been are the high priced veteran DJ’s who arent really doing anything fresh of their own anymore worth it vs. locals, then no. I would say they arent worth it. Hell, I would take Elite Force over myself any day. I appreciate people who are trying fresh and inventive things, regardless of genre.

BreakBeat Energy: What direction do you see the Breaks and Techfunk scene going from this point forward?

Daniella Downs: Techfunk has gone through a few incarnations. When it was big in 2004-2005, it was more progressive based, and then went though (and still currently) a more electro based idea. However, more techfunk producers are starting to delve into both nuskool and more techno territories, which have a big influence on the music that’s coming out. Techfunk staples like Lot49 are putting out less and less breaks, but that’s not to say that they aren’t still putting out amazing tunes. The breaks scene is very possessive of what its artists, many who have gone more straight beat routes because that’s what’s selling. I don’t think electro house will ever actually die, but I think once breaks starts making a name for itself once again, people will come back, and things will be viewed as thriving again. Everything moves in circles. Breaks were last really big about 7 years ago. Give it a few more years, and things will be back to that way.

BreakBeat Energy: Any additional information or things you’d like to express:

Daniella Downs: Please buy Dead Famous tunes. My fiancee loves to shop
ian aka daniella downs
label manager for dead famous recordings
bombsquad / title fight / techfunk alliance
head reviewer for www.nuskoolbreaks.co.uk
www.myspace.com/ian_is_the_illest
aim: theme from funk
Out Now / Soon on Dead Famous! Digital Base – White Line (Robosapiens Re-Write) / Robosapiens – Robots [DF15] – OUT NOW! Fisso & Spark – You Are Right (Andrea Lai / Eshericks / Wasabi / LuQas / Hyx Remixes) [DF16] Break the Box – Rock the Mic (Klaus Hill / Robosapiens / High Eight / Attack Release / Metachemical Remixes) [DF17]