Ken Christensen
Follow The Beats : BreakBeat Energy’s Monthly EDM Newsletter – April 2009
Ken “ECB” Christensen
An ex-DC native, he is a global House DJ and music producer. In the last 12 years he has managed five labels. For 10 years, he and a longtime friend and music partner grew a sizeable national fan base as the team “East Coast Boogiemen”. He has landed gigs alongside such artists as NERD, Common, Cyprus Hill, Mos Def and Rhazel.
Of course, we’re speaking of no one other than Ken Christensen. A musician and artist in his own right, Ken continues to contribute greatly to the EDM community around the world – with his roots and noteworthy history in D.C., BreakBeat Energy felt it was time to introduce him to the new faces in the scene (and re-introduce him to the old-school house heads). Now in Chicago and fresh from WMC, Ken took the time to speak with us to give us some insight on his history.
BreakBeat Energy: Let’s start off with WMC – how was it? Give us the full scoop on your experience there, starting with your gigs.
Ken Christensen: I played the Primal Records Party on Wednesday at the Beach Plaza Hotel along side LawnChair Generals, Kai from Tokyo, Fred Everything plus many others. It was an amazing party. The Tokyo guys brought a new DJ system, where you can pop out the consol and walk through the crowd while still DJing. Thursday, I played our label party with Iz and Diz, Miles Maeda and a ton of South American DJs. It was off the hook – 800 through the door!! Friday was the big party with APT, I had a ton of fun, played with Mark Farina, Massimo Dacosta, Honey Claws, LawnChair Generals, Fred Everything, Olivier Desmet, Joshua, and my new favorite Sean Dimitri and Tim Fuller on vocals. There were a lot of live bands here – it was next level. Friday night I did the Divine Lounge and then headed over to the FreeForm Party, which was also off the hook.
BreakBeat Energy: Did you meet up with any blasts from your past?
Ken Christensen: This is the one time that I get to see all my friends from all over the world in one place – from Brazil, to South Africa, to Honey Claws from New Zealand, and my boys from Tokyo and Korea. Plus all my crazy friends from Europe.
BreakBeat Energy: How many WMCs have you gone to in the past?
Ken Christensen: This would be number 10 for me.
BreakBeat Energy: What do you get out of attending WMC besides a gig and exposure?
Ken Christensen: I get a sense of where music is heading and tons of promo’s that are not released. I get the Beach and I get to lose my voice every year. I get to see a lot of up and coming acts to watch out for with my label – which is essential to the business.
BreakBeat Energy: Okay, for those who don’t know you…let’s jump back to the beginning – how did you get into the scene?
Ken Christensen: 1989 – the number, another summer / Sound of the funky drummer. Yes, I saw Fast Eddie live that year and was given some nice hand-me-down turntables from my cousin, a former DJ in Philadelphia. I began actually collecting vinyl in 1979 – with my first purchase being “Adam and the Ants”. I listen to an enormous amount of music and luckily all those piano classes and drum lessons I took as a child really were worth something. I had my first official “DJ” gig in 1995 under the name Rumor and started “East Coast Boogiemen” with Juan Zapata in 1997 – which ended in 2007. When did I hit “Electronic Dance Music”? I guess you can say the real answer would be…… 1987 at Pulsations in Philly – the club had a spaceship in the ceiling that came down and let a robot out onto the dance floor!
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.
Ken Christensen: Well, I walked to a club holding an actual crate of records. I think many Vodka drinks were involved. That’s all my selective memory came up with. (grin)
BreakBeat Energy: When did you realize “okay, I can probably go nationwide with this”? How and when did you come to realize that you’ve made it “big”?
Ken Christensen: I never had any sort of “realization” that I could have some major impact on a larger level. I really focused on playing the music I love and the people that came to see me play. I started producing and recording music in 1998. I think that really took me from traveling the US and into going global. If they can’t hear you in OZ or NZ, it means you have nothing out there. I guess my records found their way to those far off remote countries and someone liked it enough to want me to come and visit. As far as making it “Big”, I will say “Ken you finally did it”, when I host SNL – no such luck as of now!
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?
Ken Christensen: When you are speaking in terms of DJ growth, it can be applied to two different things. Growth of your name and/or growth of your knowledge and skill on the subject. I tend to focus on the art form and not so much the money/business/marketing side of things. I am an artist and will always be growing and searching for meaning in everything I do. My style is something called “House Music” and it falls into two more categories; good and bad! I like to think I play good house – House Music has changed over the years due to technology, but its core principle’s and value’s are the same – its a spiritual message of “Love and Happiness”. If you can convey that into a large crowd of people, I think you just may be on to something!
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?
Ken Christensen: Best experience was having Stevie Wonder come into the booth and request a Stevie Wonder Bootleg.
Most memorable event was playing a Boat party off the coast of Mallorca Spain, either that or opening up for Common a few months ago at House of Blues Chicago. I played at the boat party which left Mallorca and went to Ibiza and back. It was pretty intense, we made it back by 2 Am and the whole island had fireworks going off. The boat held about 300 people – it was rockin’ the whole time. During the day we jumped off the boat and went swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. I played for 5 hours and had an incredible time. The boat was called “Open Your Mind” and was owned by the club promoter I played for in Mallorca the night before. If you YouTube “kenecb”, it should bring up something from it.
BreakBeat Energy: What are your most favorite places to play out at (nationwide/worldwide) and why?
Ken Christensen: Every place is different and unique, so it is very hard for me to pick a number one club and or city. If I were to chose, it would have to be venue’s in warmer climates. This goes for worldwide as well. I love playing in New Zealand and Belgium and Japan as I have many friends there as well and can make house visits.
BreakBeat Energy: What’s your favorite tune(s) at the moment?
Ken Christensen: I am in love with a band called “Honey Claws”, google them! If you’re asking me what my favorite EDM tune is, I would have to say my whole record collection.
BreakBeat Energy: Which gives more satisfaction – production or DJ’ing?
Ken Christensen: I find that doing both gives me double the satisfaction. Why settle for one when you can control your DJing with your own production?
BreakBeat Energy: How many CDs and digital tracks have you produced? Do you have a particular favorite out of everything you’ve produced?
Ken Christensen: I’ve lost count. I do know that I am well over being signed to 36 plus music labels. I have also produced using various names aside from East Coast Boogiemen or Ken ECB. To name a few:
Mixes:
Insatiable Mix (Mastered) Jan 2009 (Right-click to download)
Releases:
Under The Influence (CD, Mixed, Promo, Ltd) Primal Records
I “heart” Bougie (12″) Amenti Music
Jamz From The Junkyard EP (12″) Deepfunk Records
Fat Ass” (ECB) Mama’s Home Cookin
“Its a Thang” (ECB) Mama’s Home Cookin
“Girl” (ECB & Derrick Atkins) Mama’s Home Cookin
“Rapped Up” (ECB) Mama’s Home Cookin
“Lovely Day” (ECB) Mama’s Home Cookin
“Dis Go” (ECB) Mama’s Home Cookin
Mista D (12″) Leg
End Up (12″) Amenti Music
Mista D (12″, S/Sided) Knockin Boots
Remixes: Follow Me (12″) Alphabet Music
What Will She Do For Love (12″) OM Records
Picture Of You Pt. 2 (12″) Blackcherry Recordings
Into Me (12″) Odds & Ends Music
Get Up (Part One) (12″, W/Lbl, Promo) Hallucination Limited
Get Up (Part One) (12″) Hallucination Limited
Unzip It EP (12″, EP) Select Recordings
Party Over Here! (12″) Aroma
BreakBeat Energy: Do you have a particular favorite out of everything you’ve produced?
Ken Christensen: “Jamz from the Junkyard” on Deep Funk Records is one of my favorites that I have produced, but I could keep going! The work I did under the name Butch Arley for Peaches was also another fun one. And everything I put out on the label “Mama’s Home Cookin”.
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?
Ken Christensen: The House music scene is the strongest of all EDM scenes, so I do not see it changing much going forth. But House Music as in song, will always change and that is what keeps me coming out and dancing.
BreakBeat Energy: Let’s talk about the U.S. EDM scene…it was underground, turned mainstream, and now its out of the spotlight and perhaps even going back underground. Having toured the country…where do you see it going?
Ken Christensen: I don’t think that it turned mainstream, I think majors labels picked up some acts after grunge died as if they were looking for the next big thing. I am really bad at measuring success in how many people you reach and how popular you are. I do not produce and play house because I want to be a rock star, its because I have to do it – its a part of me and I play it for my people.
As far as “Rave” goes, its much different in the US from the world as a whole. In Europe, what you would call Rave here, is totally different. There it is a much older scene, there is no fashion trend really, everyone goes to a club or venue or beach and parties till the sun comes up. The United States has always had this PLUR trend, everyone looks like they are 14 years old, and most people were not responsible enough “Including the promoters” to keep the scene safe for everyone. I watched the US rave scene fall from its glory first hand. But in the end, the music and vibes live on. If promoters are going to throw parties, they should take some responsibility for the people’s lives that enter their venues.
The way I have always viewed the EDM scene, is that its a party, its fun, go dance, get wild. There is no code of conduct, there is no procedure for how you are supposed to act. There is no limits to your imagination or decoration or dedication. But what I have learned is have a life outside of it. Stay balanced. Stay real, be human.
BreakBeat Energy: Any additional information or things you’d like to express?
Ken Christensen: Many of the so called “Big” DJ’s in the world are that way because of the money and marketing behind them. I know a great amount of well known DJ’s who cannot mix two records to save their life and somehow they are headlining major venues. I know stadium DJ’s who are known for their personal music but in reality they have hired a studio engineer and song writers to make the actual music and not themselves.
I know DJ’s who are using computer programs that do it all for you. These are prime examples of the typical “Big” DJ. In reality, they are not one person – they are a group of people behind the branding. They make big money and they are obsessed with Fame. They hire people to vote them into the top DJ magazines, the spend most of their time promoting and marketing themselves than actually doing anything artful. This is very common and is in every scene. P Diddy is a marketing guru, but Mos Def is Hip Hop. Mos doesn’t just make it, he lives it.
I have never wanted to become a “Big” DJ or a “Big” Producer. I simply would rather keep doing what I love, and if someone is listening, I have made my impact. That is the difference between an Artist and an Actor. I would rather live House than market it.
Ken “ECB” Christensen
bookings: www.aptentertainment.com
Alphabet Music and Media LLC
4848 N Sheridan Rd.
Suite 409
Chicago IL 60640
Office: 773-654-9460
Hours Of Operation: Mon – Fri 10AM – 5PM
www.alphabet-music.com
For a complete discography list, please visit these links:
www.discogs.com/artist/Ken+Christensen
www.discogs.com/artist/East+Coast+Boogiemen
