Sep 12, 2022
Get To Know: DJ Dee
We're joined by DJ Dee, a Chinese artist based in the US. She has an interesting musical background which includes training on a Chinese instrument called the Guzheng, and when she discovered electronic music in college, she was hooked and has been growing as an artist ever since! With big tracks coming on Nervous and mau5trap, it was the perfect time to catch up and learn about everything going on in Dee's world!
Hey Dee, thanks for joining us today! How has your year been going for you? Reflecting on 2022, what experiences would you most like to share with us?
Hi, I'm great. Thanks for having me! 2022 has been a very special year for me, and there were a lot of memorable things that happened this year. In particular, my work is being recognized by more and more professionals as well as listeners. Most recently, my track "Dance With The Groove" was released in May and has been received really well. Not only that, Perfect World, one of China's top game companies, has signed exclusive rights to use the song for a specific game character. Also, I have two tracks called "Follow Me" and "Disco Lights," which were signed to Nervous Records. I was invited to play at their label showcase in July, which was my first show in New York. I also have music coming out on one of my favorite labels, mau5trap! These milestones are due to my love of music, and I look back on the past year with great joy that my hard work and dedication have paid off.
Tell us about your background as an artist. What made you want to pursue a career in dance music, and how did you launch your artist project?
When it comes to my childhood experience, I started from learning the Chinese Guzheng. It was the Guzheng that sparked my interest in music and art. Later I began to receive professional training in classical music. In college I chose music performance as my major. One of the courses in Logic software sparked my interest in composing. The process of making music is full of unknowns, and this sense of unknown satisfied my curiosity, and I have been learning more about music production ever since.
You know, when you're in school, you always have a lot of friends who party. We went to clubs together and FISHER's "Losing it" brainwashed us. So then I started making tech house. I always wanted my friends to dance to my music. As I got deeper into electronic music, I realized I had a special feeling for techno. When I listen to techno music, I am always thinking about how to design the sound. As a result, I began to focus on making techno.
Who are some artists who you draw inspiration from for your music?
There are many artists that have inspired me. The first one I got hooked on was FISHER. I bought all of his songs, and my favorite thing about him was the energy he exuded when he played. I was hooked on tech house for a long time because of him. Then, by chance, I saw Amelie Lens share a video of her playing turntables on her channel. Instantly, I was drawn to her unique style of music, and many of my later works were influenced by her style and music. She inspired me to be more creative.
How would you describe your style as a DJ and as a producer?
When I'm on stage, I have a lot of energy. I like to use my emotions and music to get people moving. I want to watch people dance with me. My music is even darker with stronger textures. I like to express my attitude toward the world through rhythm and movement. If you want to know more about me, follow me on YouTube. I always post DJ set videos there.
Can you pick one of your releases from this year and tell us about how the track came together? Where did the idea come from, and how did you take the track to the final version that we hear today?
"Dance With The Groove" is an energetic, peak-time techno track. The track features heavy drums and catchy vocals while providing space for powerful synthesizer lead vocals. When I was making this track, I was full of confidence, and there were lots of things that came into my mind naturally. The creation process was very smooth and all of the arrangements came together very quickly. This vocal has its own character and is very distinctive. It gives meaning to the track, and that's why it's so vibrant.
The process of creating "Dance With The Groove" was interesting to me. When I first heard the vocals, I had the bassline in my mind. By capturing more detail in the vocal samples, I decided to use punch kicks and heavy bass to add more power to the song. Of course, energy is an essential part of my music, so by adding drums and synthesizers, it flows naturally into my style. I played this song in my head almost every day of the writing process.
Do you have any upcoming releases that you can tell us about?
Yes, my new EP will be released on September 30th on Nervous Records. There are two songs in it, "Follow Me" and "Disco Lights." They are both energetic peak-time techno tracks, featuring a chilled-out vocal along with a powerful bass. These two pieces of music were fascinating to compose. The first track originated as a demo from one of my earlier works. I overheard this demo some time ago when I was compiling material from past compositions. After another year had passed, I heard a different flavor from it. With this demo, the other fragments seemed to fall from the sky and come to me naturally. In less than a day, I completed the framework design. I can say that this piece is the second creation of my earlier work combined with my performance experience. It has the energy and passion of the early days but also the skill and trendy elements that meet the demands of modern electronic music. It hits a nerve and makes people want to dance all night long. I'm so excited. I can't wait for you guys to hear it!
How are the next few months looking for you? Is there anything that you're particularly excited about that you can share with us?
Of course, I'm so excited about my upcoming show on October 7th at Avalon Hollywood. Catch me there! And I have a new DJ set that will be posted on my YouTube channel. This is my first time making a film in the studio. I have to thank my team for putting a lot of effort into aesthetics. The whole experience was new, and we are excited about the release. Also, the biggest highlight I’d like to share is that I have some tracks that will be released on mau5trap. I'm very much looking forward to it.
What are your next goals as an artist over the next couple of years?
As a producer, I think I still have a long way to go. In the future, I will keep an open mind to all kinds of music, including adding more traditional Chinese instruments, surnay, and other traditional ethnic music to my music. Lastly, I hope that my music will spread all over the world.
short link 1001.tl/9mnr9b
