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Sep 16, 2024
1001Tracklists Spotlight: Austin Feldman
Austin Feldman delivers a showcase live DJ set with his performance from an underground parking garage for Blaq Void’s event in Salt Lake City. Featuring a fresh mix of tech and bass house, get ready for big cuts from the likes of Chris Lake, Kyle Watson, Sammy Virji, Odd Mob, Gorillowz, and some signature Austin Feldman originals!
Hey Austin, thanks for joining us to celebrate your live set. To get started, can you tell us about your journey into the world of DJing? What initially drew you to this career?
Thank you so much for having me! I have been using your service since I first started so this is a really cool moment for me! My passion for music really started with my Dad and Step Dad. Growing up, my Step Dad had various musical instruments such as drums, xylophones, and pianos in our basement that I would play around with. One memorable moment with my dad was at the Park City Arts Festival. I saw him jamming out to "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, and he told me he used to play that song with his band when he was younger. He mentioned playing guitar, and that’s when I realized I wanted to pursue music myself. Initially, I thought about singing, but after realizing that wasn’t my strength, I turned to music production and DJing!
Thank you so much for having me! I have been using your service since I first started so this is a really cool moment for me! My passion for music really started with my Dad and Step Dad. Growing up, my Step Dad had various musical instruments such as drums, xylophones, and pianos in our basement that I would play around with. One memorable moment with my dad was at the Park City Arts Festival. I saw him jamming out to "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, and he told me he used to play that song with his band when he was younger. He mentioned playing guitar, and that’s when I realized I wanted to pursue music myself. Initially, I thought about singing, but after realizing that wasn’t my strength, I turned to music production and DJing!
Who are your biggest musical influences, and how have they impacted your style?
My biggest influences are Chris Lake, Kyle Watson, Chris Lorenzo, and Bijou from the house music world. In a broader sense, I’m inspired by EDM from 2009-2014, including bigroom and mainstream trap and dubstep, as well as hip-hop artists like J. Cole and lyrical rap. I’m also influenced by alternative and indie acts such as Jungle, Franc Moody, Parcels, and Tame Impala. These influences shape my style by blending energetic house music with influence from all over the musical spectrum.
My biggest influences are Chris Lake, Kyle Watson, Chris Lorenzo, and Bijou from the house music world. In a broader sense, I’m inspired by EDM from 2009-2014, including bigroom and mainstream trap and dubstep, as well as hip-hop artists like J. Cole and lyrical rap. I’m also influenced by alternative and indie acts such as Jungle, Franc Moody, Parcels, and Tame Impala. These influences shape my style by blending energetic house music with influence from all over the musical spectrum.
What role does social media play in your career, and how do you engage with your fans online?
I’ll admit, social media hasn’t always been my strongest, but I’m working on getting more consistent with it. What I love about it, though, is how it gives me a direct line to the fans to share my passion for music and my love for things like skiing and my other interests. When I do post, I try to make it meaningful, whether it’s sharing snippets of what I’m working on, behind-the-scenes content, or just talking about music I’m into. It’s something I’m growing in, and I’ve really started to see how it builds a connection with people who love the same things I do. So while I’m not always posting, I do value the way it helps create that community and I am looking into expanding into live streaming music and other things to help expand on that in the near future!
I’ll admit, social media hasn’t always been my strongest, but I’m working on getting more consistent with it. What I love about it, though, is how it gives me a direct line to the fans to share my passion for music and my love for things like skiing and my other interests. When I do post, I try to make it meaningful, whether it’s sharing snippets of what I’m working on, behind-the-scenes content, or just talking about music I’m into. It’s something I’m growing in, and I’ve really started to see how it builds a connection with people who love the same things I do. So while I’m not always posting, I do value the way it helps create that community and I am looking into expanding into live streaming music and other things to help expand on that in the near future!
How do you approach track selection and mixing? What’s your process for creating a seamless set?
Crowd reading. I come from gigging as a dj. Playing everything from weddings to fashion shows when I was in High School to eventually opening up clubs in the Chicagoland area before moving to Scottsdale for University. These sorts of events helped me curate an understanding for what a crowd might need in a situation and gave me the confidence and ability to read that, and provide that. It's my job to have that catalog available and ready to use, so I will spend many hours looking for music to add to my collection. I don’t really have a setlist going into a show, the most I would plan out would maybe be an intro and an outro. But even then if I get on the stage and the crowd might want another intro, I’ll do my best to read into that! Then, the goal is to just keep the energy up between singalong songs and grooving heaters!
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the mix that you created for us? What was your vision for it?
The inspiration for this mix came from Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Blaq Void team. They’re dedicated to keeping the rave culture alive, and their infectious energy drives me to put my best into every performance. I wanted to start strong and maintain the energy throughout, showcasing some of my newer IDs. My goal was to balance familiar tracks with my own material to keep the audience engaged and excited.
The inspiration for this mix came from Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Blaq Void team. They’re dedicated to keeping the rave culture alive, and their infectious energy drives me to put my best into every performance. I wanted to start strong and maintain the energy throughout, showcasing some of my newer IDs. My goal was to balance familiar tracks with my own material to keep the audience engaged and excited.
What has been your most memorable performance so far, and what made it stand out?
Decadence Arizona 2021. Performing at Arizona’s premier music festival was always a goal of mine and to be able to kick off the entire festival made it a really special moment in my life and my family's life. Being able to build the crowd from the staff up to a 1000+ people and having people tell me they came early to hear a certain song of mine was really special, it makes all the hours in the studio mean that much more and made that night so meaningful.
Decadence Arizona 2021. Performing at Arizona’s premier music festival was always a goal of mine and to be able to kick off the entire festival made it a really special moment in my life and my family's life. Being able to build the crowd from the staff up to a 1000+ people and having people tell me they came early to hear a certain song of mine was really special, it makes all the hours in the studio mean that much more and made that night so meaningful.
Special mentions to this Blaq Void Set specifically, My LA Debut at Sound Nightclub for SpaceYacht and my sold out show at Larimer Lounge in Denver.
How do you stay current with trends in the music industry, and how do they influence your work?
For me, my music is about making people dance. When I listen to one of my favorite artists, I want to physically move and dance. I want to elicit that reaction within my audience and fans so my whole idea of staying current is more about the danceability and listenability. So When I produce music or perform a set, those are my prerogatives rather than staying current. I’d rather people have the reaction to my music of “woah, I’ve never heard that before” rather than “oh that sounds like so and so” even though it’s an honor to be compared to artists of status and tenure. I want to influence people in the same way artists have inspired me and that's the trend I feel I have been influenced by whether subliminally or not.
For me, my music is about making people dance. When I listen to one of my favorite artists, I want to physically move and dance. I want to elicit that reaction within my audience and fans so my whole idea of staying current is more about the danceability and listenability. So When I produce music or perform a set, those are my prerogatives rather than staying current. I’d rather people have the reaction to my music of “woah, I’ve never heard that before” rather than “oh that sounds like so and so” even though it’s an honor to be compared to artists of status and tenure. I want to influence people in the same way artists have inspired me and that's the trend I feel I have been influenced by whether subliminally or not.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out as a DJ?
If you want to be a DJ, focus on turntablism. I love the art of turntablism so much and when I get to the point in my career, I plan to take some time to fully learn and indulge myself in that art because it's really beautiful. Now, if you want to make your own music and perform that by djing, Focus the ENTIRETY of your creative energy on the production side of the equation. The DJ side can be learned afterwards. But also have fun. This is supposed to be a fun career path and if not a career, it should be a fun hobby! Don't let it stress you out if it doesn't have to! (I’ve had my moments with that though as well and its natural).
If you want to be a DJ, focus on turntablism. I love the art of turntablism so much and when I get to the point in my career, I plan to take some time to fully learn and indulge myself in that art because it's really beautiful. Now, if you want to make your own music and perform that by djing, Focus the ENTIRETY of your creative energy on the production side of the equation. The DJ side can be learned afterwards. But also have fun. This is supposed to be a fun career path and if not a career, it should be a fun hobby! Don't let it stress you out if it doesn't have to! (I’ve had my moments with that though as well and its natural).
How do you balance your personal life with the demands of a DJ career?
Balancing personal life with a DJ career is unique for me, as my name is also my music project. I strive to blur the line between my personal life and career, sharing aspects of my personal interests, like skiing, with my audience. This approach helps me connect with fans on a personal level, showing that I’m just a normal person who loves music and skiing amongst other aspects of life.
Balancing personal life with a DJ career is unique for me, as my name is also my music project. I strive to blur the line between my personal life and career, sharing aspects of my personal interests, like skiing, with my audience. This approach helps me connect with fans on a personal level, showing that I’m just a normal person who loves music and skiing amongst other aspects of life.
And finally, what upcoming projects or collaborations are you most excited about?
I’m excited about several new projects. I have a track inspired by my passion for skiing, a remix for Marco Strous, and collaborations with talented singers Ryn and Bella Renne. I’m also looking forward to performing at more events and festivals in the coming months!
I’m excited about several new projects. I have a track inspired by my passion for skiing, a remix for Marco Strous, and collaborations with talented singers Ryn and Bella Renne. I’m also looking forward to performing at more events and festivals in the coming months!
short link 1001.tl/kyx13u
