Industry Interviews

From the South Side of Chicago to Seattle, to San Francisco, and back again, Chris Offutt (aka Black Velveteen) is a pillar of Seattle’s dance music scene, navigating crews and projects with humble ease. She has contributed to and drawn inspiration from SF Pride, Burning Man, various radio shows, and a host of local, regional, and national events.

Now, as label owner of Sage Rites, she is finding new avenues for her own expression while supporting the community around her through a series of quality collaborations. Black Velveteen embodies growth and progression through her music, community focus, and undeniable vibe.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aPe8kWSTHaY

Watch Black Velveteen's mix: https://youtu.be/8YsCcIMoY3Q

Industry Interviews Podcast Season Two Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfVlzezJDMuhMzDQHI3kW9erts26OTZaL

Industry Interviews DJ Mix Season Two Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfVlzezJDMuhRV87X1cfwqvsN2G4bULyl

#blackvelveteen #chrisoffutt #interview #djtalk

After experiencing individual success in the '90s and 2000s as solo DJ/producers, Josh Quest and AJ Sorbello initially joined forces as the production team 'HeatSeakers' in 2010. However, as life's responsibilities grew, maintaining a consistent production schedule became increasingly challenging, leading HeatSeekers to part ways in 2012. Nevertheless, the inspiration persisted, and both continued their respective DJ/producer journeys as fixtures on local and international stages while consistently releasing music under various aliases on a multitude of labels.

Fast forward to 2023: Josh and AJ reunited their production superpowers to form Hot Keys, recently releasing two consecutive melodic and percussive burners, with many more on deck. We were thrilled to sit down with this legendary duo and learn about their origin stories, studio process, and what lies ahead for Hot Keys. This episode is truly informative and enlightening, filled with music industry magic.

Watch the interview on Youtube

Ramiro Gutierrez, the visionary founder and President of Uniting Souls Music, the iconic event production company and record label. From his culturally rich upbringing in Nicaragua, to his teenage immersion in New Orleans' punk scene, and his subsequent journey to San Francisco during the golden era of rave and dance culture, Ramiro's story is both inspirational and distinctive.

With a portfolio boasting over 1000 events and his multifaceted roles as a DJ, Events Director, label owner, and AR Manager, Ramiro has been instrumental in shaping the Northwest dance music scene for more than two decades. As Uniting Souls Music marks its 27th anniversary this summer, the journey continues. Keep an eye out for Ramiro's upcoming DJ sets, chart-topping label releases, and groundbreaking Uniting Souls events.

#unitingsouls #unitingsoulsmusic #djtalk #interview #deephouse

Jeremy Linden, aka Mr. Linden joins us in the hot seat. We discuss what initially got him excited about dance music and delve into his current projects, both as a DJ and a producer. We also get into a slightly spicy conversation about the Seattle dance music scene and where there could be improvements (e.g., sound systems, politics, cliques, poor event execution). We spend some time discussing Jeremy's future vision for his own creative pursuits and finally, we dig into a stack of quintessential albums that have inspired Jeremy's complex and varied sound. Oh, and we talk about cats, not a ton but more than usual. To cap it all off, Jeremy digs deep into his crates and treats us to a tasty mix packed with both digital and vinyl gems.

You can watch this interview on our YouTube channel where you will also get to enjoy an exclusive one hour mix from our guest. To discover more subscribe to us on YouTube at youtube.com/@seattlehousemafia

DJ Trent Von, one of our personal DJ heroes. As a DJ veteran for more than 40 years, Trent shares his undeniable passion for gear, the music and the art of making people dance. Stick around for Trent's DJ set as he drops an absolute banger of a retro-inspired mix that only someone at his level could pull off.

You can watch this interview on our YouTube channel where you will also get to enjoy an exclusive one hour mix from our guest. To discover more subscribe to us on YouTube at youtube.com/@seattlehousemafia

Beyond an award winning DJ, Harmony is the Music Director and Assistant Program Manager for C89.5, the longest running dance music radio station in the US. Harmony first got involved with C89.5 as a student at Nathan Hill High School. 20 years later, alongside her talented team, she's driving the direction of the station, mentoring the next generation of radio DJs, and inspiring dance music lovers new and old.

You can watch this interview on our YouTube channel where you will also get to enjoy an exclusive one hour mix from our guest. To discover more subscribe to us on YouTube at youtube.com/@seattlehousemafia

In our first episode of Season 2, we sit down with Alfonso Tan. His humility and positivity shine through as he shares his story and how his unique life circumstances led him to dance music, first as a fan and then as a sought after DJ producer. Make sure you hang until the end where Alfonso shares his thoughts on how to progress as an individual artist while still supporting other artists and the dance music community as a whole.

Watch this interview on YouTube

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Matthew Geoks aka DJ Matt G, from his early rave days in Tacoma to his military service, Matt's story is a unique one to say the least. Never losing his love for DJing and dance music, Matt's re-entry after his time overseas had its early challenges, but his perseverance has made him a notable personality and performer in the local scene.

Emily Griffin aka GriffinGrrl. From coming up in the LA rave scene in the 90's to her move North to host KUSF's Future Breaks FM to co-founding San Francisco's renowned club night Eclectic. Emily's roots in dance culture has defined a music focused career path ranging from Accelerator Magazine to XBox Entertainment, to vinyl and digital record labels, to film and TV sync licensing.

Make sure you stick around to the end where Emily shows how her deep experience in dance music is currently fueling her success with technology companies, building teams and cultures that drive innovation and longevity.

Dave Pezzner, aka Pezzner, a mainstay in the Seattle dance music scene for the better part of three decades. From demoing tracks for his co-workers at Taco Time in the early 90s, to touring the world in support of releases on some of dance music’s most prestigious labels, to writing original show tunes for theater and cabaret, Dave’s intriguing journey is nothing short of awe inspiring.

Watch the full episode and listen to an exclusive Pezzner Mix on YouTube.