Interview
Spencer Russell is a Portland-based DJ, designer, and co-organizer / creative director for Canyon Vibration. With his background in architecture, Spencer was responsible for the design and construction of Portland's new club in the spotlight, Process. When it comes to his music curation, Spencer has an eclectic taste with deep roots in house, as well as minimal, deep house, and jazz.
Outside of DJing, Spencer has been working largely behind the scenes in the PNW since 2016 as a creative collaborator with Believe You Me, Hold Music, High+Tight, Occasion Vibration, and Opal Underground. His contributions include decor, live visuals, lighting, and posters for events.
What brought you to Portland initially, and what keeps you here?
I moved to Portland in 2015 after graduating from college in Eugene. It seemed like the logical choice because I had fallen in love with Oregon but wanted to live in a larger city. Portland initially drew me in as this quirky place filled with interesting people while also having great access to nature. It checked many boxes for me.
I began to build a solid group of friends here, fell into a new relationship, and discovered Portland's young but flourishing dance music community. It didn't take much time before Portland began to feel like home and I couldn't really imagine myself being anywhere else.
Can you share a bit about your experience organizing Canyon Vibration the last couple of years? What are your goals for the community as an organizer?
I was initially brought on as a visual artist the first year and began to take on more as the creative director in the second year. By the third and fourth years, the partnership had changed and I had more of a leadership role, in addition to being in charge of the creative direction.
Being involved in a festival is one of the more challenging things I've done. The planning starts in Fall and there are a ton of moving parts. In the end, it always feels pretty rewarding to see it all come together.
As an organizer, my goal for this community is to create an event that brings joy, release, and significance to peoples lives. What got me into this work was my passion for music, dance, and connection. Although, from what I've witnessed over the years, these events serve as the catalyst for significant life events and breakthroughs that bleed into our everyday lives. That is what has really motivated me in recent years.
You played a big role in designing Portland's new club Process, and can often be found in the lighting booth, marrying your professional career with your love for dance music. What parts of Process are you responsible for in particular, and what was it like contributing to such an immediately acclaimed space?
Back in 2023, I was asked to consult, design, and eventually manage the construction of Process. It was one of those "worlds collide" moments for me, since rarely did my architectural career overlap with the rave scene. I was responsible for coming up with a vision for the space, working on the branding strategy, developing the architecture and design of elements like the bar and seating, and executing the vision with a great team of builders and makers.
The best part about the whole "process" was that it was a community-led effort that was designed by and built by people who would end up using it. There were no outside investors or contractors. We hired and gave opportunity to trusted community members to create a space that is unique and lovingly crafted with a high attention to detail. You just don't get that sort of passion when your funders and builders have no personal investment in the project. I think that really shows in the way the space turned out and the acclaim it's received since opening earlier this year.
There's something particularly special percolating in Portland these days, what do you think has led to this? Is there anything you hope or would like to see come out of this?
I've definitely felt a shift over the past year or two. Prior to the pandemic, Portland had many disparate dance music communities brewing around town but it felt somewhat disjointed. In recent times, I've noticed that there is more and more community overlap, new event series in genres previously neglected, and an intentional effort to create more inclusive spaces and opportunities for underrepresented communities.
We're hearing new voices and perspectives, which I think is really important and healthy for the trajectory of this dance music scene. I think there is general excitement about the influx of new promoters, events, and DJs injecting fresh energy into the mix here.
With involvement in so many facets of the scene, from DJ to lighting designer, dancer to club architect, I'm curious what dance music world offers you personally?
All those facets you mentioned are ways that I can have a creative outlet and contribute to a world that has brought so much joy and release in my life. The main thing that the dance music world offers me personally is simply a space to dance. I can't emphasize enough how important dance is to me and the human experience.
What's exciting you outside of dance music these days?
I've been pretty excited about the ways you can use technology in creating art these days. For example, I'm really into 3D printing and pen plotters (a programmable machine arm that will draw something with a pen). These tools allow me to create things that are tangible but could not otherwise be created by hand. Digital fabrication at home is kind of revolutionary and I'm really excited to see where things go in the future with this tech as it becomes more and more accessible to the everyday user.
Is there anything I haven't asked about that you would like to share?
What's been on my mind a lot lately is that these are dark times and we need each other more than ever. I think that Portland is poised to become a city with significant influence, if not already. Visitors and people around the world are taking notice of Portland.
While Portland's communities have different experiences and needs, I see many people working towards building a more equitable and vibrant city. There's still a lot of work to be done, but I'm encouraged by the growing collaborations and mutual support across different communities in the dance music scene here. I hope to see more of that in these coming years.
What's on the horizon for you?
This past year has been one of the most exciting and challenging years of my life due to a fair amount of loss, change, and opportunity. In a weird way, I'm grateful for the disruption that has come with all of that but I think I'm looking forward to focusing inward a bit more and tending to areas of life that deserve more attention, such as my hobbies and personal relationships. So nothing big on the horizon for me right now but who knows what 2025 has in store.
Cover photo credit by Max Benedict.
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