Interview
This month on The Altered Fields, Seattle-based DJ and producer @Crawdadmusic premier’s his new project with a mix of deep and groovy house tracks!
What inspired your mix/what mood or vibe were you trying to achieve with this mix?
In this mix, I went for a vibe that can work on a dancefloor, but can also work in a room with people chillin around on couches. I like music that you can sit and bob your head to and it still keeps your interest, while also being groovy enough that you can get up and dance if you’re really feeling it. I first started getting into those kinds of chill yet groovy beats at Burning Man, where there were plenty of listening situations where it wasn’t just a DJ and a dancefloor, but rather a DJ and 20 couches with hookahs all around, or 100+ giant stuffed teddy bears that you can lay on (yes, that’s real). Although there is always a place for hard-hitting beats that make your whole body move when you have the energy to get down, I think there is something to be said for the slightly softer dance music that puts out a continuous vibe that can function as pleasing background music if you want to talk to the person next to you.
Where did you record the mix, and what equipment did you use?
This mix was recorded in my bedroom on CDJs and an analog mixer (shout out Chick Iverson for letting me use his equipment). I find the sound quality they produce is very clean, and I love the how easy it is to switch DJ to DJ without stopping the flow of the music.
What have you been up to with DJing and producing?
I recently started making songs that are meant to be only for the listening experience rather than the dancefloor, with silly beats and lyrics about lizards, going to the grocery store, etc. It’s really been an eye opener as to how much work I can get done when I’m not worrying if what I’m doing is “right”. I find the less seriously I take what I’m working on, the easier it is to move quickly and efficiently in the creation process. I am continuously trying to carry that mentality into tracks I make for the dancefloor.