Getting to know Eckerd’s leading DJ, Josh Kneeland

When and why did you become a DJ?

I became a DJ a few years ago in order to learn how to spin my music productions live. Most DJs learn how to DJ first and then learn how to produce and remix music, although I learned how to make music long before I learned how to spin records. I started playing piano when I was four, and I have also learned how to play the acoustic and bass guitar.

Have you been a radio DJ before?

Last year I had a weekly show on Eckerd Radio 99.9 FM, and this year I spin weekly on a internet radio show: Project Radio at www.projectradio.us. All you need to listen to a radio show on the internet is a computer with internet and a set of headphones or speakers, and then the show streams live as soon as you go on the website. Spinning on a radio is a lot of fun and a little trippy, especially listening to the music on the radio and realizing YOU are the guy playing it!

Have you ever hurt your wrist doing disk scratching? Do you need to exercise those muscles?

I have yet to hurt my wrist disk scratching, probably because most DJs use the Popeye the Sailorman wrist workout to strengthen those important DJ muscles. Ok, not really, but that would be interesting.

How do you prepare to DJ?

For my radio shows I will often select the tracks I will play ahead of time in order to have a game plan. DJs always look to mix songs together that will sound good right next to each other. For example songs in the same key usually sound good together. I also try to do this for live events, although I will sometimes change my planned set to fit in some song requests from other people.

What kind of music do you usually play?

My favorite music to play is electronic music, especially house music. I lived in Rome, Italy for ten years, and I developed a strong taste for electronic music while living on the other side of the pond. However I’m a flexible DJ and will do whatever it takes to get people on the dancefloor! I also include hip-hop, top 40, pop, rock reggaeton, salsa and merengue music in my CD collection.

Are there “heroes” in the DJ world? Do you study anyone’s DJing style?

There are definitely some heroes in the DJ world, in fact, there are “gods” in the DJ world. Tiesto is an uberfamous trance DJ from Holland who has sold out stadium concerts and played for over a billion people live during the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens! I am a fan of many different DJ styles, but one DJ I am a huge of is a Canadian guy named Joel Zimmerman, aka Deadmau5. I have his entire music collection and I study his live performances more than any other DJ.

You lived in Rome for a while, did you DJ over there? Do you like it more or like it less, and why?

I DJed at a couple of events and night spots while in Rome, but I really didn’t get serious about DJing until I moved back to the states permanently last summer. I no longer live in Europe, but one of my life long goals is to tour the continent and DJ. I’m not gonna lie, that would be pretty sweet!

Have you noticed a gradual deterioration in your sense of hearing since you’ve started DJing? Like in professional boxing, is there a general age at which people usually become unable to continue DJing?

Wait, what? I can’t hear you..you’re going to have to speak a lot louder man. Repeat the question one more time. Oh, that. No, no hearing loss yet, knock on wood.

Have you always worked freelance (is that the word you use?), or have you ever had a fixed job as a DJ?

Yeah, you could say freelance. I have always worked freelance, but another goal I have is to have a “residency” somewhere, a fixed job as a DJ at a certain club, bar, lounge, or event spot of sometime.

Has anyone ever tried to punch you in the face because of a song you chose? If not, what the most interesting experience you’ve had as a disk jockey?

Hehe! No punches in the face, but I have gotten dirty looks for NOT having certain songs. A Venezuelan guy once asked me if I had merengue music. I said no, and he gave me a very evil death stare, so I said I’d make it up to him and play some salsa music I had. Needless to say I immediately made a CD of merengue music after that gig. I deal with drunk people all the time who always want to sing into my DJ microphone, so I’ll usually have to shoo them away.

Is there some aspect of DJing that isn’t obvious to the uninitiated and which people should know about?

It’s a lot harder than it looks. Mixing two songs together on the same beat is tricky because if the beat is off the song will sound bad. When I first started DJing I thought “I can do that! That freakin’ easy, man!,” just because I had a background in music, but DJing is like learning how to play a new instrument. It takes many hours of hard work and practice to get really good.

When and where is your next job?

I put all the info about my gigs on my website: www.myspace.com/hvlksmash. Also, the Project Radio show I spin on is usually on a Wednesday or Thursday night around 7 PM. The next gig I have is the on campus at the Crisis Kitchen in Delta (on April 23rd), so you can check me out there!

(Questions prepared by David Trujillo)