Interview: Joshua Kynd (Our House & Grin Tech) Texas
I didn’t intend on being a DJ. I collected records 1st just to be able to hear them. You couldn’t find some of the early Techno on tape. After 3 crates I started to play them on a friends busted set up. After the 1st mix I was hooked. Bought a busted set for myself and 3 years later I started playing house parties and shortly after I was opening for some pretty heavy hitters. I never passed out a demo till 2008. I started in Dec of 1994.
Did you have a DJ mentor get you started?
No, I figured it out on my own. I studied a lot of dj mixes, by Dj Sneak and Doc Martin. But Never had some one say this is how you do it. I guess thats what makes my technic my own. I use the mixer as a tool way more then most. I don’t need effect buttons. You can do most of that with EQ’s. Self made.
This makes me laugh, but I played Booty Rap at 1st cause it was easy. I used an UnderDog record with “Here I come to Save the Day” to open my sets. My 1st dj name was Dj Save the Day. lol Thats lasted about 6 months. Kynd came from my early days, now it applied to my persona.
Where did you start playing out?
1998, I started working at Bills Records in 1999 and made a lot of connections and began to play out quite a bit. I started up a crew called Tribal Elements with Jesse Holt and Dub (Till Dawn) after a long running series of free lake parties we all threw. We did a about 10 shows following. It died off mid 2000’s Prior to that John Walker & I started a crew called Collective Harmoniks.
Are you currently working on any new tracks?
I always have something brewing. I have been writing for 10 years but never made it my priority. It was just fun. Demarkus heard some of my stuff one day at the studio and said. Let’s do a label. (Juno) We have put a few things out, but this year is about to get real busy.
When you started opening for big name, did you ever get nervous and if so – who was it?
1st big show was a party called Unity [1999]. It was a field party south of D [Dallas]. I did a 2×4 with Frankie Vega, opening for Johnny Fiasco and Mazi doing a 2×4. (2 dj’s 4 turntables)
I get nervous today when playing at a friends house. I still love doing this. I never see it as work, I love to make people dance and when thrown in front of a few 1,000 people its hard not to be on edge. I never knew how good or bad I was. I didn’t have the feed back from people I thought whose opinions mattered. I just kept doing what I thought was cool and it worked out.
Do you ever notice yourself playing different types of sets for indoor venues vs outdoor?
Good question. This is a must with me. I play to the environment. If it’s outdoors, you will hear more of an organic sound. Not so so much on crazy effects but more earthy is the best way i can put it. Indoors a will step it up and bang the shit out of it. But it still depends on your attendance. Im not going to tare the roof off if there is just 20 people chilling at a bar. I think that is part of what makes us dj’s who were are. Setting the mood with music to enhance you surroundings. But at the same time with skill and experience you can deliver a story with music and show your passion. I would say one of the best times to catch me would be 5am to 7am in the woods. I get really tribal at these hours.
I do notice a difference in your club sets vs warehouse sets. I was listening to the sounds like… Podcast from about a year ago.
Yea, I like to keep the clubs sexy and the warehouses trippy.
What are your upcoming gigs you are excited about?
Deff Doc Martin on May 2nd (you better get your ticket) only 350 allowed in. Lol! Always promoting. Then I’m going to Denver in August for a 2 day field party.
Joshua Kynd booked to DJ at Atrium Obscurum annual summer festival near Hughes Springs, Texas on June 13-15, 2014. Facebook details at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/455448327921761/
You can follow Joshua Kynd on SoundCloud & Facebook
