“Its work. Its hard work, DJing.”

An Interview with Newark DJ Bis   

In order to be successful DJ Bis must maintain a delicate balance. It is his job to lead the crowd, and yet he’s locked into what the crowd wants and what the venue requires. It is his job to explore genres of music to find unique tracks, yet what producers market limits him. It is his job to provide the best nightlife experience, yet the type of nightlife the city can provide limits him. If you think DJing is just about playing the music you love in front of people, then you are missing the bigger picture. There is other job L.T.in the world where you get paid the most based on your ability to be a trendsetter and a trend follower at the same time. Having the love and the skills is one thing, but a lot of hard work is needed as well if a DJ plans on “…growing and becoming more than just local...human jukeboxes.”

At Wild on Wednesdays in Shaggy’s in Newark, you play mostly a mash up set with songs ranging from rap to techno to rock. What is your thought process for your set combinations?

My whole way of Djing is changing...I’m learning a lot about myself and what I like and how I play it...and ways of playing it. I have a lot of growing to do and I’m very perfectionist so it takes me a long time to make these steps of growth. I don’t really plan my sets. I put together lists of music that I can work with, but I don’t have a specific set…. Here in Delaware you really can’t stick to a set you kind of have to go reading the crowd that’s the main leading factor as to how you plan your sets and how you plan your music. 

In most venues the DJs are up on a vertical stage, or in a booth; however, at Shaggy's you are well within arms reach of anyone on the dance floor. Often times they will even come on stage to dance next to you or talk with you - how does this "casual" atmosphere effect your spinning?

I'm in this business, not only because of music, but I’m in this business because of people. I love people. I love dealing with them. I love entertaining them, I love making them laugh. I think that close touch with people, even in a stressful environment as a DJ performance or an artistic performance of any kind can be, for me it’s good. I like to interact with people I like to ask them how they are feeling, I like to get from them what they want to hear - sometimes (laughs). Since I’ve been working in Delaware for so long I’m kind of become used to not being away from people from the people....Shaggys is fun...The Red Room was really fun too, the DJ booth was to the touch of people and people could talk to you and give you their energy you were close you were surrounded by them and that’s a lot of fun. 

As you become more popular in the bigger markets of Philly and Atlantic City - what is still keeping you in the smaller scale DE clubs and bars?

Probably playing for people that I know, people that support me a lot, because Delaware is where I started, that and then having good side gigs that keep the relationships with venues. That could help you should you have an open date from a gig you don’t have in Philly or whatever, its good to keep a foot on some areas where you can go and work every once and a while. That’s the only reason why there is an interest in keeping connections here. 

If you could attach a number ratio, how much of your set is what the crowd wants and how much is what you want for the crowd.

Probably 50% If I get a chance to do it probably 50% unless I’m working with a client that requires it otherwise. 

How often do you get the chance?

Lately I’ve been very lucky I usually do what I want. Shaggy's is one venue that is different, they have specific requirements. Really in Delaware, almost everywhere does itL.T.. I've been working in Shaggy's…and they are the only one right now that really requires a specific format  

How locked in are you?

Not that specific. Timing is a very specific thing when it comes to some clients, specifically Shaggy's. They would like to have a genre played no more than maybe two three songs and then switch. The idea is to have customers come in and hear a variety of music and not stereotype the venue as catering to one type of music. People that like to hear hip hop will hear hip hop and then people that like dance music will get their share. People that like dance hall will get their share. Never have anyone leave ‘cause L.T.they said, "oh they only play house music here, or oh they only play house music here or oh they only play old school,"L.T. that’s the whole idea behind it and I really like that 

For someone that is so passionate about many different types of music, have you ever felt constrained by not playing what you really wanted to play in any past or current gigs?

It hurts me having to play a whole night of a specific format…it’s a shame because there is a lot more music that people can enjoy. I guess the number one thing is I get my enjoyment and what I love to do from peoples reactions, so if you get a good reaction out of playing Baltimore club alone that’s a good night, that’s a good feeling that’s what keeps you going. I do like to have variety, I don’t like to be limited but when it’s a limitation but I get o play a variety like at Shaggy's its not a problem. Varity is key for me 

Now that most of your gigs are either with the Latin crowd or the college or bar scenes - do you miss spinning techno?

Yes, I miss spinning dance music, that’s always been my first interest. The reason I like dance music so much is because it’s a music that doesn’t depend on a fad, it doesn’t depend on style, it doesn’t depend on a specific trend. Dance music is totally about the soul of the music, it doesn’t require lyrics it doesn’t require more than just an essence that goes with the rhythm and that is so powerful. That is what has lead music since ancient cultures, its just rhythm percussion. That’s why I love dance music and that’s why I would like to stick with it. ...People can fully let go, they don’t need to be dancing with a partner...or grinding on somebody to enjoy it, it’s a music for you and your soul and you take as what it is for you. The DJ may see it as one thing but you may see it as something completely different. Pop music tells you what you should be doing, what you should be thinking, tell you what you should be buying - electronic music doesn’t do any of that. Electronic music lets you go on your own little trip... it lets you wander in your own space, on the dance floor, spiritually and mentally. It’s pretty cool. I wish more people would embrace that whole idea. 
 

-maurice gomes

(edited by Jil Vernon and Louis Thibault of College Web)