I’ve written about Neon Steve extensively over the last couple of years (Basically, since my first Shambhala – an inspiration we share) because the guy just keeps hitting home runs. In a world of clones, ol’ Neon Steve has carved out his own unique place in the thriving West Coast electronic scene. His taste is impeccable, his scratching ability is evident and his production is top-notch. While dude can rock the party like few can, it’s not all balls-to-the-wall action. His Pleasensations mixes are goldmines of groovy relaxitude that work chilling in the bath, getting through a shift at work or getting down in the sheets with whoever you’re into that with. (Try other activities while listening to these mixes and come up with your own winning combination!) I’ve been hoping to get my fellow Victoria on here for awhile and I caught up with him during some rare downtime to talk about the terror of space travel, getting inspired in Fractal Forest and one of the best places to play on Vancouver Island. (Hint: It’s the Waverley, in Cumberland.)
And, for your listening pleasure, as chosen by the man himself, the first of two Neon Steve essentials.
Follow Neon Steve’s soundcloud for all the glowing goodness.
Keep up with all the Neon happenings at his Facebook page.
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1. Do you remember the first album you bought with your own money?
Yeah, I do. It was Eminem’s album, one of the first ones, Slimy Shady LP. I tricked my parents into buying it on their Columbia House account. They found out what it was after they gave it to me and took it away.
Did you ever get it back?
No, I don’t think so. I was super young at the time so it was a no-go.
Do you still ever listen to anything off that record?
No, definitely not. <laugh>
2. If you could spend the day with anyone living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
<long pause> Damn, these are good questions…I would say William Wallace. I’d go fight and win a war.
Win a war with William Wallace. Nice alliteration. What’s your weapon of choice?
A big-ass sword. A two-hander.
Tall Tree 2014 - Photo by Xavier Photography
3. When is the last time you did something for the first time?
It’s not really that exciting but I played New Years Eve at the Waverley in Cumberland and that was the first time I’d ever played there.
Sweetm I love that place. How was that?
It was sick. It was total house party vibes. So good.
4. Can you think of a movie that had a genuine effect on the way you saw the world?
Crash. It totally taught me to judge a book by its cover. Although, maybe that’s not a good on because it’s more racially based and it makes me sound like a redneck.
<laugh> I don’t think it comes across like that at all. I know what you mean, man.
I guess they were going for something more racially driven but that’s not what I took from it.
I totally get it. I don’t think you are or ever were a racist. Clearly.
Tall Tree 2015, rocking those early morning vibes. Photo by Rags Music.
5.Do you think technology can set us free to a Star Trek, techno-utopia, with all of humanity working as one toward a common goal?
I hope so. I would be down. <laugh> I’d be into exploring space.
I’d love to go to space. Actually, I’m into other people going to space then telling me about it. Going to space sounds terrifying.
It would be so scary.
Just waiting to get blasted into space. The worst roller-coaster anxiety ever.
Then having to be cryogenically frozen for hundreds of years and then wake up. Everybody’s dead back home.
My palms are getting all sweaty thinking about. The guest question comes from DJ Roast Beatz who does the Ghetto Funk podcast, among other things…Do you remember the moment that inspired you to produce and DJ? What were you doing when the thing clicked inside of you and said “Oh, that’s what I gotta do?”
Yes, totally. It was at my first Shambhala, when I saw A Skillz play in the Fractal Forest. It was an “Ah-ha” moment, he played his Strawberry Jam, his Beatles remix and that was it. I was already playing around on turntables but after that I went home and immediately started saving for a studio set up and started producing.
How many have you been to?
This last year was my ninth.
So next year is a big one!
Yeah, definitely.
Your set this year was so damned good.
It was so much fun. The vibes were high there. It was hard to do much wrong.
Absolutely. The real test of those sets is how they hold up outside of that environment and I still love your set, so there you go.
Totally. That’s awesome!
And now, the second of Neon Steve’s selections, his banging remix of Grandtheft & Keys N Krates’ “Keep It 100.”