Click logo for article link. Joe DiPadova DJ Interview Name Joe DiPadova Your Web Site(s): one-az.com myspace.com/joedipadova myspace.com/straightnochaserone tribalwinds-innermusic.com Record Label(s) You Have Released On: Tribal Winds Records, NYC Your Event Name: StraightNoChaser Presents: o n e Where: homme lounge When: Every Friday Night How did you get started in the industry? I began helping throw parties years ago on the east coast, and even left college to concentrate on music (production/dj’ing/events)—I’ve never looked back. After cutting my teeth primarily in Boston, I moved to Phoenix and began putting my $.02 in toward what was being built here. How would you classify your musical style? Percussive, soulful, ethnic, even spiritual--for the dancefloor What’s the biggest change you have seen in the DJ industry in the last 5 years? Aside from equipment & software, I really haven’t seen much of a change, to be honest. If you want to talk about the music industry in general, I believe the last five years was the beginning of an incredible trend toward decentralization of music—less major label bullsh^t, more quality music—right at our fingertips. What’s the funniest thing that ever happened while performing? Ejecting the cd that’s playing is always fun. It happens to the best of us. What do you do different that differentiates you from other quality DJs? I tend to work the eq’s more, especially more recently. I believe you can play the sound system like an instrument, and you can greatly enhance songs which may otherwise feel flat, or even boring. It’s a classic Paradise Garage technique I rarely see djs taking advantage of, I think because many have never been exposed to it properly. What’s the most gratifying thing that every happened to you as a DJ? There are a few gigs that really stand out over the years even now—parties in boston, st louis, los angeles, even here in Phoenix at the grand opening of “one” where the vibe was just extraordinary—parties that make me remember why I’ve dedicated my life to this in the first place. Parties where the entire room is just jacking! But, I have to say the most gratifying moments are when someone takes just a moment to come up to me and say, “thank you.” I feel humbled every single time I hear those words. Name a DJ (local or national) that you truly respect and why? I can name any one of the top tier dj’s here—one of the guests we’ve had out to the party perhaps, but honestly, there are two cats (I can’t name just one) I think I respect more than they could ever know: Santos (my co resident at “one”)—a man who works a full time job, is married with FOUR kids, and somehow finds time to produce incredible music, play our parties, AND spend time with his family. It astounds me. The other is Pete ‘Supermix’ Salaz – another of the phoenix old school, also producing incredible music, and after years souldering through the trenches, is still at it, and is still deeply in love with everything we are. I find inspiration in both of them. Tell us a secret about yourself or your show: Expect the unexpected. We’re constantly doing little, weird, almost arbitrary (but fun) things we don’t tell people about. What advice would you give someone who wants to be a DJ? Beat matching and mixing technique are the first things you need to learn, are incredibly important….and yet are the least important and least skillful part of dj’ing. Know the mood of your records & know how to connect with a crowd, and you’ll be unstoppable. What’s the biggest misconception people have about DJs? Whoever said dj’s get all the chicks was an ass. What’s the most difficult aspect of trying to make it in this biz? Trying to make it. Stop concentrating on making it, and concentrate on being the best you can be…everything else will work out eventually. What do you think will happen to your music in the next 2 years? Each song I write and each record I release changes the world for me—2 more years and things could look very different. What will people hear when they listen to your music? Rhythm, power, and most importantly—substance. If there was a “Golden Rule” for being a DJ, what would it be? Your job is to rock the crowd. Don’t educate unless it falls within the realm of crowd-rocking. At the same time, if you play a jam you KNOW should be rocking the crowd and they don’t get it, play it again until they do. Do you have any CDs out that we can buy? You can buy records at stores around the world, mp3s at dancetracksdigital.com & traxsource.com, and you can download TONS of music for free from one-az.com Your favorite place to play in the city? one @ homme on Fridays, hands down. If you could change one thing about the DJ-Club scene in town, what would it be? Mainstream media coverage for myself and everyone else on a similar mission in this town. There are a great deal of people here making some serious noise on the world stage. With proper coverage, the musical landscape would look very different, of that I have no doubt. Last Question… IF THIS INTERVIEW GETS YOU DISCOVERED AND YOU GET REALLY RICH AND FAMOUS, WHAT WILL YOU GIVE TO NIGHTLIFE! MAGAZINE? My car, because I’ll buy a new one.