HomeDeeJaysFeatured Deejay: DJ DogStyle

Featured Deejay: DJ DogStyle

DJ Dogstyle is a Dallas Fort Worth based deejay, who holds a residency at Ruins in Deep Elm.  When this sought-after deejay is not playing every 3rd Thursday or 4th Sunday at Ruins, he can be heard spinning his 45s on Twitch everyday at 5 pm CT. 

How long have you been in the music industry?

I have been in the music industry since the early 70s. When my family and I lived in North Carolina, I would listen to the radio, play my parent’s 45s, and the Disney records which I had.  Once we moved to San Francisco I began singing in the church choir, taking piano lessons, performing in recitals, and I was able to read sheet music. 

What made you become a deejay?

I was at a Low Rider Car Show, and I was captivated by the music the deejay was playing.  It was that year I was introduced to mixing records.  I had seen a little mixing on television, but this was right in my ear, and it was mesmerizing.  The deejay was Michael Erickson (RIP), and he would light up the radio with his mixing every Friday and Saturday night. I would listen to each show and learn what song would transition together. 

What is the genre of music you prefer to play?

I would say my favorite genre is funk. I love hearing the horns and the breaks. The grooves from the bass line…. I don’t get into the lyrics, as much as I do the music. 

If you had to pick an artist to deejay for, who would it be and why? 

I like the artists whose music I currently play.  If I don’t enjoy an artist’s music, I am not playing it. However, I really don’t have a favorite artist. I can’t point to any specific individual.  To play for a specific person is not how it works for me. I’d like for an artist to pop up on my feed and listen. 

There are so many great artists and groups, but if I had to choose it would be Herbie Hancock, James Brown, Parliament/Funkadelic and Cameo. 

What do you think of the music industry now, compared to when you began?

In my opinion, the music industry today is saturated with unusual and unusable stuff.  Most of it has no real substance, it’s all about popping “Molly”, twerking.

I am from made up beats, like Rick Rubin did to sampled tracks of Hip Hop.  As a deejay, I pay attention to beats per minute (BPM). Today’s rap is on the same BPM, as the slow jams of yesterday. It’s not even on the level of “I need love” by LL Cool J. The rap cadence is the same for most of these artists, and for me that’s a turn off. When I was listening to the radio, artists did not want to sound like anyone else. They all tried to carve their own niche.

 I stopped listening to the radio when they started playing “mumble rap”. 

Who are some of the artists you have deejay for?

I am the personal deejay for local artists Kinfolk Jack, Marco Polo, King Kidd, Shayla Sweetz, Dem Ledesma Boyz, and Da UA.  Some of the other Dallas/Fort Worth artist which I have deejayed for include Loose Cannons, Fort Knox, Complete the Emcee, The Ledendary Fritz, Pikahsso Verbadelyck, Jay Non-Stop, AJ Chaka, and The Craziac.

More notable artists who I have worked week include Keith Washington, Above The Law, and Ed O. G. and the Bulldogs

How do you continue to remain relevant?

I stay relevant by playing music people have not heard yet, by doing it on 45s.  I try to spin wax/vinyl only as to stay grounded. I have a decent digital catalog of music, but I enjoy the ability to mix real records and not rely on the pc to do most of the work.

With vinyl sales rising each month, more venues and people are starting to look for deejays to play vinyl. There is an increasing amount of online record store opening up,  and they are providing music for DJs like myself. 

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