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Syd Gris Origin:
Valinor Audio Samples: To hear a number of Syd live mixes, from Burning Man to Ruby Skye to LoveFest, go here. The
track/DJ/party that made me want to be a DJ was: Influences: I got my first break: DJ wise, I created my first break. It was one of the many motivations to throw parties, in addition to all the idealistic hopes of harnessing the EDM culture for good, it was also to share music I loved with people I loved in the community that I love. Opel (the production company I started in 2002) and Opulent Temple (the Burning Man camp I co-founded in 2003) in part grew out of the desire to create my own chances to play prime time at great parties. It sure beats waiting around for someone else to book you. I highly recommend it for aspiring djs. What I would consider my first big dj moment was BM2K4, opening up for Hybrid at our Wednesday night white party. The penny dropped. Some DJs I like playing with are: I'm very blessed for the company I keep. 2008/9 was another great year for getting to open and / or close for the varied range from Stanton Warriors & Adam Freeland to Tiesto & Armin. Also of course playing with my Opel homies Hoj, Melyss & Dex Stakker, as well as the Opulent Temple crew like Vinkalmann, Dutch, Cosmic Selector, Drew Drop, Jeff Taisch, Dulce Vita, Icon, Billy Seal, Billy Casazza, J'Sin, Atimatik, etc. + sometimes tag partner at Ruby Alain Octavo, etc. Favorite thing about the SF scene: Diversity and quality. I of course don't like it all, but I'm really glad it's all there. Whether over ground of underground, we have a lot of great crews who's heart is in the right place in their approach to the music and the community. Of course the political consciousness here is much more in alignment with mine. Don't think I could live anywhere else without getting in a lot of arguements. Least favorite thing about the SF scene: Parking tickets, commercial club idiocracy, underground elitism. My favorite SF party is/was: San Francisco LoveFest, now called LovEvolution, + of course, some of the more epic Opel parties, as well as a poppin’ Spundae party and though not an SF party, I have to say duh, Burning Man. My favorite Club to play in is: I've had awesome and so-so times in most of them. Just depends on the vibe. If I could put together MY dream music festival, the Entertainment would be: Insert living and dead musical influences listed above here. And beer would be cheap, and water would be free. If I couldn't play records I would probably be a professional: I would bet I would be a clinical psychologist. I want to thank these people for helping me get this far: My family, Samantha, and the peeps I love, Peter & Guiv @ Spundae are bros for life, the Opulent Temple crew, Sean, Isabel and Derek @ Mighty, Ross, George, Reggie, & Jessica @ Ruby, Matt & Trip @ Shine, Trav & Eric @ Mezz, Ben @ Temple, Taj @ 1015. People that send me music like Lee Coombs, Meat Katie, Dylan Rhymes, Elite Force, Rogue Element, Blende, Vandal. The former Infinite Kaos core, and the late great cat Chopin. What you want people to know and we didn't ask: I'm most interested in truth. Spreading what I regard as truth feels like a duty bound use of gathered social capital. That's usually in the form of political content, sometime spiritual, sometimes more locally oriented. I know that can be annoying for people who don't want their parties and their politics to mix, but that's me so what can I tell you? Sorry if you're annoyed. I think we don't have the luxury to not engage the world. I think we're smarter than a lot of the people in charge and we need to step it up and help steer the ship. My motto is: I believe it was Love & Rockets who said : "Live a life you love, use a God you Trust, and don't take it all too seriously." |