3 Questions with DJ Qu and Joey Anderson
in advance of their appearance at smartbar alongside ron trent, we asked american dance music legends dj qu and joey anderson a few questions.
considered a leader of the late twenty-aughts new york house renaissance, dj qu has been gracing the great booths of the world for decades. he's produced for desolat, cocoon, fabric, and dozens of other taste-making labels - defining and re-defining what deep house is.
joey anderson, a consummate dance music scientist who practices his alchemy with the likes of dekmantel, has pushed the bounds of selection, style, and production from brooklyn to berlin.
we are honored to help welcome these two new york area pioneers to the windy city.
one. is there a moment in time (art project, a certain teacher, etc.) when you knew that creating was going to be your life’s work? if so, can you describe that (memory, feeling, thought) for us?
DJ Qu: i wouldn't say that there's a particular moment because i think everyone on earth is here to create. i'm lucky to create with music. it’s something that I've been very passionate about all my life. i guess my family introducing me to music at a very young age was probably the most important moment.
Joey Anderson: i think the moment for me was when my third grade teacher encouraged me to keep thinking and imagining. i never forgot that encouragement.
two. how does where you are (personally, geographically, historically, etc.) impact the work you create? how does chicago factor into that equation, if at all?
DJ Qu: where i am geographically and historically impacts my work a lot. being from the new jersey area, i was able to move around new york very easily and experience a lot of events that were going on in the 90's which gave me a understanding of the music that you really are not able to experience today. it's why i'm able to like different styles in dance music, i believe. chicago played a major role musically. the music coming out of chicago in the late 80's/early 90's is what made me fall in love with house music to be honest.
Joey Anderson: new york and new jersey culture is everything in me. especially how i hear music. i remember hearing tracks back in the day wondering where is this music came from. when i found out some of what I hearing was from chicago, i always thought this is the future; i mean i knew it was, i was sure.
three. what is the role of the artist in today’s world, for you?
DJ Qu: the role of the artist in today's world is tricky because i think we reached a point were artistry is not celebrated like it used to be. buffoonery gets more attention than talent these days. i think an artist in today's world needs to be as organic with their art as possible in order to have a voice.
Joey Anderson: what’s import to me about Artists is to stay true to what they have to say - building on their musical selves and sharing it with the masses.