From AjA to Bull’s Club and everywhere in between, DJ DOCO is a steady-rising presence in the Tampa BayArea club scene. Just calling him a DJ though, is a big understatement as we quickly learned talking to him last week. Check out our interview with DOCO below where we talk about house music, the Tampa nightclub scene, and just how DOCO’s planning U.S. takeover in the very near future. We might’ve said too much already…
So, who is DJ DoCo? Why should we know about him?
First and foremost, I’m a producer so I make music and write lyrics for artists [see DOCO's Official Sonic Specialists site here]. I also remix and do original music. That’s where it all started. I’m also a sound designer. I own SonicSpecialists.com. We make sounds for pretty much all the big producers in the United States, U.K., Holland, everywhere.
Can you name drop a few for us?
Ummm, Pharell, Danjahandz, The Incredibles, there’s a lot…
Which talent did you start off with?
I started with singing actually. I started writing songs back in high school. Just started, people were hearing me and just being supportive. I couldn't afford a mixing engineer, so I learned (recording) myself, then people started paying me to mix for them and it just kept snowballing.
So you started young. Is your family pretty musical?
Both my parents sing. My dad’s been singing like, his entire life.
And how old are you now?
Twenty-five.
What instrument do you typically use when you write?
The computer is my instrument. I have a midi controller and everything basically starts with piano.
Do you sample a lot?
No, actually.
Are you opposed or is it just something you haven’t explored yet?
I just never got into it. The music I like just isn't really heavy on it.
So, when did you get into deejaying?
I've been deejaying for a couple years. I really got into it when I moved down here. I went to college up in Indiana and there aren't many events for DJ's, so I used to come down here and party like, four times a year, and I just kept meeting more and more people in Tampa.
My first time deejaying in Tampa was at a friend’s birthday party at the Rack in Brandon. It was fun because it was just a bunch of friends all in this room.
Where’s your favorite place to DJ now?
College bars in general are my favorite. Usually people going there spend a lot of time downloading music, so when I play all my favorite music I get a really good crowd response.
Most memorable DJ moment?
Hmm. Steve Angello (of Swedish House Mafia) was really awesome because it was really a bonding experience for a lot of us DJ's that don’t get to play with each other a lot before. And then he murdered that show.
Who are some of your favorite artists at the moment?
I listen to a lot of different types of music. My favorite of all time is probably BT (Brian Transeau) because he produces, writes, and he’s a crazy sound designer. Also Kaskade, all those big songwriter/DJ/producers, Pharell, Timbaland.
You mentioned making beats and sounds for other producers and artists. What would you say is your most well-known beat?
Probably what most people in different cities know me for is “Bathing Suit”. I made that back when I was in Chicago and actually got a Tampa artist on the song, Jules Vegas.
How do you feel about this dubstep craze in the U.S. now?
I actually used to like dubstep a lot a couple years ago and I couldn't believe all the college kids that have hopped on it recently. It makes sense because last year, everyone started to like house music, and dubstep is just crazy and it’s a good way to slow down a DJ set. I’m glad it’s taking off. It’s giving dubstep DJ's a different avenue. These guys Diplo, Afrojack, started with that stuff and now they’re making pop music. So, it’s just another avenue to make it.
So do you consider yourself a house DJ?
Well, when I started I wanted to strictly do house, but when I moved to Tampa there were a lot of opportunities for open format, which is pretty much play anything that makes people dance. It just depends on the venue, really, because if I’m at AjA, I’m probably doing top 40. When I’m at Venue, I’m usually doing house. When I’m at the DayGlow event this Friday, I’m gonna be spinning house all night.
So what are your plans for your future with deejaying? Do you want to expand out of Tampa?
Yeah, that’s what I’m working towards. I’m actually filling out my schedule for the summer right now. I’m looking at – pretty much what I call it is – finding the Nocturnal of every different city because there’s so many different places to fly for so cheap. Might as well just go tour in a certain city for a couple of days then come back and keep spinning here.
I've been remixing as many songs as possible just to get my name out there too. I’m hoping to sign with an agency that puts DJ's up in different cities.
Learn more about DOCO and hear his work at www.doco.fm
Find out all of his upcoming shows on his latest events page here.
