DJ Deanne Interview

In addition to running into superstar DJs, reconnecting with friends and finding rising talent is another highlight of Winter Music Conference.??I originally met Stephanie Swanson, aka DJ Deanne, while spinning with her at Talbott Street in Indianapolis.??Seemingly out of nowhere, she made the radical decision to move to South Florida to pursue her DJ career.??Following her as she has made a name for herself in the competitive market,??you will realize that sometimes you need to make a big change to achieve the goals you aspire to reach.??You may not know who DJ Deanne is right now, but at the rate she is going ? you will soon.?

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RS: At the age of 40 you made a radical change, you left a midwestern town and moved to South Florida. Why the heck did you do that?
Deanne: I have always felt like South Florida was a launching pad and my heart took me here. I feel like everything has its place and time in life and there was more for me. My place and time in Indianapolis had presented itself; I had achieved what I needed to that prepared me for what was next. There was no other way to do anything other than go forward or stay still and I don?t stay still.

RS: When you first came to South Florida what was the biggest challenge that you had to face?
Deanne: Being unknown and relatively anonymous again.

RS: What did you have to do to prove yourself?
Deanne: My philosophy is kick ass and take names, so that is what I did when I came here.
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SONG OF THE DAY: Trevor Simpson ft Keznamdi – Watching You

When different genres collide, interesting collaboration arise. Listening to Keznamdi’s music, you hear his Jamaican/reggae roots as he sings over guitar-based tracks. This vibe, combined with the commercial electro sounds of respected mixshow DJ/producer Trevor Simpson makes “Watching You” stand out from the rest. The uplifting lyrics about a higher spirit watching and encouraging you to be a good person is a pleasant change from the party-centered focus of most EDM tracks. After a set of tracks about bouncing, this kind of thoughtful inspiration is a pleasant change. The original version is electro, with the Jamie Stewart and Pink Panda mixes making it even more festival-friendly. Drum and bass heads will rejoice for the slamming Lokey Crash interpretation. Eddie Amador embraces an old school house vibe, channeling Brothers in Rhythm and taking you on a journey – either short for 9 minutes or long for 11 minutes. Peter Brown splits the difference with an old school bassline buoyed by modern production. While not the most club-friendly interpretation, the beloved tiara girl Julissa Veloz explores lounge, piano house, live drums, and different synth lines for a creative mix unlike anything we’ve heard in a long time. All-in-all, it’s a solid set of diverse remixes that translate a creative collaboration to a variety of dance floors.

Image courtesy of Carrillo music.

Notable Dance Podcast #066

Notable Dance Podcast #066 by Notable Dance on Mixcloud

Yolanda Be Cool – Cause I Like It
Duke Dumont – Won’t Look Back
Cazzette ft The High – Sleepless
Da Rave – Milky Way
Le Youth – Feel Your Love ft Javeon
Basement Jaxx – Never Say Never (Mark Knight Remix)
Dirty Vegas – Setting Sun (Daddy’s Groove & Heymen Remix)
SCNDL – The Munsta
Laidback Luke & Marc Benjamin – We’re Forever
Will Sparks ft Troi – When The Lights Go Out
Boyan and Boyer – Bangher
Swanky Tunes ft Raign – Fix Me
Eximinds – Poseidon
Benny Benassi ft Gary Go – Let This Last Forever