Hailing from New Jersey, MikeQ is a master in the ballroom/vogue music scene, he’s done a number of productions that have proven the genre is fully alive and still kicking. His EP on Fade To Mind entitled, “Let It All Out” gave us one reason to boogie when it was released near the end of last year. The 25- year-old has traveled extensively all throughout the world, playing an endless amount of shows in America, throughout Europe, and many other countries. With a few surprises in-store for us in 2012, like a brand new EP featuring the likes of Mikix The Cat and DJ Sliink, things only look to be heading in the right direction for the blooming producer. I had the chance to catch up with the young man himself and chat about music, studio, cooking and other fun bits. Check out the “situation” down below!
Hey Mike! Thanks for sitting down with us today, lets get started shall we. What was life before turning to music? Tell us about yourself.
Thanks. Well life before music for me was just basically me being in High School, working at Domino’s Pizza, I was always a hard worker I guess you can say, really into computers and science and stuff, always quiet and reserved, not very popular either? (laughs).
You are no doubt the king of the ballroom/vogue-house movement, what drew you to this particular style of music?
Well I wont say The King as there are those that have come before me, but Im damn close to it lol. I went out to a party in 2003 and on that very 1st day The dj at the time played this track which was just so different and amazing to me and a few individuals started to do this crazy dance and from there I was hung, i wanted to hear more of the music, I searched for it and eventually and mistakeningly came to play with it and from there it just took off and over the course of about 7 years, here I am.
Before your highly acclaimed “Let It All Out” EP, how did you come to connect with the crew of Fade To Mind? Are you tight with the team now?
Well Kingdom and I 1st met deejaying a party together for this artist we both knew, we exchanged music but still yet didn’t really click till later on after he moved to LA, he had already been playing my tracks and gave me the great chance of being on his new label, and I would say im very tight with everyone on the team, we are all a great family.
DJ MikeQ Let It All Out 2010 Ft. Miss Jay by DJMikeQ
How often do you find yourself in the studio? And on the topic of studio’s, what do you use?
Well every chance I get, if im home which is not much because I DJ like 6 Days a week, I must be on my computer working, I use a few different programs to get the job done, and im just getting into ableton so I got myself some pads and a keyboard and soon plan on making that my main source.
Has the EDM (electronic dance music) industry changed the way you live? Do you stay up later?
It defiantly has, like this is something I never wanted to do, never thought about and just with what I learned myself im now SOMEBODY and im traveling the world playing music, and yes I definitly stay up later although for me 10pm To the early hours of the morning are regular business hours for me.
Now lets roll into some fun shall we… Are you a good cook?
Lol, IM A GREAT COOK, I love to do it, If there was ever a time where I wasn’t MikeQ anymore, I could just make a living off of cooking.
Favorite cuisines?
Italian dishes, lots of fast food, Pizza… a lot of american foods, im a pretty picky eater, seafood is the 1st no no and then a million
other things I don’t care for.
Drink of choice?
Orange Juice? Im not much of a drinker, 1 beer and a shot is good for me once in a blue.
Party Squad Ft. Roxy Cottontail – My Bad (DJ MikeQ Ballroom Remix) V2. by DJMikeQ
Do you like sports? (If so which ones)
No, I hate all sports, I like to swim if thats a sport but as far as ball playing and watching that stuff, I could never.
Do deadlines motivate you? Or are you a free spirit?
Im kinda Hating them…. because I cant rush anything if Its just not right and it kinda slows me from my own processes, but whatever, I deal with it.
Anything interesting coming up in the next few months? Upcoming releases, collaborations, remixes, gigs?
Currently things im working on is a few remixes for various artists, I have my Qween Beat Collective which we will be self putting out alot of great new music, Im working on an Ep for Mad Decent as well as One With DJ Sliink & Mikix The Cat, so just alot fo great new things here and there as well as continually deejaying everwhere in this world I possibly can.
Thank you so much for the time, it was certainly appreciated. Any final message to your fans?
Well I don’t say fans, I like to call them my supporters. But Just stay tuned and look out for great music and shows from Me & my team, find me, follow me and all that good stuff and thank you to everyone.
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