Which DJ did you party with this summer? OUT40 interviewed Frederick’s top 3 DJs: Javy, Demo, and Babylon. Watch three of the top local DJs get busy.
“In 1998, I bought 2 turntables and a vestax battle mixer. I can’t rap, I was too fat to break dance, so I became a DJ.”
– DJ Babylon
DJ Javy
1. When did you start DJing? And why?
2. What’s your favorite music to play? Why?
3. Tell me about your roots. How’d you become a popular DJ in Frederick?
4. At what venues do you usually DJ?
5. What makes you one of the best?
6. What do you enjoy most?
7. What do you enjoy most about DJing in Frederick?
8. Talk about the current DJ landscape. What have you noticed? Any changes? What are your likes, dislikes? Do you think Frederick needs more DJs?
9. What do you think about the music and club scene here?
1. Music has always been a part of my life. But it all started with my uncle and father back when I was about 10 years old. There was a major gap, when I left puerto rico at the age of 13 and I didn’t get back to the music until I was able to learn the English language.
2. I really don’t have a favorite type of music to play. I just love it all
3.. I feel like my personality has made me popular and just adding music on top, and also the fact that I’ve been here almost all my life.
4. Right now I don’t have many places to be at. But I’ve been able to keep the ones I have.
Taco daddy has been my favorite one. I enjoy the people there. High energy and great drinks. Pretty much what downtown Fredrick needed.
5. I don’t wanna say I’m the best because still up to this day I know I’m not. I know what great ,best and good is. I do have an really good ear for it I can say that. But it’s not about being the best. It’s about originality.
6. What I enjoy the most is being able to create a good friendly vibe. I love to enjoy what others enjoy. I love to be able to relate to others through music. I love to feel the way everybody else’s feeling. And specially I love to know that I’m the one that’s making that happen not only as a job but more of a personal Hobby.
7. What I love about downtown is that everybody goes there to have a good time. The diversity is definitely a reason why I stay local, I get to play music of all type and make sure everyone is happy.
8. I feel like the dj landscape is pretty basic. I think most of the DJs have the same style and they don’t play for the crowd they play for themselves and that’s one thing I try to be aware of. I would rather play for my crowd then for me. Yes Frederick needs more djs.
There is a lot of people in Frederick and not many places to go for a night life.
Check out DJ Javy here.
DJ Babylon
When did you start DJing? And why? In 1998, I bought 2 turntables and a vestax battle mixer. I can’t rap, I was too fat to break dance, so I became a DJ.
2. What’s your favorite music to play? Why? Trap. I started out with dancehall reggae but since 2013 I’ve been spinning trap. trap reminds me of punk rock, it’s aggressive, expressive street music. The lack of musical training and privilege has left it raw and violent just like punk. I was in a punk band many years ago and I immersed myself in punk, reggae and hip hop all around the same time.
3. Tell me about your roots. How’d you become a popular DJ in Frederick? I’ve been promoting and throwing music events for 20 years in Frederick. I’ve put in a lot of work in this city. I don’t know why i be came popular, i just keep doing music. my roots are in running sound, stage management, promotion/booking, poster design, I’ve recorded written and preformed my band “reggae dance party”
4. At what venues do you usually DJ? Mostly Cafe Nola off of Patrick and Market St. but I’ve spun all up and down Market. I’ve been blessed to spin at Vans, Enjoi Skateboards, I-Path and Victoria’s Secret events. My gigs outside of Nola are random..i could be dj’ing your backyard tomorrow night.
5. What makes you one of the best? I give a shit and put a lot of myself into it. I put a ton of time into each event. i love music so I’m going to try to make you love it. maybe thats it.
6. What do you enjoy most? Working with Rondo to be honest. Having a promoter, business partner and taste maker at my side. We’re a team, Babylon Sound System.
7. What do you enjoy most about DJing in Frederick? Making a room get hectic and feeling the energy crank off the walls. The subtle line between chaos and peace while the party is at it’s climax.
8. Talk about the current DJ landscape. What have you noticed? Any changes? Each DJ is on their own wave. You have very successful dj’s from here like two teks, minus nine & carnage. there just not all under one roof. i’m into all the collabos. music backing the brands at events. thats what i think is whats cool right now. I want to work with more brands.
What are your likes, dislikes? The full picture has not painted into a landscape yet. we have the outline we just need the resources to finish the piece.
Do you think Frederick needs more DJs? We need clubs to book them at first. if you build it they will come….
9. What do you think about the music and club scene here? There is no scene, we’re not prominent enough to be considered a scene. We’re coming up though. its undeniable.
10. Where can the people find you?
ig: dj_babylon
snap: babylon_mathews
DJ Demo
1. When did you start DJing? And why?
2. What’s your favorite music to play? Why?
3. Tell me about your roots. How’d you become a popular DJ in Frederick?
4. At what venues do you usually DJ?
5. What makes you one of the best?
6. What do you enjoy most?
7. What do you enjoy most about DJing in Frederick?
8. Talk about the current DJ landscape. What have you noticed? Any changes? What are your likes, dislikes? Do you think Frederick needs more DJs?
9. What do you think about the music and club scene here?