030: DJ SPUN
“I think that times like these remind us of how much we need each other and how valuable communing with others can be. I’m expecting us to move into a hi-tech, 21st Century version of “The Roaring 20’s”...”
NOR CAL—> NEW YORK CITY
Jason Drummond, aka Dj Spun, is a fixture of NYC’s underground dance music scene; in fact, he has been since the turn of the millenium. His resume reads for underground credibility: instrumental in the 1990’s disco edit craze as the Promo Only/ Rong edit label owner, curator of MOMA’s PS1 warm up music series in the 2000’s, All Night Rong parties with DJ Harvey and other seminal DJ’s, resident of multiple venues and legend in NYC.
But New York wasn’t always his home. A San Jose native, Drummond was a punk musician whose musical tastes evolved along with the growth of Hip Hop in the 1980s and 90s in his hometown and the Bay Area at large; his Nor Cal musical path naturally led to clubbing, and eventually the guitar and 3 note chord progressions were retired, replaced by turntables. DJ SPUN’s musical aesthetic retains a punk sensibility.
Jason has played at venues around the world over his the course of his illustrious career: Panorama Bar in Berlin, Liquid Room in Tokyo, Horse Meat Disco in London - with the range to play New Wave and disco tunes to futuristic acid house -he’s done it all. To date, the Loose Control Band (with his pal Jonah Sharp) lets him channel his instrumental musicianship, while his Blackspun project with Blakkat provides a more futuristic synth dance approach to music making.
Spun remains firmly planted in the NYC dance scene, an icon in the global underground community. Here, Jason provides us with a 3 hour exclusive mix, far and wide through past, present, future.
Peep his interview below.
INTERVIEW w/ Bad Lieutenant
Jason, thank you for joining the OVER&OVER series. As we always start our interviews, the unavoidable question about Covid life - how have you coped?
I’ve done a little creative work, including remixes for Sunshine Jones and my better half, Natalie Smash’s debut artist single on Chicago’s Still Music. Besides that I’ve been taking some time off to regroup, reflect, reinvent and prepare for all of our next chapter.
The virus has appeared to cause deep destruction in dance music. But will it bounce back? Do you see reason for optimism? Are there any silver linings for dance music that will emerge from this period?
I think that times like these remind us of how much we need each other and how valuable communing with others can be. I’m expecting us to move into a hi-tech, 21st Century version of “The Roaring 20’s”...
Fuck yes… you’re known for your work as a producer, record label, artist and curator in NYC. But take us back to the origin story. You’re a kid coming up in San Jose in the 1980s… Did you know you wanted to be a musician / artist? What was the moment you decided on dance music?
It was a progression. First with hip hop which seemed to me to be the new punk along with the introduction of the turn table as an instrument. Then I got more into other types of dance music as I made some new friends and morphed into some sort of Club Kid around ‘87. But creating music has been a main focus since I composed my first song, at around 7 years old.
What are 3 of your most influential records that helped formed your identity as an artist/ dj?
There is really no way to break this down in 3 records, but I will say, Miles Davis, Punk Rock, early Hip Hop, Kraftwerk, Gamble & Huff, the Talking Heads, Trax Records, On-U Sound, naming just a few of so many influences.
What brought you to NYC?
I’ve had a long lasting love of NYC and made the move to NYC in 2002 to curate PS1/MoMA’s Summer Music Series “Warm Up”.
What have been your favorite experiences in NYC that you’d like to share?
Getting to work as a DJ, Producer, Remixer, and/or curator with so many artists that I love, admire, and respect.
Favorite venue to play in NY? In the world?
In recent times my two of my favorite clubs in NY, Output and Cielo closed, so for New York I’d have to say MoMA/PS1 is still quite amazing! Worldwide, playing anywhere in Tokyo is always so special and unique, with some of the best and most educated music fans in the world.
What is in the production works for you at the moment?
Lately I’ve been really excited about my production work with Natalie Smash, she’s written a bunch of great songs and I’m trying to help them come to life. As I mentioned earlier, stay tuned for her upcoming release “New Start” on Still Music. The release features remixes from Jonah Sharp and myself as the Loose Control Band, DJ Spun, and oldNY and T Bag Records in Miami’s new edit label D.O.P.E. or Dope Optimal Party Edits.
As for Rong Music, our output has definitely slowed the past few years, but stay tuned for some stellar releases in 2022 as we celebrate 20 years of Rong with a few releases as well as some new directions for the brand.
Finally, tell us about this mix. It’s three hours of vibes from the deep to the pulsing. Is this an organic representation of your feelings at the moment or was there a theme/idea in mind?
My partner Natalie Smash and I have been hiding out in NorCal through the pandemic and this mix was recorded live at the Rong Again Warehouse & West Coast HQ to a crowd of none. The mix was done off the cuff, starting with a more chilled out warm up vibe and getting up to peak hour vibes and back to planet earth. Enjoy, and I hope to see you all on a dance floor someplace, sometime soon.
Jason, thank you - now let’s let Jasson do his magic… Cue the mix…
