Our latest interview comes from the one and only DJ Maaco of Detroit In Effect! We were incredibly fortunate to bump into DJ Maaco after seeing him deliver one of the standout sets of Brave! Factory festival, where he gracefully agreed to answer a few questions for us.
Hi Tameko, thanks so much for taking the time to speak to us, lets dive straight into it.
Who has influenced you on your musical journey?
So who influenced me on my musical journey…man, that’s a loaded question. I’ve been influenced by so much and so many – I can’t just pinpoint one, everything from funk to gospel, to new age, to reggae.
Some of everything – I guess if I had to narrow it down to what got me into electro, I would go with 3: Kraftwerk – Numbers, Soul Sonic Force – Planet Rock, and then of course Cybotron.
What was it like growing up surrounded by the music scene in Detroit?
Growing up in Detroit…I would take it back to the 80’s, I think it was some of the best times musically. Although we didn’t know, or at least I didn’t, that a lot of it was being made in Detroit – I didn’t find that out later till I got into DJing and reading the records and seeing who the artists were. But in the early days, we just jammed to the music.
We listened to everything from Egyptian Lover to Ice T’s, Reckless, cos I was a breakdancer as well – it was great growing up in Detroit!
Who are some artists you’re really digging right now?
Some of the artists that i’m digging that i’m already checking out their stuff:
Mark Taylor AKA Vintage Future – Great funky stuff
Arnold Steiner
Aux 88
What are some of your favourite tracks/albums at the moment and why?
Among some of my favourites, again, would have to be Cybotron – it’s always in the crate. I think I play a Cybotron track everytime I DJ.
The Model 500 stuff is timeless to me, I play and listen to it over and over. There is loads of Model 500 stuff that I just listen to that I don’t even play out.
Another is Reckless Rhyme, everything he’s done is just some of my favourite music that I can listen to over and over and over.
I mean its good music, it’s art!
What’s some of the most favourite places you’ve DJ’d? And why?
As far as having a favourite place, I can’t really say I have a favourite – I enjoy everywhere I go. Everyone has something unique that they bring to the party. I can’t put my finger on a place that stands out amongst the rest.
You’ve carved a DJing legacy lasting decades, how have you seen the crowds change over that time? And have you felt you’ve ever had to adapt your style to new crowds?
It’s funny, I’ve seen the crowds over the years, become younger and younger, which is good because it tells me that the younger generations are getting into the stuff we’ve been doing for ever.
And the funny thing is I’ve never changed my DJ style! My DJ style has always been the same since I was DJing back in Detroit in the early days. The style you see me DJing now is the same style i’ve always had, it’s just the Detroit style of DJing and there’s 100 other DJ’s in Detroit that do it just as good, if not better than myself.
It’s just Detroit, that’s what we are, that’s who we are, that’s how we get down.
How would you compare the scene and crowds in Europe with Detroit and the Mid-West?
Now I will tell you the scene in Detroit is good, that’s home, I love it, but Europe is on another level with it. I am sure any DJ or any artist from the States no matter where they’re from, if they’ve travelled abroad and gone to Europe they’d say the same thing.
Europe is on a whole new totally different fiwld when it comes to people coming, enjoying the music, partying, and all of that – I take my hats off to you guys. I mean you see a whole lot of us over here in Europe all the time constantly because you guys love it, we love that you love it, and there is just nothing like it in the world. I mean, everywhere I go in Europe, you guys get it. And I’m grateful!
The price of your old records has soared in the recent past. What’s your opinion on the “Discogs Sharks” and do you have any plans to reissue your records?
Yeah i’ve seen some of the prices on Discogs, of not just my records but a lot of older records and the classics. I think it is a situation where some people just take advantage, don’t get me wrong i’m flattered when it is my records – but I don’t people having to pay that much money for my music.
That’s why we decided to start re-releasing stuff so people can get it at a reasonable price and not have to pay what someone is trying to sell it for online.
How do you balance producing with touring? And do you have any plans for more music in the near future?
As far as balancing the producing and touring, touring helps me with my producing because as i’m touring and playing music, and seeing how the crowd is acting and getting into it I am thinking of new tracks and new ideas as i’m playing at parties – it helps me a lot.
And of course i’ve got some new stuff in the pipeline – new Cybonix, new D.I.E, and i’m even considering bringing on new artists over to M.A.P. So we got a lot of things in the pipeline and they’ll be out sooner than you know!
Thanks so much for taking the time to speak to us!
