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10 Questions with ... 3LAU
April 29, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/3LAU
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DJ3LAU
- Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/3lau
1. Where did the name 3LAU come from?
My full name is Justin Blau, and the 3 in my name comes from mainly the fact that I DJ, I produce and I perform. I'm a singer as well and I'm singing on some future songs.
2. Where are you from?
I grew up in Las Vegas and I went to school in St. Louis and moved back after I dropped out to pursue this thing.
3. Having grown up in Vegas, were you there from the beginning of this explosion?
I was in Vegas when it started to explode, but I didn't really partake in it. I started getting into dance music until I was in college and I went to Sweden with my best friend who is Swedish, so coming back from college to Vegas when I was already DJ-ing, that whole scene is my home and it's getting bigger and bigger every day.
4. Your new single is "How Do You Love Me" featuring Bright Lights. How did you hook up with Bright Lights?
I originally did "Escape" with Bright Lights. That was my first single with my friends Paris & Simo. I was holding onto the record, the instrumental of "How You Love Me" for almost a year, I couldn't find the right vocal for it and it was driving me crazy, I tried so many different people and finally I played it for Heather and she said give me two days. I was a little reluctant at first because I didn't want to use the same singer twice in a row, but Heather is the best. She literally destroyed it and the response to it from people has been incredible especially at Ultra Festival.
5. I heard some big name DJs are supporting it?
Tiesto and Hardwell supported it at Ultra. Zedd and Diplo played my new one, "Vikings," with Botnek. Ultra was great for me this year been great, finally having my music out there.
6. You just signed with Casablanca/Republic, is there an album coming?
Right now, it's just singles. We wanted to keep it to singles so I could stay flexible to what I wanted to do. My goal is to have an EP by September.
7. You are a DJ and a producer ... are you remixing songs?
I don't remix tracks often, I usually turn down everything just because I'm really focused on getting my songs out there. I'll probably take a bigger remix next year once I've established myself as a musician.
8. It sounds like 2014 is going to be a big year for you. Is there anyone who you are looking to work with?
Honestly, a lot of the people I've always wanted to work with I'm working with; it's surreal. I have a song with Tiesto; I have a song with Dash Berlin that is coming out on his album; and I'm working with one of my biggest inspirations ever, BT. I feel really lucky and I'm really excited.
9. Are you out DJ-ing or producing all the time?
I split time between playing live and producing in the studio.
10. How did you get into DJ'ing?
I took a trip to Sweden and was listening to House Music in Sweden, I had never listened to dance music before and it was super-inspiring. I loved the music; I was listening to a few older Avicii records and was blown away; that was the inspiration for all of it.
Bonus Questions
What is your favorite city to DJ in?
Texas has been treating me really well, Houston is amazing. More recently, I really love playing in the NorthWest. Seattle is great! Anywhere in the NorthWest is a lot of fun
If you could go listen to one DJ spin. who would it be?
Porter is my favorite DJ of all time. it's a shame he is going to stop doing his normal sets; what he used to play was always mind blowing.
What's a typical day like for you?
I'm on my phone a lot, and making music, or playing a joke, that's literally all day every day. I don't really watch much TV or go out all that much; I'm always working on something or being on the phone with my manager Ross. There is so much going on that we have been working on for a year.
Where were you the first time you heard your song on the radio?
This sounds so cliché, I was actually in my gym in my building and it was on BPM. that was fun; I happened to be with the kids who made the record with me; they were visiting me in Vegas.
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