10 Questions with ... DJ Kue

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Soundcloud:

YouTube: www.youtube.com/djkue

1) You attended ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) this year, was it good for you?

Yes it was, it's the second year I attended and it's phenomenal! This is definitely the conference you want to go to, aside from Summer Sessions, of course. It's awesome to be in a location that's saturated with Dance music so you're really inspired to do music - you just feel so inspired.

2) Speaking of making music, you're a Mix Show DJ, Club DJ Remixer and artist, give us a little insight into the differences when you're creating a track or a song for a club vs. for radio.

First and foremost, when I produce a track, I always approach it different and make it into something that I would play. So if it's a remix, I try and work it with what I think would work with the remix package. I do like to converse with labels and kind of see where their head is at in what they're trying to put together. If I'm doing something on my own -- say if it's a bootleg --then I don't know, inspiration comes from all forums so it kind of varies. I'll hear a vocal and I'll end up hearing what I think the remix should sound like. So it could be like a club record, in regards to a club remix, something that's more for a mix show, so I feel like I tailor it more to what I've been inspired by not only what I've been listening to growing up, but also even now on radio, or stuff I listen to on my own. There's no real rhyme or reason I feel when I approach a remix or just producing. It kind of happens; an idea just springs up.

3) You mentioned listening to radio, and things you were inspired by growing up. What were some of those things you were inspired by?

My mom listened to a lot of Disco growing up. I remember her having a picnic basket full of 45 rpm records and she would listen to those. I think my first, because I remember asking my parents this a long time ago. My first album that I had as a kid was Michael Jackson's "Thriller." So I was inspired by Disco a lot growing up, and then just my Mexican culture, too. I listened to a lot of Latin music. Also, my mom and dad listened to a lot of Oldies. So songs like, "Earth Angel" and classics, like "Low Rider," oldies.

4) You do a lot of remixes; how do you keep your sound fresh and different?

I don't know, I feel like it's not being afraid to break away from your sound. What's interesting about that to me is that I feel that I don't have a sound; I just make what I enjoy. For example, I did a Khalid record; I really like the whole Calvin Harris sound because it's bringing back Funk-like elements. I heard the song and I'm like, "This song would've been great like if it was made that way," so I approached it like that. I feel that being open, you're not boxed into one genre, which helps you stay fresh in your sound. It helps innovate, too. You can get inspiration from everything. One of the more recent remixes that I did "Top Down" by Sam & Gray; it sounds like a Country record, right? And so it has its own nuances, its own sound. Even though it's something completely different that you wouldn't normally approach to remix; thinking about doing a remix for a Country record, don't be afraid of that. Still go in with "what can you make of that?" That's what helps keep a sound fresh.

5) When I first got to hear about you, a lot of it was for your edits. Are there songs that only need edits and don't need remixes?

Yes and no. It depends on your audience, and how much longevity you're trying to go with the song. First and foremost, I feel like the original has to be strong to begin with. Yes, you have a remix in a club but if I'm an average club listener, going out having fun, when I listen to this remix, I'm going to seek out the original first. Edits are cool because edits really allow you to tailor your DJ set, but then again, when you do edits, they should make sense. I hear some edits where it doesn't really fit the song. To me it just goes back to my philosophy on remixing. I feel when remixing you need to hold on to the essence of what made the original song so good.

But that's not to say that the unique change wouldn't work. For example, we were talking about this before, Ed Sheeran's "Shape Of You," it was a massive record where a lot of big DJs were playing it. I've heard everything from DJs dropping the original or go into the original so the energy really changes from what the record is known for. But I wouldn't play something like that for radio. I understand the mentality for playing it in a festival. Every case is different. And then, yeah, edits are just great if you're trying to be unique in the sense when you're playing as a DJ.

6) What's the biggest difference between for you when you're playing in a club versus when you're playing in your mix show?

For a club you have to tailor a lot to the crowd, you have to be open format in a sense, not only in just the definition of open format where you're just playing all different type of genres, but being open for electronic genres. On the other hand, when I do a mix show, there are certain records that I do tailor to the audience because have much more freedom. I'm fortunate in that having a specialty mix show. It's different than being on prime-time at 5 o'clock or a drive-time mix show. So those are really the differences for me when I'm playing in a club versus when I'm playing a mix show.

7) How much communication do you have with the programming staff at your station KYLD? Do you communicate with Travis and Mark on what songs should be in your mix show?

Yeah, we talk about it. We communicate about music quite a bit. There's so much music where you can only have your hand in so many pots at one time, so I'm not an expert on Pop music. I know hits, but I can't tell you what artists are coming up. Whereas the conversations I have with Travis and Mark help me 'cause then I can talk to them about what's happening in the Dance community that would be great for mix show. First off, they tell me about artists, well you should have your finger on the pulse of this artist because it looks like they're going to be big or they're bubbling in some way. A remix might be good for you to help your brand.

8) You mentioned you know a hit when you hear it. How do you know it's a hit when you hear it?

It's all about the hook. The hook for me is always the big thing, be it a vocal hook or when it's Dance music, a melodic hook. I just feel like I know. It's funny, too, because there was a whole panel at Summer Sessions where you just have that feeling and it's just hard to describe. It brings me back to when I would hear music as a kid that put me in that mindset where it's, "wow ... amazing." This isn't me being like ego or anything; I know when I'm doing a good remix. I'll be excited because I know that I nailed what I've been working on, so that makes the rest of the project easier. What it boils down to is the excitement. You get excited in some way. The record itself makes you excited whether it's the song itself triggers some sort of emotion. And that's what really makes a song a hit.

9) Talking about excitement, at the 2017 Summer Sessions you were named the Mix Show DJ of the Year and Hollywood Hamilton during Miami Music Week presented you with the Remix Top 30 Best Producer award. What's one piece of advice that you would give to an up-and-coming Mix Show DJ, Producer, Remixer?

Keep working at it. As a mix show DJ you're always honing your craft. Every one gets caught up, everyone gets busy once you start doing mix shows where you're making mixes for a certain format. Say you're following a playlist or you're playing a club gig every day. Never forget to play records at home, practice the vibe. Same thing with remixing ... never stop learning because that keeps you humble. There's kids who are coming out now that are out the gate just incredible and you can always ... you can never stop trying to learn as much as you can to hone your craft. It always keeps the game exciting.

One other important piece of feedback I feel for remixing is never be afraid of constructive criticism. Make sure you have your circle. When people give you feedback and they say your record sucks, don't get caught up on it. Ask them why do they think that, tell me why you don't like it. I actually value the feedback. You won't improve any other way. I would rather someone be straight with me and tell me why this didn't work then not be honest with me at all. That's why having that network is what helped me get to the level of production where I'm at now. I still feel that it's a constant process.

10) DJ Kue, with a K, K-U-E, why the K?

Growing up I saw the; I had this old real tech mixer, I remember my mom buying me it at Best Buy because I really wanted to DJ, it had the C in Cue that was really well known; it was a turntable I believe, so I just changed it to a K. The lazy way to do it.

Comedy or drama?

Comedy

Fact or fiction?

Fact

Creamy or chunky?

Oh, creamy

Something breaks you fixing it or hiring somebody?

Hiring somebody, o yea.

Dog or cat?

Both, cause I have both.

What's your dog's name?

Patitas, little feet in Spanish

What's your cat's name?

Pumpkin.

What's the last song you sang in the shower?

Oh geez, you're gonna be tripped about it, I'm a huge Pink Floyd fan, Pink Floyd's "Coming Back To Life"