Mr. Daishiki Jones is pretty much the definition of a proper house head. The amount of passion that exudes from this man through his mixes and declarations of his profound love of house are truly inspiring. He spent his early years soaking in the culture of Chicago house music from his neighboring hometown of Gary, Indiana. For this week's mixtape, Jones delivers a deep soulful mix of 100 percent pure house.
Dallas Observer Mixtape # 84: Mr Daishiki Jones by DC9 at Night Mixtape on hearthis.at
How did you get started DJing? How long have you been at it?I've been DJing since 1989, when I moved to Dallas from Gary. Back home I was simply a "head" soaking in the nascent culture emitting from Chicago. I was buying music but I was more into the fashion and dancing aspects of the culture until I went to an audio equipment store and there was a display with two turntables and a mixer — the whole mobile setup. For whatever reason I had an epiphany and a little voice inside my head kept telling me to, "Do it, do it."
What was it like growing up so close to Chicago back then?
I think anyone growing up in the Chicago area who was "house" during that era was profoundly affected by the music and culture in one way or another. I think that simply being exposed to the culture was what initially put the bug in my head — the "law of attraction," if you will.
How was this mix made? Is there a particular theme for the track selection?
I think one of the recurring themes of not just this particular mix but of my ideology in general is one of connection, which is the message in the very first track of the mix. I think that for whatever reason, there is a lack of true connection to the music and culture overall... Are you a part of the culture, or are you apart from the culture? Are you jacking until your legs are about to fall off, or are you standing in the middle of the party, taking pictures and posting them on Facebook?
How did you start getting involved with Dallas DJ culture?
While driving into the city, I was searching through the local airwaves and I came across a station, KNON, playing Fast Eddie & Sundance's "Get Up."I damn near had a heart attack: Chicago house? In Dallas? So the first thing that I do is seek out the record stores; Bill's Records was the first stop and I introduced myself to the guys working there: Luke Sardello, Keith Pillars, Derrick Wright and Tim Shumaker along with Tony Aco, Cle Acklin and Jeff Schroer — whose show on KNON was the one I was listening to.
And you guys hit it off?
They were intrigued, as was I with them, when they found out I was from the Chicago. I was more into the dancing and fashion aspects of house music and exposed them to the way Chicago kids danced, i.e., jacking, which they had never experienced before.
How did Disco’s Revenge come about?
Back in 2009, as the new year was fast approaching, I was wondering about what was going on on New Year's Eve and I was shocked that there were zero — yes, zero — house or techno-themed events planned for Dallas. So I had another one of my eureka moments and hastily put together a party at Zubar, enlisting Remy June and Woody Rosen. The party was well received and I decided to build it from the ground up and boom: Disco's Revenge was born.
The crew has changed over the years, though. Who's in it now?
After playing a special Record Store Day event at the Crown & Harp with Brandon Ayala and Ricky Simpson, our musical sensibilities and tastes blend well so I asked them to join Disco's Revenge for a few months and we've been at our current home the past two years. Brandon also owns Epocha clothing and shoe store in Deep Ellum and his commitments to the store forced him to take a leave. So I asked Gavin Guthrie aka TX Connect to join us because, as it was with Brandon, our styles blend well together.
What is your relationship with vinyl?
I think Common summed up the "connection" to the culture in his classic track, "I Used to Love H.E.R." Just transfer that metaphor over to hip-hop's cousins, house and techno, and you get an accurate comparison. Even though I dabble in the digital realm (yes, I bought tracks from digital sites), I like vinyl and have supported it even when my contemporaries went digital.
Where do you like to dig for tracks?
A portion of the tracks in the mix are from Josey Records here in Dallas, some from Discogs and others from Gramaphone in Chicago and Downtown 304 NYC. I've always had my vinyl "connections" and have always maintained contacts with vinyl suppliers, regardless of the fact that vinyl was "phased" out and replaced by digital.
What gigs do you have in the near future?
Well Saturday is our monthly at the Crown & Harp, which just so happens to be Record Store Day. It takes place every third Saturday. It's a hedonistically spiritual, communal experience which is admittedly left of center.
Tracklist:
1. Basil - Are You House (Drum Vocal)
2. Envelop - Hear My Answer (Kevin Yost "Early On" remix)
3. Sandman & Riverside ft. Jeremy Ellis - Into Your Story (Kai Alce Distinctive Vocal Mix)
4. Mike Grant - My Soul (Mr G's Freedom Train Mix)
5. Giorgio Luceri - Liger (Gene Hunt 326 US Remix)
6. Ame - Rej
7. Jordan Fields - Pink Lilies
8. Mike Dearborn - Sexual X perience
9. Johnick presents The Return of the Meatmen - C'mon Give It Up
10. Rocco - Fuck Da Night
11. Seven Davis Jr. - Sunday Morning (Kaytroninik Ruff Kut Mix)
12. Ultramarine - Eye Contact(Kai KZR Alce's Dub)
13. Soundstream - Just Around
14. Franck Roger - It's Alright
15. Steve Poindexter - Born To Freak
16. Mad Rey - Dis Poem
17. Munk - Hot Medusa (Kai Alce Dub)
18. Fabio Monesi - Solid State of Bass
19. Lady Alma - It's House Music
20. A Mind of His Own - The Jazz Singer
