Hulon Pate has a lot of love for house and techno tunes -- so much, in fact, that he spends most of his time on the look out for the next hot thing to drop at Absinthe Lounge, where he currently has a residency, Deep After Dark.
Pate's has been DJing for nearly 20 years now, and considers himself to be a genuine, unpretentious person -- which is what he claims sets him apart for other DJs in Dallas.
As for what to expect when you go to see him play?
"Deep and sexy vocal house early on," he says, "[It gets] more uplifting and moody as the night goes on. Techno and house music with club classics, and remakes with the focus on playing the newest music possible in the genre I play."
Catch Hulon Pate spinning techno, house and everything in between on Monday March, 21 at Absinthe Lounge, and, in the meantime, make sure to check out his exclusive DC9er mix and Q&A after the jump.
For how long have you been DJing?
I have been DJing since the early '90s, quietly buying records building my music collection.
How did you get your start?
Making mixtapes for friends, playing in gay clubs, playing in back-rooms at rave events, and throwing one-off parties.
What was your first gig like?
People asking for Abba. I was like, "No, but I got some Jeff Mills!"
Who/what are some of your biggest influences musical or otherwise?
Detroit Techno, New Order, Underworld, BBC Radio 1 ,Carl Cox, Ralph
Lauren, Mr.C, Mix Mag, Saint Etienne, Waterloo records, Depeche Mode,
Front 242, Perfecto Records, Soma Quality Recordings, Moby, Tresor
Records and early "Edgeclub."
Which DJs do you follow? Do you have a favorite?
Shur-I-Kan, Pete Heller, Tony Lionni, Ewan Pearson ,Charlie May,
Francois K., D-Unit, Psycatron, Monaque, Radio Slave, Sasha,
Agoria ,Jimpster and Laurent Garnier. Dallas locals Brett Johnson
& Demarkus Lewis put out amazing records, too.
What's your favorite genre of music, both to play and to listen to?
I love deep-ended techno and house to play out. Other bands I enjoy
[are] Depeche Mode, White Lies, Gold Frapp, Bad Lieutenant and Groove
Armada. I tend to listen to podcasts of DJs and producers and record labels
on the go.
How do you decide what songs you're going to play?
I make playlists to sort through everything that is new, and current
favorites -- music I feel that is credible and will get peoples attention
or a reaction. If people like something, they let you know.
How much preparation goes into putting a set together?
Being a resident at Absinthe Lounge with my Deep After Dark night, you
learn how to play longer sets and can adjust to the many challenges and
obstacles in a nightclub setting, and how to program music for longer
periods of time. It takes up most of my time.
What are your main objectives when it comes to playing music? (Are you
looking to entertain the crowd, educate them, or something different
altogether?)
I try to play new music first. People have every outlet for every other
kind of music out there, streaming music -- FM and satellite radio, and
digital distribution 24/7. I want people to dance and have a
great night out, and hear something new that will catch their ear and
be a memorable experience. Not just playing the same crap you hear
everywhere else. That's too easy to do.
What can someone expect when they come to see/hear you play?
I think people can expect one of the best music nights in Dallas.
What kind of equipment do you use?
I use CDJs, Pioneer Mixer, 1200s, and a maxed out HP computer with Traktor Pro.
Requests. Love em or hate em?
I try to make people feel good about themselves when they talk to me
about a request. I tell them thanks for coming out, and make them feel
like the most important person in the place.
If you could play a gig anywhere, with any other DJ/music act, with whom would you play, and where?
I would love to play Space in Ibiza! I would love to play with Layo & Bushwacka or Andy from Groove Armada.
What sets you apart from other DJs in Dallas/Denton/Fort Worth?
I stick to my strengths. I am just myself and not some pretentious fake
person. I am comfortable with the quality of the music I program, and
what I have to offer as entertainment.
When/where will you be playing next?
I have an ongoing residency at Absinthe Lounge (Deep After Dark). March
21 is my next date. Add me on Facebook for more info.
What can Dallas expect to see from you in 2011?
You can catch me once a month at Absinthe lounge. I also recently started a blog for electronic music I find interesting. You can also subscribe to my Grind2Shine podcast on iTunes. Hopefully,
I'll have some dates to add over the summer. We are currently looking
to host our sound system at various venues. I will release some new
music this year under my lonestardjz guise.
DC9er Mix tracklist:
Tony Lionni - "Galaxia"
3 Mb Feat Jaun Atkins - "Die Kosmischen Kuriere"
Robert Babicz - "The Feeling ( Davi Remix)"
Derrik May - "Strings of Life ( Tom Middleton Remodel)"
The Normalities - "The Sun Rising (Shur-I-Kan Vocal Mix)"
Tracey Thorn - "Why Does the Wind (Andre Lodemann Remix)"
Tom Middleton - "Hypnotizer (Roland Nights Remix)"
MR. K Alexi & Jamie Anderson - "Cyclone (Fish Go Deep Vocal)"
Rasmus Faber & Alf Tumble feat. Candi Staton - "Wilder Side (Pete Tong & Paul
Rogers Wonderland Club Mix)"
Chris Lake - "Secrets In the Dark (Hector Couto Remix)"
