Host: ⚡️Electro Nouveau✨ (Thursdays, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. PST)
With Freeform Portland since: 2016
Instagram: @djtockthewatchdog Facebook: @tockthewatchdog
Tell me about the role that music plays in your life and why it’s important to you.
Music is like breathing to me, I would die without it. I was a weird kid in a small town and didn’t really relate to my peers–all I had was music.
When I was 14, my neighbor James was a few years older than me, also an outcast in our small North Carolina town. We became fast friends over a mutual love of trance music and Rocky Horror. I’d sneak out of my house, creep to the end of my street, and hop in James’ crappy old car and we’d listen to Paul van Dyk, Underworld, and Armin van Buuren as loud as possible while we drove to some abandoned warehouse to go dancing.
Music saved my life. I’m not sure I would still be here without sneaking out to go dancing or listening to late night radio on my boombox.
How did you discover Freeform and why did you decide to volunteer with us?
My best friend, Duchess, started at Freeform in 2016; she told me to join.
Tell me about your show.
Since I started at Freeform, I’ve been in the weekly 4pm Thursday slot (drive time!) and I’ve had four different shows in the past eight years. My current show is “Electro Nouveau” – I play electro and electro-inspired dance music. I’ve been going dancing since the mid 90s, and my musical preferences are definitely shaped by my early rave experiences.
Finish this sentence: “Freeform is…
…packed to the rafters with insanely talented DJs.
Three songs you’re digging right now:
False Persona & Nite Fleit – Knocking
Can you share a favorite musical memory?
When I was in my 20s, I went through a terrible breakup and a terrible mental health episode. I jumped in my jeep and drove through the night from North Carolina to my parent’s house in Florida. Right after I crossed the Florida state line, I was listening to late night dance radio and they premiered Cut Chemist’s new track, What’s the Altitude. I heard that track and I knew everything was gonna be ok, I’d be ok.
Tell me about some musical artists that inspire you.
James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem / DFA Records and David and Stephen Dewaele of Soulwax / 2manydjs / DEEWEE.
Those guys have been making fantastic dance music and platforming amazing dance artists through their labels for over 20 years. I still have my As Heard on Radio Soulwax CDs. So much of my musical taste is directly because of them.
The three of them have a joint venture called DESPACIO, a finely-tuned mega sound system they deploy a few times a year and play vinyl for hours on end. They spin individually, b2b, or b2b2b, and the music doesn’t stop for 12 hours or more. It’s based on the club experience you’d find in Ibiza in the 90s and early 2000s. The DJs (DJ Pippi, Leo Mas, DJ Alfredo, José Padilla) would have to stretch crates of records until the sunrise so they’d slow everything down and play crazy sweeping mixes of jazz, film scores, and library music.
I love that these titans of dance get to show off their influences and favorite jamz in precisely the way they want to, on a soundsystem they designed. Their dance floor gets to hear exactly what they want it to hear. That’s my biggest dream as a dance DJ.
If you could create your own personal concert, including artists who have passed, who would it be and why?
I’d love to have seen The Velvet Underground. Lou Reed has been an obsession (and crush) since I was a kid. And I’d kill for one more Tipper show. I’ve been going to Tipper shows since 2004 and there were never enough. I’m beyond stoked I got to go to his farewell show at the Gorge, but I really hope he comes back at some point. I’d also die of happiness to see Lemon Jelly.
Why is Freeform Portland, community radio important to you? To your community?
We’re playing music on Freeform Portland because we like the music we’re playing. There’s nothing else to it. If you like a song, you play it. There’s no filter, no separation between you and the audience. It’s pure, unadulterated love for the jamz. What’s better than that?
What is a genre/artist/record that some might be surprised to find in your collection?
I collect records put out by cults! I’m fascinated by cults, and a surprising number of them have house bands and put out records.
Given everything happening in the world today, what’s one song you turn to for comfort or inspiration?
Lemon Jelly – The Staunton Lick
Tips for aspiring DJs? Play the music YOU like, never stop listening to new music, transitions aren’t as important as song selection.
