Chances are that if you have ever attended a snowboard event you have also been nodding your head to the “boom bap” being blasted by a DJ. Whether the DJ is providing some motivation for the competing riders to bust out some never before seen video game combos or helping you get your grind on with the girl in front of you (or vice-versa), they play an important role and maintain the energy level on high. As many snowboard competitions have grown over the years to bigger and better organized events, some even becoming full-blown festivals, so has the need for DJs and their skills. In the coming weeks you’ll get to know some of these DJs that have kept the snowboard industry shakin’ their asses in euphonic euphoria.
DJ Majai is no stranger to the snowboard community as one of the prominent DJs/Promoters in Colorado who has set off contests and afterparties for some time now. He has moved the crowd at events like the U.S. Grand Prix of Snowboarding, Hometown Heroes, Honda Session, Malay Day, the Winter X-Games (to name a few) and also during the summer at High Cascade Snowboard Camp. Most recently as a promoter, DJ Majai brought the Kleavage Tour featuring Tittsworth and DJ Klever, The Neighborhood Kids with DJ Sob3r and DJ Select as well as "worlds greatest skilled DJ" and 3-time DMC World Champion DJ Q-Bert through Colorado.
Exile: How long have you been riding?
DJ Majai: I’ve been riding for 11 years.
Exile: How did you get into snowboarding?
DJ Majai: Growing up in Pennsylvania, I would see Barefoot Snowboard advertisements in Transworld Skateboarding. When there was too much snow to skate wedge ramps or quarterpipes, my friends and I would attach straps to the front and back of our beat up skateboard decks and try to ride down the hill in the back yard. It wasn’t quite snowboarding but it definitely sparked my interest. A few years later, I was able to try out the real thing and have been hooked ever since.
Exile: What terrain do you prefer riding?
DJ Majai: Right now I find myself doing a lot of freeriding. Every now and then you can catch me in the park and pipe.
Exile: How long have you been DJing?
DJ Majai: I’ve been DJing in my room for seven years and out in the public for six years.
Exile: How did you get started?
DJ Majai: I started out promoting and coordinating shows in 2000. To cut the cost of renting turntables or borrowing janky turntable setups, I decided to buy my own. I have been addicted ever since.
Exile: And a fine addiction it is. What’s in your studio?
DJ Majai: Right now I currently have (2) Technics SL-1210 M5G Turntables, (1) Rane TTM 56 Mixer, (4) Shure M-447 needles, (1) Mackie speaker, (1) Skull candy Pro headphones, (1) Mac Book and Rane's Serato Scratch Live.
For those of you that haven't heard of Rane's Serato Scratch Live, it pretty much revolutionized the DJ world a few years back. Allowing DJs to carry their entire vinyl collection where ever they go without having to lug around crates of records plus many other features that have given DJs the freedom to be more creative with their mixes. Click on the link above to learn more on Rane Serato, I have an interview to continue.
Exile: What genre of music do you spin?
DJ Majai: Growing up in the golden era of Hip Hop I always play the classic hip-hop cuts. If any of you kids want to hear some classic joints check out the following: Diamond D, Big Daddy Kane, Showbiz and A.G., Brand Nubians, Just Ice, Boogie Down Productions, Stetsonic and X Clan. Currently I’ve been playing a lot of Bmore and Electro music mixed in with classic-----------. I haven’t really been playing too much of the new Rap that’s coming out these days.
Exile: Word, growing up in the golden era of Hip Hop, I find it hard to enjoy what's played on the radio nowadays. Thankfully, we have Madlib (Quas), Gang Starr, JDilla (R.I.P), Common, Blackstar...Anyways. Was it hard for you to make the switch from vinyl into the digital realm?
DJ Majai: Yes and No. Being one of the first DJs with Serato in my town was a little challenging. If I had a question about Serato, I would have to call or email Shaun at Rane tech support. Once I figured out the bugs it was pretty easy, and now I am tech support for all my friends who have converted.
Exile: Having other choices, why did you choose Rane Serato?
DJ Majai: Already, owning the Rane TTM 57 mixer. I knew how great the Rane product was. When I decided to purchase the Rane Serato I didn’t think twice about any other products on the market. Rane is the best product out there. Buy Rane.
Exile: How have you benefited with Serato?
DJ Majai: Serato allows you the opportunity to transport your music all over the world at an affordable price. Would you want to carry five crates of vinyl or a laptop, an external hard drive and your 2 Serato Records?
Exile: The latter, no doubt. What are your favorite features in Serato?
DJ Majai: All the features on Serato are pretty sick.
Exile: How long did it take you to learn Serato?
DJ Majai: It took me a solid 2 months. The first couple of weeks you catch yourself taking the Serato record off every time a song has finished.
Exile: How long has it taken you to convert your vinyl into digital files?
DJ Majai: I would say it took me a good 1 to 3 months. I already had the classic hip-hop cuts on CD so I just imported them into my iTunes when the iPods first came out. I wouldn’t even bother transferring the cheezy mainstream music. I would just play the record if I had it.
Exile: Do you miss lugging around your vinyl?
DJ Majai: Yeah, I miss carrying around 50 lbs. crates. Sike!!
Exile: How did you begin DJing for snowboarding event?
DJ Majai: Chris Knapp read an article about me and asked me if I would be interested in booking some DJ’s for an event called Breckengroove. Once a month I would have DJs perform in the Breckenridge Freeway Terrain Park from 12-4p.m. That following January he asked me if I would like to coordinate the DJ’s for the U.S. Grand Prix of Snowboarding.
Exile: What events have you DJed at or currently doing?
DJ Majai: In the past I’ve DJed the following events: U.S. Grand Prix of Snowboarding, (in Breckenridge, Mt. Creek, Mt. Bachelor, and Tamarack, ID 2005-2007) Transworld Trans Am, Honda Session, Malay Day, Winter Park Jingle Rails, LG Action Sports (Amsterdam), Spring Massive, Kick Aspen, Winter X Games, Snowboarder Superpark, Mountain Dew Action Sports Tour, and Hometown Heroes.
Exile: That's quite a list. How have events changed throughout the years?
DJ Majai: For the most part events have stayed the same. Events are usually a jam format or best out of two runs. It would be cool to see event organizer mix it up a little. Do some sort of rock heat, hip-hop heat or something. For example all the riders that listen to rock are in heat 1, and all the riders that listen to hip hop are in heat 2. I don’t think resorts and event organizers are pushing the sport of snowboarding. They are going through the motions because it’s easy and profitable right now. In a sense I think some snowboarding contests are to snowboarding what the cheezy mainstream rap and pop are to the music industry.
Exile: Do you feel that as some events have grown that it has also changed things for you as a DJ? How?
DJ Majai: I think that snowboarding has become more mainstream however I am playing music for the riders at the event, who love and appreciate a huge variety of music from different genres. Snowboarders no longer listen to just punk, rock or hip-hop, etc… Stereotypes aside I enjoy playing good music and the riders are open-minded and enjoy listening to it.
Exile: Do you see anything missing at these events?
DJ Majai: Ski resorts need to do some research when creating and planning unique and innovative events. I do not want to go into any more detail, because I think that the people who do the research and have good ideas should be compensated accordingly. I think event organizers need to see what’s going on over in Europe and up in Canada. The dudes over there know how to throw good events.
Exile: As a DJ, who have your influences been?
DJ Majai: I’ll have to give credit to all the DJ’s out there. You don’t just learn everything from one single DJ you take bits and pieces and hopefully create a style you like and everyone listening to likes. Growing up I used to listen to Kool DJ Red Alert and DJ Cash Money on the radio. DJ Z-Trip showed me how to cross genres of music, DJ Sober and DJ Klever.
Exile: Any production in the works?
DJ Majai: I’m working on a mix for Preston Strout at High Cascade Snowboard Camp (That dude is the king of cross promotions. Ski resorts and event organizers need to take a page out of his book).
Exile: Are you collaborating with any other artists or DJs?
DJ Majai: I would like to promote and book more DJ/Hip Hop shows in Breckenridge. I would love to book more international DJ’s as well. I’m currently working on doing a night with DJ Enemy in Breckenridge.
Exile: What was the first record you purchased?
DJ Majai: The Fat Boys
Exile: What was your first live show?
DJ Majai: The Voltage Brothers
Exile: Five records that never leave your "crate"?
DJ Majai: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Mecca and the Soul Brother
Public Enemy - It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
Common - One Day It'll All Make Sense & Like Water for Chocolate
The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!
Exile: What song or album influenced you the most?
DJ Majai: Queen, Another One Bites the Dust
Exile: Aside from snow events, where else can people catch you spinning?
DJ Majai: Because my ears have been bothering me I’ve have only been djing select events and shows. You can check my myspace (myspace.com/majai74) for upcoming shows and events.
Exile: Any shouts?
DJ Majai: My Mom and Pop, Brad @ Von Zipper and Planet Earth, Tara @ Redbull, Will @ Decade Clothing, Chris Knapp for giving me my first shot, Leslie Glenn for supporting me, Mike @ Rane, Alex @ Elm, Drago and the rest of the of Breckenridge Crew.
For more info, visit myspace.com/majai74
