DEEPCOVER – So Irving how did you start what you’re doing with TMJ?
Irving – It all started from throwing parties, and then it turned into whole different thing when I seen my first Boys Noize show. That really inspired me to start djing. At first I was djing at shitty house parties, but as time went on those negatives turn into positives. That’s how I started getting different gigs and traveling.
DEEPCOVER – What are some of your influences musically when you were growing up?
Irving- Everything started from my Dad, he was kind of a hippie. Then he went through his disco phase and they would play a lot of Italo disco, and that sound always stuck with me I liked it. Now a lot of the stuff I play is upbeat Italo and it has a lot of vocals for women to dance to. And once you got the girls dancing the guys usually follow.
DEEPCOVER – How long has it been since TMJ’S initial conception to where you’re at right now?
Irving – It was originally 12 of us, its been quite a while, and through out the years my partners started getting girls pregnant and some people died, drugs got involved and eventually a lot of them didn’t want to do anything anymore. Now that people see me doing more things within the industry they hit me up once in a while, but it’s a little too late for that. A lot of people don’t want to do all the groundwork, but they still want to reap the benefits. I work really hard in what I do and if your not then I just move on.
DEEPCOVER – Growing up and living in New York all your life what are some of the differences you see in other cities as opposed to New York?
Irving – When I went to LA it was really chill, and I could understand that because everything is so far apart from each other and while you’re driving from place to place it probably mellows you out. In New York we don’t really have time to think and drive place to place, everything is more fast paced we really don’t have time to debate on where to go. We all have the same goals though; we just want to make it to a great party with good people and good music.
DEEPCOVER – Do you think New York is the best place for you to grow as an artist?
Irving – Well to grow as an artist you can live anywhere nowadays. Some of the best music comes from random kids in cities with less culture, but the fact that they don’t do anything else to do but blog all day they get really good at making music, remixing ect.
DEEPCOVER – Are people in New York generally lazy when it comes to pushing the scene and making it grow, as opposed to how it was when DFA came on the scene?
Irving – DFA seems to be doing a lot of the same stuff they’ve been doing for years it’s still really good, but there’s no more build up. And everyone here that’s actually doing something productive in the scene are traveling doing stuff around the world and aren’t bound to New York right now.
DEEPCOVER – What artists new and old have you been influenced by?
Irving – Old would probably be Santana. I was influenced by a lot of 60’s rock and new would be Justice. I was amazed when I first saw them live, and how they used the cross for their symbol. Its genius because the cross has no copy rights and now they have kids running around wearing crosses just for the fact it represents justice the group. I also really like a lot of funk and soul.
DEEPCOVER – So where do you see yourself in the future with your record company?
Irving – Not in the U.S. probably in South America. Over there its an untapped market, everyone loves it. In places like Brazil and Ecuador they really like House and Dance music.
DEEPCOVER – How soon do you see this happening? As in establishing a long-term business down there and growing the scene in those countries?
Irving – I’m going this year to check out my competition before anything. I think that’s the most important thing. I want to give people more quality than quantity.
DEEPCOVER – What do you think of Las Vegas? And you’re over all trip?
Irving – Well I had a really good time, I like that your friends had knives and they were swinging them around ha-ha. I actually expected it to be a lot like LA, but it was completely different. I didn’t get to personally meet a lot of people, but the vibe I got from going up to people and talking to them was that they were really cool. I wouldn’t bump into people like that in New York. The only people that will do that in New York are just your fan base. Some of the highlights I had here was drinking 151 with the stripper’s boyfriend and getting to see your friend Charlie punch that kid in his face. I was laughing my ass off. That’s some shit that would happen to me in New York, like getting lost and ending up with plaster in my hair or losing my credit cards and someone buying condoms with it ha-ha.
DEEPCOVER – What are some of the negatives that you seen here?
Irving – Law enforcement. In New York there’s a lot of loopholes and you can get away with under age drinking and you can sometimes by pass permits for events. I understand that out here in Vegas it seems that work is slowing down, so the cops have to be strict about events you throw so they can charge you when they find out you didn’t get a permit for that event and the city gets paid, but whatever, that’s whack.
DEEPCOVER – You notice any differences in personalities, or situations from Vegas compared to New York?
Irving – Not really, all your people have similar personalities and characteristics as some of my friends back home. On a scale of 1 to 5 I would rate Las Vegas a 4 because the law enforcement is really killing it for you guys. We have a lot of the same issues you guys have, like haters trying to shut you down, or your licenses getting revoked, or trying to find another location last minute to throw your event. Stuff like that happens and you got to roll with it, people don’t realize how much work goes behind throwing an event. Good thing your after party saved the night after the cops shut you down. Don’t worry about the ignorant people that say its your fault, you just have to know you did all you could do to make it happen and push forward. It’s fun when it all works out for you in the end though.
DEEPCOVER – Cool man, any last words?
Irving – You guys really have it good out here, your scene is growing you just have to keep it consistent. And when you come visit New York you will just keep growing and more and more people will take notice, just keep building your press kit and always be on the look out for sharks and people that try to take advantage of you. You’ll be alright just keep doing what your doing from the ground up.