Magnetic Magazine Presents: LAMP Weekly Mix #164 feat. Marques Wyatt

In partnership with Magnetic Magazine and to celebrate our 4 Year Anniversary we've asked the legend and pioneers of LA's house music scene Marques Wyatt to grace us with a special mixtape to mark the occasion. We've also collaborated with them to do a special ticket giveaway for our LAMP 4 Year Anniversary this weekend at the West End in Santa Monica.MR PUZL: Marques. It goes without saying that it’s an absolute honor and pleasure to have you on our Guest Mix series. What kind of journey are we going on? Was there a particular mindset behind the tracks you chose for this mix?Marques Wyatt: The journey I hope to inspire via this mix is one that leads to reinforce the the connection between one’s highest version of their own unique self expression poured into movement. Even if that means merely stirring up their soul in a way some level of joy is experienced that may have been slightly dormant previously. Or building on that which did. The mindset behind pretty much everything I do is the same. What resonates with my soul whether new or old? I trust that inner compass and it usually works out well ;-) Good music is timeless.PZB: Over time you have watched the art form of DJing change dramatically from the world of vinyl pushers and turntablists to a more digital footprint. I have seen you play both vinyl and CDJ sets quite masterfully. I have seen you play both vinyl and CDJ sets quite masterfully. What is your preferred method of performing these days?MW: Honestly, both offer different possibilities, so I enjoy it all. Technology is part of music’s evolution and pushing boundaries, so I welcome it. However, I’d be lying if I said that vinyl doesn’t still hold a certain indescribable magic. Whenever I feel musically stagnant, I pull out the vinyl at home and it serves as my creative reset button. I love it to the point I was inspired to kick off our “Remember” monthly all vinyl series a couple of years ago. It remains one of my favorite nights. I like to refer to vinyl as my first love.PZB: How important would you say it is we hold on to the vinyl art form and can you ever see it completely fading away?MW: I can only speak for myself because it’s part of my musical DNA. I can’t imagine a life of DJing without learning and paying respect to its original art form. Not to mention, the character building that comes along with it. I believe every DJ should should develop their own intimate relationship with vinyl at some point. She will speak to you in a way the others can’t.MP: We just had the chance to catch Tara Brooks at Desert Hearts last night. While I was digging through your Soundcloud page I noticed you released a remix of a collaboration that she did with called ‘Maraquba’. How did that opportunity come about? Did you have something in mind prior to being asked to do this remix?MW: Well...it’s funny you should ask. Firstly, Tara and I have a special, effortless connection and we make each other laugh a lot. Literally a few days after I felt the studio bug biting and decided I was ready to end my hiatus, Tara asked me if I was interested in doing a mix. Previously, I had let her know I really liked the song, as I do with all of my comrades when something they do moves me. I guess she figured I might do it justice because I was already playing the original in my sets.MP: As I’ve read from past interviews and bios DJing was a ‘love at first sight’ situation. What was the impetus for you to start producing? What was the first track you ever worked on?MW: I started producing serendipitously, as at the time I was starting to play in New York quite often. On one trip Dj Choco asked me if I would be interested in working on a track during my next visit and so it happened. The first track I ever worked on was with Dj Choco and the track was called "Search'n" for Strictly Rhythm. We went under the moniker "Divine Soul."MP: In 1991 you teamed up with Barry Weaver to create the ‘Lone Wolf’ and ‘Return to Paradise’ mixtape. I’d love to know the story behind how that came to be and how you came up with those names for each of your mixes.MW: Ah yes, that tape reflects a very special time in LA’s music scene’s evolution. Basically, Barry named his side and I did mine. It’s safe to say both of us drew the names from something reflective of our lives. Barry was a bit of a lone wolf and at a time where techno started to permeate the music scene, I wanted to remain conscious of my "house" roots. Thus, came the name “Return To Paradise.”MP: I’ve only heard a few DJs mention the BBC in conversation but never really gotten the full story. I’ve read that you chose a venue called Osko’s to be its home inspired by the movie ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ that featured the club. Can you recall the moments leading up to the first night? Did you ever expect it to take off like it did?MW: Yes, I remember being excited to play in this historic venue in Hollywood, after originally being a skater kid from Santa Monica (hahaha) and trekking up there for 80’s parties that ended at 8pm. Doing anything in Hollywood was quite significant. My friend Traci had a contact and we started the night together. Getting to do a night there was surreal. Not to mention, djing in that same booth from the movie.I believed in this "NY style" house music and sound, but playing it in LA at the time was pretty much uncharted territory. After, having a few slow nights and being on the verge of shutting down, a series of serendipitous circumstances occurred and the night literally blew up. I then began to get hired to play at many parties around Hollywood and DTLA’s underground in addition to continuing to produce my own events.MP: Your passion for curating music came before you even stepped in front of the decks and naturally progressed into your well-documented ability to produce amazing events. When did you realize you wanted to create events like this?MW: I only began to create my own events because nothing matched the vision I had for what I would like to experience. Especially, after getting schooled on what I liked during so many trips to New York. I wanted to bring some of that feeling here, but also not abandon my LA roots. I’ve always been about nurturing and building the scene here at home and contributing to giving us our own musical identity in it all. New York already had one.MP: Your love and commitment to building the foundations of a thriving dance music scene are a testament to the power of music. Deep LA is currently the culmination of your accomplishments and the well deserved success of your past endeavors. To be introspective for a moment. What were some of your favorite moments over your career that helped define who you were as an artists and the community that you were trying to build?MW: There have been so many but here are a few. 1) The two english girls Lianna and Lisa who believed in me and helped the BBC take off. 2) Befriending Frankie Knuckles (RIP), developing a beautiful friendship and eventually bring him to LA. Also, understanding the value of remaining humble in a business that can be such fertile ground for narcissism. He lead by the greatest example. 3) Louie Vega took me under his wing and invited me to play with him in New York when hardly anyone knew who I was. So much has happened for me and DEEP because of Louie’s profound belief in me. 4) “Does Your Mama Know”, the afterhours I did with Tony Largo for years, before starting DEEP. 5) Starting DEEP in 1998 at the Viper Room and it growing into something very special due to amazing support from the community, all the artists that braved our doors and the best team I could have ever assembled. 6) In 2006, my first trip to Burning Man truly reinforced the infinite possibilities that exist via tuning into the voices of your inner world. This enabled me remove the veils of the external world’s limitation and create on another level.MP: You’ve seen the shift back and forth from the underground warehouse scene to commercial clubs occur several times over LA’s storied past with dance music. You’ve managed to fluctuate between both of those scenes and create lasting connections with a variety of audiences. If music is the vehicle, what has been your message to people on the dance floor?MW: It’s quite simple. I have a general passion to explore and appreciate what others are doing. I’d never want to pigeonhole myself by only playing one type of party and to the same crowd. If you see me at a festival, club whatever...it’s because I want to be there. I don’t have to be performing to be there. Even if I’m only playing a festival for one day, I will make sure I’m there for the entire weekend so I can see, hear and experience as many acts I can squeeze in. I get creatively inspired by many things. My message to those on the dance floor is "Stay open to me and I will stay open to you." Even if you don’t, I’ll do my best to use music to break you open. ;-)MP: Has that message changed or evolve over time? Does it differ based on where you are playing or who your audience is?MW: Not at all. The message will change about as much as these freckles on my face. :-)MP: When we decided to have our 4 Year Anniversary in Santa Monica at the old Zanzibar it was important for us to have you celebrate it with us as you’ve been the backbone and inspiration for house music in LA; especially on the west side. As we and others look to learn and help push your message of love and music forward what advice can you give to those who look to follow in your footsteps?MW: My message to anyone following their passion, is to TRUST yourself fiercely, as well as the journey the Universe has uniquely drawn up for you. Your challenges will grow you in places you can’t even imagine. Love what you do enough and it will eventually reciprocate. As they say, you can at most be the second best anyone else.

Tracklist

1) Thomas Gandey - Love Machine (Original Mix)2) Culoe De Song - Deadman’s Walk3) Audio Junkies feat Ananda - Lalitha Ashtotram (Sahar Z Remix)4) Stefano Richetta - C3PO (Original Mix)5) Black Coffee, Marie Joly - Gratitude feat. Rebecca Murray (Pablo Fierro Remix)6) Seu Jorge - Mania de Peitão (Adana Twins Edit)7) Bengal - Fractal Dust (MUUI Remix)Make sure to catch Marques at our 4 Year Anniversary this Saturday, February 25th