DJ Impact/Wizdom

5/22/2003 2:36:25 pm by CarlJ
Well, here it is.
DJ Impact/Wizdom (Jitter Jaw Productions) has responded to ALL of your questions that you have sent to him. I must warn you though, it is a bit of a lengthy interview, so pull up a chair, and get comfy.
Without wasting anymore time, here it is, uncut, and uncensored ....
Name: Sean Crites
Age: 24
Location: Ottawa
Years DJing: 11 years in Sept.
Genres: Impact - Hard Trance, Hard Nu Nrg. Wizdom - Old School, Jump up, dark Jungle
Affiliations: Jitter Jaw, Darkside, Brickhouse, 416 Productions

Vibez.ca:
What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow? Sorry, I just had to ask this one. Hopefully you seen "Quest for the Holy Grail". (:

Impact:
Never seen it :P   well I've seen bits and pieces but that it.

Vibez.ca:
Sean, I'm pretty sure that almost everyone who goes to your events have at least heard your name before, but not everyone knows where you came from in terms of being a DJ. Do you mind giving a brief history lesson on how you got to where you are today?

Impact:
I started off almost 11 years ago playing dance and hip hop cd's for friends..  i would throw small private invite only events in small halls.  The beat matching as you can imagine wasn't the best, but people loved it and that alone was enough to make me continue my DJing..  I managed to get myself a few hip hop records off some friends and grabbed a Sony record player from my uncle.  The Pitch control was a nob that I had to twist. I had a really bad radio shack 4 channel mixer so on the other side I would use a cd player and beat match only the records. It was definitely interesting.  Once I got a Toshiba record player, same kinda of pitch control nob, i was ready to go.  i started a hip hop company called Teen Spirit Productions which didn't last long.  Then a friend who was working in a bar at the time gave me a crate full of club, dance and hip hop records..  so i sat on the floor for a few years practicing everything..  i learned how to scratch on these things..  i then got back into throwing events by doing fund raisers for group homes and the Action center for youth in Sudbury.

My record collection kept growing and i kept doing different events! I became a resident DJ at all the Hip hop shows at Backstreets and started to make a name for myself.  At this time my preference in music started to move toward the electronic scene.   I got asked to Enter the Northern Ontario DJ Skills competition hosted by Master T of Much Music at Big Thunder, which i did.  i Played Funky Breaks in a hip hop competition and took 3rd place.

I then teamed up with a friend and did a lot of different electronic nights such as Backstreets, Scooters, as well as throwing events on my own such as Celestial Destination, Momentium and Da Bomb Fridays (hip hop nights)..  Around this time i met my partner now DJ Oystrixxx and after some planning i asked him to join me and make Jitter Jaw Productions..  To this date we have been running these events very successfully, and will continue to do so as long as the crowd continues to enjoy what we provide! our attendance from our first to last events have gone from 160 people to now on average between 340-460 people.  That is about as short as i can make 11 years of history ;)

Vibez.ca:
Why the names "Impact" and "Wizdom"? Are they just names, or is there any special reason why you picked these 2? And do you happen to have any funny/strange stories about them? (:

Impact:  I chose the name Impact a long time ago, because i was at a house a party playing Hip hop at the time, when somebody who was extremely drunk pulled me aside and complimented me over and over on what i had just played..  I was still somewhat new at that time, using really bad tables so i never really thought much about a name or where i would take DJ'ing in the future.  But he told me over and over that he never really realized how much of an Impact one person could have on another with music.  From that day i knew that i wanted to be able to do that with every set i played.  I knew that if i could make just one person feel that same way for every set i played, i'd be happy!! So to me the name seemed fitting!

As for Wizdom, i was starting to play a different style from what people were used to seeing me play so i chose to pick a new name, but i couldn't think of anything at all so i made a contest on the Jitter Jaw web page for a DJ name, and one of the Candy Twinz was the winner for giving me that name :)

moneyshot2003:
Impact or Wizdom...If you had to choose to be one or the other which would it be and why?

Impact: 
Well if i had to chose i would stay Impact because it's what i first began with and hard trance is my favorite style.  But i really enjoy both because playing Nu Nrg or Hard trance allows me to be technical and blend my mixes the best i can.. Being Wizdom playing Jungle mixed with hip hop allows me to show more skill with scratching, quick mixing, and whatever else my heart desires!

Sprout3169:
Sean, as a dj myself, I looked up to you when i first started out!!!
When you were a rookie dj, which dj did u look up to has an encouragement for you to fulfill your dreams?

Impact:
The DJ's i looked up to most were Perez in my hip hop days.. This DJ would Beat juggle two records as he was smoking a cigarette, and make it look like nothing!!  I would watch him with my jaw draggin on the ground!  I couldn't even understand what he was doing!

Once i moved into the Electronic scene, the DJ i looked up to most was J K-OS at the time he went by the name Just a J.   He was the DJ who taught me about timing.  i still see a lot of DJ's now that have a hard time with this part and i think it's a very important piece to create a perfect mix.

Sprout3169:
What is your main goal of being a DJ?

Impact:
I think my main goal would probably be to experience as many different cities and scenes as possible!  i would like to play all over the world!  This is a dream of mine and has been for a long time!

Sprout3169:
What would you say to someone who is beginning to become a dj?

Impact:
 i would probably say figure out your beat matching first.  i know in Sudbury alot of DJ's who come down are experienced and do a lot of little tricks that really catch peoples attention. So i see alot of new DJ's try these tricks right away.  But i think the first and most important part is to understand your beat matching, you can't really do much without it!

Sprout3169:
which dj would u like to battle from Ontario and from an international dj???

Impact:
hmmm, i think the DJ i would like to battle the most would be S4.  His skills behind the tables are amazing and i would love to do a show teamed up with that guy!!  International DJ's are also great!!  but i will always support the locals more..  To me, it's great to see all those people who produce most of the records we all play, but it's even more great to support those friends around you who work hard to get where they are!   S4 has played in many cities around the world as well so i guess he would also be my international choice.

Jaymes:
What is it that inspired you to become a DJ and continues to encourage you to spin today?

Impact: 
The fact that people dance because they're happy about a sound you give..  If you don't play the proper music to keep people on their feet, you'll see it!  The ability to make people move, laugh, dance, and have alot of fun is what pushes me to continue what i started a long time ago!  The thanks i get from so many people after a set is more flattering then i can ever explain!  It fills your heart with joy!

SeReNa:
We all know that Impact possess sick skillz and can blow the roof off ANY venue. But what not everyone may notice is how well he seems to deal with the politics that are (sadly) often associated with being a promoter/dj.
So my question is, what advice would you give to other up and coming dj's/promoters on how to cope with the politics and pressure so that their reputation holds respect similar to your own in this regard?

Impact: 
WOw.  nice question!  Everything can dealt with one way or another.. Some things are gonna happen anyways..  Obviously experience plays a big part in this.  I remember how stressing it was when i first started and how much easier it became as time went by.  you gain more connections and learn new ways to cope with certain things and people..  Don't let it get to you to much.  Don't jump the gun.  stay calm and look at things from every angle.  there's usually a way to fix most things.

SeReNa:
Secondly...Are you happy with your decision to remain a DJ, Or does the thought of retiring still cross your mind?

Impact:
Well i did think a lot about it and came very close to at least taking a long break to pursue and finish my kung fu training, but its hard.  it's been a big part of my life for so long that i think i would be pretty lost without it!  I am however finishing my training and i may still have to cut down a little but it's hard to say what the future has in store.

B-Mack:
when u were younger did you always want to be a dj or did you just step up to the decks and fall in love wit it.

Impact:
The first time i tried it, my friend had 1000's of cd's and he went out and bought a mixer and two cd players..  i played around with it for a long time and was always involved in alot of music.  everything from having my own hip hop group to break dancing..  It did kinda come naturally to me, so when we would throw small private events i was always the one to play all night.  i did fall in love with it right away but i defiantly didn't plan this out!

B-Mack:
i just wanted to know who showed you the tables for the first time and how long did it take you before you were good enough to spin at a party

Impact:
I was very lucky because i understood the basics behind beat matching almost right away!  i think having my own hip hop group and writing my own songs gave me a huge advantage with keeping things on beat!  But a DJ that i really looked up to named Perez was the one who first really hooked me to the idea of turntables.

Sprout3169:
b4 becoming a dj, what did wanna become after graduating from high school and after retiring from djing, will u become that???

Impact:
When i was in school i took mostly Manufacturing classes.  that's what i had plans on being, but after high school i found Kung Fu and new from day one that i wanted to teach it. To this day its still my main dream and goal. DJ'ing is just a bonus!  my plans are to one day open a club, with a kung fu school on the top floor!

Vibez.ca:
For some reason, the song "Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting!" comes to mind
(:

Wh!teOut:
i wanted to know, whats the hardest thing tht you have to do as a DJ??

Impact:
To begin with i think beat matching is the hardest thing, as time goes by and you can beat match without really having to think about it, i would say programming becomes ones of the hardest parts.  As you get more and more records, you'll notice some just don't go together not matter what you try..  This to me becomes the most tricky part.

KineticEvolution.ca:
Why put up with it, and everything that comes with it, The whole scene I mean, you guys bring the best DJ's to a small town, where there is a lot of shit happening, in politics between yourselves and many other people. Besides the obvious answers, why do you try so hard to bring all of these people to a community where lets be honest, you are not making a lot of money and Sean you have to travel very far more often than not on a bus...

Impact:
I built a name for myself in Sudbury because people enjoyed what i played.  People supported me for a long time!  I remember when i didn't get much time to shine, people would still come up to me and tell me how much they enjoyed what little bit i played and that they would come to support me anytime i played anywhere..  The vibe in Sudbury is what keeps me coming back.  yes the politics suck sometimes..  but I've done events in many different cities and it's not really that different.  You find stuff behind the scenes in every city, but the positive people and vibe are what makes me happy to take the 6-9 hour bus ride once a month to bring these great events to great people!  I have promised myself that i would never throw another event in certain cities that I've done events in before, but to this day i still say I've never witnessed a scene like Sudbury!

Vibez.ca:
What is your greatest memory/moment from being in the scene, or being a DJ?

Impact:
I think one of my greatest memories would be the battle i played vs Elycit in Sudbury on 4 tables..  She is one of my favorite people to battle and i love how similar we spin! Her and my style compliment each other a lot!

my second favorite would probably be my first Toronto party. Bangin thrown by nightmare productions!  I think there were about 1200 people in there and i can't begin to explain how nervous i was.  It was the first time i got nervous to play anywhere in years!!  The Rush of looking out into a crowd with that many people dancing to what your playing was insane!

Vibez.ca:
And also, if for some reason, you could only pick one genre of music (or a group of genres, like Nu NRG/UK HH, since they are pretty similar), which would it be, and why?

Impact:
I think it would have to be Hard Trance.  When i first left the club music and got into the harder stuff i bought hard trance and techno..  Eventually i moved into Uk Hardhouse and Nu Nrg which i love to play!!!  but i always noticed i tried to buy the harder UK records or the harder Nu Nrg.  Theres something about that hard crunchy beat that just makes me fly!

Vibez.ca:
If you could play at any place (specific venue or city/country) in the world, where would it be, and why?

Impact:
without any thought my choice would be WEMF (World Electronic Music Festival) I went to wemf 99 and 2000, both some of the best times of my life.  at the 2000 event they had a VIP tent with tables set up and nobody went in them..  i borrowed Navigator's records and played there for a long time!  since then i have wanted to play.  I thought for sure i was gonna get in this year and wanted to so bad, but it didn't work out..

Vibez.ca:
You (Jitter Jaw) recently experimented with having Sonic Underground, because the list of DJs that wanted to play in Sudbury was getting out of control. I know of some DJs who have never been up here, that would LOVE to play up here, and I know of a few others that can't wait to come back and play. What is it, that makes Sudbury so different than most other cities (Ottawa seems to be dead, Toronto seems too jaded), that these DJs want to travel 4+ hours sometimes to come and play here?

Impact:
i think the main thing is that your DJ name doesn't really matter!  We have brought up DJ's who have only played a few events before and given them the headlining spot because they're demo was more than good enough, and they get the same response as somebody like Bad Boy Bill would in Toronto!  I think the Sudbury scene is just so grateful to get what we give them, The DJ name doesn't matter!  I also think that after playing many Toronto and Ottawa parties I've noticed many times that if you don't have a huge international name or your not a favorite local, many people won't even dance! Sudbury is not like that.  You can be anybody from an up and coming DJ to a huge name and the crowd will dance from the beginning of the night till the very end.  It's very VERY rare that the dance floor empties! That as far as i know is every DJ's favorite type of crowd!

Vibez.ca:
Since you just finished writing an article for a UK magazine regarding the scene in Ontario over the past year, where do you see the scene overall in the next 5 years or so?

Impact:
you know i think at this point it's really hard to say!  I've spoken to a lot of DJ's about this topic and a lot agree that the scene may have to go underground once again!  Clubs seem to be what's really flourishing right now.  The crowds for the "raves" seem to be getting younger and younger witch has always been an issue for the older crowd.  In the club scene they feel more comfortable because they're 19+ events..   I honestly don't know what's gonna happen to the scene over the next 5 years but I'm defiantly interested to see.

Vibez.ca:
Not too long ago, you had put together a track, and released it so that people can download it. Is producing something you see yourself really getting into in the future? Or is it just something to fool around with?

Impact:
well to my surprise with all the experience i have in music, i always figured producing would come to me very easily but i can honestly say its been the toughest thing I've encountered in the music industry to date..  Even though i like the track that i recently put up i know there are still many area's or producing that i need help with.  The good thing is i have many friends around here who already produce and i have been pluggin away at trying to improve it.  I would like to become more serious about it for many reasons!  One of the most important is watching people dance to what you play is great!  watching people dance to what you have created is feeling un-matched!!

Vibez.ca:
Do you happen to have any final words you'd like to say, to all of those who are reading this?

Impact:
i would like to thank all those people who have given me opportunities to get where i am today! All the people who have supported me time and time again!  All the people who enjoy what we bring to Sudbury! Vibez.ca for giving me this opportunity to answer all these questions!  There are so many people that i could thank for so many things!  Keep your head clean and remember the scene is your own, so be smart and don't ruin it!