Chris Bohn djforums interview

Djforums and Myself (Stripe) would like to thank Chris Bohn for taking the time out of his schedule and doing this interview.



About Chris:
Los Angeles native Chris Bohn, is still only 26 years old, but has played alongside a list of names that reads like a who's who of world dj'ing. He has held down residencies all over the US, and its very easy to see why this guy commands so much respect, for what he can do to the dancefloor, with his mixing...in his mixing! Now the co-founder of the fastest growing domestic label, ATEL Records, Chris is making his mark on the music scene world wide. With an array of critically acclaimed hits on the top of the charts for both sales and radio play he is now becoming a staple in electronic music.



Discography
Chris Bohn - Dirty - ATEL
Chris Bohn - The Dreamer - ATEL
Chris Bohn and Jeff Ramirez - The Other Side - ATEL
Chris Bohn - Know My Name - ATEL
Chris Bohn - Fame - ATEL
Chris Bohn - The Machine - ATEL
Chris Bohn & CMJ - Everyone's a Freak - unreleased
Chris Bohn, Brad Slims & AJ Morris- Muzik In You - white
Chris Bohn & AJ Morris - Progress in Nothing - white



Remixes
Digital Players - Twisted - ATEL
Nino Anthony & David Farlow - Do To Me - Portamento
Mark Almaria - Freak em Slow - ATEL
Frogger - Untitled - Freeway Sounds
Grooveman - Ghetto Club - ATEL
Grooveman - Turn it Out - ATEL
Chris Bohn & CMJ - Everyone's a Freak (Digital Children RMX)
Grooveman - Bangin The Electro - Fortune
Gabriel & Dresden - Tracking Treasure Down (Chris Bohn RMX)
Gabriel & Dresden - Tracking Treasure Down (Digital Children RMX)
Markus Schulz - Without You Near (Digital Children RMX)



Top Tracks
Grooveman - Ghetto Club (Chris Bohn & George O'Connor RMX) - atel:records
Nino Anthony & David Farlow - Do To Me (Chris Bohn RMX) - dig:atel
Chris Bohn - The Machine (Red-Eye RMX) - dig:atel
Mark Almaria - Freak Em Slow (Chris Bohn RMX) - atel:records
Chris Bohn - The Machine (Mark Almaria RMX) - atel:records
Digital Players - Twisted (David Farlow's Squared Edges RMX) - dig:atel
Mark Almaria - Freak Em Slow (Black Shadow RMX) - dig:atel
Mark Almaria - Freak Em Slow (Grooveman RMX) - dig:atel
Space Cowboys - I Know What Boys Like (Adonis RMX) - CDR
Nino Anthony & David Farlow - How I Roll - Portamento



Questions:
DJF: How long have you been involved with the music industry?
CB: Well i started playing guitar and bass when i was 12. By the time i was 15 I was playing in bands and actually playing shows. I didn't start DJing until I was 17 and I guess thats when I started taking it serious.



DJF: Who has influenced you as a DJ and as a recording artist?
CB: As a DJ my biggest influence has been DJ Dan. I remember buying Loose Caboose and I was sold. As a producer Ive been influenced by Robbie Rivera. He stuck to his guns, defined his own sound and ran his own record label since he was 16. He is definitely my idol.



DJF: What gives you the inspiration to produce new tracks?
CB: Rock, that's where i get influenced. There are so many "producers" in the dance scene that are anything but original. All they do is steal music from others by sampling records that are barely old and they get credit for it ! Other people should try it too. Oh wait, I mean my wife, she's my inspiration. I think I'll get some lovin for that one !



DJF: What hardware / software do you use to produce?
CB: Logic. There's no program that compares to it. Its not joke. As for instruments I mainly use soft synths like Atmosphere and the MX4. so i guess im new school in that sense. But, for vocals, guitars and bass Im old school. I have a Neumann TLM 103 and Blue Mic ran into an Avalon 737 or a Universal Audio LA610. Those are some of the best preamps ever made. When recording you cant replicate the sound of good gear. You need the real deal and there's no cutting corners.



DJF: Which other producers have you worked with.
CB: I really haven't worked with too many people. I've definitely found my favorite producers and signed them to atel:records. Mark Almaria and myself are on the same page. He's the man. I will say im a huge fan of Nino Anthony and David Farlow of Portamento records. I'm their biggest fan.



DJF: I personally have liked all of atel:records releases. What can we expect to see coming from atel: in the future.
CB: There is so much happening in the future. Freak Em Slow is gonna be huge ! That's all I will say about that. Also, Grooveman did a track called Ghetto Club that has been my opening record for months already. Its disgusting !



DJF: What do you enjoy more, djing or producing?
CB: DJing. I live for it. When I get on the decks the whole place knows. Too bad it's hard to get gigs lately.



DJF: What does your dj setup consist of?
CB: It's pretty basic, 2 1200's and a Pioneer CDJ 800. In the middle i have a Rane Empath.



DJF: What was the first record you bought?
CB: Thats a hard one. I remember one of the first records I owned was a Gypsy Brothers record on Moonshine.



DJF: How many records/cds do you travel with and how do you decide what format(aka track selection) of tracks to bring?
CB: I always bring too many. I pack my record bag to the gills. I never plan a set out. I never know what im going to play until a few minutes before I play.



DJF: What were your most and least favorite gigs?
CB: In 2000 i closed the main stage at Nation in Los Angeles. There were people as far as I could see and the feeling was amazing. I played a few shows in Portland that were out of hand. One with Tall Paul and one with DJ Dan. It was a fairly small club but it was packed so hard with people that were there to dance. I
As for my least favorite it would have to be any show that barely had people there. Thats has to be the worst feeling; playing for yourself.



DJF: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
CB: A little older ? I will say that i'm barely in 1st gear right now. I hope to be at Norman Cook's level in 10 years.



DJF: What are the 5 albums you're digging right now or 5 CDs currently in your CD player?
CB: Good one ! Johnny Cash - American V. I cant get "God's Gonna Cut You Down" out of my head. Its chilling to hear Cash's last recordings after he passed away. I also have Thom York's solo album, The Eraser, in the player. Its like Radiohead meets The Postal Service. As for the other, it's usually Velvet Revolver and Jimmy Eat World.



DJF: What kind of car do you drive?
CB: Ha Ha ! 2006 BMW 325, its barely a month old Its fully loaded ! I would have never picked navigation but my wife wanted it ... its sick. It will tell you all the fast food resturaunts in the area. You can find a carmel apple empenada from Taco Bell no matter where you are !



DJF: Any closing advice for the djforums readers?
CB: Be yourself. Take your influences but don't copy them. The dance industry is changing and it needs new life. Don't get bent when things get hard. It's only temporary. No one handed me anything so I did it all myself. Also, remember why your doing it and why you started ... the music. The minute you forget that, you might as well quit because you're not pure anymore.



Links
Chris Bohn
atel:records
dig:atel