The life and times of Dj Shiny-
Q: When did become a DJ and what made you want to star DJing?
A: I started messing around with turntables and a mixer at my friends house when I was about 16 years old, and really just started by default. I had been playing in neighborhood bands for a few years and one of my bandmates and I would just hang out after rehearsals and listen to music.
Q: I know your DJ name, but what is your real name if you don’t mind me asking?
A: My real name, is Paul Coultrup but I prefer Shiny :)
Q: How did you get the name or come up with the name DJ Shiny?
A: Well, I thought one really bright sunny day, when I was driving to the beach, and I saw the sun reflecting off everything, that I should take a bunch of pictures of all this shiny sh*t and make a book out of it called All Things Shiny. At the same time I started playing solo for the first time doing singer songwriter type things with a drum machine and a few odd instruments, and started using the moniker All Things Shiny. That went on for a few years until I moved in with the guys from LOP, they just shortened it for me to Dj Shiny. haha.
Q: Besides being in the band Lights Over Paris, are you in any other projects or are you just in LOP and your solo project as a DJ?
A: I am currently only “officially” involved with LOP and the Shiny stuff, but I am cooking up another project with a few industry people, and have a few really cool groups that I’m “unofficially” involved with at the moment. More of this to come later next year….
Q: How is life being a DJ and in a band? Does your DJ schedule bump heads with your bands schedule?
A: Well lucky for me there haven’t been any conflicts yet (knock on wood) In fact it works out good, because if the band plays, I usually end up playing my own set as well, either at the venue or somewhere else in the city. I have also really just been in the studio for the past yearish, and have only been playing locally. Setting up a tour will be the main priority in the next few months so we will see what happens then! I have a feeling I’m going to be doing ALOT of flying around!
Q: Do you have any albums or mixtapes out since you’ve been DJing? If so, what are the names of them so your fans and future fans can find them?
A: I have a few mixtapes available on my SoundCloud http://soundcloud.com/dj-shiny . There are some dj sets up there for free download, and a few demo ideas for some songs. I am releasing a free ep by the holidays and that can also be grabbed from my SoundCloud. The tentative name of the ep is “If its not Shiny its Dirty” ep. lol (thnx Colby)
Q: What is the atmosphere like when you’re DJing in front of a huge crowd? Does the crowd get wild and crazy and is there a ‘light show’ as well?!
A: I have been lucky enough to play to a few larger crowds, and it’s a lot of fun! It really depends on the atmosphere though. I spin a different kind of set if I’m at a lounge, or at a club, or poolside, house party, etc. But if I’m at the club the crowd had better be going crazy, or I’ll make em with lazzzzzers and booooms.
Q: When you’re making a song or songs, do the beats come straight to you or is it hard to come up with a good beat to make?
A: I would say both, sometimes I will sit down and have a song, or at least the majority of it, done in a few hours. As time goes on and I learn more and more about music and technology it becomes somewhat easier, but still some songs can take me weeks to finish. I look at Dance songs as having a very fragile groove, so on some songs I will spend a lot of time really locking in every element to create that perfect booty shaking groove.
Q: Is their any DJ you’d like to do a show with? If so, why’d you choose that exact DJ?
A: Well, what’s crazy is I was lucky enough to spin with the Manufactured Superstars last year in AZ, they are one of my favorite dj’s and I got to open a set for them at a really cool club called Axis-Radius. I would pick them because they are really fun to see live, and I feel like our sets have some similarities in them. They are also really cool people. But really, lots of Djs, everyone haha, the obvious ones like Deadmau5, Skrillex, Tiesto, etc, but tons tons more.
Q: During your shows, are their any technical difficulties or do most of your shows go pretty smooth with no tech problems?
A: Everyone experiences some technical difficulties here and there, but for the most part I’ve had enough run-ins with problems over the years that It goes pretty smoothly and if something goes wrong it gets fixed fast.
Q: What place in the world would you like to do a show and why?
A: Ibiza, cause it’s Ibiza. And everywhere.
Q: I’m listening to your song “House Music” which is blowing my mind right now and I’m 18 minutes into it and it’s a 42 minute and 46 second song. I know some DJs have long songs, are most of your songs long or just a few of them?
A: Ahh, well that’s one of my mixes, it’s not my original song. Most of my songs that are coming out soon are about 7 minutes ish. If you want to hear songs that are that long, check out a band called Magma, from the 70’s. One of my hugest influences when it comes to music.
Q: What are your plans/hopes for the future in 5 years?
A: My goals for the next five years is to play as much as possible, make as much music with as many different people as possible, meet as many new friends, and see as many new places as I can!!! And I know it sounds really cheezzeey, but I really just want to give something good to the world, and to me that is music.
Q: Who is the DJ that you look up to for inspiration to keep doing what you do since day one?
A: Laidback Luke because of his drive and awesome love for music. Manufactured Superstars because of their fun and creative mixing and cool personalities, Deadmau5 - because of his attitude and just awesomeness.
Q: What advice would you give to people who are wanting or trying to become a DJ and get where you are at today?
A: Just stick with it. No matter how long it takes, don’t give up. Learn to really Love and appreciate ALL kinds of music, and to not be closed minded to meeting or working with people or taking a risk here and there. Stay up on technology and the industry itself.
Interview by: Wellington Gibson
http://djshiny.com/ -Official Website
http://www.facebook.com/DjShiny -Facebook
http://twitter.com/#!/djshiny -Twitter
http://soundcloud.com/dj-shiny -SoundCloud
very SHINY! check it outtttt! i <3 @djshiny
