Interview with Denny Tsettos

DMA: Tell me a bit more about the New Jersey scene. It's pretty happening for the suburbs...
TSETTOS: Right now I think the Jersey scene is the best that It's ever been. Right now Jersey crowds are the biggest in numbers in most of these cIty clubs. They are a big reason for the success of these city clubs. The NY promoters realize that too. There is also a great deal of talent that comes out of NJ -- Keith Litman, Eric Morillo, Harry "Choo Choo" Romero, Johnny Vicious, Jose Nunez, Tony Humphries, Franco Iemello, Brian Tappert, Todd Edwards, just to name a few!!

DMA: What do you attribute to all these people coming from the NJ scene? Is it the clubs or something else?
TSETTOS: Most of these people from Jersey including myself have always had that stigma of "yo Jersey is wack" I think that it has motivated us to work harder to compete and get respect from the mighty NYC club scene. People are always so critical of NJ clubs and their DJs. People can go to a city club and the music can be god awful but It's the city so it's cool because they don't know better. Then they can go to a NJ club, the music can be 100 times better and that same person will say it sucks.

DMA: Do you do what you do for NJ scene or do you eventually want to graduate to the New York scene?
TSETTOS: Right now I'm very happy to be where I am for several reasons. I love my club because the crowd is great, the system is amazing, I get to do and play what I love, the owners are behind me 100%, plus there is no drama or bullshit politics. The only thing bad Is the early closing at 3AM. I would love to play in the city but only in the right room. not many places up there have what I have at Abyss and Tempts. Plus it's nice being a big fish In a small sea.

DMA: How did you get involved in remixing?
TSETTOS: Just being around people like Keith Litman and Darren Friedman and watching them take their knowledge of DJing and using it to create music. Also, working for Popular opened alot of doors for me.

DMA: What was your furst remix?
TSETTOS: Alexia "Me & You"

DMA: How much of the programming did you do?
TSETTOS: None!!!

DMA: Who did you collaborate with?
TSETTOS: Pepe programmed for me on that project.

DMA: What was your input into that remix?
TSETTOS: I knew the sounds, the drums, the riff and the arrangement. What I didn't know was how to put it all together through the computer. Pepe being an amazing musician and programmer helped me put it all together nicely. He has been doing this a long time and it shows in his work. He is extremely talented and we worked great together, that is why we collaborated on several more projects. My DJ ear and his musically trained ear makes for a great remix team.

DMA: Why have you not been working with him on your latest projects?
TSETTOS: Because I want to grow on my own and so does he. I want to be able to do everything on my own and the only way to do that is by doing just that. I'm sure we will work together again down the road. It's now a timing thing more than anything else.

DMA: He's been concentrating on programming for Tony Moran correct?
TSETTOS: Yes, but he's still doing solo projects. Working with Tony has been a great experience for him.

DMA: Who have you been collaborating with on the most recent remixes?
TSETTOS: I did the Rozalla "Don't Go Lose It Baby" with Saldano and the Joee' "Angel" with Anthony Acid.

DMA: Are your remixes meant to be productions that you can play at Abyss?
TSETTOS: Not really. I make my mixes so they are playable mostly on mixshows and commercial clubs. That is where I feel you can make the most impact. I try to give the mixes a little bit of an edge that makes it work on the dance floors everywhere. Most importantly, I featured the vocal in it's entirety.

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