DJ Ron Slomowicz: How did dance music bite you?
Victor Dinaire: My first experience with it was the first time I went to a nightclub, The Limelight back in 1993. I was floored by the people and the music. I never knew such a thing existed in this world. After a couple of months of shock, I went back there again and to Club USA. I was hooked after that. I knew at that moment my life and career would revolve around this culture.
RS: When you were throwing parties - did you focus on a specific genre or core group of people?
Victor: I wasn't focused on a specific type of music, more into the overall experience. However in 1995, I was introduced to goa trance and my tastes in music completely changed. My parties were leaning more towards that music as time went by. Before that, trance was very industrial with little emotion so when goa trance came around, it was a breath of fresh air to me.
RS: And of course the next logical progression is to DJ yourself.. how did you get started as a DJ?
Victor: I always had a problem with the music at my events. During every party, I would listen closely to the track selection, the programming and most of all, the crowd's body language. Don't get me wrong, the music wasn't bad but I couldn't find what I was looking for. A certain something was missing. I would make jokes to my friends saying how I should spin at my own parties so the music would be exactly what I want. After going through 100+ DJs I started to take my joke seriously and eventually, I bought turntables.
RS: What is it about Goa trance that moved you?
Victor: When Goa Trance first came out, it introduced a more melodic style to trance that was never heard before like the early Oakenfold Perfecto Fluro stuff. Trance was too acid-y for my liking so when this surfaced, it was exactly what I was looking for in dance music. It then evolved into what I play today.
RS: Who were your DJ inspirations?
Victor: My inspirations were Junior Vasquez for the programming (mid-90's). He knew how to play his records. The way he introduces new music is the best. After Junior plays a white label, everyone on the dancefloor wants to go buy it the next day. For the sound, I would have to say either Paul van Dyk or DJ Tiesto. Their music is much more engaging to me and its loaded with energy and emotion.
RS: How did you get the job at Logic?
Victor: I started as an intern there doing all the typical stuff. Filing, running errands, stuffing and mailing hundreds of records a week, making tons of phone calls to record stores etc all for about $8 a day. I was so poor I couldn't even pay attention.
RS: What did you learn there?
Victor: Listening to the employees at work taught me a lot about how to make myself # 1 priority in this cutthroat industry. I learned a lot about how important it is to consistently be out there and promoting yourself 110% because nobody else is going to do it for you.
RS: Did the job at Logic help you get your Mixed CDs?
Victor: It definitely did but it was not handed to me. I earned it. Kelly [Schweinsberg] saw how hard I worked and how much I knew about cutting-edge dance music. She recognized that this was more than just a job for me, it was my passion. She gave me a shot and it worked. My first CD, Logic Trance 4 sold very well and it hit the top 5 spot on the CMJ charts 3 weeks straight.
RS: How did you choose songs for your mixed CDs?
Victor: Doing a mix CD is much different than making a regular demo. Once licensing is involved, it gets tricky. I try to choose the best possible records that reflect what I'm playing at the moment and piece together a timeless journey at the same time.
RS: Did the mixed CDs lead to more club bookings around the country?
Victor: It definitely helped.
