LJ MTX is an up-and-coming electro-house DJ from the Washington DC area who has been increasing his profile in a big way lately. With tracks climbing the Beatport charts and a recent tour of Australia taking him all the way around the world, the co-owner of Phethouse Recordings is working on becoming a household name.
LJ MTX is an up-and-coming electro-house DJ from the Washington DC area who has been increasing his profile in a big way lately. With tracks climbing the Beatport charts and a recent tour of Australia taking him all the way around the world, the co-owner of Phethouse Recordings is working on becoming a household name. His music’s been big-upped by everyone from Tiesto to Zedd, and even his hair is famous enough to have its own Facebook fan page. He’ll be in Richmond this weekend as part of B.A.D.ASS Raves and Wicked 6’s huge summer kickoff party, the River City Riot, taking place at The Canal Club on Saturday, June 22. We’ll have more details about this show, which promises to be a total rager, later on in the article, but first, we spoke to LJ MTX about the music, the production, and that beautiful hair. Here’s what he had to say:
What has influenced you to make the style of electro house you do?
When I was 17, I started my music career as the lead singer of a rock band in Northern Virginia. We performed at countless events all over DMV and were pretty solid. I had quite the reputation for my stage presence. People would say, “You’ve gotta go see From Beyond because you never know what LJ is gonna do next.” This stemmed from watching me take my wireless microphone and run across bar tops, literally jumping off anything that I possibly could without killing myself. I was really into Rock and Nu-Metal and went to a lot of concerts and festivals. HFStival in particular is where I started to gain more exposure to pure underground EDM during that time. I eventually moved away from the live band stuff and became really focused on producing EDM. I think it was around late 2006 that I started listening to a lot of Electro. I saw so much potential in the genre and always felt that it shared many similar characteristics of the live music I had loved for so many years: dynamic using melodies, vocals, intense builds, and big drops. A lot of the really good Electro tunes felt more like actual songs than typical EDM tracks at that time, and even now to an extent. I guess you could say that as the genre has evolved, I have tried to maintain that same structure. I just feel that Electro best expresses, musically, who I am.
How did Phethouse Records get started, and what involvement do you have in the label?
Phethouse was the brainchild of my business partner, Tyler Fleetwood, who lives in Queensland, Australia. He started off as one of my biggest fans, then one day pitched the concept of Phethouse. Having owned and run a smaller label, Metronix Recordings, for five years prior, he wanted me to show him the ropes. It took nearly a year to put our plan into action, and [we] finally launched the label when I traveled to Australia in November 2011. My primary role as co-owner is the Content Distribution Manager and Director of USA Operations. Phethouse was on the forefront of the Melbourne Bounce movement and has become one of the top labels in all of Australia since its inception.
Your label also houses a lot of your songs–what other producers and artist are on your label?
In short, most of the major players who have been responsible for the massive Australian EDM movement are on our roster. Phethouse is home to Bass Kleph, Deorro, Joel Fletcher, Reece Low, Uberjakd, Djuro, Contiez, Treyy G, Stevie Mink, Jason Risk, Havoc (AUS), Chris Bullen, Lefty, Reecey Boi, Naylo, and Holly-J.
How do you usually start a production? Do you find a bass or synth line that begins the process?
It starts by listening to a lot of music. Not just EDM, but anything that I think will help inspire my creativity. The most important thing for me that I’ve learned in the 10+ years of songwriting is that you have to stay current with your sound to remain relevant. Now I’m not saying this means do what everyone else is doing, but as a Dance Music producer it is my job to make songs which DJs will want to play, so always maintaining a fresh sound helps support that effort. That being said, I comb through charts, blogs, and podcasts to get a feel for what people are into at the moment. More importantly, I try to look ahead to forecast what people will be into in the future. Once inspiration hits, I open up Ableton Live and get to work. I’ll load up a Midi Track with a simple VST plug-in and just jam on the keyboard for a bit until I come up with a hook or melody that feels right. From that point on I’ll start programming a bass line, and so on and so forth.
You have worked on some great songs with some up and coming producers. Who have you really enjoyed working with, and whom are you working with at this time?
Remixing Lazy Rich, Mobin Master, DJ Bl3nd, George Acosta & Miss Palmer, and DANK has been, not only fun but kind of an honor given the level of success which each of them have achieved. In terms of collaborations, I really enjoy working with Jason Risk. He and I have amazing synergy when working on projects together. We share similar work ethic and possess comparable technical abilities. It just works, and it’s always fun times. He and I plan to release some originals together later in the year.
What do you enjoy most out of playing live for a crowd, and what parties in particular have made an impact on you?
Putting on an actual performance. The energy of a big crowd is what pushes me to a whole other level. From the beginning of my set, I will set the tone with an intro. I’ve always loved doing custom intros for each event. The intensity will slowly build up to the first drop, and then the crowd and I seem to connect. From that point on, nothing else in the world matters. That connection is probably the greatest feeling in the world. My tour earlier in the year with DJ Bl3nd was precisely everything I just described. If you want to see for yourself, head over to my YouTube and watch the Madhouse Tour After Movie.
You’re coming to Richmond on June 22 to headline the River City Riot at Canal Club. You have played Richmond a few times over the years. What do you like about RVA?
RVA has a lot of history for me. Not only is it home to some of my closest family members, but I also used to drive down to RVA a few times a year for shows. Before I turned 21, a lot of my DJ friends from the DC area would plays parties at a place called Chopstix. I honestly don’t know if it’s still open [nope, it’s gone, sadly.-ed.] but we always had fun there. Jon Deke, DJ Lantern, Dave Cortex, DJ Nysus and Daniella Downs were some of the guys who I remember seeing spin at those events. I have played a events at Hat Factory and Canal Club over the years and have always been pleased with what RVA has to offer. I have no doubt in my mind that River City Riot is going to be a madhouse and the crowd will bring the energy. I promise you that we are going to have an amazing experience!
Finally who does you hair? Wait, I think I need to address these questions to your hair.
Questions for LJ MTXs Hair:
How do you do it? Who does it?
I owe everything to my Stylist/Color Junkie, Sarah DuFrane at PR @ Partners in McLean, VA.
What types of care products do you prefer to make you feel at the top of your game?
A lot of “experts” hate on it but I usually just use Pantene Pro-V Shampoo and Conditioner in the shower. It’s relatively inexpensive and InStyle rated it Best of 2013, so the haters can suck it! For styling, I tend to use a combination of products depending on the look I’m going for. If I want the dry, non-greasy look, I will apply a water-based gel, mousse or spray while my hair is wet. Then I blow dry and apply a Fiber based product. American Crew makes a good one that’s a bit pricey but it goes a long way. For a “firmer” look I will use Got 2B Glued – Spiking Glue, followed up by one of two hair sprays: Got 2B Glued Blasting Freeze Spray or Victoria’s Secret “So Sexy Style Hold and Finish Spray.”
What do you think of LJ MTX overall, do you like where he is taking you? Could you DJ without him?
As LJ MTXs Hair I have mixed feelings about the guy. LJ MTX is a pretty down to earth dude but he can be a moody bitch and a huge diva at times. For example, his rider makes all sorts of demands that cater to his needs, but what about mine? LJ MTXs Hair is responsible for 90% of his success. Shouldn’t I be entitled to a nice scalp rub or deep conditioning from time to time? Don’t get me wrong, his wife usually does a good job of footing the bill to keep me fresh and stylish, but lately I can’t help but feel as though he’s just exploiting how fabulous I am in order to rebrand himself. I’ll just say that the money he makes from all of those T-shirts that say, “LJ MTXs Hair is my Favorite DJ” had better go into more frequent appointments at the salon–and a lot of product.
Are you considering your own representation as you grow in popularity?
I recently started my own Facebook page, “LJMTXsHair,” which is growing at an exponential rate. I feel that representation will be necessary but at this time I am holding out for the right endorsement deal.
What does the future hold for you?
It is just a matter of time before I grace the covers of multiple Hairstyle and Fashion magazines. Until then I want to share a quote with you: “There is more to life than having really, really, ridiculously good looking hair,” said no one ever!
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Presented by B.A.D.ASS Raves and Wicked 6 Productions, River City Riot takes place this Saturday, June 22 at The Canal Club, located at 1545 E. Cary St. in Shockoe Bottom. Along with LJ MTX, the event will feature DJ Venom, AK1200, Dara, AU5, Fractal, DJ Lantern, Unknown DJ, and more! The evening will feature free massages, ultraviolet reactive decor, a costume contest, interactive gorillas (whatever that means), a light show by Sentient Lighting & Dekolite, plus further visual awesomeness from Laser Graffiti, a 50,000 watt speaker setup provided by Radon Soundsystem, and so much more! Must be 17 to get in, 21 to drink. Doors open at 8 PM and the party goes on until the wee hours of the morning. Admission is $20, and advance tickets can be ordered here: http://www.ticketfly.com/event/264243
LJ MTX LINKS:
LJ MTX on Beatport
www.ljmtx.com
www.facebook.com/ljmtxofficial
www.twitter.com/ljmtx
www.soundcloud.com/ljmtx
www.youtube.com/TheLJMTX
www.instagram.com/LJMTX
