Pioneer CDJ Series Helps Big Joe Hix Bang Houses
When Detroit's Banging House DJ Big Joe Hix first started out about a decade and a half ago, he would have never guessed he'd be using anything but vinyl. Big Joe Hix is now holstering a pair of Pioneer CDJ Series CD players for his sets.
Big Joe goes into the reasoning behind the switch and what he thinks of digital now that he's crossed the line in the sand.
JOE VORTECH: Hey guys! This is Joe Vortech and I’m at at Movement 2008 in Detroit, Michigan, and we’re talking to banging house DJ Big Joe Hix. How are doing, Joe?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: What’s going on, man?
JOE VORTECH: Ah, doing really good. Doing great. So, you’re out here in Detroit for the weekend? You got the artist pack?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: I’m from Detroit.
JOE VORTECH: You are from Detroit. My bad. You’re here in Detroit this weekend.
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Yes.
JOE VORTECH: And you’re playing the festival, huh?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Yeah. Yeah. I played yesterday.
JOE VORTECH: Oh. Great. What stage did you play on?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Underground.
JOE VORTECH: Oh. Fantastic, and describe your DJing style and, you know, basically what you do as a DJ a little bit.
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Banging, banging, banging, banging house and a little bit of techno. I get into a little bit of techno but not too much. Mostly banging house.
JOE VORTECH: Cool. What, you know, back in the day of course it was, you know, just vinyl, vinyl, and only vinyl, but today DJs have a slew of different ways they can, you know, perform music for the crowd. What’s your preference? Are you a vinyl purist? Are you a CD DJ? Do you use the laptop, Ableton or Traktor? Serato? What’s your style?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: I’ve been using CDJs, Pioneers, for a while which is funny because in the early ‘90s I told everybody that I knew I would never touch CDs because I was a vinyl purist, but it’s kind of hard to get away from it, you know. It’s kind of hard to stay away from playing CDs...
JOE VORTECH: Oh. You’ve been DJing -- I’m sorry.
DJ BIG JOE HIX: ...or anything digital for that matter because it’s that’s the way everything is going, so it’s kind of tough.
JOE VORTECH: I totally hear you. Actually I relate on many levels to that, so.
DJ BIG JOE HIX: [LAUGHING]
JOE VORTECH: How long have you been DJing for now?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Ah ’94.
JOE VORTECH: Wow.
DJ BIG JOE HIX: So, 14 years; ’94 or ’95.
JOE VORTECH: So, you started as a vinyl DJ?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Yeah. Absolutely.
JOE VORTECH: And when did you make the switch over to CDs and why would you say what you saw was basically a moment you kind of switched from -- you know, realizing the CD as a medium would better benefit you as a DJ?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Probably last year was when I switched when I started realizing that all my friends were having better music than I had because they were all using digital, so I had to do it.
JOE VORTECH: So, how has your DJing changed since using CDs?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: I love CDJs. I mean they’re just as good if not better than a turntable too as far as cueing and everything. I mean nothing is sturdy as a 1200 but they’re definitely very user friendly. I love them. I think they’re great.
JOE VORTECH: And how would you describe -- In a sense, how would you say you’re unique as a DJ and your style? Things that you’d do that, you know, you’d think other DJs don’t necessarily do enough or you don’t see other DJs do?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Well, I definitely -- I definitely will cut [EXPLETIVE] a lot. A lot of DJs mostly blendo -- I don't care. I’ll cut a track in a second and bring it back, you know, so that’s definitely something that probably came from being from Detroit.
JOE VORTECH: Sounds cool. Well, any shows other than Movement? Are you playing any after-parties this festival too?
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Yeah. I played a couple last night. I played an all drum & bass party. I played banging house. I was the only DJ. And then I played a party with Justin Long over at the 2500 Club. Tonight I don’t have any though because I kind of cut myself clear to go a different party, so.
JOE VORTECH: Awesome. Well thank you very much, man.
DJ BIG JOE HIX: Thanks a lot.
JOE VORTECH: I appreciate it. Thanks for your time.
DJ BIG JOE HIX: It was nice meeting you.
JOE VORTECH: And it was a pleasure talking about kind of the evolution of DJing and the direction it’s going in. So, this is Big Joe Hix, banging house DJ from Detroit, and I’m Joe Vortech and this has been another interview from Movement 2008, Detroit, Michigan, for Gearwire.Com.
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