By David Doub
What got you into music, specifically DJing. My love for music. My dad played guitar, sang, and played drums. My mom played piano and sang. My mom put me into Tap dancing and Ballet at a very young age. When I was 16 she signed me up for voice and piano lessons. I think music just runs through my veins. DJing just seemed to come naturally. When I was 17 I started getting into dance music. My friend had a set of turntables at his house. We worked together and I would go over there during breaks and weekends to hang out. I would have started playing records and practiced beat matching. 6 Months later I was Djing in Dallas playing some of the hottest clubs around. What are some challenges and perks of making music as a DJ? Perks to making music is your more than likely be booked for some of the hottest shows around. I have had the honor of being booked in Baltimore, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and more. The challenges are to continue to educate yourself on the up and coming gear, tricks of the trade, and keeping yourself relevant. What do people want to hear? You’ve been involved with a lot of nerdy time events like A-Kon. Can you tell us how you got into those events and what different challenges they present over traditional DJing? I love the nerdy conventions. I was very lucky and had a chance to DJ AKON 6 years ago. I impressed the crew and I volunteered every year after that to do whatever they needed. It was not easy. We went through some very hot weather and lots of changes in event times. We never gave up and continued to support and do whatever the cons needed us to do to support our love for what we do. I had the opportunity to DJ in front of 6,000 people and get a free promo video out of that. The promo video has helped me with other conventions and events. To get into these events, it’s very competitive and there is always someone waiting in line to take your place. Unfortunately, that happened to me this year after 6 years of loyal service with one of the big cons All I can say, is never give up, stay true to your name, give 100% in all you do, and be persistent. There is always another convention you can get into. You’ve started some of your own events, can you tell us more about how you run those and what got you started in the first place. I started at a very young age of putting together events. I was hired on at a bar called Zubar in Lower Greenville. I had a weekly there and was given free artist expression. I worked with some local artists and started the very first Art Party there. The event was a success! I went on to throw a huge birthday party for some of Dallas’s DJ legends, Jeff K (94.5 Edge) and Rob Vaughn. There was a huge turn out and DJ Merritt and Redeye came out to this event to show love and support for the community. This helped me gain trust and popularity in the scene. I went on to throw multiple art and music festivals, the Xtreme Body Painting Show, and more. Is there any local DFW Creators that you enjoy, be it art, music or what have you? I love so many artists in our community. Local DJ and Dallas Producer Left/Right (AKA: Chris Lund), DJ and producer Chris Jungle (Basshead Society), Aaron Hensley, Ethan Toles, Gilbert Najera (DJ Titan) Artist Khalid Robertson (Creator of my company Basshead Society’s logos and art), Angel Etter from “Mansfield Tattoos, Sam E. Bone (Just Inked Radio), Bassheadsociety.com DJ’s and producers, and so many more. What are some local North Texas events that you enjoy attending? I have really enjoyed A-Fest, ANT (Anime North Texas), A-Kon, Ikkicon, Nomikai, and so many more. If you had advice for up and coming DJings or folks who want to put on musical events in North Texas? Never give up on the dream. Join my network of DJ’s, Artists, and Producers on facebook at Basshead Society Group. You can also follow us at www.bassheadsociety.com and www.instagram.com/basshead_society . We have a huge network of local artists, photographers, DJ’s, producers, singers, and models all trying to do the same thing. Come hang out with us and network with these creative minds. There is so much to experience and love in our network that you wont believe. We do have a monthly workshop that we are doing and if anyone is interested they can email me at [email protected] for more details. We book local creatives all the time and there are multiple shows coming up and we do need help. By David Doub
Can you tell us about The Dungeon on KNON? What is your role with the show? Hello Nerds! Yes, and thanks for asking: “The Dungeon” is an extreme metal radio show on KNON 89.3fm in Dallas Texas. You can tune in every Saturday night from Midnight to 4am to hear all manner of underground metal from across the world, including Death and Black Metal. “KNON” is public radio, broadcasting 24/7 and we are totally listener supported. Raven is the resident DJ and Dungeon mastermind who created this show in 2000, and our amazing supporters have kept us on the air for 20 years now! You can pledge too, at KNON.org. While you’re there, check out the live stream or navigate to our archived shows. It’s been great working with “KNON”. “The Dungeon” has always held a special place in my heart as I used to tune in when I was a teenager. Raven and the crew opened my eyes to so many bands back in the day and 7 years ago, I was invited to come on board and share my metal collection as well. I host the “Lexen Destro Black Metal Power Hour” bimonthly, which focuses on black metal – old and new. With the recent rise in the popularity of this genre, I get more requests than ever. What got you into Heavy Hardcore Metal? Its hard to say, I was always drawn to music that was heavy and fast. When I was a kid I became obsessed with surf music because it was so fast. Later that evolved into a love of punk, metal and hardcore. So, I guess I have Dick Dale to thank for all of this. What are some of your all-time favorite Metal bands and what are some new up and coming bands you think should get more notice? Well “Slayer” was one of my first loves so that definitely goes down as an all time favorite. I am known for playing a lot of “Pest” and “Carpathian Forest” on the show, and I really love “Nadiwrath” as well. “Watain” is always a favorite, I never miss them when they play a show. Some of the newer bands I’ve been listening to are Sarastus, Cloak, Wiegedood, Antzaat, Hovmod and Vale of Pnath. “Vale” isn’t really new, but they just put out some killer stuff. What are some great local dark Metal bands you’d like to give a shot out to? Luckily Dallas has no shortage of talented acts. Shout outs to Absu, Thy Antichrist, Wildspeaker, Steel Bearing Hand, Cleric, Sardonic Witchery, Blasphemous Goat Vomit, Empty Shell, Psyciatric Regurgitation, Demonhammer, Judas Goat, Nocturnal Wolf, Chemicaust, Infidel Rising, Skull Archer, Dei Aemeth and many more! What are some nerdy and geeky things you enjoy as well? What are some of the nerdy and geeky things you enjoy in North Texas? I’m a huge nerd, I think that deep down all metal kids are. Metal is an inherently nerdy thing, just look at all the bands inspired by nerd culture! Everyone knows that D&D and heavy metal go hand in hand ever since they both survived the satanic panic of the 80’s. Not to mention there are quite a few metal band names inspired by the works of Tolkien: Amon Amarth, Burzum, Balrog, Nazgul, Mordor, Carach Angren, Isengard, to name a few. That doesn’t even include all the song names that originated in “Middle Earth”! Viking, Pagan and Folk metal are all the history nerds, and there is actually more than one band inspired almost entirely by Warhammer 40k. Bolt Thrower is the best-known example, having had their cover art created by a Games Workshop artist. So, there’s that. In addition to nerd metal; I’m a bit of a bookworm and a gamer so a lot of my nerding takes place at home. Though, I can be easily spotted at Half Price Books, Keith’s Comics, or Madness Comics from time to time. I like to check out the Cons and Cosplayers when the mood strikes me, I never miss Texas Frightmare Weekend! I’m also a huge science and history nerd. If I’m not brushing up on the Romanovs or the Lapland War, I’m looking at protozoans, making new slides for my microscope or buried beneath my neurology volumes. I also collect weapons, medical antiques, bone specimens including real human skulls, and I keep pet wasps. That’s nerdy too, right? What are some of the best concerts you’ve been to? Please share some of your favorite concert stories? Oh wow, there have been so many with so many great memories it’s hard choose favorites. “Gwar” is such a fun act. I wouldn’t say they’re my favorite metal band, but they are definitely my favorite stage performance. I always try to take someone who’s never been or someone who isn’t really into metal to see their reaction when all the blood starts flying. Although, there was one show in Oklahoma where I walked in on Nergal from Behemoth and Corpsegrinder from Cannibal Corpse rocking out to Britney Spears on the bus. That was pretty epic. Where does the name for Lexen Destro come from? The “Destro” surname came from one of my other business ventures. I had a screen-printing company called “Team Destro” when I was in college. Raven had asked the team and I to come on the show and talk a little bit about some of our shirts. That was my first time in the Dungeon. He had advised we use stage names, so I picked Lexen since it was close to my actual name… Which shall remain a mystery! MUAHAHAHA! That was my first time in the Dungeon. It wouldn’t be long before I was calling it home. If you could be in any band who would it be? Oh geez, I don’t know. I admire bands from a far, but I don’t know if I could actually be in one. I don’t even know how these things happen, it must be so difficult! You get several people; all on the same page, all collaborating on the same piece of art, all adhering to the same schedule and if they survive long enough to experience any success, you throw them all in a van and send them on their way for months at a time and see whether or not they kill each other. It baffles me. Can you tell the best records to summon demons with? Asking for a friend. Well, you have a few good options here. “Dissection” is great for that sort of thing but be careful or you might be found dead in ritual circle like their front man, Jon Nödtveidt. You would likely gain some demonic favor with “Watain” as well, known for their on-stage rituals using real blood of undetermined origin. For a little ambiance the first “Batushka” would be nice, with its monastic chanting and sinister riffs or even a few “Beherit” songs since they sound like they were actually recorded in the underworld. Last but not least, “Arckanum” is great for summonings. Their founder, Shamaatae is a well published occult author with “Ixaxxar Press”. He could probably tell you if you’re doing it right. https://www.facebook.com/THE-DUNGEON-KNON-893-FM-Dallas-Texas-171563375475 http://www.knon.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LexDestro More About KNON's Rebuilding after getting hit by a Tornado - https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/music/2020/01/16/first-came-the-tornado-then-the-scorpions-but-indie-radio-station-knon-finally-has-its-new-home/ |
AuthorNorth Texas Nerd is a site for news, reviews, interviews, and opinions about all pop culture and geeky things happening and being made in North Texas. Archives
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