My introduction to electronic music culture was in 1992 when we would attend "Raves" in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Back then the music was very repetitive, unimaginitive and unsophisticated. I enjoyed partying with friends but I was not musically inspired in the least.

My true bridge to quality electronic music was Dub. The transition from roots reggae, to dub and on to ambient dub was very natural. Back then I was listening to Bill Laswell, Suns of Arqa, Transglobal Underground, Higher Intelligence Agency, Zion Train, Banco De Gaia, Loop Guru etc etc. I was diving into the music but, being from Wisconsin, I felt like I was the only person in the world discovering this stuff.

In 1997 I took a trip to Thailand. Like most socially-minded young people travelling in Thailand, I found myself at the full-moon party in Koh Pha-Ngan. It was a long night of dodging some of the worst euro-techno and trance I can imagine. I still had very little hope for dance culture.

Then finally, in 1999 I was living on the island of Maui. There was a party on the eve of Halloween- outdoors in a place called Twin Falls. I didn't have high expectations but I was with good friends so I figured I could suffer through some thump-thump. At the risk of sounding dramatic - what happened that night changed my life. Two DJ's whom I have come to know and love were playing- Dante and Michael Manahan. There was a light tropical drizzle, and all the dancing bodies were huddled close under a small tent next to the DJ's. It was like a living electronic cave, and the music that was emenating from the light at the end of the tunnel was so hypnotic and soulful. I remember watching the DJ's weaving the magic and saying to myself, "I want to do THAT."

The next couple years on Maui was a discovery time of Full Moon parties and gatherings with positive intentions... I started buying records and messing around playing at smaller events. When I left Hawaii, I passed through San Francisco and was excited to see a thriving, positive dance culture in full effect. I eventually wound up living with Michael Manahan in Seattle and got involved in helping with the Oracle Gatherings which were just getting started then, and I was in a very inspiring music and dance scene.

Being a drummer, DJ'ing came very naturally to me. I was beat-matching in no time and stockpiling mostly downtempo records at first. Again, for me the natural progression was from chill music to breakbeats. I was always kinda adverse to the 4/4 thump. I've never gotten into trance and as for house music... it's gotta be good for me to feel it. I guess the breaks just hold on to that familiar funk beat I've always loved.

The reception and feedback I started getting as I was playing out more and more is what kept me going in the beginning. I try to keep my track selection impeccable and people appreciate that. I refuse to play 'filler' music just for the sake of DJ'ing. To me, it's all about the music.

Now I've been DJ'ing for a few years and starting to delve into production. The inspiration keeps growing at exponential rates. Until the day comes when we can just psychically manifest music from the ethers, I will be happy to spend those countless hours in record shops scouring for the hidden gems, and countless more hours on the computer - clicking, dragging, copying, pasting... shaping gems of my own... bringing my ideas of beauty and danceability to anyone with a receptive ear and itchy feet.