A Dirty Dozen with DEE JAY SILVER – May 2019

According to a recent press release: “Groundbreaking DJ / remixer / producer / radio host DEE JAY SILVER, who recently released his new single “Getaway Driver” featuring country duo Waterloo Revival (4/26), is on the road with Jason Aldean for his 10th tour as the country superstar’s resident DJ, entertaining the crowds between sets by Aldean, Kane Brown and Carly Pearce. Additionally, Silver will be appearing on select dates with Luke Combs throughout the year. Silver will entertain the crowd between sets from Combs, Cody Johnson and Ray Fulcher. “Getaway Driver” is the debut single off Dee Jay Silver’s upcoming album, Corners (Reven8te Nashville). The song and its accompanying lyric video first premiered with Taste of Country, who called it a “high-energy love song” and noted, “Silver’s original music continues to target fans of a more progressive country sound, but he doesn’t break format with this guitar and drum loop-anchored love story.” Set for release this summer (date TBA), Corners will mark the first full-length album from Dee Jay Silver in his 15+ year career. The album captures the open-format performer’s unique ability to blend all types of music from hip-hop and rock to house and country into a non-stop at-home party featuring an array of guest artists from all genres.” We get Dee Jay Silver to discuss new music, influences, and much more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets in the single or upcoming album that only diehard fans might find?

My latest single is called “Getaway Driver” and it’s got my buddies from Waterloo Revival on it! Friends of mine from Austin, TX. For this album, I want I wanted to work with my friends and people I admired in the music business, so I reached out to George from Waterloo and told him what I had cookin’ and asked if he had any songs that he thought would be a good collab!  He sent me a few and the first time I heard “Getaway Driver,” I knew it would be big – I knew I could do something cool with it and I knew it would sound good on the radio, in a jeep, on the lake, at a pool party. It’s a perfect crossover song. The new record is called Corners. It’s basically every genre of music from country to pop, hip hop to house music! I’ve got songs with my buddies LOCASH, Josh Melton, Lil Flip, Constantine, Rizzy Meyers, & John Gurney. Can’t wait for you guys to hear the record! We worked on this album for months and I think you’ll love it! My favorite part of the record is a prelude I did with my son, Wake. I took him to the studio and we recorded a conversation between me and a two year old! It melts me every time I hear it!

2. What got you into music and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

When we sit down to write a song, make a remix, or cut a track, I get my team and we bounce ideas off each other, get it to a point we all like and then ride on it for a few days, even a weeks if we have to. Always try to listen with an open mind and fresh ears. The worst thing you can do is get caught up in your world…everything starts sounding the same! I started DJ’ing in college. It was fun…who doesn’t want to make money to party!  I went to school to be a secondary education teacher and baseball coach, but never finished…might have had something to do with the pay scale! hahaha  Even in college, all I wanted to do was play music. I stuck with it, and 20 years later, thank the lord, we are still rockin!

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

A couple performances that have always stood out to me… and no matter how many times you see it, you get goosebumps, are Justin Timberlake & Chris Stapleton at the CMA award show in Nashville and Jason Aldean & Ludacris the first time they did “Dirt Road Anthem” at the ACM’s in Vegas! Just to watch it happen live, then go back home and watch on YouTube…over and over! Another performance that floored me was the MTV Music Awards in New York when Jay-Z came out and did “Empire State of Mind” –  wow!!!!! A lot of people have guided my musical taste. I listen to just about all types of music!!  The obvious are Jason Aldean, Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars…can’t get enough of the music they make!  Also Jay Z, Rob Zombie, Korn, Post Malone, Dr Dre, Calvin Harris, Kane Brown, George Clinton, James Brown, Elvis, Migos, Drake, to Ronnie Milsap… music has no boundaries!

4. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Jason Aldean, Dr Dre, Calvin Harris, George Clinton, and Justin Timberlake.

5. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

Justin Timberlake…I just think it would be fun, a great collab, high energy, and who wouldn’t wanna work with JT?!

6. What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?  What is one misconception about your music / mixing?

I hate being labeled Hick Hop or Country Rap. I won’t even accept offers to play some fairs and festivals because that’s not who I am. I’m not a rapper, much less a country rapper. I love rap music, I also love country music. I am great friends with a lot of country rappers, but I never want to be labeled. Too much great music out there to be stuck in one hole!

7. When was the last time you were star struck and who was it?

I met Peyton Manning at Red Rocks last weekend… I’m sure I made that awkward!

8. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

Best part is traveling to a different city every day, playing your music and watching the crowd react. I love meeting people and this job allows you to do that!  If I stopped playing music tomorrow, I would either be a sports agent or music director for a nightlife group in Vegas.

9. In addition to being a touring DJ – currently with Luke Combs and Jason Aldean – you have had residency DJ gigs at famous clubs in Las Vegas, Nashville, and Atlantic City.  Do you have a preference of touring or residency gigs?  How do you mentally prepare for the two different types of shows?

Touring is what I love to do – nothing like stepping on stage with 25,000 people having the best time and getting the opportunity to play for them!  I love the residencies that I hold all over the country! It allows you to crossover your fan base and build new ones. I look forward to getting back to Boston, Atlantic City, San Diego, Las Vegas, Miami and places like Dallas. You create a whole set of friends and we are all on the same team…we just try to make the night as successful as we possibly can!  As much as I love touring. there will always be a huge part of me that loves to play night clubs!

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

One question I’ve never been asked… reporters don’t hold back, hahaha. I feel like I’ve been asked about everything!  One question or topic I’m tired of and just won’t even comment on is Route 91.

11. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”, even if it didn’t change your current situation?

The only thing that comes to mind… I’m loyal to a fault. I had my first manager in Nashville, a great, great guy. Looking back now, he just didn’t have the pull or the connections it took to make it. He’s a wonderful person and a friend, but I wish I would have followed my gut and made the change a few years before I did. Looking back now, I know we had the perfect chance… just not the right team!

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

That’s tough. Only thing I can think of would be maybe Elvis. He seemed to change the world. One of the first ever crossover rock, pop, super stars! His music is timeless, and it seems that everyone has a memory if not a personal story about him or his music.

DEE JAY SILVER LINKS:

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Category: Interviews