BrightestYoungThings: BYT Interview: Mike Simonetti

Mike Simonetti is the czar of the Italians Do It Better, home of everyone from Glass Candy to Mirage to Chromatics. He is coming to DC for the second time in the last few months to tear it up alongside Holy Ghost at this Friday's edition of Blisspop at 930 club. (you want tickets? we have tickets to give away). We sent (who else?) Chris Burns on his trail to ask some all important questions to warm you up to the idea. Play his latest mix while you read:

http://www.zshare.net/download/5056090672f2dd3e/%3Cbr%20/%3E

I have several friends who DJ out pretty frequently in NYC that have spoken highly of you and that you are a man of a dying breed: the DJ who focuses solely on DJing and doesn't make his career out trying to force the expected DJ/Producer combo. However, do you plan to get into production or keep on doing your thing?
--i think its natural for djs to be into production. to be honest it can get boring playing other peoples music all the time. i have always made edits and stuff that i have never released because i feel they werent record-worthy. they were made more for playing out: extending the good parts and getting rid of the bad parts.. if i ever make an edit i feel is good enough for release maybe i'll do it. there are a lot of crap edit 12"s out there.. as far as productions, i've worked on stuff, yea. and as a dj in this day and age of a zillion djs, you need something to stand out in the pack. plus, a dj with a hit record gets paid A LOT more! but seriously, i think a lot of producers take on the dj route after they produce for the easy $ and acclaim. djing isnt that hard! i think making a good song is a lot harder than playing someone else's good song in a club!

Why do you think so many people go from a hardcore/punk dominated adolescence into a dance music based leaning as they grow up into adults? It seems like this is how your musical evolution and its a pretty common trait amongst twenty and thirtysomethings that grew up when DC Hardcore was in its prime in the 80s and 90s.
--i don't know. i think a lot of hardcore kids were into hip hop back then, and hip hop sucks now and this is how it has evolved. i'm still a hardcore kid at heart. i still buy new records all the time. and i release them on TMU. but i like all kinds of music.

You've been doing the club thing for a minute - promoting, throwing parties, DJing and now mostly just DJing out and running your label. Why aren' you tired or burnt out from like alot of people who come and go?
--i think djing is really fun, and its a lot better than working a 9-5 job for me at least. plus i have a 5 month old boy and i get to stay at home withhim during the week instead of throw him into daycare, which is important. as long as i can do this i will do it. and especially new because of the little guy. its all about him now.

How has settling down, buying a house, having your first child, affected your outlook on everything? Obviously your priorities have been re-arranged, but has it changed how your music based lifestyle?
--well i owned the last house i lived in when i was in jersey city. i was there for 7 years, and i owned it. once the little guy was coming i needed to get out of the hood and move to a more peaceful place. so i sold the house in jersey city and bought this house. it was all about him. the best public schools, the best kid friendly town.. all that stuff. my lifestyle has changed a little. i dont go out as much because im exhausted by 7pm. but that will pass as he gets older. i still try to go out on the weekends when im not traveling. and when i travel to play out i am gone all weekend. then its back to staying in with the little guy.

Have you ever DJed DC before? What are you expecting of Will's party? What are you planning to play?
--i played DC years ago, but its been a while. i expect a more electro/banger/pop crowd. i dont play that kind of music but i have stuff that works with those crowds. i think you can play to a young crowd without playing the same 15 bangers you hear in every town on the planet (thanks to the internet)...

What are some of your favorite records out right now?
--i REALLY like Pryda's remix of "Ron Hardy Said" . its such a monster in a non trance/banger way. hes one of my favorite producers. he is a huge trance/prog guy now, but he doesnt dumb it down at all. he always fucked with your head. i also like Terje's Canned Heat edit a lot. i like rock edits if they are done well.

What the fuck is going on with NYC right now? It seems like everyone I talk to who is trying to throw parties up there is suffering from inconsistent turnouts, shitty venues, etc. Do you think things are gonna get better now that the economy might purge alot of assholes from Manhattan?
--i gave up on NYC in 2001... the place is dead. i think it will be like this as long as the laws are enforced and cops bust up illegal parties. if the rents go down they will have to go down a lot in order for bars and clubs to take chances. but it will never happen. also these djs need to step up their game more and stop playing the same old shit.. the douchebags will never leave. we're stuck with them.

are some of your favorite DJs right now in NY?
--i honestly don't even know. i havent been out to see a local guy play in a long time. besides the obvious superstars whom i dont need to mention, of course. its a shame Ben Manzones party never took off. he had a pure approach but like you said its NYC... NY wasnt ready. i give props to anyone who can hold down a party in nyc though.. im still a resident at Rubulad. thats a great place to play.

You and I have discussed the effect of certain economies' strain affecting your busy international, jet-setting schedule. Do you think the era of the jet-setting DJ will cease to exist in the future, such as if the oil runs out or we go into a long emergency? Is this necessarily a good or a bad thing?
--i dont think it will ever run out. in the worst of times, people need to party. thats when people need an escape the most. i took of september thru november for my son, and now im getting back out on the road. the fees have been a little lower but its ok. but my New years Even in Iceland was cancelled because they are a bankrupt country. also im not a high paid dj. i dont get paid $15,000 a gig like some of my "peers"... ill play for cheap, as long as its a good time.

Anything else you want to add?
--if anyone in DC has an original Rites Of Spring shirt let me know. you know, the ones Jeff Nelson made back in the day.