Starting from Scratch: Literally and Iconically
From beats to mixing, there is an art to DJing, and while many are called, few are chosen. Chosen to perform at parites. Chosen to perform at clubs. Chosen to perform for artist. And most of all, chosen to be considered an icon. A specific style of DJing is precisely what has kept Canadian DJ, Starting from Scratch in the game for over 31 years.
I had the privilege to sit and chat with DJ Starting from Scratch about his 31-year (and going) career, Twitch making his international presence known more across the globe, and his sought-after DJing skills that keeps in demand. It is always amazing to hear the humble beginnings of those who have lasted in industries that are not always easy to stay on top. For this DJ, it is his talent and humbleness that is the reason for his longevity.
Dr G: You have been in the game for 30–31 years, so I’m going to let you introduce yourself and share what made you start DJing?
Starting from Scratch: Well, I’ve been doing this about thirty-one and a half years now. I was originally born in Montreal and I moved to Toronto when I was about 14 (a long, long time ago). I’ve always been my music. My family has always been in music. My mom used to work for record labels, my dad was a singer, and my stepdad was a drummer. So, growing up, there was always had music in the house, and I was always surrounded by music. And then coming from Montreal to Toronto and with the diversity of music in Toronto, it just opened my eyes to a whole new world.
I used to listen, when I was in Montreal as a kid, on a Saturday night they used to have a radio station and they used to have mix shows at night (like dance music and so forth and old school and all that). Well, that time it was new school, but it’s all old school now. I used to just sit on my bed and listen in headphones [off the radio] and I was just taken by what I was hearing. I had no clue what was happening. I had no clue it was a mix show. I had no clue was a DJ, per se say, somebody doing it. I just the way music was seamlessly, continuously for hours and the vibe was always there. I just loved everything about it… Song after song and I was like, how is this all happening?
So, I was always taken by the concept of it without knowing what it was and then when I got to Toronto and I went to my first high school dance, that’s when I first saw an actual, physical DJ and I was just gone from there. I was just so taken by that and how one person can literally control that many people with music. I’d never seen that before in person. So, from that moment on I was just caught by the concept of it. And then I had some friends that were doing it in high school, and it was just kind of a really slow build to it. I’d go to their house and they’d play records. I had nothing. I had a bit of records from my mom from the record label, but I had no equipment. I used to just go there all the time and watch them. Eventually, they were like you want to try, and I was like, okay cool. And then I just got into it from the first time I tried it. I loved it and from then on, it’s just been non-stop ever since.
Dr. G: So, what was your first real time where you got to try it out? Professionally, so to speak.
Starting from Scratch: Professionally would be a high school dance. I came to Toronto at grade 10, so I would say I picked it up probably like the end of grade 11. I had a super cool principal. They used to just play their own music at their tables at lunch time and I went to the principal and said, “well instead of that, at lunch time why don’t you let me play music for everybody? I’ll play music for everybody and that way it’s not so noisy. It’s just one direction of music. And we will just do it like that.” He’s like, “okay, we’ll, try it out”, and he let me do it and it was really fun. People had a blast, and I don’t think any other school was doing it at that time. He let me do it a few times; and then from that just became high school dances.
My name kind of says it all. Literally, I started from scratch with all that stuff. I never had anybody hand me anything, per se. I just really worked and worked and worked and did my grind.
I went to as many house parties as I could. If other people were playing and I wasn’t “supposed to play”, I would show up with records anyways and just ask the play. I’d get rejected nine times out of ten, but then there was always one person that would either want a washroom break or was just bored or whatever and be like, yeah, go ahead.
Dr. G: Okay. So, your confidence in your ability even starting out is incredible. Now, I have to ask the question. On a scale of 1 to 10, in comparison to what you know now, what would you rate yourself at when you first started? All those times when you were like, “Hey, I’m going to take my chance on it and take my chance on it”, so you’re the professional now, so how would yourself on a scale of 1 to 10?
Starting from Scratch: If I was, let’s say, an eight now. {laughing}
Dr. G: Well, you know, you’re like a 10 now. {laughing}
Starting from Scratch: Yeah, I think on a skill level, obviously I graduated a lot over the years. I don’t think I was ever terrible because I’m also one of those people who will not go out and do anything publicly until I’m ready. I’m not the type of person that learns in front of people. I don’t like that. So, I used to practice on my friends all the time. They would lend me stuff and I’d be in my room each and every day practicing, just practicing, practicing, practicing… So, I think, on a skill level, probably a 5 maybe in high school. You know what I mean? I definitely wasn’t terrible but now looking back I’m sure I’ll cringe, but I’ve always been really busy.
I’ve always been really big on mixing and because I had the music background, I understood bar counts and I understood how to bring records in together — even before I even tried it. I kind of knew it in my head. So, I think because of all that and the way I was brought up and because — I don’t know if I’m different I am from others or if I am different the way I digest music — even if I’m not in physical form actually DJing, the way I digest music is the same as me playing music. If that makes any sense. That’s just the way my head operates with music and it always has even as a kid. Now there’s a ton more music in my mental jukebox right now.
I love all types of music. When I started DJing and because I wasn’t really taught by anyone, per se, I watched, and I learned, and I had people show me like little technical things here and there. But I was never really taught how to DJ. Because of that, I just brought it to the way that I thought music should be played and I think I did a little different than everybody was doing at the time.
Most guys were either playing hip-hop or playing house music or playing reggae. Not many were doing it all; and not many were doing it all and mixing it all together. So, I would come in and play pop with hip-hop and reggae and just kind of mishmash them all together and throw it out there as opposed to doing big sets of different genres. I think just the fact that I was doing that, and really just the mixing always caught people’s eye (and obviously the way I look because of the scene I was in). I wasn’t setting out to be different. It’s just the way I thought things were supposed to be and I didn’t know any better.
Dr. G: The way your mind works is like a gift. If you look at a classic pianist or someone who might not ever be able to read music, but they hear it and then they can play it or they can just make really beautiful music. It’s the same way as you. You’re like a gifted DJ. Most people don’t wouldn’t say that, but the mind is so powerful that we’re given gifts and it’s a way that we use them. You may be able to just take in one piece of sound out of a song or be able to pull something distinct out that you can mix and that’s like I’ll be that’s a gift.
Starting from Scratch: I’ll give you a perfect example. This is how I know I have a problem. I have a baby girl and she’s one years old. I’m playing with her in the crib and she’s got this little thing for Christmas. It looks like a car alarm and it has all these buttons on it, and I didn’t even I didn’t even realize I was doing it until my wife told me, but I started pressing the buttons and was making beats just pressing alarm, key, light… And without even knowing, I’m making beats — my head is this constantly rhythmic.
Dr. G.: You’ve been you’ve been in the industry for 31 and a half years, what would you say has been the biggest change for you?
Starting from Scratch: Technology for sure. Adapting to the technology. I come from the old school vinyl days, then we went through the CD phase, and now it’s all digital (which I have no problem with at all). I was a little weary at first because I’m not super techie. It was definitely intimidating until somebody sat me down and broke down all of the benefits. And I don’t have to lug these crates of records (which was the easiest way for me to transition to that). But yeah, I would definitely say technology. For someone like me in the way my mind works, the way technology is now it’s much to my benefit. It makes me be able to express myself in so many ways that I’ve always wanted to — it just took me four times longer to do it with vinyl. So definitely for someone like me, it’s been a beautiful thing. I embrace it.
Dr. G: What has been your biggest achievement?
Starting from Scratch: Being at a top level for thirty-one point five years. I think is my biggest achievement to be honest. I’ve had a few amazing milestones along the way for sure, but I would say my biggest achievement is that I’ve been at the top of my of my game for a very long time. And that’s not to say it in a cocky way at all. That’s just reality. I started in the early ’90s. I was successful not in a rich way, but successful in the way that I was always working. I was the hot guy to go to for the clubs and I’ve maintained that either through radio or through touring with artists or comedians. I’ve always managed to find another lane that doesn’t leave me stagnant in one because I think that’s super important. A lot of guys live in that one lane for their whole career and then it may become that “remember him, remember her” and that’s not going to happen with me.
I think even now, we had to adapt with the COVID stuff. And twitch became a thing for DJs, and I had to jump into that and learn it. And even though I’m super uncomfortable, I had to learn and force myself to do it and now it’s become another thing that I’m super proud of because I’ve been able to transfer that into more relationships and having a bigger fan base across the world. It’s been a really great thing.
Dr. G: You talked about COVID and it’s just been a heck of a time. I’m also of the belief that even though something’s bad. Something good has to come out of it. So, what would you say you learned personally about yourself during this COVID time?
Starting from Scratch: Ideally that I’m a fighter and I will always make things happen on how always make sure my family is fed. So, for that, I would say I’m a fighter which I think everybody is and I don’t think people realize that. I’m a refuse to lose kind of person. I’ve worked way too hard over my years to let something like this. It definitely hurt financially but I’m also in a good position because I have my radio gig. I’m full-time salary with benefits through my radio gig and my family is protected.
I say that on my on my streams a lot. I tell people you may not think it but everybody that’s here and watching and partying are all survivors.
Dr. G: How did you know when you made it? What was that defining moment where it was like wow, I’m it in Toronto or all over?
Starting from Scratch: Well, that’s never happened. To be honest with you, especially the everywhere else part and definitely not in Toronto. I wouldn’t know. I’ve never said, “I’m it or I’m at the top.” I’ll let others make that determination for me. I think the moment I put that in my head that’s a wrap for me because that means there’s nowhere else to go. But the moment where I really felt acceptance from everybody was at my 15th anniversary (which would I guess 2005 at this point). It was nice to see everyone because up until that point, I was just working, working, working, working, and working. I never really had time to sit back and be like, ah, I’m doing good. I never stopped to smell my own roses at that point until my 15-year anniversary where I had like much love from everybody (whether it was DJs, music artiss, record labels, or the public). And that was a super proud moment for me now. I’ve done some good work over these years and give myself a little pat on my own back for a change.
But internationally, I’m a small, small, small fish in a big pond. Twitch has opened a lot of doors for me to internationally. I mean touring with Russell Peters and being on the DVDs definitely opened a lot of doors for me, but Twitch has definitely opened more eyes for me internationally than any other time in my career.
Dr. G: Is there a is there an age limit that you prefer to play for to me?
Starting from Scratch: Honestly, it’s more I play for the mind than the physical. So, I if you’re 10 years old and you love what I’m playing, come and party with me. I don’t really matter to me and which has been a really beautiful thing about Twitch. I even got a message today that I just posted to my friends. Someone sent me their five-year-old and he had built this little thing and he was pretending to be me, and he and his mom said, “who are you?” and he said I’m Starting from Scratch. He’s five years old and that’s just from Twitch. Things like that is so beautiful to me.
When I’m in a party or when I’m in a club, yeah, I prefer us, you know what I mean? Because I just think our generation parties differently. We are a social partiers. We’re not wallflower partiers. We’re not showboat partiers. I could care less what somebody else is wearing when I’m partying. I really can care less. I just want to hear music, make a thump, and I’m good and I’m happy. Give me a dance floor and I’m there all night. Whereas the new generation is just different focuses. They it’s all on looks and how much money you have and this and that no one’s dancing Everybody standing around. It kind of goes hand in hand with the music. For me, as long as you want to have fun that is my crowd — young or old.
Dr. G: I have a friend that lives in Toronto and he posted recently about giving people flowers before giving people reefs. And I am definitely giving you your flowers because you are more known than you actually think or probably want to give yourself credit for. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Being humble and staying humble is what’s kept you around for 31 years.
If you want to hear good music, DJ Starting from Scratch can be found on Twitch (http://twitch.tv/djstartingfromscratch) on Tuesday nights at 8pm EST, Wednesdays at 8pm EST, Fridays ’80s show that starts at 8pm EST, and he rotates on Saturday for Toronto parties now brought to Twitch that start at 7pm EST. Wednesday nights there is a new R&B show coming that he is doing starting at 8pm EST. You can also catch him six days a week on Virgin iHeart. You can also connect with him on Instagram: @startingfromscratch.
