DJ Exclusive: Interview with Dexy Balazic

The Shapely DJ Dexy Balazic in True Form

I have been to many of Dexy's sets going back to the Fiend Lounge and The Shred Shed (Rest in Peace the both of them!). You always get a great diversity of music, and Dexy's punk influence comes through in bold manner at times too. Come out and hear for yourself and get ready to have some fun, because if you don't, you don't have the volume up on your system!

Here is what Dexy said:

Dexy Balazic aka DJ Dexy 

Are you DJing currently and where?  You betcha, Lifestone every Wednesday night from 10 to 12, a slot I've had since October of 2011, and at Velvet every Thursday afternoon from 3 to 5. I also do a punk set on the last Tuesday of every month at Z & A Coffeehouse from 7 to 9:30. 

When did you start DJing?  It was in September of 2011. Previous to that I was an escort and pole dancer for a year or so, until my friend Hezzy convinced me that I should play music for people instead.  

First Club?  I started at Lifestone and The Fiend Lounge (RIP) at the same time. I also co-owned The Shred Shed for 11 months, which was a punk / rock strip club where I DJ'ed frequently. 

Dexy Up-Close

Most unusual thing you saw while DJing?  Well, we have a running joke at Lifestone about how everything you click on there either makes you dance or fuck, so…  pretty much every sex act imaginable, including ones I was participating in.  

Favorite music?  Punk, garage, soul, power pop, bubblegum  Influences?  I've been DJing in RL since 1986, so I've heard numerous amazing DJ's over the years that turned me on to so much great stuff. I listen to WFMU a lot too, and am amazed that there are still things out there that are totally new to me.  

What do you listen to at home?  Well, I have 13,000 records, 4400 CD's, boxes of mixed tapes, 500 or more 8-Track tapes and about 79,000 MP3's on my hard drive, so it's really all over the place. Rock, metal, funk, soul, new wave, early hip hop, krautrock, prog, rockabilly, western swing, ska, rock steady, doo wop, surf music, soundtracks, bubblegum, 60's pop, girl groups… but I think I'm best known for punk, post punk, pop punk, and some hardcore, and I do tend to play a lot of that at home.

 

Do you have a regular set you play, a “go to” set?  Gee whiz, no. In fact, I have a playlist of used songs for every club that I DJ at to insure that I never repeat a song! I labor over every set, guaranteeing that each one is totally unique.  

When can we hear you DJ usually?  I get around! I'm set up to DJ at Social Scene, Whiskey Smash, and Vintage Vinyl Records besides the places I already mentioned. Also, I LOVE playing special events, like all the themed events at Social Scene, Velvet, or at parties like the SLRDA Season Opener bash. I really dig the SL Roller Derby girls, I'm sort of their unofficial DJ, which is an honor.   

Cream and sugar or black?  Worse than that, I use gallons of those sweetened creamers. I love coffee, but I've never tasted it black! They haven't made anything rich enough for me yet, I have an insatiable sweet tooth.  

Cat or Dog?  It's a lesbian cliché I know, but I have cats, named after campy celebrities no less. 

If you could take one thing from your inventory for real-life use, what would it be, and why pick it?  Well, in SL I live in a huge, fully custom, and totally unique space station, so that would be a pretty cool thing to actually drag into reality… and I bet you thought I was going to say all my tattoos!  

Thank you Dexy for the great interview and time you gave us! Go out and hear Dexy and make sure you have the volume up to eleven!!!

Picture by Verde Otaared