Jacob Interviews….DJ Ashton Martin

By:  Jacob Elyachar

Five years ago, Ashton Martin graduated from the University of Kansas; he began the journey to nightlife dominance.   Under the wings of DJ B-Stee and DJ Archie, Ashton began to blossom as a DJ.    Now, he is one of the Midwest’s most popular DJs as his mixes have been listened at numerous nightclubs, non-profit balls and premier events not only in the Kansas City Metropolitan area but in Omaha, Denver, Las Vegas and other cities across the nation.

Recently, I had the privilege to talk to Ashton about his first year as a DJ, his style and the difference between a DJ versus a DJ Producer.

Jacob Elyachar: Why did you want to become involved with the nightlife entertainment industry?

Ashton Martin: When I was at the University of Kansas from 2002 to 2007, it literally just drew me.  Having fun, going out and always rounding up people.  My house never had less than 25 to 30 people all the time ready to go out, that was me and that was my job.    I always had the new music, knew where to go and got people into the bars.     I really, really, really like to see people have fun and that where it came from just being a party starter and get together.

JE: Could you describe your first year as a DJ?

AM: There was a nightclub that came up when I was 21 and I was the bar manager for the club.   As the bar manager, I realized I needed DJs.   So I happened to be at a house party and what caught my eye were the DJs mixing on vinyl instead of CDs and I thought: “Wow! This is cool.”    The DJs that I met at the event were Brandon Steigerwald (DJ B-Stee) and Devin Archi (DJ Archi) and I asked them to play at the club I was managing.

Over the course of two years, I started asking questions and the club had their own equipment.  I started burning CDs and organizing them by B.P.M. (beats per minute) I did not really know what I was doing but I knew I was mixing tracks.  DJ B-Stee and DJ Archi left their computer set up one night and I asked DJ B-Stee to show me some of their tricks and after I set the bar up, I would open for the DJs.  While there was a lot to learn, it took me a long time to actually consider myself a DJ because I knew that Devin and Brandon were doing so much longer than me that I would never say “I’m a DJ.”

The pinnacle of when I decided I was going to start DJing is when I had an accident and my hand went through a plate glass window and it cut six tendons, my radial artery and median nerve and that’s when I could not bartend.   That’s when I got really solid with my left hand because I cut my right wrist and that was when everything played out and my decision of becoming a DJ became a reality as it was my source of income at that time, and continues to be to this day.

JE: Can you describe your style?

AM: My style is to keep people guessing and moving.  I am not a genre specific DJ per say.  If I like the track, I’ll work it into my set.  If I want to play “Can’t Stop After Seven” or one of my homies’ edits or something, I will try to keep people moving, guessing and keep their energies high.  When you are looking across the dance floor and you have a mixed group of age ranges, you have to get creative. I just love to bounce around and with the technology…it makes it easier to execute.

JE: You have performed at high profile events including a charity ball for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and corporate event for Cerner.  What is the difference between performing at a corporate event and charity fundraiser versus performing at a club?

AM:   When I explain that I am a DJ, sometimes it has a negative connotation to it and some people think DJ, they think “Party! Party! Party and go crazy!” I have more things that I can do than just play at a mainstream bottle service club.   Not that it is bad but it makes me more wide range.   When I do a Cerner event, which is a cool event for me to recreate what my name would be versus being at a club.  For instance, I had the chance to play with Foreigner and Journey cover bands at corporate events.  That’s not a typical gig these days.

Don’t get me wrong nightlife is fun at it is great to go in and rock out a party.  But to legitimize myself as a DJ, where people just don’t think “drugs, sex and alcohol, it’s very cool and there are a lot of cool people at these corporate events but it is not about me DJing and playing “Club Bangers,” but it is about the event, atmosphere and for me being able to for helping charities like LLS, First Hand and Hope House.

JE: There has been a lot of confusion between knowing the difference of a DJ verses a DJ-Producer.  Could you please explain the difference between you and DJ-Producers like David Guetta, Deadmau5 and Avicii?

AM: When you go see Avicii or Skrillex, you are going to see a production.  Deadmau5 for instance, I know for a fact had five semi-trucks: three semis full of extra sound and two semis filled with lights.   I played a week after him at the Midland (By AMC in Kansas City) and I was talking to the sound guys and they said, “It was absolutely ridiculous. “   The Midland brought Deadmau5 to Kansas City and every act that follows him does well but it was not the same as Deadmau5’s production.

I do not consider myself as a full-fledged production show.  The lights and smoke are there but I consider myself a turntablist, live on the spot remix kind of DJ.   Now I am not comparing myself by any means but everybody knows who DJ AM (the late Adam Goldstein) was and everybody knows the original Grandmaster Flash and how he implemented the turntable as an actual musical instrument.    Those guys (Guetta, Avicii and Skrillex) are more production; my friends and I play their music to get their stuff out and they go on tour, they rocked it and it is a great production.

JE: What advice would you give to someone who wants to become a DJ?

AM: We could take you to Guitar Center and set you up with the same rig (DJ equipment) that I use and can begin DJing tomorrow.    I was young coming up here to Kansas City and starting to play and there are a lot of people that question me including the more seasoned DJs.   “Who’s this kid that moved up from Lawrence?” It’s easy to be a DJ as far as getting the equipment, but like anything else this is truly an art and the hours you put in will show.   Now, I personally do not own a thousand records but there are days that I can tell you that I sit and spend hours
writing on burnt CDs, preparing sets and figuring out how different songs would make sense with other tracks.
I would advise potential DJs to do it right and know what you are getting into. Everybody says “Pay Your Dues” and I am still paying mine and I have no problem working and if you want to become a DJ, know your music; know your music; know your music and respect the game.

To learn more information about DJ Ashton Martin, visit his Website: http://www.djashtonmartin.com/