Sexy DJ Joe Gauthreaux spins at Dallas Red Party
Competition is fiercer than ever for DJs today. Seems anyone with an iPhone thinks he can mix a beat.
It wasn’t always like that. When Out magazine named Joe Gauthreaux Hottest DJ of the Year in 2005, it was a very different world in music. Back then, Gauthreaux’s sound was primarily vocal house mixed with tribal and melodic trance. Today, in order to stay ahead of the pack, he’s had to switch things up a bit. He doesn’t mind.
“The worst thing a DJ can do is get stuck in a certain sound for too long,” Gauthreaux says. “If you don’t change with the sound, you’ll get left behind.”
That’s why, on some nights, Gauthreaux will spin a full on banging tribal set; on others, he plays anthems and electronic tracks.
“I’m always trying to incorporate new beats and sounds into my set to keep the momentum going on my dance floor,” he says. Because that’s the other thing: Crowds are forever changing. There are always new people to win over.
“Whatever the event, I want people to think the experience was worth the cover charge and the long line they waited on to get in.”
At the end of the night, the main job of any great DJ is to make sure clubbers have fun. That’s what Gauthreaux will be working toward when he spins at Dallas’ Red Party Saturday.
We sat down with the sexy spin doctor to get his feel for the current music scene — and what he might bring to Dallas.
— Mark Sanford
Dallas Voice: How did you go from club DJ to remixing for the likes of Justin Bieber? Gauthreaux: After DJing for about 10 years, I knew I really wanted to take things up a notch. I’ve always wanted to produce my own stuff but was so busy touring that I never took the time. I finally decided to make the time.
How do you remix a track? I start with an a capella [track] and build layer by layer. A remixer is basically reproducing the song, using different beats, chords, sounds, drums, keys — all that stuff. It’s a very long process to go from someone’s raw vocal to a full mix.
Did the final product of your ‘Boyfriend’ remix surprise you? I was really happy with that mix and so proud with how it turned out. Of course, listening to it now, I would do it so differently. I like to think I’m always growing as a producer.
Do your remixes have a signature sound? Not exactly. I try to make them all sound different. I let the track guide me.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? Peter Rauhofer. He’s my inspiration for remixing. The way he made each mix sound so different, yet you could always tell a Peter Rauhofer mix.
Favorite diva? Madonna. We have the same birthday!
What’s your number one song of all time? “Where Love Lives” by Alison Limerick. It’s a classic piano house track from the ’90s [and] still holds up to this day.
What TV show are you most looking forward to this fall? Scandal on ABC. It’s my guilty pleasure show.
Favorite spot in Dallas? My friends’ houses. I have so many friends in Dallas. It’s nice to visit their homes and not feel like a stranger.
What’s one thing you wish you knew how to do? I wish I would have taken piano lessons as a kid. It’s hard to learn as an adult.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I wish I could manage my time better. I think I do OK, but I feel like I’m in a constant struggle to get everything done.
What’s in your fridge right now? My fridge is always pretty well stocked with Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. I’m definitely an eat-at-home kind of guy.
Fun fact about you? I’m a huge Apple tech head. All my friends call me when they need help with their iPhones or computers. I know them pretty much inside and out.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 20, 2013.