Letter from the publisher: DEQ #011 Thanks for picking up issues 11 & 12 of Detroit Electron- ic Quarterly. We’ve been working hard and scored some amazing interviews with Detroit artists Monty Luke, Eric Johnson, Rebecca Goldberg, Terri “Whodat” McQueen, Aaron FIT Siegel, Mikel Smith, Trent Abbe & Andy Toth, Mr. Joshooa, WDET’s Chris Campbell, and the Macho City crew. There’s also a very special compilation of Thomas Xu’s artwork from Theo Parrish’s Sound Signa- ture label, some top tens from Detroit artists and more! The big news is that we have secured a new DEQ HQ and community building which will be coming in the near future. It will be a part of the Heidelberg Art District and there will be cool happenings along with that. Please support our advertisers as they enrich our scene on the regular. Of course, thank you for loving Detroit music and paying attention. pg. 02 Detroit Electronic Quarterly Fall & Winter 2017- 2018 Vol. 11&12 Publisher: Vince Patricola Design: Blair French Marketing & Operations: Tim Price Photography: Lyndon French, Amy Hubbarth, Walter Wasacz, Linda Kubit, Zlatan Sadikovic, Dan Haddad, Tafari Stevenson-Howard, David Shanaman. Writers: Vicki Siolos, Kevin Reynolds, Walter Wasacz, Joel Dunn, Catherine Dibbs, Gus Navarro, and Vincent Patricola Website: Tommy Onyx, loudbaby.com DEQ Logo: Liza Pulgini DEQ Original Design: Stephen Smith aka Trench Rave Liaison: Julie Schneider Sales & Marketing: [email protected] Mascot: Ghost Mama w w w . d e t r o i t e q . c o m Facebook /detroiteq pg. 04 CONTENT Events & Lens.................. pg. 07 Terri Whodat................ pg. 09 Thomas Xu.................. pg. 13 Eric Johnson................ pg. 19 Monty Luke.......................... pg. 25 Rebecca Goldberg......... pg. 29 Mikel Smith................. pg. 38 * BUY * SELL * TRADE * Vinyl Credits............... pg. 42 GREEN ACRES EASTERN MARKET * 20140 LIVERNOIS * 1464 GRATIOT * (313) 831-0864 peoplesdetroit.com pg.pg. 06 6 EVENTS & LENS MOVEMENT EDITION SCAN 7 KAI ALCE EARL“MIXXIN” McKINNEY REMOTE VIEWING PARTY RICHIE HAWTIN BOBBY GILLESPIE pg. 07 Photos by Amy Hubbarth Events & Lens // pg. 08 Terri Whodat McQueen is one tough and talented DJ and producer. After much hard work, playing club nights, DEQ: What role does music play in this? turns putting on records. Then out of the blue Bone hundreds of internet radio shows, opening a small record store (Ya Digg) some years ago, and lots of health was like, “T you never put on any records.” I was like scares over the last ten years, her love for life and music continue to shine through! She is an inspiration. You TM: Music is life. Music is love. Music gives me “I’m good, I’m enjoying what y’all playing.” He pulled have to check out Viola Klein’s “Exchange” featuring Whodat. It’s a must! strength. Music is helping me recover from brain trau- a record off the shelf, gave it to me and told me to play ma from the last surgery I had. Music has kept me it. We all laughed and I was like “alright fool, Damn! DEQ: Where does your unbreakable spirit come from? We talked about judgmental people many times… how from going over the edge. Music keeps me focused. Trying to enjoy my drank and chill (laugh).” do you overcome obstacles? Music soothes my soul. Music has connected me with some great people. Some bad ones too (laugh). While I was putting the record on, Raybone was like TM: I don’t know. I guess I was born with it. I learned a lot by watching my mom while I was growing up. She Only the good ones stick around though. “oh yeah and you gotta mix it too fool.” I’m thinking went through a lot raising me by herself. Being a Black woman in America ain’t for the faint at heart now! I what? I said “fool, you know I don’t know how to do can’t even imagine what being a Black woman was like when she came up but she made it and raised me to DEQ: When did you know how important music was? that shit!” He was like “well, figure it out.” be the best human being that I can be. TM: Music has always played a significant role in So, they just went back to talking about whatever we my life. I listened to music on the radio. There were were talking about and I was trying figure out what the shows from Martha Jean “The Queen”(WCHB), Jay hell I was doing. I had seen DJ booths and setups at Butler, Mojo, The Wizard, Mason, Marvelous Marv, parties and cabarets but I had never been behind the Foody, Rosetta Hines, just to name a few. I was al- decks before. ways messing with my momma’s 45s. She took me record shopping ever since I can remember. I have He (Raybone) had those Sony headphones that would had to put a few radios to rest. They just blew up always break, so only one headphone cup worked. He and my mom would buy me a new one the next day. had a rotary Numark mixer and two Technics 1200s. I Couldn’t take it no mo (laugh)! just stood there for however long it took me to figure out how to work the mixer, the one headphone cup I think I really understood when I was 10 years old. I and the slider thingy (pitch.) I blended the record he started to pay more attention to records I already had gave me with the record that was playing (and I don’t and began to ask for specific records. I was becom- remember what the records were because I didn’t ing more interested in stereo equipment and how it know what they were but they both sounded sweet). worked. I always went record shopping with my mom Then it got really quiet while the two songs were play- and there was always a radio or stereo around but I ing, and when I turned around Wilhite was like, “Are think that was the age I became more intrigued with you sure you have never DJed before?” I said “nope.” them. I sat down and started enjoying my drank again. DEQ: Tell us how you started DJing, your first expe- After that night, I still was not trying to DJ at all. Ran- rience. domly, for months, the guys would give me advice about spinning or records and Marcellus just kept TM: My first DJ experience was in Raybone Jones’ asking me when I was going to buy my turntables. basement. One day after hanging out at Vibes New One day I was at Vibes and Marcellus was like “fool, and Rare Music (Rick Wilhite’s store for those that for real, when are you going to get your turntables?” know) Rick (Wilhite), Marcellus (Pittman) and I went I told him if I found two Technics 1200s for $400, I over to Raybone’s crib to chill. They were all taking would start spinning that day. This was a crazy lowball Interview by DEQ // Photos by Linda Kubit Terri Whodat // pg. 10 amount for two Technics, because I was not trying to have a bucket list. I have had to deal with illness all spin. He even said now you know you are not going to my life but after the last one, I’m tired. It’s the first time find 2 Technics for $400 and I said, “you never know.” I have ever felt that way. So, I’m going to do as many This was in 2005 and CDJs were becoming popular. things on my list as can do while I can. We went on eBay and the first listing that came up was some dude in Texas selling both of his Technics I love school but I hate the bullshit and politics it takes 1200s for $375 + $25 shipping. Marcellus patted me to get through school. So, finishing school was on the on my back and said “well sis, I guess you are gonna list. I chose Music Recording Technology because start spinning today.” I started spinning that day. I felt like it would keep me interested in school and enhance my recording skills. Music technology has DEQ: Who are your biggest influences? advanced very quickly over the last ten years. I love music and technology so being able to learn how to TM: Momma. She is a hard worker and a fighter. She use all the new toys is fascinating to me. A lot of peo- helps me stay strong and keeps pushing me towards ple complain about there being too many DAWs and my goals! music equipment to choose from but the upside is that you can now tailor fit your workflow. It doesn’t DEQ: You did an internet radio shows for years. How matter whether you are using hardware, software, or did that help your local and international exposure? instruments. You can find whatever fits your music making style, get it recorded, and put it out on the TM: I think it helped my international exposure more format that you want it to come out on. than it did my local exposure. At the time I was do- ing the internet show I did not have much of a local DEQ: Do you have advice for people? audience. When I travel internationally, I meet a lot of people who listened to show. Some people at home TM: Whatever it is you want to do, make a plan. still don’t I even know that I DJ so they are definitely When something in that plan doesn’t work out, revise are not going to remember that I had an internet radio the plan.