Mix Series #2 - Kat Fyte

When did you start DJ'ing and what inspired you to keep at it?

I started DJing during my freshman year of college, and when I started I was planning on sticking solely to obscure and esoteric sounds like breakcore, dubstep, and hardcore jungle.  Musically, I came out of a string of noise and hardcore bands so I was really into the idea of excess, and the idea of clearing dancefloors with 300 bpm blast beats until someone unplugged my mixer.  The thing that kept me going was the idea that if I developed some mixing chops and a sweet record collection, I could be recognized among a really tiny niche of musicians and fans that, thanks to the Internet, are extremely networked-up and reach out to each other for bookings and stuff through sites like Myspace.  It didn't take long for me to realize that playing the really nasty stuff wasn't going to get me booked anywhere in Boston any time soon, and around the same time I was discovering a love for the belligerence of big party music, realizing I could mix Baltimore Club and Hip-Hop with Dubstep.  

Eventually I plugged myself into the blogosphere and began to appreciate the ways in which people had started taking some of the fundamental elements of 'ardcore music- a foregrounded bass presence, complex percussive arrangements, etc.- and reusing them in slightly less abrassive club sounds like Funky and Bassline House, but without the jacked-up testosterone and the scary hetero vibe.   And that's where I am now:  I'm really into wobbled-out fidget house, hype UK Grime, "purple" Dubstep that sounds like gangster rap instrumentals from the 90s, and corny ass club electro.  I'm also a reggae collector: everything from super booty dancehall to roots and rub-a-dub. Unfortunately, all of the bootleg mix CDs, random compilations with stupid names like "Biggest Ragga Bangers 2010," and digitized LPs from backyard record fairs, were lost in a recent hard drive failure.  Which I'm still recovering from.  

What are some tracks or albums that you've been really into lately? Any artists or DJs to keep an eye out for (either locally or national/international)?

Specific artists? Joker, a dubstep producer out of Bristol, is my number one right now.  I love his synthesizers and his catchy lead riffs; he's got super sophisticated percussive arrangements, and he makes these big fat saturated synthesizer patches that don't sound like anybody else right now.  His remix of Simian Mobile Disco appears on this mix.  

In terms of bangin' club music that pretty much everyone can get into, I'm really all about Rivastarr, who I think hangs around with the Palms Out crew in New York and just started getting mainstream notoriety. 

Gabriel Heatwave's (author, owner of the reggae/bashment blog The Heatwave) refixes have been really great.  He takes successful club anthems, rips out the verses, and opens them up, adding rap and reggae verses from other famous tracks onto the instrumental of the original.  Sometimes he'll had in some extra rhythmic elements or some other fun references to other popular club tunes, but I really like the way he uses the gimmick of mashup without sounding unnatural, or having to market himself as a mash-up artist.  And I love reggae that makes me wine up me waist.  

And speaking of reggae, one my favorite vocalists right now is Lady Chann, who also appears on a track in this mix.

My favorite local DJs these days are Pete, aka Dev/Null, Jamie, aka DJ Die Young, Nickdawg, who moderates the blog Beantown Boogie Down, DJ Rizzla, DJ Skunk, Geoff, aka G-Notorious, and I saw Volvox kill it at a Basstown event this past weekend.  Of course there are others.  

Favorite thing about Boston?

That's kind of what I love about Boston; the networks are small and it's easy to get in touch with other creative heads with similar artistic visions- I've met so many great bloggers, DJs, musicians, and scholars that I get along with so well and since the scene is so intimate, I feel like I can easily reach out to them in collaborative efforts.  Also, it's such an education-centric city that a lot of musicians and party people are also really critical, engaged people; DJs are also journalists and critics, musicians are also engineers who tinker with their own instruments and effects pedals and shit, etc. etc.  People here are wickhed smaht.  

Least favorite thing about Boston?

The thing that I most dislike about Boston is its segregation. And the isolated, incestuous character of many of the college scenes.  I don't mind if you only stick around for four years, but engage yourself with the cultural landscape of the city; go to shows, network with like-minded people, take the T and go hang out somewhere that's not Allston, you know?  Oh, and the strict regulation of zoning laws, liquor licensing, and entertainment in general makes for a serious dearth of underground parties.  There are a lot of wild, ridiculous house parties, but so few of them are really music-centric; people just want to drink and get laid, not that there's anything wrong with that.  I just like music at my parties. 

Download the mix here:

Kat Fyte - The Cat In A Bag Mix (On A Friday Mix) - Jan202010.mp3

Tracklist (45:55):