May 12, 2025 • 27 mins
Welcome to this week’s Indie Artist Music Hustle with Blonde Intelligence. I am your host Ms. Roni and I always seek to give you exquisite cranial repertoire. The rhythm of innovation pulses through every moment of our conversation with Houston-based producer and DJ John Lacey. Beginning as a traditional drummer under the guidance of respected jazz musicians, Lacey's musical journey represents the fascinating evolution many modern musicians experience—the dance between acoustic foundations and digital possibilities.
Lacey takes us through his transition from acoustic drums to the MPC, explaining how his initial reluctance toward technology eventually blossomed into a distinctive production style. "Being as how I'm such a rhythm-based artist, a lot of the times the rhythm comes first for me," he reveals, sharing insights into his beat-making process that seamlessly blends his drummer's instincts with sample-based production techniques.
What truly sets Lacey apart is his revolutionary approach to DJing. Rather than traditional turntables, he performs with MPCs—one controlling DJ software and another for live finger drumming performances. This innovative technique creates shows that are visually captivating and musically complex, offering audiences something far beyond typical DJ sets. As a member of Houston Bass Runners competing in the National Beat Battle Association, Lacey consistently pushes the boundaries of what's possible with digital music tools.
Perhaps most refreshing is Lacey's pragmatic approach to his craft. As a father of two young children, he balances artistic passion with financial responsibility, refusing to undervalue his work in an industry where artists are often expected to create for free. "Family is completely and utterly first for me," he emphasizes, reminding listeners that sustainable creativity requires setting boundaries and recognizing your worth.
Whether you're a producer looking for technical inspiration, a musician navigating the balance between tradition and technology, or simply someone who appreciates honest conversation about the realities of creative work, this episode delivers genuine insights that will resonate long after the final beat drops. Subscribe now and discover how rhythm, innovation, and family values come together in the world of John Lacey.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hello everyone, welcome to this week's Indie
Artist Music Hustle with BlindIntelligence.
I'm your host, Ms Ronnie, whereI always seek to give you
exquisite cranial repertoire.
This week we have a veryspecial guest.
We have Mr John Lacey.
Say hello to everyone.
Hey, what's?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
up everybody.
It's me.
How are you doing today, missRonnie?
I'm doing fine how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I'm great.
Okay, what we're gonna do iswe're gonna start out with
letting you take over and telleveryone a little bit about
yourself well, yeah, okay, myname is John and I've been
playing music, interested inmusic, basically all my life.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I started out as a drummer when I was about 12.
Started drumming under a bunchof different teachers that I had
Chuck Payne, the jazz musician,paul Laughlin, some other real
notable players to me andbasically taught me the ways,
(01:12):
and all through middle school Ijust really practiced a lot with
just drums until I was later.
So I played in the church andeverything a lot Messed around
on the piano as well.
But then I got introduced tothe MPC, the drum machines and
(01:33):
DJ software, the stuff that Ishied away from at first because
I didn't really like all thetechnology.
I don't like things crashing onme, I like just hitting just
drums, you know.
So I kind of just transitionedinto that, started producing
DJing, and you know I'm a familyman, a husband a dad, I got a
(01:59):
lot of hats to wear, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, you're being very modest, Because I have seen
you in action and I told yourpartner the same thing I have
seen you in action and, as mydaddy would say, you ice cold.
Hey, thank you very much so myquestion is gonna start out with
(02:25):
you told me that you startedout playing the drums and then
you went to the MPC.
What is the difference for youbetween the actual drum and the
MPC?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well, the drums just because it's an acoustic
instrument, so you know it'sliterally came from a tree and a
stretched skin you know whatI'm saying?
That goes over it and makes anoise.
So I guess you know.
Just the MPC being digital anda drum set being completely
(03:03):
acoustic, it gives it adifferent feel.
But they've came a long waywith sensitivity and the pads to
where you can really sound offon it like a real drum set.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Which one do you think requires the most skill?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
That's an interesting question.
It's just different kinds ofskills, because drumming is all
really muscle memory and stuffthat you practice and you get
better at the more you practiceWith the MPCPC.
(03:45):
If you're talking about justtapping on it like a drum set, I
guess you could say that.
But the MPC is like its ownlittle brain, you know.
So it's like kind of likePhotoshop or something like that
, where you could do one thing amillion different ways.
It's a lot more intuitive.
It's's just a computer.
You know what I'm saying.
(04:05):
So I would say maybe it takesmore natural skill to play a
drum set, but it's a differentkind of skill and it might be a
little bit more advanced thanhow to work this MPC.
You know what I mean.
I'm a drummer 100%.
So I'm a drummer 100% so.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
I would agree with that, because with a traditional
drum set you're not just usingjust your hands, you also have
to use your feet.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So yeah, and you're right about that.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
A lot of that's yeah, that's overlooked so tell me
what is your I would sayprocedure that you use when
you're making a beat.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
It just depends how I'm feeling.
Honestly, I'll start music withjust drums first and then add a
melody or a bass line, andsometimes I'll just want to sit
down and make a bunch of A-barloops of melodies that I create
and then come back another timeand maybe put drums over them.
So it really does depend on howI feel.
(05:19):
But, being as how I'm such arhythm-based artist, a lot of
the times the rhythm comes firstfor me.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
So, with you being a producer, what would you say is
your strongest genre forproducing?
Because a lot of timesproducers can produce all type
of music and I had one to tellme that they normally do what a
person come to them and won't.
But what do you think is yourstrongest genre for producing?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
um, that's tough to say.
Uh, I think if I put my mind tosomething and really try to
nail it, I could do it.
You know what I mean.
But maybe just recently I feellike the sample based music,
chopping samples, so that couldthat could really go into hip
(06:19):
hop or, like you know, moretrapped out kind of stuff.
I just found I have a knack forthat, for messing with samples
actually and putting my drumsover them.
So I'd say, if I had to giveyou an answer, probably just
anything sample-based recently.
That's just recently, though.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
What do you think you could do with some rock and
roll?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Hey, I used to be into heavy metal and all that.
Honestly, like I got into amosh pit and dislocated my
kneecap and after that, likethat moment scarred me so much.
I was like you know what I'mdone with all that music period.
So I didn't even uh, so Ihaven't really been listening
(07:04):
lately, but I used to be up onrock.
I used to play rock.
I still love blue fighters, redhot chili peppers, you know all
that too.
So, uh, I have chopped a rocksong.
Matter of fact, yeah, my, my,uh.
My friend, my friend joshtaylor, wanted me to remix one
of his songs and he's actually apraise and worship artist, but
(07:26):
they make like rock music and uhyeah, I chopped it up, made two
beats out of two of his songsfor him to reuse, you know okay,
so you like more just hip-hop.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
So it's hip hop and rock.
What else do you think wouldmake up the sound of John Lacey?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
You can just always tell with me that it's real
wrapped up in funky music Beatsthat make you want to move, just
real rhythm based.
You know, I do pride myself inplaying the piano and all that.
But if I'd have to say like, nomatter what style I go to, I'm
(08:15):
always putting some extra drumsin there to make something move
a little different, you know Doyou sing, do you sing?
I will sing on occasion, youknow, if I have to.
I try not to be scared you knowwhat I'm saying because it's
(08:36):
like hey, only God can judge me.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
So I'm not really worried about all that, but I'll
sing every now and then okay,so of every instrumentalist,
dead or alive, which one do youthink that you can relate the
most to?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
um, instrumentalists.
I'm gonna I'm gonna sound weirdsaying this, but it's just what
I grew up with.
You know what I'm saying andadmired the most was probably
Kanye.
I feel like he just that's whoI relate to probably the most
(09:24):
that I can think of.
I would like to say like JohnColtrane or something cool.
You know what I mean.
But if I'm being honest, yeah,probably the most that I can
think of I would like to saylike John Coltrane or something
cool.
You know what I mean.
But if I'm being honest, yeah,probably Kanye.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Okay, so we skipped a little bit.
Tell everybody where you'refrom.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
I'm from Houston, texas, okay.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
So tell me, how does heavy metal fit into Houston
Texas?
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Well, when I say Houston is a very diverse place,
they really mean that.
You know what I mean.
Like it is different kind ofmusic from every every little
niche.
There's's a, there's a littlescene for it.
You know what I mean.
So so yeah, that's how it fitsin, it's they do.
(10:18):
They do crazy shows fromHouston, san Antonio, new York
City.
You know that it's there.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Okay, with you being hurt in the mosh pit before and
the situation that happened withAstro World, could you have
understanding, or do you haveunderstanding, for accidents
that happen in that type ofsetting, with you being
(10:47):
experienced it firsthand hand,because a lot of times people
have opinions on things and havenever been in that situation
before.
With you being in thatsituation, do you have, I guess,
more empathy for what happened,or do you, and or do you think
that it's unfair that people whohave never been in that
(11:07):
situation to actually talk aboutthe shoulda, wouldas and
couldas?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I don't think a lot of people consider all the
different aspects of that kindof situation.
You know, yeah, a lot of peoplehaven't been to a packed show
and understand that sometimes itcan get like that, but I have
never been to a show personally.
That is that was.
I forget how many people theysaid were there, but you know,
(11:37):
it's just like you literallycan't move and and you know
anybody, I'm sure there werecertain parts of it that were a
little looser, but the partsthat were tight and packed in,
probably because of barricades,oh yeah, them people, you know,
they said they were stuck withtheir hands up like that.
So, yeah, people don'tunderstand what could come from
(11:59):
something like that.
And I wouldn't even say it'sthe artist's fault necessarily,
just whoever planned it outdidn't plan for that and they
should have.
You know what I mean good, good,so tell me about your latest
project, uh I'm trying to think,like I'm always doing stuff I'm
(12:21):
I haven't, I haven't releasedjust like a mixtape of beats or
anything.
Yet I think I'm going to makean instrumental, uh instrumental
ep or something like that.
I'm working on it right now,but I do do projects for other
people.
Like I said, my my friend, joshtaylor um, you know, I make
(12:42):
these finger drumming umperformances and I put them on
Instagram and then I also battlein that beat battle league.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I was going to get to that anything that comes my way
okay, so tell me about the beatbattle, because I think we have
another one getting ready tocome up yeah, I'm not sure I
have my video ready, that's allI know.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I'm ready for it so but yeah, the where I'm in a
beat battle team called theHouston Bass Runners and it's me
, my homie, that put me on tothe whole all the NPC stuff and
then some other producers thatthat we linked up with and made
(13:38):
friends with, and we're in thisleague called the NBBA, the
National Beat Battle Association, and so it's a bunch of teams
from all different citiesbasically sending in our videos
and letting them go against eachother online.
So, yeah, that's what that is.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I want you to compare two collaborations that you
have had One that has been acollaboration from hell but was
very successful, and one thatwas a great collaboration, but
the actual project wasn't thatsuccessful.
What are your takeaway pointsfrom each collaboration?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
um, I feel like sometimes just not to take too
long.
You know what I mean?
Because, because if you spend along time on something that
doesn't work out, or somethingthat you stress on and it
doesn't work out, then it feelsa lot worse.
You know what I mean?
Uh, so I kind of like to justtreat everything like it's a
(14:49):
shot in the dark and uh, andjust to put it out, you know and
trust, trust my gut.
And if it if it doesn't work,then you know I won't be so hurt
if I just stake my claim on it,you know okay, tell me about
being a DJ.
(15:23):
Yeah, that's something I hadn'treally been talking about it for
a while, you know, because Iwasn't interested in DJing.
I actually really didn't justkept doing it, you know what I
mean.
That's what kept me on it,honestly, but I actually learned
to appreciate it and love it,and I actually do it with the
drum machine, with the MPC.
So what I do looks a littledifferent compared to most, most
(15:48):
DJs.
But, yeah, a lot of weddingsI'm trying to do parties here
and there but, yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I've seen, uh, some footage of a event that you did
and it's like you give a liveshow within a live show, so if
anybody book him, you aregetting your money's worth.
So what made you come up withthat style of DJing?
Because it's actually reallydifferent than what regular DJs
(16:21):
do.
It's like you take the goodsongs it can be a good playlist
and then you would chop it upand everything.
So what made you start doing itthat way?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
um, I think like I really had to start from scratch
because nobody djs with an pc,like or not a lot of people do,
I don't know but so some peoplewill do it with the pads.
You'll see them DJing with withpads.
So I kind of I kind of took alittle from that but just took
(16:55):
it straight to the MPC, to whereI'm mapping all these little
buttons on my MPC to control theDJ software, software and, uh,
as far as like performing, andwhy I do it like that, or how I
began to do it like that, isbecause that's what I am.
You know what I'm saying.
I'm just a performer.
So, uh, you, that's the easiestthing for me to do is put drums
(17:17):
over something.
So if all I have to do is haveone npc controlling and djan
mixing songs together and then Igot another npc where I'm going
crazy on the drums, just havingfun, you know.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
So you had never had any formal education in any of
that.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
In DJing or like drumming you mean?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
I mean in any musical aspect at all.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Well, I guess these were private teachers that I've
worked with, uh, that Imentioned before in the
beginning, um, and I think Itook piano lessons when I was a
kid or something, but nah,nothing, I never in school, I
never did band, um, because Imean, hey, they practice till 9
pm every day.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
The reason why I'm saying that is you found
something that you didn't know,that you like, that you end up
being good at that.
You kind of end up wanting tostick with, without any really
formal education in it.
So what advice could you giveto, let's just say, if you was
talking to a group of 13 yearolds?
(18:30):
What advice would you be ableto give them from your own
personal experience?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Probably like what you.
What you put in is what you'regoing to get out of it.
So a lot of what's mostimportant is knowing how to
practice.
Well, you know what I'm saying.
Like, if you know how topractice good, then the sky is
the limit, um, where you couldimplement something simple and
(19:05):
do it every day and acquiremuscle memory from it.
And just put the time in andyou'll notice that, whatever you
work on, whether, whatever youdo, you know what I mean you put
a little time in and you'll get.
You'll start to slowly seeresults and all you have to do
is keep pushing the limit.
You know, keep moving every day.
(19:25):
Don't, don't slow down, um, andthere was a time in my life
where I was able to do that.
I can't so much now, um, butbut in that, in that time, in
that those early years is a goodtime to instill, um, uh,
practice, yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Practice, yeah.
So tell me, how do having afamily fit into your paid gigs,
or do you center everythingaround family?
How are you making the balancebetween music and family?
Speaker 2 (20:11):
um, yeah, family is completely and utterly first for
me, um, in every sense of theword.
Uh, it just, you know itchanged me completely.
So, while a lot of people willtell you that they do this for
the love of the music, you knowI'm saying me personally.
I'm at this, uh, to provide formy family and me in a way that
still makes me happy.
You know what I mean.
So, honestly, yeah, I'm tryingto provide in all things that I
(20:36):
do, because my sons are onlyseven and four.
So you know I've got to stay onthe grind.
You know I've got to stay on onthe grind.
And if, if, my family don't eat, uh, you think, I'm up here
tapping around and playingkeyboard so I know you told me
(20:57):
that you collaborated with, uh,several different artists.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Um, what artists have you collaborated with that have
a project that's out now sopeople can sample?
Speaker 2 (21:07):
your work, okay, so so, yeah, the artist I was
talking about, my my friend, uh,josh taylor, um, he has a band
called we the well spring, um,and you can find that, I think,
on itunes, spotify, uh, all theplatforms, I'm pretty sure.
Um, we got a single that that Ithat's the remix that I was
(21:29):
talking about when I flipped oneof his songs.
I flipped a rock song.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Okay, I look forward to it.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
It's called Good.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
And then I'm also on his album and a song called
bitter thing, sweet, bitterthing, sweet, yeah, yeah.
So that was just like uh, acrazy, like he told me, just to
(22:03):
go crazy.
So, honestly, I just did aninstrumental whatever I was
feeling at the time and and so,like I don't, I don't have so
much music out with a bunch ofdifferent people right now
because, honestly, like I onlystarted producing like six years
ago or something like that.
So I kind of just started acouple years ago really making,
(22:28):
really making fire and andstepping into my uh, stepping
into my lane.
So I'm planning on getting itout there.
But you know what I mean.
A lot of these artists wantstuff for free and, uh, you, you
and me both know that's notwhat I'm about.
So, uh, I was able to make alittle lane for myself, djing
(22:54):
and actually getting money toprovide for myself, um, and I'm
I'm looking at really trying toput my music out, um, in
commercials and media andgetting little placements like
that, because you know I canmake off the cuff stuff as well
um, and I I don't I'm not reallytrying to depend on one thing,
(23:16):
you know what I mean.
So if somebody comes at meappropriately and correctly, uh,
I'll honor that.
I'll work with a budget too.
You know what I mean.
But some of these people arereal prideful, and you know what
that means.
Pride comes before destructionevery time.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Look, I talked about egos several times, especially
working with independent artists.
Even doing this show here Iwould have a problem with
sometimes people will set theappointment up and then don't
show up, and I interview a mediaperson from Trinidad and she
(23:56):
was saying that was the reasonwhy radio stations didn't want
to work with artists becausethey make costly mistakes and
things that they don't feel likeis a big deal.
Is's a big deal?
It's actually a big deal.
Not having a budget to pay forthe work that you want done is
an issue yeah, it's a majorissue yes, so tell everybody
(24:20):
where they can find you at yoursocial media handles.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Anything else that you might want to add before we
get ready to get out of here ohyeah, one more thing you might
want to add before we get readyto get out of here.
Oh yeah, one more thing I justwanted to add, because I
mentioned the Beat Battle teamthat we work to battle beats
with the Houston Bass Runners aswell.
The Bass Runners is somethingthat me and my friend Dave came
(24:45):
up with a long time ago the nameand it was originally just
supposed to be me and him withDJing mixed with producing and
stuff, and we found all the restof the crew and so we do battle
beats, but we also worktogether and produce together in
that way.
So the Bass Runners that's oneyou can follow on Instagram.
(25:09):
It's just at the Bass Runners,like T-H-A.
The Bass Runners.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Yeah, I spelled it wrong one time.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yeah, I think there might be a Bass Runner somewhere
else, but we didn't know aboutthat.
Anyways, but so yeah, but youcan follow me at DJ John Lacey
on almost every platform, soInstagram, but let me spell it
j-o-h-n.
Lacey.
Why DJ John Lacey?
(25:43):
You can find me at Instagram,facebook, pinterest, tick-tock
trying to think of anything elseon Twitter.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
You know, I'm saying just my back, you find me you
too, yep, youtube.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Oh yeah, I meant to mention I got videos on my
YouTube of me doing a fingerdrumming from all the rounds
that I did last year in thisbeat battle thing.
I was doing finger drummingrounds and going crazy and I
posted them up on YouTube.
So, yeah, if you search up DJJohn Lacey on YouTube, you'll
find all that too.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
And y'all, I'm telling y'all he ice cold, now
he ice cold.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Appreciate y'all.
Thank telling y'all he ice cold, now he ice cold, appreciate
y'all thank you for talking tome today.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Well, I thank you for coming, and you can find us on
podcasts, on all podcasts andplatforms.
You can find us on YouTube,instagram and Facebook video and
remember, look for him onYouTube.
You can see everything at DJJohn Lacey.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Thank you for coming thank you, woo Outro Music.
Hello everyone, welcome to this week's Indie
Artist Music Hustle with BlindIntelligence.
I'm your host, Ms Ronnie, whereI always seek to give you
exquisite cranial repertoire.
This week we have a veryspecial guest.
We have Mr John Lacey.
Say hello to everyone.
Hey, what's?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
up everybody.
It's me.
How are you doing today, missRonnie?
I'm doing fine how are you?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I'm great.
Okay, what we're gonna do iswe're gonna start out with
letting you take over and telleveryone a little bit about
yourself well, yeah, okay, myname is John and I've been
playing music, interested inmusic, basically all my life.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I started out as a drummer when I was about 12.
Started drumming under a bunchof different teachers that I had
Chuck Payne, the jazz musician,paul Laughlin, some other real
notable players to me andbasically taught me the ways,
(01:12):
and all through middle school Ijust really practiced a lot with
just drums until I was later.
So I played in the church andeverything a lot Messed around
on the piano as well.
But then I got introduced tothe MPC, the drum machines and
(01:33):
DJ software, the stuff that Ishied away from at first because
I didn't really like all thetechnology.
I don't like things crashing onme, I like just hitting just
drums, you know.
So I kind of just transitionedinto that, started producing
DJing, and you know I'm a familyman, a husband a dad, I got a
(01:59):
lot of hats to wear, you know.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, you're being very modest, Because I have seen
you in action and I told yourpartner the same thing I have
seen you in action and, as mydaddy would say, you ice cold.
Hey, thank you very much so myquestion is gonna start out with
(02:25):
you told me that you startedout playing the drums and then
you went to the MPC.
What is the difference for youbetween the actual drum and the
MPC?
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Well, the drums just because it's an acoustic
instrument, so you know it'sliterally came from a tree and a
stretched skin you know whatI'm saying?
That goes over it and makes anoise.
So I guess you know.
Just the MPC being digital anda drum set being completely
(03:03):
acoustic, it gives it adifferent feel.
But they've came a long waywith sensitivity and the pads to
where you can really sound offon it like a real drum set.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Which one do you think requires the most skill?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
That's an interesting question.
It's just different kinds ofskills, because drumming is all
really muscle memory and stuffthat you practice and you get
better at the more you practiceWith the MPCPC.
(03:45):
If you're talking about justtapping on it like a drum set, I
guess you could say that.
But the MPC is like its ownlittle brain, you know.
So it's like kind of likePhotoshop or something like that
, where you could do one thing amillion different ways.
It's a lot more intuitive.
It's's just a computer.
You know what I'm saying.
(04:05):
So I would say maybe it takesmore natural skill to play a
drum set, but it's a differentkind of skill and it might be a
little bit more advanced thanhow to work this MPC.
You know what I mean.
I'm a drummer 100%.
So I'm a drummer 100% so.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
I would agree with that, because with a traditional
drum set you're not just usingjust your hands, you also have
to use your feet.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
So yeah, and you're right about that.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
A lot of that's yeah, that's overlooked so tell me
what is your I would sayprocedure that you use when
you're making a beat.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
It just depends how I'm feeling.
Honestly, I'll start music withjust drums first and then add a
melody or a bass line, andsometimes I'll just want to sit
down and make a bunch of A-barloops of melodies that I create
and then come back another timeand maybe put drums over them.
So it really does depend on howI feel.
(05:19):
But, being as how I'm such arhythm-based artist, a lot of
the times the rhythm comes firstfor me.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
So, with you being a producer, what would you say is
your strongest genre forproducing?
Because a lot of timesproducers can produce all type
of music and I had one to tellme that they normally do what a
person come to them and won't.
But what do you think is yourstrongest genre for producing?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
um, that's tough to say.
Uh, I think if I put my mind tosomething and really try to
nail it, I could do it.
You know what I mean.
But maybe just recently I feellike the sample based music,
chopping samples, so that couldthat could really go into hip
(06:19):
hop or, like you know, moretrapped out kind of stuff.
I just found I have a knack forthat, for messing with samples
actually and putting my drumsover them.
So I'd say, if I had to giveyou an answer, probably just
anything sample-based recently.
That's just recently, though.
Speaker 1 (06:39):
What do you think you could do with some rock and
roll?
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Hey, I used to be into heavy metal and all that.
Honestly, like I got into amosh pit and dislocated my
kneecap and after that, likethat moment scarred me so much.
I was like you know what I'mdone with all that music period.
So I didn't even uh, so Ihaven't really been listening
(07:04):
lately, but I used to be up onrock.
I used to play rock.
I still love blue fighters, redhot chili peppers, you know all
that too.
So, uh, I have chopped a rocksong.
Matter of fact, yeah, my, my,uh.
My friend, my friend joshtaylor, wanted me to remix one
of his songs and he's actually apraise and worship artist, but
(07:26):
they make like rock music and uhyeah, I chopped it up, made two
beats out of two of his songsfor him to reuse, you know okay,
so you like more just hip-hop.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
So it's hip hop and rock.
What else do you think wouldmake up the sound of John Lacey?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
You can just always tell with me that it's real
wrapped up in funky music Beatsthat make you want to move, just
real rhythm based.
You know, I do pride myself inplaying the piano and all that.
But if I'd have to say like, nomatter what style I go to, I'm
(08:15):
always putting some extra drumsin there to make something move
a little different, you know Doyou sing, do you sing?
I will sing on occasion, youknow, if I have to.
I try not to be scared you knowwhat I'm saying because it's
(08:36):
like hey, only God can judge me.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
So I'm not really worried about all that, but I'll
sing every now and then okay,so of every instrumentalist,
dead or alive, which one do youthink that you can relate the
most to?
Speaker 2 (09:01):
um, instrumentalists.
I'm gonna I'm gonna sound weirdsaying this, but it's just what
I grew up with.
You know what I'm saying andadmired the most was probably
Kanye.
I feel like he just that's whoI relate to probably the most
(09:24):
that I can think of.
I would like to say like JohnColtrane or something cool.
You know what I mean.
But if I'm being honest, yeah,probably the most that I can
think of I would like to saylike John Coltrane or something
cool.
You know what I mean.
But if I'm being honest, yeah,probably Kanye.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
Okay, so we skipped a little bit.
Tell everybody where you'refrom.
Speaker 2 (09:41):
I'm from Houston, texas, okay.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
So tell me, how does heavy metal fit into Houston
Texas?
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Well, when I say Houston is a very diverse place,
they really mean that.
You know what I mean.
Like it is different kind ofmusic from every every little
niche.
There's's a, there's a littlescene for it.
You know what I mean.
So so yeah, that's how it fitsin, it's they do.
(10:18):
They do crazy shows fromHouston, san Antonio, new York
City.
You know that it's there.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Okay, with you being hurt in the mosh pit before and
the situation that happened withAstro World, could you have
understanding, or do you haveunderstanding, for accidents
that happen in that type ofsetting, with you being
(10:47):
experienced it firsthand hand,because a lot of times people
have opinions on things and havenever been in that situation
before.
With you being in thatsituation, do you have, I guess,
more empathy for what happened,or do you, and or do you think
that it's unfair that people whohave never been in that
(11:07):
situation to actually talk aboutthe shoulda, wouldas and
couldas?
Speaker 2 (11:15):
I don't think a lot of people consider all the
different aspects of that kindof situation.
You know, yeah, a lot of peoplehaven't been to a packed show
and understand that sometimes itcan get like that, but I have
never been to a show personally.
That is that was.
I forget how many people theysaid were there, but you know,
(11:37):
it's just like you literallycan't move and and you know
anybody, I'm sure there werecertain parts of it that were a
little looser, but the partsthat were tight and packed in,
probably because of barricades,oh yeah, them people, you know,
they said they were stuck withtheir hands up like that.
So, yeah, people don'tunderstand what could come from
(11:59):
something like that.
And I wouldn't even say it'sthe artist's fault necessarily,
just whoever planned it outdidn't plan for that and they
should have.
You know what I mean good, good,so tell me about your latest
project, uh I'm trying to think,like I'm always doing stuff I'm
(12:21):
I haven't, I haven't releasedjust like a mixtape of beats or
anything.
Yet I think I'm going to makean instrumental, uh instrumental
ep or something like that.
I'm working on it right now,but I do do projects for other
people.
Like I said, my my friend, joshtaylor um, you know, I make
(12:42):
these finger drumming umperformances and I put them on
Instagram and then I also battlein that beat battle league.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I was going to get to that anything that comes my way
okay, so tell me about the beatbattle, because I think we have
another one getting ready tocome up yeah, I'm not sure I
have my video ready, that's allI know.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
I'm ready for it so but yeah, the where I'm in a
beat battle team called theHouston Bass Runners and it's me
, my homie, that put me on tothe whole all the NPC stuff and
then some other producers thatthat we linked up with and made
(13:38):
friends with, and we're in thisleague called the NBBA, the
National Beat Battle Association, and so it's a bunch of teams
from all different citiesbasically sending in our videos
and letting them go against eachother online.
So, yeah, that's what that is.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
I want you to compare two collaborations that you
have had One that has been acollaboration from hell but was
very successful, and one thatwas a great collaboration, but
the actual project wasn't thatsuccessful.
What are your takeaway pointsfrom each collaboration?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
um, I feel like sometimes just not to take too
long.
You know what I mean?
Because, because if you spend along time on something that
doesn't work out, or somethingthat you stress on and it
doesn't work out, then it feelsa lot worse.
You know what I mean?
Uh, so I kind of like to justtreat everything like it's a
(14:49):
shot in the dark and uh, andjust to put it out, you know and
trust, trust my gut.
And if it if it doesn't work,then you know I won't be so hurt
if I just stake my claim on it,you know okay, tell me about
being a DJ.
(15:23):
Yeah, that's something I hadn'treally been talking about it for
a while, you know, because Iwasn't interested in DJing.
I actually really didn't justkept doing it, you know what I
mean.
That's what kept me on it,honestly, but I actually learned
to appreciate it and love it,and I actually do it with the
drum machine, with the MPC.
So what I do looks a littledifferent compared to most, most
(15:48):
DJs.
But, yeah, a lot of weddingsI'm trying to do parties here
and there but, yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I've seen, uh, some footage of a event that you did
and it's like you give a liveshow within a live show, so if
anybody book him, you aregetting your money's worth.
So what made you come up withthat style of DJing?
Because it's actually reallydifferent than what regular DJs
(16:21):
do.
It's like you take the goodsongs it can be a good playlist
and then you would chop it upand everything.
So what made you start doing itthat way?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
um, I think like I really had to start from scratch
because nobody djs with an pc,like or not a lot of people do,
I don't know but so some peoplewill do it with the pads.
You'll see them DJing with withpads.
So I kind of I kind of took alittle from that but just took
(16:55):
it straight to the MPC, to whereI'm mapping all these little
buttons on my MPC to control theDJ software, software and, uh,
as far as like performing, andwhy I do it like that, or how I
began to do it like that, isbecause that's what I am.
You know what I'm saying.
I'm just a performer.
So, uh, you, that's the easiestthing for me to do is put drums
(17:17):
over something.
So if all I have to do is haveone npc controlling and djan
mixing songs together and then Igot another npc where I'm going
crazy on the drums, just havingfun, you know.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
So you had never had any formal education in any of
that.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
In DJing or like drumming you mean?
Speaker 1 (17:41):
I mean in any musical aspect at all.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
Well, I guess these were private teachers that I've
worked with, uh, that Imentioned before in the
beginning, um, and I think Itook piano lessons when I was a
kid or something, but nah,nothing, I never in school, I
never did band, um, because Imean, hey, they practice till 9
pm every day.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
The reason why I'm saying that is you found
something that you didn't know,that you like, that you end up
being good at that.
You kind of end up wanting tostick with, without any really
formal education in it.
So what advice could you giveto, let's just say, if you was
talking to a group of 13 yearolds?
(18:30):
What advice would you be ableto give them from your own
personal experience?
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Probably like what you.
What you put in is what you'regoing to get out of it.
So a lot of what's mostimportant is knowing how to
practice.
Well, you know what I'm saying.
Like, if you know how topractice good, then the sky is
the limit, um, where you couldimplement something simple and
(19:05):
do it every day and acquiremuscle memory from it.
And just put the time in andyou'll notice that, whatever you
work on, whether, whatever youdo, you know what I mean you put
a little time in and you'll get.
You'll start to slowly seeresults and all you have to do
is keep pushing the limit.
You know, keep moving every day.
(19:25):
Don't, don't slow down, um, andthere was a time in my life
where I was able to do that.
I can't so much now, um, butbut in that, in that time, in
that those early years is a goodtime to instill, um, uh,
practice, yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Practice, yeah.
So tell me, how do having afamily fit into your paid gigs,
or do you center everythingaround family?
How are you making the balancebetween music and family?
Speaker 2 (20:11):
um, yeah, family is completely and utterly first for
me, um, in every sense of theword.
Uh, it just, you know itchanged me completely.
So, while a lot of people willtell you that they do this for
the love of the music, you knowI'm saying me personally.
I'm at this, uh, to provide formy family and me in a way that
still makes me happy.
You know what I mean.
So, honestly, yeah, I'm tryingto provide in all things that I
(20:36):
do, because my sons are onlyseven and four.
So you know I've got to stay onthe grind.
You know I've got to stay on onthe grind.
And if, if, my family don't eat, uh, you think, I'm up here
tapping around and playingkeyboard so I know you told me
(20:57):
that you collaborated with, uh,several different artists.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
Um, what artists have you collaborated with that have
a project that's out now sopeople can sample?
Speaker 2 (21:07):
your work, okay, so so, yeah, the artist I was
talking about, my my friend, uh,josh taylor, um, he has a band
called we the well spring, um,and you can find that, I think,
on itunes, spotify, uh, all theplatforms, I'm pretty sure.
Um, we got a single that that Ithat's the remix that I was
(21:29):
talking about when I flipped oneof his songs.
I flipped a rock song.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Okay, I look forward to it.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
It's called Good.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
And then I'm also on his album and a song called
bitter thing, sweet, bitterthing, sweet, yeah, yeah.
So that was just like uh, acrazy, like he told me, just to
(22:03):
go crazy.
So, honestly, I just did aninstrumental whatever I was
feeling at the time and and so,like I don't, I don't have so
much music out with a bunch ofdifferent people right now
because, honestly, like I onlystarted producing like six years
ago or something like that.
So I kind of just started acouple years ago really making,
(22:28):
really making fire and andstepping into my uh, stepping
into my lane.
So I'm planning on getting itout there.
But you know what I mean.
A lot of these artists wantstuff for free and, uh, you, you
and me both know that's notwhat I'm about.
So, uh, I was able to make alittle lane for myself, djing
(22:54):
and actually getting money toprovide for myself, um, and I'm
I'm looking at really trying toput my music out, um, in
commercials and media andgetting little placements like
that, because you know I canmake off the cuff stuff as well
um, and I I don't I'm not reallytrying to depend on one thing,
(23:16):
you know what I mean.
So if somebody comes at meappropriately and correctly, uh,
I'll honor that.
I'll work with a budget too.
You know what I mean.
But some of these people arereal prideful, and you know what
that means.
Pride comes before destructionevery time.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Look, I talked about egos several times, especially
working with independent artists.
Even doing this show here Iwould have a problem with
sometimes people will set theappointment up and then don't
show up, and I interview a mediaperson from Trinidad and she
(23:56):
was saying that was the reasonwhy radio stations didn't want
to work with artists becausethey make costly mistakes and
things that they don't feel likeis a big deal.
Is's a big deal?
It's actually a big deal.
Not having a budget to pay forthe work that you want done is
an issue yeah, it's a majorissue yes, so tell everybody
(24:20):
where they can find you at yoursocial media handles.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Anything else that you might want to add before we
get ready to get out of here ohyeah, one more thing you might
want to add before we get readyto get out of here.
Oh yeah, one more thing I justwanted to add, because I
mentioned the Beat Battle teamthat we work to battle beats
with the Houston Bass Runners aswell.
The Bass Runners is somethingthat me and my friend Dave came
(24:45):
up with a long time ago the nameand it was originally just
supposed to be me and him withDJing mixed with producing and
stuff, and we found all the restof the crew and so we do battle
beats, but we also worktogether and produce together in
that way.
So the Bass Runners that's oneyou can follow on Instagram.
(25:09):
It's just at the Bass Runners,like T-H-A.
The Bass Runners.
Speaker 1 (25:16):
Yeah, I spelled it wrong one time.
Speaker 2 (25:21):
Yeah, I think there might be a Bass Runner somewhere
else, but we didn't know aboutthat.
Anyways, but so yeah, but youcan follow me at DJ John Lacey
on almost every platform, soInstagram, but let me spell it
j-o-h-n.
Lacey.
Why DJ John Lacey?
(25:43):
You can find me at Instagram,facebook, pinterest, tick-tock
trying to think of anything elseon Twitter.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
You know, I'm saying just my back, you find me you
too, yep, youtube.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Oh yeah, I meant to mention I got videos on my
YouTube of me doing a fingerdrumming from all the rounds
that I did last year in thisbeat battle thing.
I was doing finger drummingrounds and going crazy and I
posted them up on YouTube.
So, yeah, if you search up DJJohn Lacey on YouTube, you'll
find all that too.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
And y'all, I'm telling y'all he ice cold, now
he ice cold.
Speaker 2 (26:29):
Appreciate y'all.
Thank telling y'all he ice cold, now he ice cold, appreciate
y'all thank you for talking tome today.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
Well, I thank you for coming, and you can find us on
podcasts, on all podcasts andplatforms.
You can find us on YouTube,instagram and Facebook video and
remember, look for him onYouTube.
You can see everything at DJJohn Lacey.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Thank you for coming thank you, woo Outro Music.
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