August 3, 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. Growing up as a drummer in Houston's diverse music scene, John Lacey's path to becoming an innovative producer and MPC DJ reflects the evolution many musicians must navigate in today's digital landscape.
From his early resistance to technology ("I don't like things crashing on me, I like just hitting just drums") to his current mastery of the MPC, John shares candid insights about the different skillsets required for acoustic versus digital music-making. "It takes more natural skill to play a drum set, but it's a different kind of skill," he explains, noting how traditional drumming depends on muscle memory while the MPC functions as "its own little brain" with infinite creative possibilities.
What truly sets John apart is his revolutionary approach to DJing. Rather than using conventional turntables or controllers, he maps MPC buttons to control DJ software while performing live drum patterns on a second MPC simultaneously. "I'm just a performer," he says, describing how this dual-device setup creates "a performance within a performance" that audiences rarely experience from typical DJs. This innovative technique has helped him carve out a lucrative niche performing at weddings and events.
Perhaps most refreshing is John's honesty about how fatherhood transformed his relationship with music. "Family is completely and utterly first for me," he emphasizes, candidly sharing that while many claim to create purely for artistic expression, his primary motivation is providing for his young sons. This perspective grounds his involvement with the Houston Bass Runners and National Beat Battle Association, where he showcases his finger drumming talents in online competitions. Check out his performances on YouTube to witness firsthand what happens when traditional percussion training meets digital innovation in the hands of a family man with serious skills.
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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 IndieArtist Music Hustle with Blind
Intelligence.
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.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hey, what's up everybody?
It's me how you doing today,miss Ronnie, I'm doing fine.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
How are you?
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.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Well, yeah, okay, so my name is John and I've been
playing music, interested inmusic, basically all my life.
I started out as a drummer whenI was about 12.
Started drumming under a bunchof different teachers that I had
Chuck Payne, the jazz musician,paul Laughlin, some other real
(01:06):
notable players to me andbasically taught me the way.
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 drum machines and DJ
(01:34):
software, the stuff that I shiedaway 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 family man,a husband, a dad.
(01:57):
I got a 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 my daddy would say, you ice
cold hey, thank you very much somy question question is going
(02:24):
to start out with.
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 that drumming is
all really muscle memory andstuff that you practice and you
get better at the more youpractice With 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 just 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%.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
So I would agree with that, because with a
traditional drum set you're notjust using just 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 times,producers can produce all type
of music and I had one to tellme that they normally do what a
person comes 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 could.
That could really go into hiphop or, like you know, more
(06:21):
trapped 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 a moshpit and dislocated my kneecap
and after that, like that momentscarred me so much.
I was like you know what I'mdone with all that music period.
So I didn't.
Even so, I haven't really beenlistening lately, but I used to
(07:05):
be up on rock.
I used to play rock.
I still love Blue Fighters, redHot Chili Peppers, you know all
that too.
So I have chopped a rock song.
Matter of fact, yeah, my friend, josh Taylor, wanted me to
remix one of his songs and he'sactually a praise and worship
artist, but they make like rockmusic.
And, yeah, I chopped it up,made two beats out of two of his
(07:26):
songs and he's actually apraise and worship artist, but
they make like rock music.
And, uh, yeah, I chopped it up,made two beats out of two of
his songs for him to reuse.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
you know okay so you like what?
Just hip-hop.
So it's hip-hop and rock.
What else do you think wouldmake up the sound of John Lacey?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
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
always putting some extra drumsin there to make something move
a little different.
You know, do you sing?
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Uh, do you sing?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
I will sing on occasion, you know, if I have to
.
I try not to be scared you knowwhat I'm saying because it's
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 sound weird sayingthis, 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.
(09:23):
Probably the most that I canthink of I would like to say,
like John Coltrane or somethingcool.
You know what I mean.
But if I'm being honest, uh,yeah, probably kanye okay, so we
skipped a little bit.
Tell everybody where you fromI'm from houston, texas, okay,
(09:56):
texas, okay.
So tell me, how does heavymetal fit into Houston, texas?
Well, when they say Houston isa very diverse place, they
really mean that.
You know what I mean.
Like, it is different kind ofmusic from every little niche
there's a little scene for it.
You know what I mean.
So, yeah, that's how it fits in.
(10:17):
They do crazy shows fromHouston, san Antonio, new York
City.
You know it's there.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Okay, with you being her in the mosh pit before, in
the situation that happened withAstroworld, could you have
understanding, or do you haveunderstanding, for accidents
that happen in that type ofsetting, with you being
(10:47):
experienced at first 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'sunfair that people who have
never been in that situation toactually talk about the shoulda,
(11:10):
wouldas and couldas?
Speaker 2 (11:14):
um, I don't think a lot of people, uh, consider all
the different aspects of thatkind of situation.
You know, um, yeah, a lot ofpeople haven't been to a packed
show and understand thatsometimes they can get like that
, but I have never been to ashow personally, that is, that
was.
I forget how many people theysaid were there.
(11:36):
But you know, it's just likeyou literally can't move and, um
, and you know anybody.
I'm sure there were certainparts of it that were a little
looser, but the parts that weretight and packed in, probably
because of barricades, oh yeah,them people, you know, they said
they were stuck with theirhands up like that.
(11:56):
So, yeah, people don'tunderstand what could come from
something like that, and Iwouldn't even say it's the
artist's fault necessarily, justwhoever planned it out didn't
plan for that and they shouldhave.
You know what I mean, gotchagotcha, so tell me about your
latest project uh, I'm trying tothink like I'm always doing
(12:20):
stuff I'm I haven't, I haven'treleased just like a mixtape of
beats or anything yet I thinkI'm going to make an
instrumental, instrumental EP orsomething like that.
I'm working on it right now,but I do do projects for other
people, like I said, my myfriend, josh Taylor.
(12:40):
You know, I make these fingerdrumming performances and I put
them on Instagram and then Ialso battle in that beat battle
league.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I was going to get to that, anything comes my way so
tell me about the beat battle,because I think we're going to
have another one getting readyto come up.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, I'm not sure I have my video ready.
That's all I know I'm ready forit.
So, yeah, I'm in a beat battleteam called the Houston Bass
Runners and it's me, my homie,that put me onto the whole all
(13:33):
the NPC stuff, and then someother producers that we linked
up with and made friends with,and we're in this league called
the NBBA, the National BeatBattle Association, and so it's
a bunch of teams from alldifferent cities basically
sending in our videos and, uh,letting them go against each
(13:55):
other online.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
So, yeah, that's what that is I want you to compare
two collaborations that you havehad One that has been a
collaboration from hell but wasvery successful, and one that
was a great collaboration, butthe actual project wasn't that
(14:16):
successful.
What are your takeaway pointsfrom each collaboration?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
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 ifit, if it doesn't work, then you
know I won't be so hurt if Ijust stake my claim on it, you
know okay, now tell me aboutbeing a dj yeah, that's
(15:11):
something.
Uh, I hadn't really been talkingabout it for a while, you know,
uh, because I wasn't interestedin dj and um, I actually really
didn't want to do it and uh, myhomie convinced me, um, and I
hey, the first time I got alittle taste of some money doing
it, I just kept doing it, youknow what I mean.
(15:34):
That's that's what kept me onit, honestly, but I actually
learned to appreciate it andlove it and I actually do it
with the drum machine, with thenpc.
So what I do looks a littledifferent compared to most DJs,
but, yeah, a lot of weddings.
I'm trying to do Parties hereand there, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I've seen some footage of an 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?
(16:18):
Because it's actually reallydifferent than what regular DJs
do.
It's like you take the goodsongs it can be a good playlist
and then you will chop it up andeverything.
So what made you start doing itthat way?
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I think I really had to start from scratch because
nobody DJs with an MPC Not a lotof people do, I don't know.
So some people will do it withthe pads.
You'll see them DJing with pads.
So I kind of took a little fromthat but just took it straight
(16:56):
to the MPC, to where I'm mappingall these little buttons on my
MPC to control the DJ software.
Control the DJ software.
And as far as performing, andwhy I do it like that, or how I
began to do it like that, it'sbecause that's what I am.
I'm just a performer.
That's the easiest thing for meto do is put drums over
(17:18):
something.
All I have to do is have oneNPC controlling and DJing,
mixing songs together.
And then I got another NPCwhere I'm going crazy on the
drums, just having fun, 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, 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 no,nothing, I never in school, I
never did band, um, because Imean, hey, they practice till 9.
Pm Every day.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
So I guess the reason why I'm saying that is you
found something that you didn'tknow, 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 (18:38):
them from your own personal experience.
Probably like what you, whatyou put in is what you're going
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's
(19:02):
the limit where you couldimplement something simple and
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
(19:22):
is keep pushing the limit.
You know, keep moving every day, don't don't slow down, and
there was a time in my lifewhere I was able to do that.
I can't so much now, but but inthat in that time and that
those early years is a is a goodtime to instill, um, uh,
(19:43):
practice yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
So tell me, how do having a family fit into your
paid gigs, or do you centereverything around family?
How are you making the balancebetween music and family?
Speaker 2 (20:05):
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 know,it changed 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 to provide for myfamily and me in a way that
(20:29):
still makes me happy.
You know what I mean.
So, honestly, yeah, I'm trying.
I'm trying to provide in allthings that I do, because my
sons are only seven and four.
So you know I've got to stay onthe grind and if my family
don't eat, you think I'm up heretapping around and playing
(20:53):
keyboard.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Nah, so I know you told me that you collaborated
with several different artists.
What artists have youcollaborated with that have a
project that's out now so peoplecan sample?
Speaker 2 (21:07):
your work, okay.
So yeah, the artist I wastalking about, my friend, josh
Taylor.
He has a band called we theWellspring and you can find that
, I think, on iTunes, spotify,all the platforms.
I'm pretty sure we got a singlethat I just that's the remix
(21:28):
that I was talking about Iflipped one of his songs.
I flipped a rock song.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Okay, I look forward to it.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's called Good.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
And then I'm also on his album in a song called
Bitter Things Sweet, bitterThings, sweet, yeah, yeah.
So that was just like a crazy,like he told me, just to go
(22:03):
crazy.
So, honestly, I just did aninstrumental on whatever I was
feeling at the time and so, likeI don't have so much music out
with a bunch of different peopleright now, I don't have so much
music out with a bunch ofdifferent people right now
Because, honestly, I onlystarted producing like six years
ago or something like that.
So I kind of just started acouple of years ago to really
(22:26):
making fire and stepping into mylane.
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 and
me both know that's not what I'mabout.
So, uh, I was able to make alittle lane for myself, djing
(22:54):
and actually getting money toprovide for myself, djing and
actually getting money toprovide for myself, and I'm
looking at really trying to putmy music out in commercials and
media and getting littleplacements like that, because
you know I can make off the cuffstuff as well and I don't.
I'm not really trying to dependon one thing.
(23:15):
You know what I mean.
So if somebody comes at meappropriately and correctly,
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 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 actually a big
deal.
Not having a budget to pay forthe work that you want done is
an issue.
Yeah, it's a major issue.
(24:17):
Yes, so tell everybody wherethey can find you at your social
media handles.
Anything else that you mightwant to add before we get ready
to get out of here?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Oh, yeah, one more thing I just wanted to add,
because I mentioned the BeatBattle team that we work to
battle beats with the HoustonBass Runners.
Well, the Bass Runners issomething that me and my friend
Dave came up with a long timeago the name, and it was
(24:49):
originally just supposed to beme and him with DJing mixed with
producing and stuff, and wefound all the rest of the crew
DJing mixed with producing andstuff, and we we found all the
rest of the crew and, uh, so wedo battle beats, but we also
work together and producetogether, um, in that way.
So the base runners that's oneyou could follow on Instagram,
it's just at the base runnerslike T H a, the base runners, um
(25:14):
yeah, I spent the wrong onetime.
Yeah, I think there might be aBass Runner somewhere else, but
we didn't know about that.
But you can follow me at DJJohn Lacey on almost every
platform.
So Instagram, but let me spellit J-O-h-n-l-a-c-y.
(25:40):
Dj john lacy.
You can find me at instagram,facebook, pinterest, tiktok I'm
trying to think of anything elseon Twitter.
You know what I'm saying.
Just search the name and you'llfind me YouTube, yep, youtube.
(26:02):
Oh yeah, I meant to mention Igot videos on my YouTube of me
doing finger drumming from allthe rounds that I did last year
in this beat 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 (26:27):
Appreciate y'all.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Thank you for talking to me today.
Well, I thank you for coming,and you can find us on podcasts,
on all podcasts and platforms.
You can find us on YouTube,Instagram and Facebook video and
remember, look for him onYouTube.
You can see everything at DJJohn Lacey.
(26:51):
Thank you for coming.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Thank you, have a nice day.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Bye.
Hello everyone.
Welcome to this week's IndieArtist Music Hustle with Blind
Intelligence.
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.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Hey, what's up everybody?
It's me how you doing today,miss Ronnie, I'm doing fine.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
How are you?
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.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Well, yeah, okay, so my name is John and I've been
playing music, interested inmusic, basically all my life.
I started out as a drummer whenI was about 12.
Started drumming under a bunchof different teachers that I had
Chuck Payne, the jazz musician,paul Laughlin, some other real
(01:06):
notable players to me andbasically taught me the way.
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 drum machines and DJ
(01:34):
software, the stuff that I shiedaway 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 family man,a husband, a dad.
(01:57):
I got a 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 my daddy would say, you ice
cold hey, thank you very much somy question question is going
(02:24):
to start out with.
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 that drumming is
all really muscle memory andstuff that you practice and you
get better at the more youpractice With 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 just 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%.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
So I would agree with that, because with a
traditional drum set you're notjust using just 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 times,producers can produce all type
of music and I had one to tellme that they normally do what a
person comes 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 could.
That could really go into hiphop or, like you know, more
(06:21):
trapped 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 a moshpit and dislocated my kneecap
and after that, like that momentscarred me so much.
I was like you know what I'mdone with all that music period.
So I didn't.
Even so, I haven't really beenlistening lately, but I used to
(07:05):
be up on rock.
I used to play rock.
I still love Blue Fighters, redHot Chili Peppers, you know all
that too.
So I have chopped a rock song.
Matter of fact, yeah, my friend, josh Taylor, wanted me to
remix one of his songs and he'sactually a praise and worship
artist, but they make like rockmusic.
And, yeah, I chopped it up,made two beats out of two of his
(07:26):
songs and he's actually apraise and worship artist, but
they make like rock music.
And, uh, yeah, I chopped it up,made two beats out of two of
his songs for him to reuse.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
you know okay so you like what?
Just hip-hop.
So it's hip-hop and rock.
What else do you think wouldmake up the sound of John Lacey?
Speaker 2 (08:03):
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
always putting some extra drumsin there to make something move
a little different.
You know, do you sing?
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Uh, do you sing?
Speaker 2 (08:29):
I will sing on occasion, you know, if I have to
.
I try not to be scared you knowwhat I'm saying because it's
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 sound weird sayingthis, 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.
(09:23):
Probably the most that I canthink of I would like to say,
like John Coltrane or somethingcool.
You know what I mean.
But if I'm being honest, uh,yeah, probably kanye okay, so we
skipped a little bit.
Tell everybody where you fromI'm from houston, texas, okay,
(09:56):
texas, okay.
So tell me, how does heavymetal fit into Houston, texas?
Well, when they say Houston isa very diverse place, they
really mean that.
You know what I mean.
Like, it is different kind ofmusic from every little niche
there's a little scene for it.
You know what I mean.
So, yeah, that's how it fits in.
(10:17):
They do crazy shows fromHouston, san Antonio, new York
City.
You know it's there.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Okay, with you being her in the mosh pit before, in
the situation that happened withAstroworld, could you have
understanding, or do you haveunderstanding, for accidents
that happen in that type ofsetting, with you being
(10:47):
experienced at first 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'sunfair that people who have
never been in that situation toactually talk about the shoulda,
(11:10):
wouldas and couldas?
Speaker 2 (11:14):
um, I don't think a lot of people, uh, consider all
the different aspects of thatkind of situation.
You know, um, yeah, a lot ofpeople haven't been to a packed
show and understand thatsometimes they can get like that
, but I have never been to ashow personally, that is, that
was.
I forget how many people theysaid were there.
(11:36):
But you know, it's just likeyou literally can't move and, um
, and you know anybody.
I'm sure there were certainparts of it that were a little
looser, but the parts that weretight and packed in, probably
because of barricades, oh yeah,them people, you know, they said
they were stuck with theirhands up like that.
(11:56):
So, yeah, people don'tunderstand what could come from
something like that, and Iwouldn't even say it's the
artist's fault necessarily, justwhoever planned it out didn't
plan for that and they shouldhave.
You know what I mean, gotchagotcha, so tell me about your
latest project uh, I'm trying tothink like I'm always doing
(12:20):
stuff I'm I haven't, I haven'treleased just like a mixtape of
beats or anything yet I thinkI'm going to make an
instrumental, instrumental EP orsomething like that.
I'm working on it right now,but I do do projects for other
people, like I said, my myfriend, josh Taylor.
(12:40):
You know, I make these fingerdrumming performances and I put
them on Instagram and then Ialso battle in that beat battle
league.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I was going to get to that, anything comes my way so
tell me about the beat battle,because I think we're going to
have another one getting readyto come up.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Yeah, I'm not sure I have my video ready.
That's all I know I'm ready forit.
So, yeah, I'm in a beat battleteam called the Houston Bass
Runners and it's me, my homie,that put me onto the whole all
(13:33):
the NPC stuff, and then someother producers that we linked
up with and made friends with,and we're in this league called
the NBBA, the National BeatBattle Association, and so it's
a bunch of teams from alldifferent cities basically
sending in our videos and, uh,letting them go against each
(13:55):
other online.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
So, yeah, that's what that is I want you to compare
two collaborations that you havehad One that has been a
collaboration from hell but wasvery successful, and one that
was a great collaboration, butthe actual project wasn't that
(14:16):
successful.
What are your takeaway pointsfrom each collaboration?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
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 ifit, if it doesn't work, then you
know I won't be so hurt if Ijust stake my claim on it, you
know okay, now tell me aboutbeing a dj yeah, that's
(15:11):
something.
Uh, I hadn't really been talkingabout it for a while, you know,
uh, because I wasn't interestedin dj and um, I actually really
didn't want to do it and uh, myhomie convinced me, um, and I
hey, the first time I got alittle taste of some money doing
it, I just kept doing it, youknow what I mean.
(15:34):
That's that's what kept me onit, honestly, but I actually
learned to appreciate it andlove it and I actually do it
with the drum machine, with thenpc.
So what I do looks a littledifferent compared to most DJs,
but, yeah, a lot of weddings.
I'm trying to do Parties hereand there, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:57):
I've seen some footage of an 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?
(16:18):
Because it's actually reallydifferent than what regular DJs
do.
It's like you take the goodsongs it can be a good playlist
and then you will chop it up andeverything.
So what made you start doing itthat way?
Speaker 2 (16:34):
I think I really had to start from scratch because
nobody DJs with an MPC Not a lotof people do, I don't know.
So some people will do it withthe pads.
You'll see them DJing with pads.
So I kind of took a little fromthat but just took it straight
(16:56):
to the MPC, to where I'm mappingall these little buttons on my
MPC to control the DJ software.
Control the DJ software.
And as far as performing, andwhy I do it like that, or how I
began to do it like that, it'sbecause that's what I am.
I'm just a performer.
That's the easiest thing for meto do is put drums over
(17:18):
something.
All I have to do is have oneNPC controlling and DJing,
mixing songs together.
And then I got another NPCwhere I'm going crazy on the
drums, just having fun, 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, 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 no,nothing, I never in school, I
never did band, um, because Imean, hey, they practice till 9.
Pm Every day.
Speaker 1 (18:07):
So I guess the reason why I'm saying that is you
found something that you didn'tknow, 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 (18:38):
them from your own personal experience.
Probably like what you, whatyou put in is what you're going
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's
(19:02):
the limit where you couldimplement something simple and
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
(19:22):
is keep pushing the limit.
You know, keep moving every day, don't don't slow down, and
there was a time in my lifewhere I was able to do that.
I can't so much now, but but inthat in that time and that
those early years is a is a goodtime to instill, um, uh,
(19:43):
practice yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
So tell me, how do having a family fit into your
paid gigs, or do you centereverything around family?
How are you making the balancebetween music and family?
Speaker 2 (20:05):
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 know,it changed 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 to provide for myfamily and me in a way that
(20:29):
still makes me happy.
You know what I mean.
So, honestly, yeah, I'm trying.
I'm trying to provide in allthings that I do, because my
sons are only seven and four.
So you know I've got to stay onthe grind and if my family
don't eat, you think I'm up heretapping around and playing
(20:53):
keyboard.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Nah, so I know you told me that you collaborated
with several different artists.
What artists have youcollaborated with that have a
project that's out now so peoplecan sample?
Speaker 2 (21:07):
your work, okay.
So yeah, the artist I wastalking about, my friend, josh
Taylor.
He has a band called we theWellspring and you can find that
, I think, on iTunes, spotify,all the platforms.
I'm pretty sure we got a singlethat I just that's the remix
(21:28):
that I was talking about Iflipped one of his songs.
I flipped a rock song.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Okay, I look forward to it.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
It's called Good.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
And then I'm also on his album in a song called
Bitter Things Sweet, bitterThings, sweet, yeah, yeah.
So that was just like a crazy,like he told me, just to go
(22:03):
crazy.
So, honestly, I just did aninstrumental on whatever I was
feeling at the time and so, likeI don't have so much music out
with a bunch of different peopleright now, I don't have so much
music out with a bunch ofdifferent people right now
Because, honestly, I onlystarted producing like six years
ago or something like that.
So I kind of just started acouple of years ago to really
(22:26):
making fire and stepping into mylane.
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 and
me both know that's not what I'mabout.
So, uh, I was able to make alittle lane for myself, djing
(22:54):
and actually getting money toprovide for myself, djing and
actually getting money toprovide for myself, and I'm
looking at really trying to putmy music out in commercials and
media and getting littleplacements like that, because
you know I can make off the cuffstuff as well and I don't.
I'm not really trying to dependon one thing.
(23:15):
You know what I mean.
So if somebody comes at meappropriately and correctly,
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 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 actually a big
deal.
Not having a budget to pay forthe work that you want done is
an issue.
Yeah, it's a major issue.
(24:17):
Yes, so tell everybody wherethey can find you at your social
media handles.
Anything else that you mightwant to add before we get ready
to get out of here?
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Oh, yeah, one more thing I just wanted to add,
because I mentioned the BeatBattle team that we work to
battle beats with the HoustonBass Runners.
Well, the Bass Runners issomething that me and my friend
Dave came up with a long timeago the name, and it was
(24:49):
originally just supposed to beme and him with DJing mixed with
producing and stuff, and wefound all the rest of the crew
DJing mixed with producing andstuff, and we we found all the
rest of the crew and, uh, so wedo battle beats, but we also
work together and producetogether, um, in that way.
So the base runners that's oneyou could follow on Instagram,
it's just at the base runnerslike T H a, the base runners, um
(25:14):
yeah, I spent the wrong onetime.
Yeah, I think there might be aBass Runner somewhere else, but
we didn't know about that.
But you can follow me at DJJohn Lacey on almost every
platform.
So Instagram, but let me spellit J-O-h-n-l-a-c-y.
(25:40):
Dj john lacy.
You can find me at instagram,facebook, pinterest, tiktok I'm
trying to think of anything elseon Twitter.
You know what I'm saying.
Just search the name and you'llfind me YouTube, yep, youtube.
(26:02):
Oh yeah, I meant to mention Igot videos on my YouTube of me
doing finger drumming from allthe rounds that I did last year
in this beat 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 (26:27):
Appreciate y'all.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Thank you for talking to me today.
Well, I thank you for coming,and you can find us on podcasts,
on all podcasts and platforms.
You can find us on YouTube,Instagram and Facebook video and
remember, look for him onYouTube.
You can see everything at DJJohn Lacey.
(26:51):
Thank you for coming.
Speaker 2 (26:53):
Thank you, have a nice day.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Bye.
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