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QUICK BIO:
Fast forward. Play. Fast forward. Play. Pause. Rewind.
Fast forward. Play. That's how New Jersey native DJ Swoosh recalls his
earliest childhood memories of music. "I would cut music up on tape
recorders. I broke the top off my tape player and would use my fingers
to re-make songs I recorded off the radio," he says. His early
fascination with the manipulation of songs sticks in his head to this
day. Beyond just loving music, he loved the way DJ's had the power to
not only play songs, but also use turntables as an instrument to
change the way they sounded. Swoosh credits early radio influences
like DJ Jeff Mills on Power 99 in the 80's, DJ Chuck Chill Out from
New York and DJ Kid Fresh as big inspirations. They introduced him to
hip-hop and the skills needed to be a good DJ. When asked what made
him get into DJ'ing, he also claims "whack dj's" were a huge push to
get out there and get good at what he loved. It wasn't until Swoosh
took his prom money and bought a brand new Technics 1200 turntable
instead that he was able to really begin cuttin' it up. "I walked by
the prom said to myself that DJ is horrible and went home and started
practicing." Swoosh packed house parties and underground basement
parties from his hometowns in Maryland then Ocean City, NJ until his
name started getting out there. "I just wanted people to hear me," he
says. Swoosh met Skratch Makanik DJ Jay Ski from Philadelphia's 100.3
The Beat at a DJ battle in 98' at the Milk Bar. It was there that
Swoosh took home 2nd place as well as advice from Jay Ski to stick
with DJ'ing and go at it hard because he had a gift. Despite
appreciating this advice DJ Swoosh didn't pursue DJ'ing as a full-time
career until several years later. You might remember hearing Swoosh
spin at local venues in and surrounding Atlantic City on the
boardwalk's Promenade and at clubs like Tropicana Casino's Firewater,
De Ja Vu, Delirium, Zoom and Brownies By the Bay. He also did a live
radio show for three years at Stockton State College 91.7 with DJ
Flair.
Since then, DJ Swoosh has made some major changes. He made the
switch over from records to Serato so that he can cater to any crowd
with all Hip-Hop, R&B, Rock Mashups, Baltimore House, independents and underground music in his playlists. He can be found every Thursday at Providence, Atlantic City's hottest new nightclub in The Quarter at Tropicana. He networked with more Skratch Makanik Crew DJ's like Mur Mur Monday's DJ Adam Bomb, who helped break into the Philadelphia market.
Having spun at Philly's livest clubs like Dreemz, Denim Lounge, Zee Bar, Glam, and The Mansion at Rittenhouse, Swoosh can now be found at Club Heat in Old City every Friday and Saturday nights spinning the hottest music out. Swoosh is a weekly Thursday resident at Providence Nightclub in the Tropicana Casino, not to be confused with its popular New York City location, and also at Level 2 in Atlantic City by Resorts Casino. You can still spot Swoosh at retail outlets like APPLE computer stores, Center City Sports and ECKO Unlimited clothing stores in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Elizabeth, NJ and soon at their grand opening in New York City. Swoosh is also now jet-fueling to gigs in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands at The Gate. Hear him live on the 101.7 WJKS Kiss F.M's Mix Master Weekends on all holidays, spinning for an audience of 75,000 listeners. You can find media write-ups on DJ Swoosh in October's issues of Shore Magazine and in The Press of Atlantic City's Lifestyle & Entertainment section. What hasn't changed? DJ Swoosh stays up to date with his music and vows to never play the same song twice in a night nor does he ever talk all over the microphone. "To me talking on the mic is a crutch. I speak with my hands," says Swoosh. "Give me 10 minutes and I got people rockin."
The future for DJ Swoosh includes more radio spots, breaking into bigger U.S. markets and more gigs overseas. They are all foreseeable goals as fans of his say it's hard to ignore the ora Swoosh gives off when he's behind the tables, whether its for a crowd of five or thousands. They also say that his name fits him well because just like a "swoosh," a clean and crisp shot, his skills on the tables are clean and crisp as well. While the swoosh logo has been branded to symbolize sneakers, strength and athleticism, DJ Swoosh symbolizes fresh mixes, clean cuts and skilled turntablism.
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