download

gucci flip flops

Inspired by the sounds of Funk, Soul, Disco, House and Hip Hop, I am a student of the evolution of sample based music.

I've had the opportunity to play direct support for AZ based crews such as June Jam, Walter, Record Bar Radio, BFF, Relentless Beats, IDGAFNK, Synesthesia  and open up for great talent like DJ Craze, Chromeo, Louis Futon, Blockhead, Doc Martin, Mija, Lazy Syrup Orchestra, Liquid Stranger, Anna Lunoe, Touch Sensitive, Funk Hunters, Russ Liquid, Late Night Radio, R3LL, Phutureprimitive, Cazztek, Option4, Astronomar, Dash Berlin, and Kill Paris.

I grew up in a house where my dad’s band would practice a couple of times a week. They played covers of Santana and Collective Soul at full volume while waited for my chance to mess around with his drum kit or the Yamaha keyboard to play around with the “DJ” sound effects. In high school, I learned to play bass, but around my 16th birthday, I got exposed to my first underground dance party. I remember lining up outside of The Icehouse in Downtown Phoenix under the yellow streetlights and praying my parents had bought my excuse for sneaking away that night. Once inside, I was blown away by the vibrancy and diversity of the music and people celebrating. I immediately gravitated to a stage with local hardcore DJ’s Starr & Sixxx as they hyped the party into a frenzy, and at that moment, I wanted to learn to DJ so I could share positive experiences like that with people.

I built a following as a rave DJ in the valley while still in high school, which eventually lead to throwing events with some of my closest friends. A few of which attracted thousands of young kids like us looking for a new place to dance in the predominately rap music dominated years of 2008. After 6 years of gigs, the “rave” culture started to wear me thin and I started to reassess my personal goals with music. At the time, I was working at Whole Foods, that’s when I met 3 friends that would change the trajectory of my life for good. We joked about being the “Whole Foods DJ’s” and decided we needed to throw shows together.

Eventually, the crew grew into an organic music sharing platform known as “Brunch Collect” We invite all types of upcoming producers and musicians to share their art online and in real venues. When the community we built began rapidly growing beyond state lines, I knew we were onto something good. Out of all my accomplishments as a solo DJ, I have never been happier with the direction of my life than I am right now. Nothing beats the feeling of helping others develop and growing as a team, instead of us focusing on our own success separately.

dexy d'amelio

bookings: james@fortetouring.co.nz

2nd account is @bax-roo

gucci flip flops

dj bax