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IMMORTAL

Growing up in Long Island, NY, and currently residing in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Immortal has an extensive music background enabling him to mix seamlessly almost any genre of music; he has even been featured in Fader magazine for his all rock mix CD, A Matter of Time. While he is best known for his abilities as a straight party DJ –spinning rock, hip-hop, and 80’s –Immortal also has established himself as a premiere turntablist. Currently, he is the Academy Director at the recently-opened Scratch DJ Academy – Miami and can be found imparting his knowledge and skills to the newest up-and-coming DJ’s.

Scratch: So what are you up to right now?
 
IMMORTAL:  I am the Academy Director for Scratch DJ Academy – Miami. I am also distributing my battle records and mixtapes in Japan, Germany, and other parts of the world. All my other time I spend with my daughter.
 
Scratch: What more can you tell us about the newest Scratch DJ Academy location?
 
IMMORTAL: Well, I’m really excited to get courses underway here at Scratch - Miami. Our first term will begin on November 5th. We’ve decided to roll out DJ 101 (the beginner DJ course), DJ 151 (the intermediate mixing course), and DJ 202 (the intermediate scratching course). Hopefully over the next few months we will be able to open up new courses!
 
Scratch: Where exactly is Scratch – Miami located?
 
IMMORTAL: We have a really great location at 642 6th Street, between Washington and Euclid. We are right in the heart of South Beach.
 
Scratch: Can you give us more information on who’s going to be teaching classes?
 
IMMORTAL: We have some great celebrity DJ’s who will be teaching on a regular basis. Irie (from 99Jamz) will be teaching the DJ 101 and 151 courses. Craze, who’s a three time DMC world battle champion, will be a great asset to our DJ 202 course. We’re also really fortunate to have DJ Edgar V helping us out. His knowledge of electronic music and DJ’ing electronic music will be so valuable to students here at Scratch. I also have a great core of TA’s (like NVS Styles, K-razor, DJ Ruin, and DJ I-DEE) who’ll be helping out at every class.
 
Scratch: Wow! Sounds like Scratch – Miami is all ready to go!
 
IMMORTAL: Definitely! I am so excited for courses to start on November 5th. If you want more info on our courses, instructors, or just Scratch in general, you can always check out www.scratch.com.
 
Scratch: So, Immortal, now more about you. How exactly did you get into DJ'ing? When did you decide to become a DJ?
 
IMMORTAL: I’ve been a DJ for as long as I can remember. When I was six years old I can remember having a break-dance mat and a boom box. After I moved with my family to south Florida, when I was thirteen, I got a couple of friends together and started a DJ crew. We were called “3PM DJ’s” (3 Phsyco Maniacs). We started out doing a lot of birthday parties and things like that. We only played the classic hip-hop like Digable Planets, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, and Nice and Smooth. We rigged up our ghetto Gemini turntables in so many different ways so that they wouldn’t skip when we scratched. My other two partners usually rocked the mic, and I was the one who would scratch. My friends would all bug out when we performed.
 
Scratch: Who was your main influence? What was your inspiration for becoming a DJ/producer?
 
IMMORTAL: I was born and raised in Long Island, NY. Growing up, I was exposed to a lot of music…I was very influenced by classic rock and rock in the 80’s. My father played guitar a lot, and taught me about music. However, I was more attracted by the emerging hip hop scene in Long Island (rapping, breaking, DJing, Graf). With respect to DJ’ing, my main influence was scratching.. It didn’t matter who was doing it, I just thought it was the coolest thing, and I wanted to learn…In time, I started watching battles with Roc Raida, Rectangle and Qbert, it was all over after that…..
 
Scratch: What did you do to practice? What did you do to get better?
 
IMMORTAL: I would practice religiously, watch videos and pick the brains of more experienced turntablists. In 1999, straight out of high school (I went to Full Sail University in Orlando), I met DJ’s Reakt, Spy-Tek, I-Emerge and K-Razor, and we formed Fader Ballistix. At this time we were heavy into battling. We would practice constantly and learn from other DJ’s like S.P.S. and J-Storm. We would study their scratches and try to create new styles.
 
Scratch: Having been in the DJ game for years, what would you tell people who are just getting into this art form?
 
IMMORTAL: Remember, getting good at anything takes time. Pay your dues, and don’t talk smack. I’ve been paying dues for years: battling (winning some, losing some), showcasing, touring, performing at all different types of events and venues, traveling, and making records and CD’s. If you’re like me, you won’t shine overnight. If you love it, keep working at it and don’t give up.

Scratch:  Who have you enjoyed working with?
 
IMMORTAL: I’ve enjoyed pretty much every opportunity I’ve had to perform with other artists. For me, I will never forget performing with KRS 1, RUN DMC, Tone Loc, Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock, Korn, Sevendust, New Found Glory, Skindred, The Used, Executioners and more…
 
Scratch:  Has DJ’ing opened the door to some amazing opportunities for you?
 
IMMORTAL: Definitley…DJing has brought me all around the world and given me the chance to sell records, perform and teach DJing for a living. Being a DJ is very unpredictable, you never know where it might take you next.
 
Scratch:  What kinds of projects do you see yourself getting involved with in the future?
 
IMMORTAL: I have a full length album coming out soon, and I plan to continue creating battle records, mixtapes, and anything else I find interesting.
 
Scratch:  Do you have a website, how can get more info about what you are doing?
 
IMMORTAL: www.faderballistix.com / www.scratch.com