{"id":4517,"date":"2017-11-27T14:38:14","date_gmt":"2017-11-27T14:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/man2man.boohooman.com\/story\/boohooman-interview-makj"},"modified":"2017-11-27T14:46:40","modified_gmt":"2017-11-27T14:46:40","slug":"boohooman-interview-makj","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/man2man.boohooman.com\/eu\/story\/boohooman-interview-makj","title":{"rendered":"boohooMAN Interview: MAKJ"},"content":{"rendered":"

We caught up with the scratch master and LA DJ\/producer, MAKJ<\/a>, to talk about his new track, career highlights, fashion and what’s in store for the New Year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your biggest musical influence at the moment?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m always looking forward to hearing Post Malone\u2019s new stuff.\u00a0 His \u201crockstar\u201d record, which my friend Tank actually produced, is a monster.\u00a0 Other than that, I find myself keeping it classic by listening to my hometown\u2019s Classic Rock radio station.<\/p>\n

Name three artists you had on your playlist growing up?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Savage Garden, Talking Heads, Traveling Wilburys.<\/p>\n

If you could collaborate with one other artist in the world, past or present, who would it be?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No question, Tupac.<\/p>\n

When did you first realise you could make a career in music?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hands down when I got booked for my first club ever.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t a huge sum of money but it was enough to make me say, \u201cWow, I could really get used to this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where and when was your first ever set?<\/p>\n

Way before any club event or festival circuit, my first ever set was my best friend\u2019s sister\u2019s wedding when I was 14. I was paid $150 which of course to me, because I was a teenager, looked like $1,000,000.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve just realeased your new single \u2018Too Far Gone\u2019 <\/em>ft Matthew Santos. How did the collaboration come about?<\/strong><\/p>\n

About a year ago, my management put us in contact and the rest was kind of history from there. He\u2019s such a good person to work with. Doing everything from engineering his own vocal to calling me at 3AM asking if the vocals need to be re written. He\u2019s a true hustler.<\/p>\n

How happy are you with the finished track?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love the track, but I\u2019m like a proud dad when it comes to my tracks, I\u2019ll never call my kids ugly.<\/p>\n

Have you played it live yet? If so, how was the crowd\u2019s reaction?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I play a MAKJ VIP club edit when I\u2019m doing my live sets. The song wasn\u2019t intended for the \u201cclubs.\u201d I\u2019ve been making club music my whole career \u2013 it\u2019s time for me to evolve and grow.<\/p>\n

Apart from your own. What song have you got on repeat at the moment?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Portugal. The Man \u2013 \u201cFeel It Still\u201d, on repeat.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your guilty pleasure track? One that nobody knows you love. <\/strong><\/p>\n

A$AP Ferg – Plain Jane<\/p>\n

Where, who and when is the most memorable venue and set you\u2019ve ever seen?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d have to say Coachella 2014. The was the first time my parents ever got to see what I actually did for a living. I\u2019ll never forget their faces when the first drop came.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s been your career highlight so far and your 2017 highlight?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every day is a highlight, honestly, no matter the year. Getting to play music for a living, definitely isn\u2019t something I complain about.<\/p>\n

Drink of choice on a night out?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mojito with extra lime.<\/p>\n

Favourite film or TV series?<\/strong><\/p>\n

First off, this is the best interview question ever.\u00a0 Now to answer your question, my for favorite TV series I\u2019d have to say Sopranos and for favorite movie, I just watched \u201cSnatch\u201d again, so that\u2019s been on my mind. \u201cD\u2019ya like dags?\u201d<\/p>\n

Can you tell us an interesting fact about you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m extremely allergic to any kind of melon.\u00a0 One time in Croatia I actually had to get medevac\u2019d because I unknowingly ingested a piece of watermelon.<\/p>\n

Describe your style\/fashion\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s always changing for me.\u00a0 If I had to describe my fashion style, or at least where I see it going, I\u2019d say it\u2019s a mesh between Brad Pitt in Fight Club and GEazy today. I like to say I\u2019m a bit of a casual dresser but being from a small town in Cali, really pushes me to always go back to my roots wearing Dr Martin boots, Levis, and a graphic tee. \u00a0It\u2019s never a bad day if that\u2019s my outfit.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your biggest style & fashion inspiration?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rick Owens. His body type, the slender, tall look is exactly like mine. So getting clothes to fit has always been a struggle. He\u2019s always my go to for proportionate ideas.<\/p>\n

Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to make a career in music? <\/strong><\/p>\n

F*&k what people think, DO YOU. Most important, find good friends who are willing to give you harsh criticism but also will make you laugh.<\/p>\n

If I wasn\u2019t a DJ I\u2019d be\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

An architect.\u00a0 I went to college for architecture so I probably wouldn\u2019t have dropped out of school if the whole music thing didn\u2019t start taking off \u2013 but the music career worked out for me.<\/p>\n

So Christmas, are you an organised shopper or last minute gift buyer?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well it\u2019s [Tuesday, November 21st<\/sup>] and my shopping is already done. Organized to say the least.<\/p>\n

How do you spend Christmas Day?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Getting fat and drunk. But no really, eating a nice meal with my family and enjoying some drinks while we\u2019re at it.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s going to be your New Year\u2019s resolution?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been doing more and more charity work. So as a resolution, I definitely want to try and keep that good deed going. The California Innocence Project \u201cCIP,\u201d is the charity of choice for me. So if I can work with one or two more charities next year I\u2019ll be stoked.<\/p>\n

Listen to Far Too Gone<\/em> below and add it to your Spotify playlist here<\/a>.<\/p>\n