From Synthesis to House to Hip-Hop, Keven Maroda has been keeping his production work right on the edge of the envelope. While making his way through the unsparing songs created by the cookie cutting producers of today, he tries to rise above the rest while keeping his artistic license his own. Read on to find out why Keven takes requests while he DJ?s and what kind of music he listens to while in the studio. – Jon Viera Interviews Kevin Maroda

So what projects do you have in the works?

I have 2 albums that are due out soon, one on Distinctive Music called “Nacht Muzik” (translation Night Music) and that is just what it is…music for the DJs and such. The other one is due out on Controversial Records and it?s called “It Came From Outer Space”, it?s something more abstract.

You have been doing a lot more things on the “abstract side”.
What draws you away from the 4×4?

Well originally, before I had gotten into dance music, I was into synthesis (before I popped my proverbial rave cherry) I was listening to the sounds of Information Society, Thomas Dolby, Real Life. I’m doing things to keep myself fresh and inspired in the studio, there actually reaches a point in one’s career when employers are telling you how to remix something, what your sound is supposed to conform to.
And the 4×4 community asked you to be a conformist?

Yeah, it got to the point where I was told “this isn?t a ?Keven Maroda? track, I was like, ?Wait, I don?t know my own music??

Is it tough to get feedback like that?

Well getting feedback is part of the business but especially today things have gotten quite strange. I’m a very big fan of using hardware and analog material (i.e drum machines, synths)
analog warmth is something that can?t be recreated, no matter what plug-ins and soft synths you are using. Today?s sound fidelity has become more important that sound integrity. I’ll never compromise integrity for fidelity a lot of the records that are considered classic this day and age probably wouldn?t even get signed today because of that.

Could you describe your sound?

I have certain little tid-bits I sneak into all my tracks, something that sounds familiar to a listener who knows my stuff. But, I really can?t define my sound, and that makes me happy. Some days I’m producing Tiesto like trance, some days I’m producing broken beat jazz.

From Tiesto to broken beat jazz, I have to know who influenced you.
Well, when I first got into dance music from the raves I’d have to say Flamman and Abraxas (the original Fierce Ruling Diva who did ?Ya Gotta Believe?). But I got into old school Detroit techno around the same time. Ron Trent has always inspired me, Kenny Larkin, Vincent Lawrence, Jesse Saunders, in fact, in my own opinion, Ron Trent ?Altered States? is one of the most influential and ground breaking records EVER released.

How do you feel about the hip hop vs house crowds?

Well playing for crowds today is a very tricky thing. Very rarely do you get a crowd that?s totally going to dig what you are doing. I know some DJs who don?t take requests, but I think that?s pointless. As a DJ, you are an entertainer; you are there to entertain the crowd. When DJs act like “they don?t know good music, I do” they are doing nothing but stroking their [own] ego’s behind the wheels. Your main goal [as a DJ] should be to make people dance, and if your doing that, your doing the right thing. I won?t lie though, there was a time in my career when I didn?t like playing hip hop, and this was around the 2001-2002 cross-over, when the same people who used to blast Zombie Nation in their white Hondas were now going “dance sucks, put on Eminem, put on Jay Z”. Oddly enough after Eminem himself said “Nobody listens to techno”.(laughing).
But I grew out of that really fast…hip hop is amazing music. And my one man crusade to be a “house purist” was cutting off my nose to spite my face, because I was gigless and miserable.

Who do you like in hip hop?
DJ Dangermouse, hands down…this guy is a pioneer…I heard his trip-hop stuff as Pelican City back in the day, and he went from a doing The Grey Album (Jay-Z/Beatles mash-up) on Acid to becoming a Grammy nominated producer for Demon Days with the Gorillaz and now he’s toping the charts with Gnarls Barkley. Rapper wise N.O.R.E, all time favorite, but there are a lot of people working in that scene who are doing their thing. Just Blaze is another producer who comes to mind when I think of the hip hop elite.
And on the EDM trip?

There [are] so many great producers out there who are doing their thing, Johnny Fiasco has always been on top of things. My personal friends Sammy and Rooster are definitely on the forefront of this electro-phase. One really great producer who comes to mind is Gregory Shiff, I’ve been following his work for a while and he?s one of those people who blurs genre boundaries, something I always appreciate to listen to. Sirpaul, who is also a close friend, is an amazing vocalist and producer alike who has been doing his thing for years. I’m glad that we have become close friends but everybody I’ve come to know since I’ve started, Kevin Lee, Ralphie Cedano, Jon Viera, they are all masters in their own right.
What do you want people to know about you?

I am in love with Scarlett Johansson.

Doesn?t Lindsey Lohan have your heart?

(laughing) I think she?s dating a real rockstar now, not a wannabe one like me…or rather a wannabe like me doesn?t have a chance.
Come on you?re Keven Maroda
I hear you?re working with a band, called ?Real Life? what?s that about?

I’m truly honored to be doing some remix work with Real Life. [People] might remember them as the band that topped the charts with ?Send Me An Angel? in the 80?s, but if that?s all you know them for, you’re missing out big time. They’ve released 2 phenomenal albums, Happy in 97 and Oblivion in 2004…amazing electronica type stuff…I talk with David Sterry (the lead singer) through email and I’ve had a chance to remix some of their forth coming work which is down right amazing…keep an ear out.
Why haven?t I seen you playing around in New York?

(laughing)…here we go. Well I’m not an ass kisser. Sadly, the current state of DJ employment is based on who you know, not your talents. Around me there?s a certain little clique which I?m not a part of, nor do I want to be a part of, and I’m somewhat “blacklisted” because of it. Occasionally, you might find me DJing some ladies night at a hole in the wall bar in no man’s land…but as far as being behind the decks at a super venue, I have no clue when and where that time will be.
Well what happened? Did you step on a promoters Air Jordan?s?
(laughing), Well it?s a lack of respect towards me and what I have done. If you book me to be an opener for DJ “Insert Your Name Here”, I’ll do the gig and not throw an ego trip like other DJ?s who think they are entitled to something, but I just won?t ever talk to you again.

But that doesn?t answer who, where, and when of what happened.

(laughing), I don?t want to call out names, but I think those who live in New Jersey know who I’m talking about.

What?s your take on the current state of dance music?

Well things are changing and I don?t know if it?s for the better or for the worse. There was a time when ?2 In A Room – Wiggle It? sold 1 million copies. But those times are done. A lot of the people who are the big names today came out of that period of dance music bliss, and their accomplishments and resumes are something that can?t be recreated by any up and coming producer today.
Plus, the musicality of dance music has almost become obsolete there are producers out there who don?t know where the middle C is, but they are producing copy and paste tracks or remakes that sell like hot cakes. Like the current “in” style for clubland is the electro sound. I really don?t like it that much. Don?t get me wrong though, there are some amazing electro tracks and producers out there (Daft Punk, Tommie Sunshine, etc) but the 80?s remakes over that Juno bassline have just been done to death, and other aspects of the genre just sound like noise.

In short, I would like to see things change. I think when everybody stops favoring one particular DJ, stops being biased to one particular style, and really opens their mind to the almost endless possibilities of dance music; then things will be much better and for those who are learning the ropes of producing, take the time to study music, learn how to read and write it, [and] it will open so many doors for you.

You can check out Keven Maroda?s work at www.myspace.com/thedormantstate.