Deejays who spin the grooves that stay with you

Seniors Gardner Swan and Daniel Romano are just two of the deejays who comprise the Oberlin Turntablist Society. Recently, they sat down with Review editor Rossiter Drake to discuss life, love and the pursuit of rhythmic, global unity. Throughout the interview, they will be referred to as their respective deejay aliases, Agent Sunshine and Big Texas.

Rossiter Drake: What is OTS?

Big Texas: The Oberlin Turntablist Society is an organization to help support the Oberlin deejay scene. To be more specific, we want to help the local turntablists. A turntablist is not just someone who plays music, but who uses the turntables and vinyl as an instrument.

Agent Sunshine: Yeah, and right now we are pretty much all techno deejays, although we're open to hip hop and other forms of turntablism. We are more focused on mixing different tracks together and creating some sort of aural journey rather than scratching.

BT: We are also open to teaching.

AS: Well, to an extent, although I think a lot of deejaying is something you just have to learn on your own by practicing - that, and watching other DJs. I learned by watching Big Texas.

RD: On that note, who would you guys consider your main influences?

BT: Grand Master Flash is definitely one of my main influences, even though I don't spin hip hop. After him, I would say Paul Oakenfold, the Chemical Brothers, DJ Hurricane and some other guys.

AS: I think my main influences are the guys who produce the records I listen to and play, such as DJ Icey, Adam F, Ed Rush and Optical, lots of jungle and breakbeat producers. I am also really influenced by James Brown. He's a machine. I think his music was tighter than any techno can ever be, so I just want to be like that. I guess I find it hard to distinguish between deejaying and producing influences. Oh yeah, and all the OTS guys, for real, because I've seen and heard them deejay more than anyone else.

BT: I like monkeys, too.

AS: Oh yeah, monkeys are like one of my biggest influences too. Monkey. (He laughs) I'm not allowed to talk about them, though. I'm under contract not to. It's all secret-like.

BT: Yes.

RD: How do you feel about the mainstream success of artists like Fat Boy Slim and the Chemical Brothers?

BT: Why would you ask a question like that?

RD: Because I'm the one telling you how it is. Answer the question.

BT: Well, I refuse to answer.

AS: I like them both. I got the new Chemical Brothers album today. It's pretty good. People tend to complain that those guys are sell-outs or something. Whatever, it's dance music. If it's good to dance to, it's good, right?

BT: I saw the Chemical Brothers in concert this summer. They were good.

AS: I thought you weren't talking. But yeah, they are good. We went to see Fat Boy Slim a year ago, and he was good too. I remember he spun "Crosstown Traffic" by Jimi Hendrix. It's great when people use non-techno in their sets.

RD: What do you do when you're not spinning?

BT: We can't really tell you everything that we do because it would be considered obscene.

AS: I like to complain about the fact that the TIMARA department didn't let me into any classes this semester. I also resent the fact that Richard Povall was really mean to me. It made me cry. Plus, I'm in a Weezer cover band.

BT: Actually, when I'm not deejaying, I'm usually touring with my singing group, the Backstreet Boys. People at Oberlin don't listen to us much, but I get mobbed whenever I go to the mall. It's crazy. Other than that, I do just about every form of art known to man.

AS: And he's a yuppie.

BT: And I like to jump up and down on my bed at night, just like my favorite baseball player, Carlos Perez.

RD: That's cute. Would you describe the OTS as an elitist organization?

AS: Yeah, we're a bunch of rock stars. But we're pretty good at what we do, so I think it's fair.

BT: We're willing to accept pretty much anyone though, as long as they're interested in turntablism.

AS: That's true. But when the 'Sco tries to give us a Saturday night show, it's like, "Huh? What do you think this is, industrial night?" I spun in Beijing this summer, so now I'm all about trying to get some real gigs at Cleveland parties.

BT: The Chemical Brothers were good. The 'Sco isn't.

AS: Yes.

BT: (Sings) If you want my body, and you think I'm sexy, come on sugar let me know.

RD: I think you're sexy. How do you envision the end of the world?

BT: What, am I Kreskin over here? How much for the baby grand?

RD: Answer the question, you prima donna. I'll give it to you for 39 cents.

AS: Mmm... tacos. The world will end because Big Texas will meet the Backstreet Boys and it'll be like matter and anti-matter colliding. Or like in Back to the Future Part II, when Michael J. Fox almost meets his older self. That would be badness.

BT: Yes.

AS: Did you ever see that Spider-Man cartoon where there was this guy that was half matter and half anti-matter, and then he took over the X-Mansion, and they had to go through the "Maze of Madness" to get it back? Who the hell puts a Maze of Madness in their house?

RD: Jack Torrance, to name but one. So, if someone wants to become a super-star deejay like you guys, what should he or she do?

BT: Well, they can start by coming to our free party tonight at 10 p.m. under Mudd Ramp. It's gonna be rocking.

AS: Yes. And by listening to my radio show.

BT: I'm excited for the party because there are a couple of deejays that have never spun at our parties before.

AS: Fresh blood. Rock the house. Seriously though, get some records that you like and get a friend with turntables - like Big Texas.

RD: Sounds good. Okay, tell the truth, do you guys listen to Cher?

BT: Yes.

AS: I am James - Stoper.

RD: Whatever. Now, one final question: how do you feel about the US Postal service?

AS: Sometimes they send me records. That makes me happy. I like stuff.

BT: My relationship with the postal service feels like it has lasted for about a year, but in reality it has only been two weeks. The first day felt like about 12 hours and the first half of the second day felt like four weeks, while the second half of the second day felt like about a month, so if we add that up we have about two months and 12 hours. The third and fourth days both felt like 23 1/2 hours, roughly, the fifth day felt like a whole day minus about an hour or two. I slept through most of sixth and seventh days, so they don't count. My mom visited on the eighth day. The rest of the second week felt like about eight months, expect for the last day, which was yesterday, and that was like about two hours. So basically my relationship with the postal service has lasted about a year or so. I wrote it all down somewhere if you want a transcript. Oh, thanks for the interview.

RD: You're very welcome. Now pour it in my hand for a dime.

Top turntablists: Dan Romano and Gardner Swan in a moment of inspiration. (photo by Rossiter Drake)