Don`t ask Tom Feiza (aka DJ Homewrecker) about VCRsthe DJ/producer says too many of his peers treat the tables and mixer with the same push-button laziness that takes the spontaneity out of house music.
“As a DJ, you`re given a lot of tools to work with,” Feiza says. “Dials and knobs, equalizers and effectsthere`s a lot of DJs out there that treat the equipment like a VCR. They push a button and let it go. If you want to stand out from the rest, you have to work the music... Read more
Don`t ask Tom Feiza (aka DJ Homewrecker) about VCRsthe DJ/producer says too many of his peers treat the tables and mixer with the same push-button laziness that takes the spontaneity out of house music.
“As a DJ, you`re given a lot of tools to work with,” Feiza says. “Dials and knobs, equalizers and effectsthere`s a lot of DJs out there that treat the equipment like a VCR. They push a button and let it go. If you want to stand out from the rest, you have to work the music with some trickery. You have to do something new and make some heads turn.”
At 27, Feiza has been turning heads with his brand of funky house since the mid 1990`s. Whether he`s doubling up basslines or startling audiences with unexpected acapellas, Feiza`s music bumps with quirky funk just as much as it surprises its dance floor-friendly audiences.
Feiza`s experimental nature is traced back to high school, when punk rock and industrial music dominated his musical interests. Already a seasoned musician on the guitar, he started channeling his creative energies into the electronic aspect of the music. At the time, Feiza was living in Milwaukee, Wis.; by the time he moved to Madison in 1996, he fully concentrated on electronic music, purchasing his first set of turntables and establishing residencies at Inferno, Cardinal Bar and Club Majestic.
“I loved playing a track and feeling the hair literally stand up on the back of my neck,” Feiza says about playing underground tracks at his early shows. After several nights out, he knew he was hooked.
The DJ continued his residencies with solid, underground fanfare through 2000, when he delved into the production aspect of the business. Since then, Feiza has released tracks on several, prestigious underground house labels including Peaches, Aroma Jaxx, Guesthouse and Guess Who.
Feiza won additional critical acclaim in 2001, when he “out spun” seven competing DJs at SmartBar, Chicago`s annual Inside Chicago DJ Showcase. Out of the eight competitors, Feiza was the only DJ representing Madisonthe other seven were all Chicago originals.
He credits turntable trickery of Derrick Carter, Hyperactive, Miles Maeda and Raoul Belmans as influences on his personal style. “Do something that people aren`t used to rather than just stick the usual five minute song and then mix out,” Feiza adds. “Be creative.”
His creativity earned him spots playing alongside some of the underground scene`s most accomplished artists. Feiza has played alongside artists including Carter, Maeda, Lego, Mazi and James Curd of Greenskeepers.
In 2005, Feiza relocated to Chicago to connect with the city`s music roots and lend more focus to his production career. Recently released tracks include “Digivitis” and “Go Mobile” (Aroma Jaxx), “Guys and Gals” (Peaches), and Guesthouse`s “Step Daddy,” a track remixed by both Maeda and DeMarkus Lewis.
“I want people to be surprised by music,” Feiza says on the future outlook of his Chicago-based career. “It`s all about the realness and creativity behind the sound.”
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