I have followed Risk One’s career very closely this past year since our chance encounter. We shared a couch during SXSW last year–it sounds much dirtier than it was, but it was definitely the quickest way I have ever made a friend. I had heard his name in DJ circles I run in, we have several mutual friends and his mixes are pretty popular amongst DJs and party-goers. His brunch set (part of Mike Swing’s Annual SXSW Funky Brunch) blew me away. It was so clean. Funny thing is, I asked him about it later that night and he didn’t feel the same way. He is a modest DJ, but he knows he’s good, if that makes any sense. The dude really doesn’t have much to be modest about, last year alone his career went places some DJs have never gone. He was in China for 3 weeks, played SXSW, and was nominated by Red Bull and McDonald’s to represent with the countries finest. He was a busy, busy spinster.
One thing about Risk that impresses me most is he does his own bookings. He is in the same travel rotation as a lot of Deckstar and Skam artists, but he is making his own way. Risk sends out a regular newsletter usually linking his latest mix. Last year he released Robot Ears in 3 Volumes. He also has a web, logo design, and event flyer company called R1 Creative. Most of his projects right now are designing for others in his business because to Risk branding is everything.
Guys and gals, meet my pal Risk One!
Yo DJ
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Currently living in San Francisco
Residencies: All over, I’m a floater
He isn’t kidding. Risk truly spends most of his time on the road. His roommate clearly has a sweet deal. Some months he is home less than two weeks. He spent three weeks in Shanghai last year.
Style of DJ/ genres: Open Format
How did you get started as a DJ? I took a DJ class at a teen center, just for kicks. I got into battling and eventually landed a club gig, and the rest is history.
How long have you been DJing? Almost 12 years
OMG! How cute is Risk as a kid? Even the eyebrows are on point!
Biggest Influences to you as a DJ? D-Styles (Skratch Piklz), Rob Swift (Xecutioners), DJ AM
Favorite DJ (s)? Bam Bam, Spryte, Scene, Jayceeoh
Coincidentally Jayceeoh won $10k at the McDonald’s Flavor Battle last year and Risk is currently in the running to represent the West Coast in it this year. Finals are taking place in early February in Miami. You can vote for him here.
What was your most memorable gig? I DJed a straight rave in Seattle last year for some 18+ electro heads. Probably the hardest set I’ve ever played and they ate it up. I played in a tank top b/c it was so hot and sweaty, also my first time stage diving which was pretty awesome
What has been your least favorite gig? Ooh that’s a good one.. I played at Hawaiian Tropic in Vegas once which was pretty terrible. I remember tweeting “f*ck this place” in the middle of my set haha. They had a makeshift DJ booth that was on top of some flimsy boxes, and the go go dancers were on the same platform so I thought the booth was going to fall over. And the pseudo manager was telling me to change up the music less than an hour into my set, despite everyone dancing. Ah well.
Do you get nervous at gigs? Not at this point, crowds are all the same when it comes down to it. Last time I was nervous for an event was the Red Bull Thre3style battle, but that’s more of a performance than a regular club gig.
To be asked to compete in the Red Bull 3style battle alone is a huge honor. He represented the competition in L.A. this past July. Although Risk didn’t make the cut to get to the finals in Vegas, his name was buzzing on the blogs the next day about how dope of a performance he gave.
Risk One – Red Bull Thre3Style 2011 – Los Angeles, CA from Risk One on Vimeo.
Do you prefer playing large venues or more intimate venues? Small clubs are always better. There’s usually a better vibe, people are more into the DJ and music and as a DJ I can feel the energy much better. Big clubs just look cool in photos and videos.
Haze big enough for ya?
Ideal gig? One where everyone dances to whatever I play, there’s no requests, and the cocktail waitress keeps the drinks flowing. And I get paid on time.
Favorite city to play in? San Diego and San Francisco
When traveling, what is your diet like? Ugh.. I try not to eat complete crap, but I’m still eating out for every meal so its not great. I still don’t really eat fast food though, unless I’m desperate.
If you could play whatever you wanted at a gig, what would it be? I like to play everything. The most fun gigs are when you can go all over the board. I love when I can play crazy bugged out electro, super hood rap music, and classic throwback jams and get an equal reaction to all of them. Those are the people that just love to party.
What song right now just gets the crowd going? “Niggas in Paris” by is by far the hottest song to drop right now. “It gets the people going.”
What is your “go-to” in a set, when you need to liven up a party? T.I. “Bring em Out” is pretty much a guaranteed party starter, as is Technotronic “Pump Up theJam.” Risk One Remix of course J. Junior Senior “Move Your Feet” works well, too.
What music/artist can we just do without or do you wish would just go away? As much as I want to say DRAKE, girls love that stuff, so I guess it’s ok. I could definitely go without ever hearing another Soulja Boy song, though
Most annoying person at a set? Oh man… The drunk girl that wants to put on the headphones and scratch. Leaning on everything and violating the DJ’s personal space. Runner up is the annoying girl that wants her song played “next” because she’s leaving soon. And stands by the booth waiting for you to play it.
Biggest Fear as a DJ? Someone knocking over or spilling something on my laptop.
Biggest Accomplishment as a DJ? Landing a 3 week residency in China.
DJ RISK ONE | Lost In Shanghai from Risk One on Vimeo.
Biggest Turn on personally? Ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass ass..
Biggest Turn off personally? smokers
Corporate gigs? Yay or Nay? Yay all day
Requests? Yay or Nay? Nay all day
Rider? Yay or Nay? Yay
If you weren’t DJing, what would you be doing for a career? Running my Graphic Design agency, which I’m doing anyways.
What are you doing when you aren’t DJing? (Hobbies, etc) Running my design agency lol. I’m a workaholic so I’m usually working on something at all times. My hobbies are now my professions so I get to do both.
What is something that most people wouldn’t expect to know about you? I was a huge jock growing up. I played ice hockey and ran track in high school. I went to state in 3 events my senior year, and prob could’ve got a scholarship if I kept running, but I was over it.
Dope… I never would have guessed this or that he plays the piano. Sexy!
Biggest Misconception about DJs? That we’re all man-whores with girls stashed all over the map. Most of my DJ friends are in serious relationships if not married. And most traveling DJs are in cities for less than 24 hours, and that time is spent at the hotel, dinner with the club manager or promoter, working, and then out early the next day. Not a lot of time to chat up random club hoes to bring back to the hotel. Not to say it NEVER happens, but far less than people would assume.
What advice would you give someone that’s pursuing DJing as a career? Don’t quit your day job. The DJ game is all f*cked up these days. It’s become too easy to become a DJ these days, which is making it much harder to do it as a career. The new jacks are driving the price down, and value of what we do. People aren’t paying as much as they used to because they don’t have to. Some n00b with Serato and a laptop will dj for peanuts.
So my advice? Don’t DJ for peanuts, just to DJ. And don’t gig trade just for the sake of saying you play out of town. You won’t get anywhere with either of those. Work on your craft and branding (super important) to make yourself stand out from the 10,000 other DJs just like you. Don’t focus on what everyone else is doing, but what everyone else is NOT doing, and do that. There’s less competition that way.
What do you want to be remembered by after you’re gone? Just as a good DJ and a good person. I want people to respect me, the music I play and the music I make. Can’t really ask for much more than that.
Keep up with Risk One on one his many sites:
twitter.com/riskone
facebook.com/djriskone
soundcloud.com/riskone
