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Presenting Mashup Mike as we travel to Maui, Hawaii! As Mike works his magic behind the turntables, you can anticipate a multi-genre experience that seamlessly blends various musical genres. Continue reading to learn more.

Where are you from and where are you living now?

I grew up all over California, from San Diego to Sonoma County and everywhere in between. I also spent 4 years travelling the world while in the US Navy on board the USS Enterprise. But, in 2010, I escaped the Wine Country paradise for Maui, Hawaii..

What’s your equipment list?

My streaming studio is:
DJM-S7 Mixer
RANE 12 Turntables
MSI Gaming PC for my streaming computer
MSI Gaming Laptop for my DJ laptop and backup/IRL streaming computer

Mobile Gigs:
DDJ-1000 SRT
Miscellaneous speakers, subs, and lights.

Where did your musical journey begin?

I started as a student attempting to learn piano, clarinet, and accordion. All 3 of my teachers fired me and put me on the soundboard. That is where I flourished as a travelling sound engineer.

What made you decide to take up DJing?

That is a crazy story. I followed a couple of local DJs on Facebook, and when we made the switch to Twitch, I became a moderator. After some time, another DJ sent me some mashups, and I was hooked. From there I learnt how to DJ and blend via a mouse and keyboard, and that is where the addiction started. From there I have learnt from the best, watching them on Twitch. Over the years I have upped my game and moved from an SB3 to a controller to turntables, and who knows where from here!

When did you start streaming on Twitch?

My first stream was on February 12, 2021, mixing, blending, and beat matching with a mouse. Since then, my streams have grown as I grow as a DJ. Taking what I learn from the Twitch greats and developing my own style from that.

Is there anything you really hope to accomplish in your life, whether it be related to music or not?

I just want to be as good of a person as my cat thinks I am. Other than that, I just want to keep growing as a DJ. Near-term goals are to make Partner on Twitch and get a couple of gigs outside of Hawaii.

Who are some of your favourite streamers? Why?

That is a loaded question, but I would have to say DJBrisk, DJYaYYY, DJMagicMike01, DJIcyIce, and so many more, not only for their unsurpassed talent but also for the community they have developed.

What is your favourite genre to play? Why?

Ouch! If I was pressed to pick one, it would have to be Mashups. I am a very open genre DJ and enjoy playing everything from Rock to Pop, Hip-Hop to Country, Breaks to House and everything in between. I have even been known to play a Progressive Polka song or two.

What are some of the most memorable events you’ve participated in or streamed?

My very first DJ competition taught me a lot. I didn’t place but was told I dropped the best set out of everyone, and the eventual winner was actually pre-selected to win. My most memorable stream to date was probably the memorial stream we did for one of my moderators. Let’s just say the love and community support were beyond comparison!!!!

What does Team Brisk mean to you?

The community support, the camaraderie, and most importantly, the chance to learn from so many incredible DJs.

What’s your favourite thing about DJing on Twitch?

Being able to connect with so many people around the world. And to reconnect with people that I have crossed paths with so many years ago and never even knew it. One of my moderators and I met over 20 years ago when I towed their boat back to the dock at the lake, and it wasn’t until Twitch and talking about my days at the lake when we realised we met way back when.

What is a challenge you’ve faced as a DJ/streamer?

Being able to grow my channel. I am not a self-promoter and actually really suck at marketing. Our growth has been purely organic, and we have grown to such an amazing community. I am faced with the same challenges as an IRL DJ. That growth has been through organic connections and word of mouth and continues to grow.

Do you have any special projects, streams or events you would like to tell us about?

We are currently kicking off our Push for Partner and hope to make Partner by Thanksgiving this year. We continue to grow and continue to increase our numbers almost every stream but are still just slightly shy of what we need.

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out and/or thank?

I would like to first shout out my wife for her support in this journey. God for his blessings and grace. My moderators for their never-ending dedication to the stream. And all of the incredible DJs for their teaching, support, and nuggets of wisdom they share without even knowing it.

Give us your links!

Twitch: Twitch.tv/MashupMike808
Instagram: Mashup_Mike

As we speak with the Hardcore expert known as Doughboy this week, we are travelling to Seattle, Washington, in the United States. Continue reading to learn more.

Where are you from and where are you living now?

I was born and raised in Casper Wyoming. I moved to Seattle, Washington when I was 19.

How did you come up with your DJ name?

It came about in second grade from a classmate. I tried to use a different name for my dj name at the beginning though everyone told me to use my nickname, Doughboy.

What’s your equipment list?

XDJ-1000 (x3), Technic 1200s (x2), DJM-900 NXS2, Shure SM-58 Microphone

Where did your musical journey begin?

I started when I was a little kid and my aunts would try to teach me the piano. I then joined the school band in 5th grade and played the trombone. I played that until my senior year of high school where I was part of multiple all-state bands. My junior year of high school was when I started trying my hand at DJing.

What made you decide to take up DJing?

I got into raving and thought DJing was cool. I got into Happy Hardcore in the beginning and one of the only ways to hear it was from a couple of local DJs or get records myself.

What are some of your interests/hobbies/passions outside of streaming/DJing?

I spend a lot of my time in audio production. Ix do love cooking as well. When I am not doing those, I like hanging out with my wife and dogs.

When did you start streaming on Twitch?

I started streaming on Twitch when a lot of others did when the pandemic started. I have been streaming on other sites before this for quite a while.

Is there anything you really hope to accomplish in your life, whether it be related to music or not?

Making sure I can create a great retirement for myself and my wife.

Who are some of your favourite streamers? Why?

Four Color Zack because he is a very engaging and creative stream. I would say Jimni Cricket as well because of her viewer engagement in every stream. I would say my favourite non-music streamer has got to be Kitboga. I was obsessed with his stream for quite a while.

What is your favourite genre to play? Why?

Happy Hardcore!

What are some of the most memorable events you’ve participated in or streamed?

I would say my first out-of-state booking was great. I got to share the stage with Brisk and Marc Smith. That night was epic. I always love to play Sakuracon in Seattle. It’s one of my favourite events to play. For streaming, whenever there is a Team Brisk raid event it’s a good time.

What does Team Brisk mean to you?

It’s a group of like-minded motivated people who want to share their passion with the world.

What’s your favourite thing about DJing on Twitch?

I love DJing on Twitch as I can stream and then go directly to my couch to chill. When DJing at an event. I rarely get home at a good hour.

What is a challenge you’ve faced as a DJ/streamer?

A big challenge I have is to stay motivated after all these years. Whenever I see people having a good time when I play, my motivation gas tank gets filled again.

Do you have any special projects, streams or events you would like to tell us about?

I have quite a few bookings coming up across the US. I hope to get more new music out this year as well.

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out and/or thank?

Big shoutout to DJ Brisk for making this happen. Also big thanks to my Seattle family.

Links?
https://linktr.ee/doughboy_hxc

Note: This article was originally authored by Ashley from Streamtribe on July 5th, 2022. Due to Streamtribe closing down at the end of July 2023, we’re reposting the article to preserve the content.

Spending his youth in the UK when Rap and Dance music made their way over from the US, Brisk boasts a concoction of flavor in his sound. In 1985, he was introduced to the music scene by rap and Hip Hop, as these genres were already blowing up in the US. In the late 80s, House and Techno music became a prominent factor in the UK club scene, introducing the explosion of the “rave” that we all know and love today.

Brisk shared with us this brief history lesson of Dance music as he’s been living it for the past few decades. In fact, he played a significant role in introducing Hardcore to the UK rave scene in the early 90s. As time passed, he expanded his club reach by diving into Hard House. However, Brisk notes that his core origins are not with dance music at all. 

According to Brisk, Rap is where it all began for him. Even his name, Brisk, originated from his early days in the Hip Hop scene. “I came up through the music scene as a youngster listening to Rap music and the whole Hip Hop scene captured the youth of my era,” he explains. “I dabbled in break dancing and graffiti and ‘Brisk’ was my graffiti tag back in the day. The name works well in terms of how I play my music and I tend to pitch things up and maintain a level of energy regardless of which genres I’m playing.”

Although with roots in Hardcore, Brisk never likes to limit himself to one genre. He notes that streaming has opened doors for him to explore new genres and never really feel confined to one sound or idea. Brisk enjoys playing Rap, House, Progressive, Melodic, Breaks, Electro, Juke, BMore, Drum & Bass, Trance, and Techno. However, he notes that these are just a few favorites—the list could go on.

A Lifetime of Accomplishments

Brisk is a well-accomplished award-winning DJ with a success story that any aspiring artist can appreciate. He has toured the globe, acquired numerous accolades and awards, compiled and mixed multiple albums, hosted radio shows and podcasts, and much more. Not to mention, Brisk is the co-owner of three successful underground record labels, Blatant Beats, Next Generation, and Stimulant Records. The labels have released more than 600 titles combined.

For someone so accomplished and well-rounded with decades of experience in the scene, it’s fair to ask, why Twitch? How did someone so wrapped up in the budding UK music scene transition into a highly-regarded Twitch streamer with a global team of artists in his collective? 

Brisk’s Transition to Twitch

Brisk is somewhat of a veteran in the Twitch DJ scene, as he got involved in 2017, long before any pandemic was on the world’s radar. In fact, he had been streaming four years before that on Facebook, where he first immersed himself into this fascinating digital production world. 

“After around 4 years streaming via Facebook I migrated to Twitch in late 2017. I was feeling burned out with the lack of streaming foresight and functionality on Facebook and despite having significant viewers on the platform I found the algorithms and quality very lacklustre with constant issues with each show,” says Brisk. “It was a big leap of faith as I left behind hundreds of viewers and started with around 10 viewers on Twitch and I did question whether or not I’d made the right choice. Suffice to say I now wish I’d discovered the platform much sooner.”

Everyone measures success differently, but in any world, reaching Partner status on Twitch is something to raise a glass to. Brisk recently celebrated two years as Partner, which has allowed him to completely reformat his vision for the Brisk project. 

For starters, Brisk notes that his Partner status was a driving force behind his ability to set up a team—Team Brisk.

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Team Brisk

Team Brisk is a global collective of artists covering many styles of music and streaming. Initially, his vision was to build a team page with 24-hour streaming similar to what one might find at a radio station. However, with an open mind, Brisk could integrate various forms of art outside of music into his team. ASMR, art streams, and other alternative shows are streams that make up Team Brisk today.

On that note, Brisk adds, “I have to say that I’m very proud of the team and the way in which we all strive to help each achieve our streaming goals.”

The Reason to Stay

Twitch presented Brisk with opportunities he’d never know would be possible. Once a skeptic, Brisk couldn’t imagine life without it. In addition to providing a welcoming space for him to flex all the many genres he loves, the platform offers an unfathomable convenience that creators cannot find elsewhere. 

Brisk loves being able to jump on a stream from his home whenever he finds the time. There’s no need to go anywhere or coordinate with friends. He can log on at any time and be in front of an audience anywhere in the world. The flexibility is important to him, as he works a job that involves many irregular hours, including evenings and weekends. Luckily for the Twitch community, time zones don’t necessarily exist—the party starts whenever you say it does.

He adds, “it’s great to know that I can stream when convenient and always have a blast with people!”

New Beginnings: Moving to Australia

Relocating across the globe from the UK to the subtropical Brisbane, Australia, ten years ago, Brisk had to make some significant lifestyle adjustments. First, he was forced to adjust to “a very irregular delivery of quality of internet speed.” And as anyone can imagine, technical difficulties galore.

Especially for someone who is turning to streaming as their primary form of content sharing, a high-quality internet connection is non-negotiable.

“There was a point in the early years where my internet connection was so poor that I had to use a portable 4G dongle in order to stream and the data costs were outrageous,” he adds. 

For viewers, it’s easy to sit back and watch the show without considering what it takes to run a stream. Of course, your favorite streamers don’t want you to be worried about their technical difficulties. Still, it’s certainly something to allow you to express gratitude to everyone involved—from the streamers to the mods. As a viewer, your job is to sit back and enjoy the music, whatever that means to you.

Brisk goes on, “I’m pleased to say that I now have a custom stream room with fibre to the premises and I can now achieve the quality I’ve been yearning for for so many years. It really does make a huge difference having reliable internet and decent speeds.”

Some Things Come Full Circle

We asked Brisk to reflect on his years in the music scene and choose a moment that stood out. With nearly four decades of music under his belt, he understandably finds it a difficult question to answer. Having traveled the world, accepted rewards, and pioneered several record labels, any memories that do stand out must be good ones.

Brisks reflects on his birthday celebrations in the early 90s at the famous Club Kinetic, where he was a resident DJ at the time. He again recalls on his recent 50th birthday celebration on Twitch which began as a special back-to-back set with the legendary hardcore DJ S3RL and snowballed into a five-day bender thanks to the Team Brisk members. “Which really was an epic experience and something I’ll never forget,” he adds.

“A special thanks to my mod and technical team: Kezza, Kara, Ken, Craig, Emma, Lianne, Zora, Charlotte, Amy, Luna, Emily, Ian,” says Brisk. “A huge shout to all 191 amazing members of Team Brisk which whom I am proud and privileged to be able to work alongside. And of course a massive thank you and shout out to everyone who turns up week in, week out to attend all of our streams and shows, without you guys it really wouldn’t be worthwhile. Thank you all x.”

This week we visit Vancouver, Canada as we catch up with the mighty Trance juggernaut, Somna!

Where are you from and where are you living now?

I’m originally from Calgary, Canada, but now living in Vancouver, Canada.

How did you come up with your DJ name?

It came about when a friend and I were trying to come up with a new artist name for my trance alias and he suggested “Somna” which is a kind of zombie and I was really into playing Call Of Duty’s Zombie Mode during that time and I was sold. I found out that “Somna” means “to fall asleep” in Swedish and that also made alot of sense because I produce Trance although I’d rather people not fall asleep to my music!

What’s your equipment list?

I suppose since this is stream-centric my streaming setup is a pair of Pioneer CDJ2000’s, a Pioneer DJM9000NX2 and then I have 3 cameras, a Sony A6100 for my front facing camera, an old Sony Camcorder for the side and an iPhone 8 for roaming / top down. I have a streamdeck XL to control my scenes as well as a streamdeck pedal (so useful) and a Korg Nanpod for triggering and randomizing visuals. Also a Pioneer RMX1000 for shennigans

Where did your musical journey begin?

I suppose it began in 2001 when I went to my first rave and fell in love with the music!

What made you decide to take up DJing?

The first few raves I went to were magical but there were moments where I felt the DJ wasn’t playing a song that I enjoyed so I decided I would love to be the one up there playing all my favorite tunes.

What are some of your interests/hobbies/passions outside of streaming/DJing?

Definitely Badminton, I play alot in my spare time and then my cat “Chicken”

When did you start streaming on Twitch?

I started in 2020 around March, just when the pandemic was starting to take ahold of us all and right before everywhere sold out of Logitech webcam’s and people started scalping them for ridiculous prices.

Is there anything you really hope to accomplish in your life, whether it be related to music or not?

I suppose for me there are some dream gigs that I would love to play someday and they’re goals I’ve set for myself. Other than that I’m incredibly blessed with the people I have in my life so I’m mostly just grateful!

Who are some of your favourite streamers? Why?

That Brisk guy, so hot right now…. haha! Hmm, I find DirkNeuenfels extremely entertaining and then there’s partingthebigboy who is just hilarious on top of being one of the best starcraft 2 players in the world.

What is your favourite genre to play? Why?

That’s tough, I love playing all styles although I’m most associated with Trance from my productions. I’d have to say Trance just because its all kinds of feels and I love to share my music.

What are some of the most memorable events you’ve participated in or streamed?

I will never forget trying canned chicken on stream, so nasty.

What does Team Brisk mean to you?

Team Brisk is an amazing collective of people who pour their hearts into their passion of streaming and I’m honored to be among the rest of you.

What’s your favourite thing about DJing on Twitch?

How random I can be and also be able to play different styles of music without any expectations or judgement.

What is a challenge you’ve faced as a DJ/streamer?

I think burnout is something I’ve struggled with in the last little while, I used to stream for many hours on end but I think burnout is quite real and I sometimes struggle with coming up with fresh ideas to keep my streams interesting.

Do you have any special projects, streams or events you would like to tell us about

I do!! My brand new album “Satellites” just came out a few weeks ago and I would love you long time if you’d take a listen or purchase the CD or Vinyl! >> https://blackhole.lnk.to/satellites

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out and/or thank?

Shoutout to my amazing mods who tirelessly login and help me with my streams. I hope you all know how appreciated you are, thank you!

Give us your links!

somnamusic.com
twitch.tv/somnamusic
instagram.com/somnamusic
facebook.com/somnamusic
twitter.com/somnamusic
youtube.com/somnamusic

We are heading to Vancouver, Canada this week as we visit the legendary Twitch Hardstyle Queen, Violit for a catch up. Read on to find out more…

Where are you from and where are you living now?

I was born in Vancouver, Canada and have lived here all my life!

How did you come up with your DJ name?

“I thought it was a fun play on words! A combination of my favourite things and my hyped up demeanor.”
 
What’s your equipment list?

Controller: Pioneer DJ DDJ-1000
Software: Rekordbox
Microphone: Shure SM7B
Mic Arm: Gator Frameworks
Headphones: Vmoda Crossfade LP2
Audio Interface: Behringer U-Phoria UMC202HD
Cameras: Sony Alpha A6400, GoPro Hero 8 Black

As well as some crappy speakers (I mix completely in my headphones), a StreamDeck and a lot of Govee lights.

Where did your musical journey begin?

I have been very musical all my life starting from a young age. As a child I used to dress up and sing and dance around the living room to my parents’ music pretending to be a Rock star. I took guitar lessons through my teenage years and played and sang in a cover band. I also sang in the choir in high school.

What made you decide to take up DJing?

During the global pandemic I found it quite depressing to be shut in at home and unable to go out to dance and enjoy my favourite music: Hardstyle – I decided to invest in an entry-level controller to try to learn how to DJ and stream the whole thing on Twitch for a hopefully fun party experience. I never expected things to blow up the way in which they have!

What are some of your interests/hobbies/passions outside of streaming/DJing?

I’ve been an avid PC gamer my whole life and still enjoy playing Overwatch and some other games in my downtime. I also love cooking and baking, relaxing with my dog, and going on nature walks in beautiful British Columbia.

When did you start streaming on Twitch?

I’ve been streaming on Twitch for longer than I can even keep track of, I think it’s been 7+ years now. I streamed games on Twitch for MANY years before I took up DJing.

Is there anything you really hope to accomplish in your life, whether it be related to music or not?

I am so inspired to keep pushing myself and keep improving as a DJ and performer. My next goal is to learn music production so that I can start making my own tracks with my own vocals. I hope to be able to create some music that others will really enjoy.

Who are some of your favourite streamers? Why?

The first one who comes to mind is Char_dj because she is the one who introduced me to Team Brisk and I will forever love her for that! (Plus, she is amazingly talented and just an awesome person). DJ_Brady too because he makes me laugh and was another one of the first Team Brisk members I met. Heyitsipo because we have met up IRL and played back to back DJ sets together and she’s so talented and sweet. Rallendj because she’s super talented and fun, and I hope to go visit her some day.

Honestly the list could go on forever because I have so many favourites. Everyone in Team Brisk is a legend!

What is your favourite genre to play? Why?

Anything Hard Dance! I’ve been listening to and loving Hardstyle for many years now and it never fails to get me pumped up and improve my mood no matter what is going on in my life. Happy Hardcore / UK Hardcore is so much fun, too!

What are some of the most memorable events you’ve participated in or streamed?

My most recent gig was a private party consisting of mostly people who had not heard Hard Dance before. I got to play a two hour set in order to hopefully convert them and they went absolutely nuts! My laptop actually almost fell off the stand from the vibrations of everyone jumping around, what a memory.

I also recently took part in a charity stream for GamersOutreach and was able to raise over $1200 for children in hospitals which makes me extremely proud of the Twitch music community and what we can accomplish!

What does Team Brisk mean to you?

I always saw Team Brisk as quite a prestigious group of talented DJs. When I started getting more heavily into the music community on Twitch I was always impressed by any DJ who was on Team Brisk. To me it represents good vibes, supporting one another, and a genuine love for the music! I’m so honoured to be a part of it.

What’s your favourite thing about DJing on Twitch?

DJing on Twitch is my happy place! Being able to share my favourite music with people all over the world and interact with them is such a cool feeling. I feel like in some way I am finally living out my childhood dreams. I started out singing and dancing around the living room as a kid and now I’m dancing around, singing, and DJing on Twitch having the absolute time of my life. I still can’t believe how much of a positive response and support I have gotten from the Twitch music community and I’m forever grateful for that.

What is a challenge you’ve faced as a DJ/streamer?

The biggest one would be technical difficulties. I was having a lot of problems with my cameras for a while when I was using two GoPros. After I moved to my new place I had to set everything up again and had a lot of issues getting the sound quality to where I wanted it to be. There’s a lot of stuff to manage that goes on behind the scenes!

Do you have any special projects, streams or events you would like to tell us about?
I’ve got a number of tracks that I’m collaborating on with different producers that I have met through Twitch. I’m a vocalist and lyricist as well and always look forward to creating things with others! There’s also some other things in the works that I can’t disclose quite yet but stay tuned for more hype!

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out and/or thank?

Like I mentioned earlier I’m so thankful to Char and Brady for initiating me to Team Brisk. Also thanks to the man Brisk himself for accepting me to be a part of this awesome team! And of course, a HUGE thank you to all the supporters and people who hang out in my stream and have gotten me to where I am now. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you guys <3

Give us your links!

https://www.twitch.tv/vioLit_TV
https://www.instagram.com/dj_vioLit
https://twitter.com/vioLit_TV
https://www.mixcloud.com/vioLit
https://soundcloud.com/vioLit_TV
https://discord.com/invite/vioLit

Vancouver, Canada is our destination this week as pay a visit to Drum & Bass supremo, DJ Moases for the low down. Read on…

Where are you from and where are you living now?

I reside in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; respectfully acknowledging that we live and work on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

How did you come up with your DJ name?
Moases was a nickname in high school due to my last name being Moase, so eventually it re-emerged as my dj name.

What’s your equipment list?

Headphones: Pioneer HDJ X10
Controller: Pioneer DDJ RZX
Streaming PC: Acer Predator Helios 300
Cameras: Go Pro 9 & Logitech C920

Where did your musical journey begin?

Attending shows and festivals and just being a part of as many musical events as I could, simply for the passion of the music. Opening for Phibes, Royal Blood, Whitness and Dj Surgeon in Squamish here in our local vicinity. The first bit of inspiration to do music began with being a constant listener and
the person in my friends groups who always had what everyone described as the best selections, finding all the songs no one knew about. Once I attended my first shows and festivals, I caught the bug to want to learn the craft and culture so that I could in turn contribute back into it and become a part of it all.

What made you decide to take up DJing?

Well as I mentioned, a mix of being inspired and wanting to give back to the community and culture. I never needed anything when going out to shows or fests other than the music. The experience fills me with joy and energy in the purest way. Being able to fully commit to digging into my musical passions with djing became a path of doing what I love and desire. Being able to share the best possible performances I could with friends and passionate music lovers alike spoke to me, and I’m proud to do it full time these days.

What are some of your interests/hobbies/passions outside of streaming/DJing?

I snowboard a ton during the winter months which has become a big passion of mine over the past three years as well. I include the content I film during those adventures in my streams. Being where I am location wise, I am super blessed to have three local mountains to ride nearby, and Whistler Blackcomb being a pretty short distance from me as well.

I hope to keep leveling up and growing in the sport as well with ambitions to do some more really gnarly free riding! I also take part in dance meets and communities, being a shuffler for years now. I integrate my flow arts into both of those activities as well, doing LED staffing and fire staffing for the last few years. I also get some meditation from keeping and maintaining aquascapes.

When did you start streaming on Twitch?

My first random stream would have been about 2 years ago but frankly I didn’t actually stream until about February 2021.

Is there anything you really hope to accomplish in your life, whether it be related to music or not?

I hope to inspire others to explore new ideas or start their own journey and to build a community people feel at home within. I want to contribute more to the culture than I take from it, with original works and creations, as well as supporting others genuinely.

I have ambitions to do more music production, live music creation, and enhance myself as an artist. Hoping to play all the festivals and places that have inspired me along the way.

Who are some of your favourite streamers? Why?

Team Brisk members are a pretty awesome crew from Brisk himself all the way to the newer members. I enjoy El Hornet, DJ Qbert, The Funk Hunters, John B, a large chunk of the Drum & Bass community, and honestly so many that I feel bad for not naming them all, but the list would be massive.

What is your favourite genre to play? Why?

Drum and bass, it’s my lifeblood so to say and has changed my life in so many positive ways. I take a passionate approach to understanding the culture, and contributing to it when and where I can.

What are some of the most memorable events you’ve participated in or streamed?

We have had so many memorable moments this past year and a bit that I wouldn’t know where to begin. Locally, it was really cool to play a closing slot at the Red Room here in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. That has been an aspiration of mine for a good number of years as a patron there and enjoying what they do. Winning 3 Breakbeat awards was a fun event last year as well. All the marathon sets I’ve done, going for up to 28 hours at a time, standing and djing the whole time with incredibly awesome people encouraging and enjoying the experience I put forth during them. I did over 2000 hours djing on stream this past year and every memory has been one I hold dear.

What does Team Brisk mean to you?

It means community and like minded people who are passionate about the same things and more, even if our genres aren’t the same. It’s nice to be in a group where so many people appreciate the hard work of maintaining a team network, contributing to it, and making this a place where we all support eachother.

What’s your favourite thing about DJing on Twitch?

The fact that it flipped the industry on it’s head at the start of the lockdowns etc. It’s been nice to see so many people building up their communities and as a result, building up and maintaining the culture behind each of our genres and for music in general. I’d also say the ability to interact and support back and forth with artists that I’ve looked up to that contribute a lot to the culture is a pretty cool
part of twitch. I feel twitch helped to bridge the gap between people with “fame” and those who were newer to it all. It creates a common ground for people with similar passions and I think that is absolutely beautiful!

What is a challenge you’ve faced as a DJ/streamer?

There’s definitely a few there. Occasionally dealing with streamers/djs/viewers who hold some toxic mindsets, that gate keep and project their own insecurities and issues onto you and try to bring you down. As an empathic person, that’s been a hard one at times. The other biggest challenge is being the sole person at the end of the day that’s in charge of my growth and scheduling, as well as rolling along with life and how it pans out. I care deeply about making a positive contribution to the culture, and supporting others in it as well.

It’s hard as an over analytical person not to constantly beat myself up and compare and think that I am failing or not doing enough. I am known for being pretty hard on myself in pursuit of perfectionism. Some days that can be a heavier weight than others. Streaming is not always kind to you as a streamer, lending itself akin to a mental roller coaster; but I wouldn’t trade it for anything as the positive experiences far overpower the others!

Do you have any special projects, streams or events you would like to tell us about?

Well I just streamed my 5k follower mark celebration last week and that was incredible to say the least. I plan to do a couple new series of streams such as the remix battles, smol handimonium and some other games with some special additions and shenanigans in mind. I also play my first international headline booking this year which is pretty exciting.

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out and/or thank?

I’d like to thank all the people who supported me since the start, there’s way too many to name but I hope they know how much I cherish it all. Thankful to have the people that I do in my life that elevate me and keep me motivated. I’d like to thank Brisk for putting this together and finding ways to bring the team closer together. Nice to see a team leader who is actively engaging in their team and bringing
together so many people! The amount of talent and awesomeness in Team Brisk is astounding. Big shout out to Dnbeadz for being an awesome partner and support for myself as well.

Give us your links!

https://linktr.ee/moases

We are heading to Seattle, USA for this weeks ‘Team Brisk Streamer of the Week’ feature as we stop in for a chat with the one, the only – Ian K!

Where are you from and where are you living now?

Born and raised in Seattle, WA the land of overcast skies 9 months out of the year!

How did you come up with your DJ name?

When I was first getting into the scene there were a lot of local DJs with some pretty cool stage names, for a while I was really trying to think of something unique to go by but never found anything that I loved. I started out as an MC and went by the name MC Verbal because I sometimes have a habit of never shutting up! When it came to DJing I initially thought I would just keep Verbal, but then determined I wanted something new and separate from what I’d done before. I had a promoter asking me what name to put on a flyer for an upcoming show and I had run out of ideas so I just told them “Ian K” which is my real name and decided that was probably the best I was going to come up with!

What’s your equipment list?

XDJ-1000 (x2)
DJM-2000 mixer
Shure SM-58 Microphone

Where did your musical journey begin?

I first fell in love with dance music when my neighbour gave me a copy of the KLF’s “White Room” album in 1991. I was immediately hooked on the use of sampling and the pounding rhythms, along with the imagery the music evoked. From that moment forward I was fascinated with dance music and electronic music production!

On the production side I got introduced to midi sequencing In high school, we had an old computer running Cubase that I learned some basics on. At the same time I was in a punk band and was learning about studio recording techniques so I was able to apply ideas from both worlds to what I was making. Eventually that led to using Reason, then Cubase, then on to other DAWs over the years!

What made you decide to take up DJing?

I had a few friends that were really into DJing, specifically my best friend DJ Dummy who encouraged me to give it a try. I started buying records in 1999 (‘Dream Surprise’ by Fade and Bannanaman was the very first!) from a local shop and soon found myself practicing more and more. Initially it was mainly a way for me to keep up to date on the latest tunes so I was familiar with them as an MC, over time I started to really love the creativity in mixing and started to focus more of my time on that than getting on the mic!

What are some of your interests/hobbies/passions outside of streaming/DJing?

A huge focus in my life is encouraging the people around me to tap into their creativity and have fun creating art of any kind! It’s something that is a true passion of mine and I absolutely love supporting other creatives and sharing ideas around motivation, inspiration and developing artistic ideas. I also love playing around with electronics and have worked on a few different art projects that I’ve taken to Burning Man and other festivals. I’m also a huge pro wrestling fan and enjoy attending local independent shows.

When did you start streaming on Twitch?

I initially began streaming on Twitch in early 2020 after several other DJs I worked with moved there from other various streaming platforms like Facebook Live. I was immediately impressed with how much better the platform was for connecting with an audience! Early on I got a lot of help from Hartshorn to get up to speed on all things Twitch, they are a fantastic resource to anyone getting into DJ Streaming! Now that I’ve been at it for a while I absolutely love the community on Twitch and meeting so many talented people!

Is there anything you really hope to accomplish in your life, whether it be related to music or not?

More than anything I want to encourage everyone I meet to try their hand at creating art and expressing themselves whether it’s music, painting, electronics, writing or really anything else. I feel strongly that the act of creating is something important that everyone should get to enjoy, and that creativity just for the fun of it often brings a lot of joy into our lives and the lives of others. My motto that I want to share with everyone is to “Go forth and be awesome!”

Who are some of your favourite streamers? Why?

I’m a huge fan of Jimni Cricket, having played alongside them for many years I love to see their creativity and themes in their streams. Others that I really enjoy include No Left Turn, Hartshorn and DagHardcore for their engaging performances. Outside of music streams I enjoy Kitboga a ton, seeing him messing with scam callers really makes my day sometimes! I also enjoy watching video game streamers like heymeowdy, they have a fantastic community!

What is your favourite genre to play? Why?

For me it’s always been about hardcore tunes, anything 170 BPM and above! I love the energy and the excitement of hardcore music, and it always puts a smile on my face. Beyond hardcore I’m a big fan of Drum & Nass, Future Bass, and I’ve had some very fun Trance streams over the past year.

What are some of the most memorable events you’ve participated in or streamed?

In the Summer of 2022 I participated in a stream raid train where we were seeking donations for local food banks. When it got to my slot I let viewers know that I would personally match donations during my set and we ended up raising over $800 for NW Harvest, California Association of Foodbanks, and Los Angeles Regional Foodbanks during my set!

In terms of live gigs I’ve been lucky to get to perform at both HTID in the Sun and HTID USA. Those were life changing events for me as I got to connect with a ton of amazing artists and meet so many hardcore ravers from all over the world. It really helped me to see how this music we love reaches far and wide and positively impacts so many lives!

What does Team Brisk mean to you?

Team Brisk is a fantastic collective of artists spanning all across the globe filled with artists who have a genuine desire to share amazing music with others. There have been so many opportunities to learn from others and to share tips back and I really appreciate the team in helping me grow. I love that at nearly any time day or night there is likely a Team Brisk artist streaming, it makes you feel like you are a part of a large family and it has been an amazing source of support and encouragement since I joined!

What’s your favourite thing about DJing on Twitch?

On Twitch I feel like I can take risks or change things up in ways I never could in a club or rave environment. Sometimes I’ll play a Ska song, some days we’ll let chat choose genres, or maybe instead of playing music we’ll chat about music production. One of my favorite experiences from the past year has been Q & A streams alongside No Left Turn and Doughboy where we get to share ideas and answer production and DJ questions from the audience.

What is a challenge you’ve faced as a DJ/streamer?

There are some days where it’s easy to feel discouraged, you log in to start your stream and see someone playing minecraft with 10k viewers and start to wonder if it’s worth it to stream at all. Keeping things fresh and not feeling too repetitive is also something that takes some effort, you always want to ensure that you have something new to share! The great thing is that once you start up a stream and see friends in chat it’s easy to get into a good flow and just enjoy the music along with them.

Do you have any special projects, streams or events you would like to tell us about?

I’ve recently signed with the label Subsonic Underground, which was one of the crews that really helped me get my start in the early 2000s. One of my goals this year is to release an artist album, something that SSU has been very supportive of. Right now I have about 12 songs in demo form that I’ve been play testing on stream, if you’ve caught a show you’ve likely heard some previews. I’m looking forward to sharing it with everyone later this year!

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out and/or thank?

Big shout out to Brisk for taking the initiative to build this community and helping so many of us hit our stride on Twitch. Much love to my close friends No Left Turn and Doughboy who are a constant source of support and motivation, as well as Dummy and the whole seattleHARDCORE crew.

I also want to give a shout out to HeyMeowdy and Hartshorn, both gave me a lot of very helpful advice about Twitch early on and I don’t think I would enjoy streaming as much without their support early on.

Give us your links?

https://linktr.ee/iankhardcore

We are heading to Washington State, US this week as we take as take an inside look into the realms of virtual worlds in which the amazing Nephtanica reigns supreme!

Where are you from and where are you living now?

Washington State, USA

How did you come up with your DJ name?

My Name came from the term the term Nephilai, which is a mythological water fairy, but I later found it was easier and more fitting to describe me as a Nephilim. This made more sense due to the term meaning basically hybrid, between two species so the name is a hybrid between the term Nephilim and a comic book called Satanika.

What’s your equipment list?

Motherboard: ROG STRIX B550-F GAMING
Cpu: Ryzen 7 5800x 8 Core 3800Mhz
Ram: Corsair Vengance x4 16gb (64gb) 3400mhz
Graphics: Asus TUF RTX 3090 factory overclocked
PSU: Be Quiet 80+ platinum 1000 watt
Monitor: AOC 1920×1080 144hz
HD: Seagate 4tb GreenLabel, M.2 SSD: 1tb Samsung pro

Where did your musical journey begin?

When I was born my Dad was massively into music and although we do not see eye to eye, he is a professional musician who primarily plays the guitar, so I’ve been around music my whole life as a result.

What made you decide to take up DJing?

I originally wanted to be in a Metal band, but I didn’t necessarily want to follow my fathers footsteps, and I got introduced to the EDM Scene in Virtual Reality Chat and a few of my friends (who I met that day) were all EDM producers and DJs. I witnessed one of my first Virtual DJ events and I didn’t think I would’ve wanted to be a DJ, but I surprised myself just last year and bought my first DJ controller (a Pioneer DDJ 400). I was only shown how to DJ once and just barley one year later, here I am one of the best DJ’s on VR Chat as well as one of the heaviest. And funnily enough it was a fellow Team Brisk member who helped me to set it up, my friend – Itslumivr!

What are some of your interests/hobbies/passions outside of streaming/DJing?

3D modelling and playing first person shooters and multiplayer online role-playing games.

When did you start streaming on Twitch?

I started streaming back in 2015, it’s been an amazing journey so far!

Is there anything you really hope to accomplish in your life, whether it be related to music or not?

I want to become a music producer and go from being just a DJ to being one of the best Tearout/Horror EDM producers as well as becoming more successful on Twitch.

Who are some of your favourite streamers? Why?

Roflgator, DJBrisk, Jouffa, Gap_Gap and many, many more. But in all honesty, when I became a full time streamer myself, I have stopped watching streams as much due to time constraints.

What is your favourite genre to play? Why?

Tearout, because most people assume I play the music I do because I’m angry, and maybe at times that’s true, but the main reason is because a huge heavy Tearout Dubstep drop is one of the few things in music thats ever made me actually feel happy and smile! I’ve always related a lot better to depressive heavy post Hardcore Metal and I’d never have known what it was like to feel happy when listening to a music style until well last year when i heard the artist Marauda, a Tearout Dubstep artist. From there I’ve just gotten more and more into it and now I’m inspired to make the music too, or at the very least, try my best.

What are some of the most memorable events you’ve participated in or streamed?

Well it was a VR Chat community called ‘Kawaii Till Die’, and what made it so memorable was the fact when I started playing, the world went from 20 to almost 80 people in the lobby and I had the entire audience up front head banging their legs up on the DJ booth, vibing hard! Hearing everyone screaming made me realise I’ve never felt so much energy in my life! It kinda made me realise that I’d found another way to do music. It was a life changing experience and one I will never forget.

What does Team Brisk mean to you?

Everything Team Brisk has been the most accepting most amazing and loving community. I’ve been through a lot in my life, from feeling extremely low feeling and no one really caring (this was prior to streaming). I’ve never felt such a strong sense of ‘family’ in my life, even though I still feel I’m extremely ‘out there’. To have Brisk be accepting of me and the style I play, dude there is no one i look up to more than the man himself. Brisk seriously thank you for letting me be apart of you family and apart of something so positive!

What’s your favourite thing about DJing on Twitch?

The people who love it and seeing everyone hype in the chat, the feeling of making people’s sorrows dissapear and seeing us as ‘one people’ and not all the negative things in life.

What is a challenge you’ve faced as a DJ/streamer?

Back in 2015 people made fun of me, a lot, due to my voice and the raspy nature of it. Being female I also got called alot of things, but that aside, the hardest thing was learning how to DJ without being able to see my controller due to wearing a VR headset on my head!

Do you have any special projects, streams or events you would like to tell us about?

Well I would like to try and do a Team Brisk event in VR Chat and I also run a monthly event called ‘Soulfest’ in VR Chat, which is a ‘head bangers ball’, with basically all the heaviest and best DJs I can find play for my Virtual Club ‘Soul Well’.

Is there anyone you’d like to shout out and/or thank?

DJBrisk
Char_DJ
Roflgator
Gap_Gap
Itslumivr
S0ra
Castle
Tukitorch
Darklordkris
Jouffa

Links? (add your socials etc here):

Twitch
Twitter
Instagram