DJ Interviews: Dave Zetlin

Hey guys DJ Dizzy here & I had the pleasure of sitting down & getting to know an artist named Dave Zetlin who had a lot to say regarding his success

How'd you get started in music?

Piano lessons as a boy (favourite composer “bonkers Beethoven”), but even before that I could play by ear; then playing along to 70s rock LPs, and then playing London pubs and clubs as keyboard player (and occasional backing vocalist) of a band called deEssen. Amongst other places we played the Rock Garden, Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s and many Saturday nights at a crowded North London pub, the Stapleton Tavern. Buying an analogue TEAC tape machine got me interested in the possibilities of overdubbing.

Who are your inspirations or influences?

My early influences were Dave Sinclair of Caravan, Keith Emerson of ELP, Tony Banks of Genesis, Jon Lord of Deep Purple and Ray Manzarek of The Doors, plus (more electronic and more European) Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis and Tangerine Dream.  In other words, keyboard players who could play a lead to match any guitarist.   But also guitarists like Joe Satriani, Steve Hackett and Bob Fripp.

Taking the question in a different direction, in the last 10 years I have been inspired and influenced by other independent musicians and the DJs who play our music. Sites such as SoundCloud and the Free Music Archive have been around for years while new blockchain platforms like Musicoin and Choon are setting up.  These not only give access to a global audience but also to likeminded musicians who are always positive and friendly in their comments.

What advice would offer aspiring performers?

I could say believe in yourself, visualise where you want to end up, work hard (practising, song-writing, promoting and publicising), make your own luck and if you do get a recording contract don’t get ripped off. 

Or have fun doing what you enjoy, play live, use social media, and if someone pays you to have fun that’s an added bonus.

How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers?

Who else has as their logo a cactus wearing sunglasses?

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

All my new tracks are uploaded to SoundCloud.  The better / more popular ones end up on other sites and I enjoy making YouTube videos to accompany them.

Special thanks to him for doing this interview & I wish him lots of luck on his music. So until then stay awesome & rock n roll!