El Dusty

By starrymag | April 5, 2020

By: Kemberlie Spivey

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) Definitely electronic Cumbia. It’s a mix of old traditional Cumbia from like the 70’s samples. I get a lot of sounds from samples and I mix it with newer production techniques to make with Hip-Hop and Trap.

 

Q) Your career seems to be a great example of an artist that has helped build up the local music community, by staying in Corpus Christi (instead of moving to NYC, Los Angeles, or Nashville). What made you decide to stay in Corpus?

 

A) I actually stayed closer to family and also it’s just a place where I can focus and not worry about what everybody else is doing. Corpus Christi is a small big city but it’s a real chill town. I can just focus more here.

 

Q) What is the special quality of the music culture in South Texas?

 

A) I like the culture here, especially nowadays it’s a blend of genres. Like at the Houston rodeo, you’ll go and see a big country artist or Tejano artist and a big rapper like Cardi B. It’s really cool and diverse.

 

Q) How did you come to do the score for the documentary The Cheech?

 

A) I was approached by my friend Edward Tyndall, who is a director and another guy named Carlos Israel, a partner at my business PRODUCE. He came at me with the idea of what he was doing and he asked if I could do the score.

 

Q) Did you get a chance to meet with actor and comedian Cheech Marin? What was that experience like?

 

A) I actually did at the screening. He was really cool. He was just a real down to earth dude and he is really into art and music. He just seemed like a cool guy. I was so glad I got to meet him.

 

Q) Do you enjoy DJing more intimate dance parties or DJing the bigger festival shows like SXSW?

 

A) I like both. I definitely like doing smaller like shows, like the two hundred to three hundred people range just because everybody kind of right there. You get to kind of meet everybody. So, I definitely dig the more intimate stuff.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live El Dusty performance?

 

A) It’s basically a quinceanera for adults. It’s a bunch of partying, craziness, dancing, and we are just having a great time with everybody. And with the crowd participate.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) I like playing in San Antonio. It is definitely one of my favorite spots to play here and in Corpus. I guess all of Texas. I have been playing here for twenty years and I have a lot of friends in different cities. That’s definitely fun. I like going to Tucson, the weather and city is really beautiful. I like going to Mexico City. I love the food, the people and to go shopping. I like going everywhere. Los Angeles is like my second home. I would have to say Tucson and Los Angeles are my favorite out of Texas places to play.

 

Q) With the launch of your imprint, Americano Label, how has it been working alongside Grammy award winner Mariano Herrera producing today’s hottest emerging and known acts?

 

A) It’s cool. Mariano is like a genius. He does a lot of music and plays a lot of different music – every instrument. It’s really inspiring to work aside him to see how he does everything. He puts a lot of final touches on my music and it always comes out better. He is an amazing guy. It’s crazy. He knows how to play everything. It’s pretty great.

 

Q) Given the opportunity, who would you love to collaborate with?

 

A) I would like to collaborate with Koffee, the reggae artist. I would like to collaborate with this dude named Mike Dean. He is a producer for Kanye West and Travis Scott. Probably those two artists I like. Pretty round about where I’m headed right now.

 

Q) What advice would you give to up and coming musicians?

 

A) Just to practice all the time until you are sick of it. Then keep going.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your music?

 

A) I love all my fans and people that have been messing with me since the get go. I’m really grateful and happy that I’m able to do what I love as a job and people enjoy my music and come out to dance and support the music and the merch. It’s really cool to get that feeling especially at a party where people are dancing. You really get to see the emotion. I’m just really grateful.