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To me, turntables are mysterious and awesome, and their design and use holds so much potential energy. Analog playback is incredible. To think being limited to a record bag is a bad thing indicates lack of creativity and skill.

Today, a short spotlight on an artist who a small handful are already aware of however for those who have not had a proper introduction yet – prepare to meet Donnie Valdez, aka ‘EshOne’ – an excellent producer, selector, and long time contibutor to Big Up Magazine.

I got my first introduction to EshOne through listening to SNF’s Steppin’ Into Tomorrow broadcasts on Sub.FM. With an ear that leans towards the heavier side of dubstep however, still with a strong mind for the rich and deep subtones, EshOne’s production rarely disappoint. Staying true to the original style of producing his own tracks and cutting his own dubs (mostly for himself and not other labels) EshOne has recently started ‘Dead Technology,’ a vinyl showcase dubstep night in San Diego.

Read more about EshOne beneath the fold, as well as a complete tracklist for the mix!

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EshOne ( Soundcloud | Twitter | SDDubstep )

Shortstack: Thanks for speaking with us, please introduce yourself a bit for our readers who may not yet be familiar with you or your work

EshOne: My name is Donnie Valdez. I was born in San Diego, but grew up living all over northern New Mexico. I lived in Albuquerque for about 10 years before moving back to San Diego in late 2004.
I have released music on Rogue Dubs, but keep most of my tunes to myself for gigs and my own mixes. For work, I am a freelance web developer. You may have seen my work at Big Up Magazine or SDDubstep.com

S: Although the growth of digital DJing is growing rapidly, its legitimacy still stays in question. I know you and I have spoken about not paying much attention to how somebody performs but speak to us a bit about your new ‘Dead Technology’ night in San Diego

E: To me, the priority of making and playing music is to have fun. As far as playing music goes, I personally don’t think computers are fun. I don’t think CDs are fun either. I started listening to electronic music in a time where vinyl and dubs were how it was done. No questions asked, that’s why the best were the best. I only want to have max-fun when I do what I want to do, in the way that I think is the best way. To me, turntables are mysterious and awesome, and their design and use holds so much potential energy. Analog playback is incredible. To think being limited to a record bag is a bad thing indicates lack of creativity and skill. Dead Technology #1 was great. We had a $0 budget, all locals on the bill, and the Kava Lounge was top vibes. I decided to step it up for #2. I wanted people to know we were serious. So I brought the amBASSador. Joe Nice; Joebama. He tore the place down, it was legendary! We’ll see what’s up with #3 on Christmas day. I’m bringing some of the OG lineup back, The P Man, Beingstok, hopefully Pure Boom Hi Fi. Also, after I send this off, I’m gonna email SD legend, Jason to be on the bill.

S: How did you come into producing dubstep / bass music?

E: I started in 2004 when Misk hooked me up with Reason. I got into making hip hop beats and dnb, because that’s what I had been spinning for a while. Around 2005 I started hearing some Hatcha mixes floating around the internet. I was into it. I didn’t start making dubstep beats until early 2006. I had been playing gigs and making beats with Misk and we were really tired of the way dnb had gone. We wanted something heavier, something dirty. Not overwhelming, just street beats. I’ve been in Renoise since 2008 and now it’s second nature.

S: What music did you enjoy before coming into electronic music and production?

E: When I was a little kid, my mom got me into metal and weird stuff like Metallica, NIN, White Zombie, Ministry, and GNR. By the time I was in middle school, I started skateboarding and my cousin had me listening to punk. He introduced me to bands like NOFX, Screeching Weasel, Rancid, and The Dead Milkmen. I also had tapes of RNB/radio hip hop shit like Montel Jordan, Warren G, Nate Dogg, 2Pac, Coolio and Miami bass classics like 69 Boys, Tag Team, etc. When I was in high school I was feelin a lot of hip hop like Del, Blackalicious, Pete Rock & Co, Mike Zoot, and also stuff like Sole & Anticon, Atmosphere & Rhymesayers, Aesop Rock, El-P & Def Jux and Grouch & Living Legends crews. I was also into dnb at the time. Mostly the minimal dark tech stuff. My favorites are Dom & Roland, B Key & Biotic Records crew, Virus, and Photek.

S: What artists in the electronic music scene are catching your attention now?

E: DMZ, El-B & Ghost Records, Misk, Bulletproof, Undertow. Shit man, I’m out of the loop. You literally had to tell me who Diplo and Major Lazor were the other day. A lot of people are making shitty time-stamped music to stand out, so I don’t pay much attention. There is plenty of great music to go back and listen to. I’m not scared. I’ll wait. I’ll make my own tunes. Even if some are just for me to listen to!

S: What is your favorite thing to eat while working on music?

E: I was over at Miguex studio a week ago and he had these amazing pistachio chips. I’ve been on the lookout for them since then. When I get them, my tunes are gonna bang, mark my words.

S: What is the worst thing you’ve eaten on the road?

E: On my way to New Mexico I stopped at some shitty roadside diner and had a chile burger. I’m almost certain this is where I got a bleeding ulcer that nearly killed me twice before going away. That’s depressing though, let’s talk about the bomb ass hot dog cart outside of club Barcelona in Austin. During SXSW, some very highly regarded dubstep DJs were playing some rinsed anthems from months back. Absolutely terrible sets. I was not having it. So I went outside and found amazing hot dogs and frito pie at 3am. Austin, TX is an outstanding place, and their hot dog carts are second to none. We also ate at Denny’s every morning for like a week cause I guess FSTZ and Bdzzlr are obsessed with that place. Hoodnasty and I were denied Wendy’s chicken nuggets at 5am for bad/annoying behavior.

S: What plans do you have for 2011?

E: I want to work with more musicians and do more remixes. I want to push my style farther down the rabbit hole. I want to play more shows, in more cities. I want to show people what I can do. Maybe even an album.

S: Jetsons or Flintstones?

E: Betty Rubble was a babe, and she wouldn’t tolerate CDs or laptops. You can’t trick me with these questions.

S: Anything you would like to add here at the end?

E: In the music world, I’d like to shout out Joe Nice for being a huge inspiration, if it wasn’t for him I’d not be cutting dubs and maybe not even be DJing anymore. Big Up Magazine for being too legit to quit. All the San Diego crew, especially the Dub Gremlin Squadron. The Rude Behavior & Atomic Bass crew for constantly reminding me that fun is #1. And the few people who’s dubs I play – your music is dope. Don’t stop making it.

EshOne Slurpee Sessions Vol. 1 Mix
Tracklist:

Cosmic Revenge – Aftermath
Quantum Soul – Initiate
El-B – Think Ur Greezy
Fugzi – Ain’t Got Time to Waste (CEO Remix)
Misk – Three Five Three
Hatcha vs Kromestar – Great Escape
Bulletproof & Crushington – Masquerade
FSTZ & MC Zulu – Badman Bounce (EshOne Remix)
Bulletproof – Exhale
El-B – Club Music
Misk & Eshone – Cervesa Grande
Monky – Badman Nigiri
Bulletproof – The Jugular
EshOne – Minutemen
DJ Hype – RRoll the Beats (CEO Bootleg)
Sebby Frescoe – Groove Me
CEO – Rollerback
Hatcha vs Kromestar – 1919
EshOne – Space Talk
Misk – Interlock
Monky – Ninth Life
Gonjasufi – Candylane (EshOne & Miguex Remix)
IVXX – Back in Business (Funky Edit)
Bulletproof – Cloak & Dagger
Anika Moa – Running (Bulletproof Remix)

EshOne ( Soundcloud | Twitter | SDDubstep )

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