I am Claude VonStroke (DJ, producer, creator), and owner of Dirtybird Records…Ask Me Anything!

Who does your music videos? The last two were fire

i already know this is either the Bens, the Bens parents or the Bens roommates

I’ve noticed you don’t tour that much as Barclay Crenshaw,..why is that? I saw you at Coachella and your show was great. @light_bender did a great job on your lights too

It's just a matter of free time. I can only do so many dates per year. I'm going to change how i do it soon though so that I tour in cycles related to the music projects.

Who's afraid of Claude VonStroke?

my parents

How has growing up in Detroit influenced you?

i saw my first raves, i listened to the radio shows and all of that is specific to that particular city at that time in the world. everything that happens to a person shapes them and the music of that city definitely shaped me in certain ways just like San Francisco did as well

Claude. Huge fan of your performance with Kenny Loggins, Woodstock ‘99. Do you have a tape of that performance? My library used to have it but I can’t find it. My parents told me I was conceived to that performance so it’s really sentimental to me. In a way, I wouldn’t be here without you.

I have it on 8 track but I left it in my station wagon back in 1980

Gary/Friendship or Pasquale/Holy Shipwrecked? With both of their lineups coming soon (in June) I’d imagine you/Dirtybird have now been contacted by both. I know you don’t control booking for all the Dirtybird artists, but do you have a preferred side in the AMF/Insomniac divide? I know most of the DB So Cal crew gets rotated through the regular Insomniac festivals, but that Barclay Crenshaw guy and Justin Martin played AMF DTLA last year.

Also, would you consider playing a show in Fresno? The LMC Presents crew and the Party Puffins know how to throw a party and would love to have you visit!

Nobody has contacted me yet about either one of these events. As a rule, we decide based on what we think is fair and if we think they represent us correctly. One of the reasons we try to do our own events is just so we do not have to feel any pressure to say yes to any one rave company.

You've been quoted saying Dirtybird specializes in a brand of music known as "tech funk." What do you mean by that, and would you still consider it to be that instead of tech house?

Yes, we have another layer of funk that differentiates us from tech house. i think that is one of our calling cards. Most of the producers on dirtybird grew up listening to funk or Drum n Bass or Hip Hop. i feel like a lot of tech house has different influences to those

Can you just announce Dirtybird campout east at Suwannee already? We’re all praying for the day

We would love to do something there but the numbers are not in our favor.

Is Q Tip a good boy?

goooood boyyyyy!!!

Have you ever worked with or are you planning on working with Danny Brown?

I like Danny Brown! Would be cool.

What was your favorite episode of stroke show?

Sethward... cuz im crazy

How did you first meet Grillson? He's a childhood pal of mine, and first introduced me to dirtybird. I loved watching him go from GGP grilling to his now legendary Grillson status. Man I miss that guy. Rip Chris.

I met him at the Lion's Pub where Justin and Christian were bartenders before any of this dirtybird label stuff ever happened. I miss him so much. He was the best.

Over/Under: San Frandisco will be released by August?

W&R remix of Dom Dolla? hmmmmmm. Under. That track should go straight to #1. such a heater.

DBC 2099 Awkward question submission...

In regards to other DB artists, what song do you pretend to like when they play it, but actually think is hacky? :)

lolol.... a lot of them.

What is your favorite part of the creative process?

The My Love Check video was a really interesting way of bringing together the music, the culture of Detroit, and the techno vibes.

thank you! My friend Anthony shot that. He's great. The Bens edited and did all the glitch work. (Bens produce Stroke Show)

What are your thoughts on playing Kinetic Field at EDC this year with Uncle Velvet? Does Insomniac choose that for you or do you have input on which stage you play? Do you plan your set any different than normal with the “main stage” crowd in mind?

We don't choose the stages. But my philosophy is that Im not going to change the kind of tunes I play so if I can play them to 30,000 people instead of 5,000 then thats an incredible opportunity to spread my love for the music I sign, play and create.

Hey Barclay, huge fan. Dirtybird Campout is probably my favorite festival of all time. Thank you for all that you and the Dirtybird crew do for that.

Wondering what process you use to choose artists? The lineup is always pretty diverse and original. Do you just pick whoever is available, or is there a method to the madness?

Thanks so much! Campout is basically my personality brought to life so i appreciate that you like it too. The lineup is my favorite project every year. Its a combination of record label artists, plus all the bass music I listen to, plus a lot of heritage hip hop acts, drum n bass, funk, electro, all my influences.

Who are you?

www.dirtybirdrecords.com - i created this music label in 2005 I also have produced a lot of records and remixes since then. I tour around the world as a DJ and I also produce my own festivals and make clothes and other things.

Who do you like more Ben or Benson?

Benz

any advice for someone trying to become a dj?

just become one. do everything you think it will take to get where you want.

Hey Barclay, I'm a big fan! Dirtybird is the shit.

My question is, has any artist caused you to go full fanboy recently?

Cour T

No movement after party? What’s up with that?

I can only make it to Monday this year I know!!! I'll be back soon.

How has it been watching Dirtybird grow into what it is now? I remember just a few years ago when I first discovered you guys and it seemed like such a secret little club - now everyone is about the DB life! There's something so special about the music and surrounding culture you've created - thank you so much for all that you do.

Thanks! Its really great to watch the growth. its so much hard work. There are so many people here working their asses off every day. i think people would be surprised to see how much work it takes.

What do you look for when you road test tracks?

Firstly, do I really like this track or am i playing it just because im expected to play a certain way? Then I look for originality and a good mixdown.

How many wooks would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wooks?

57

Can we expect this year's Dirtybird campout to be a little more techno heavy than previous years?

There will be some techno. There will be everything. I would not say its "techno heavy" though

Hey Claude! What equipment would you recommend for aspiring producers a little short on funds?

Also, Whos Afraid of Detroit was my favorite song to pop on Pandora during the work day! Thanks for the tunes!

ipad ipad ipad. Korg Gadget and imaschine and all these really inexpensive apps are so dope. I swear I use my ipad more than my Prophet 6

Will we be getting an Eastcoast Campout in 2020? If so, can we please have it at Spirit of Suwannee Music Park? Love seeing you & other Dirtybird artists come through Atlanta!

we would love to do an event there. We just cant seem to get a deal done over there.

Papa Clauuuuude!

When did you first get into DJing, and when did you know this is what you wanted to do?

I was into music very early (like 5 yrs old). But there was no real internet yet. I worked on films for many years which was what i thought I would end up doing. But I was always better at music. The weird part is that I didnt end up getting popular doing music until I was already 30+ years old.

Seems like a new song comes out every minute these days. How long (on average) does a good song usually stay in your sets before you give it the boot?

I dont want to sound like a hater but I usually play a track until its out and then maybe 2-3 weeks after that. My whole DJ vibe is based on introducing the crowd into new sounds and new tracks that they have never heard before. Sometimes when a track is really special I will play it the whole year so its never set in stone. I would say the average thing I play lasts about 4 months in my box.

Any plans to see any DJ’s at EDC this weekend? Getting ready to head out to the fest in a couple of hours!

Of course! I need to see that Andy C triple DnB drop. Then maybe some Yousef, some Walker & Royce!

Barclay! Of any artist, who would you like to collaborate with? Love your music, thanks for everything.

Im not really a fanboy of any artists but I would love to make a track with Roman FLugel

How sweaty did your racoon skin hat get at east coast Campout?

its surprisingly cool in there. also its fake fur of course!

Who was your best assistant? I think it was the one with the weird mohawk hair -- he was great, do you agree?

had to be the Schlanger

How do you get trough a creative block? I'm on that shit right now :(

I do this very elaborate system created by Mike Monday called Automatic Music Machine. Basically, you have to create a very simple loop or idea every day no matter what no matter how bad they are. Eventually you should have a few ideas that are really cool and then you can develop them. Its much much more in depth than that but thats the overview.

Could you do east coast at Shakori hills in North Carolina?

https://shakorihillsgrassroots.org

cool suggestion!

Always love the artists that you guys use for the album art. How do you find them?

I subscribe to a few art magazines. I goto Art Basel every year. I follow pop surrealism feeds on Instagram and Pintrest. I goto art shows here in LA. Anything I can do. its my hobby.

Hi Claude!

Thanks for all you do pushing some fantasic music - caught your warehouse set in Seattle in December and it was one of the best raving experiences I've ever had.

2 questions:

1. What was that dnb tune you played in your set in Seattle? (also, any dnb favorites you're liking right now?)

2. Favorite type of bassline: a chunky 808 or a well crafted synthier style (filtered saw/etc)

North pole Cold by Jay Line - so sick!! i like a lot of stuff no specific fav style.

Campout is a super unique event. How did you guys come up with the “summer camp” concept?

I went to summer camp as a kid. I thought it would be so funny to do a rave like that.

Do you see tech house becoming the next mainstream sub genre? Fishers rise to the mainstream is signaling that, do you agree?

I think its already there. Im curious to see what happens and how the more commercial guys end up handling themselves. I've seen a lot of huuuuge EDM artists dropping house right now but for the most part its very clearly just the hot sound of the minute and they will keep moving from sound to sound.

Can you actually make a real cake?

yes i can cook!

did you record your set at Voodoo Fest in NOLA in 2011? It was a fine set and a fine weekend

yes i recorded on my boombox which i sold on ebay for $65

Who would win in a fight: you and Q-Tip or The Bens?

we would beat their ass

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Im not sure exactly when but Birdhouse Festival Chicago announce is about to drop!

What I wanna know is what Green Velvet is telling you and then laughs his ass off.

Something like --- welcome to the party nice of you to show up VonStroke!!

I love DB!! With sooo many up and coming DJs our there, how do you find new talent and determine who has got IT?

Mostly the demo folder. Sometimes it can be daunting but i still listen to every single one. Sometimes when I open the folder there are 2000+ demos in there it can be quite challenging. But a hot track is a hot track is a hot track. They always stick out like sore thumbs.

What advice do you have for bringing more nationally known musicians to the Traverse City (Michigan) region? We're starving for good shows up here.

If you have a good venue with a good sound system and you can get 300+ people to come out then you should be able to get some DJs??

Any plans to work with Tchami and / or Malaa?

no