For the last decade, Tim Sweeney has shared his formidable record collection with an audience that extends from his New York City home base to the rest of the galaxy, mixing live on his now-legendary show ‘Beats in Space.’ Broadcasting over the FM airwaves and streaming over cyberspace, the show has attracted a cult following by being at the forefront of electronic music. Sweeney has joined forces along the way with the DFA Records family, forging musical kinships with fellow tastemakers such as his T&T partner Tim Goldsworthy. After traversing the globe as one of music’ s most in-demand DJs, releasing a 12′ as one half of T&T, and exposing video game fans to some of the only pop music they’ ll ever enjoy as a soundtrack supervisor for Rock Star Games, he has set his sights on the next frontier – conquering New York’ s American Museum of Natural History by spinning at their One Step Beyond series on Jan 16..
URB: You’re playing at the American Museum of Natural History on Jan 16 as part of the ‘One Step Beyond’ series. What is the oddest place you’ve ever performed at? What is the oddest place you’ve dreamed of performing at?
The American Museum of Natural History is definitely going to be up there as one of the oddest! That, and Maybe DJing this music festival in the middle of Beijing, China. As for oddest place I’ve dreamed of, I mean, I do ‘Beats In Space,’ so of course I’ve dreamed of DJing on the moon.
How would you define a great gig and a great audience?
A great gig has a great audience, amazing sound, and a good venue. A great audience is everyone dancing, having a good time and no requests for some terrible song.
You’ve teamed up with Tim Goldsworthy for the aptly titled project T&T. How does the dynamic between the two of you work both musically and personally?
I’ve been working with the DFA guys for years now. I started assisting them in the studio in early 2001 before they had released anything on the DFA label. Both Tim and James were teaching me studio tricks and just helping out with whatever questions I had. I’ve always looked up to both of them, and now over the years, I’ve just become part of the DFA family and friends with both of them. From that, Tim G. and I started DJing out together, with Tim G being more of a ’selector’ and me being the DJ. We started making some exclusive little edits and remixes for our DJ sets, which is where the latest T&T release comes from.
Who do you dream of collaborating with and in what scenario?
I’d love to have the Electrifying Mojo on my radio show some day. He’s a radio legend! He was an amazing character on the radio, played tons of great music across any genre, and influenced thousands of people.
How has music or at least your perception of music changed since you first started ‘Beats in Space’ nearly ten years ago?
I just have a much broader view on music now. I’ve been able to listen to a lot more things, new and old genres, and get turned on to more music from friends. The biggest change for sure has come from so many of the vinyl record stores in New York closing. When I started the show there were a bunch of them that I could go to every week, now it’s nearly impossible to go recording shopping for new vinyl records. It’s a lot of ordering things online from the UK now. New York still has some good spots for used vinyl though, so I’m happy about that, but it’s been a real shame about all the stores closing.
How important is the preservation of radio since the advent of the internet as a means of discovering new music?
I’m not sure how important it is now, but that’s why my shows both online and on the radio! Best to cover all your bases. People still listen to the radio though. It’s not dead yet.
Where do you think DFA, or electronic music in general, which seemed to reach new heights commercially and artistically in 2008, is headed?
I have no idea and I don’t think they know either. I just hope more and more quality music gets released and with the flood of music that is out there, the quality music is able to get above the flood to reach people.
Each time I turn on the radio, every new single on the top 40 station seems to have some heavy synth/programming flourishes obviously inspired and informed by electronic music. What are your thoughts on how electronic music has infiltrated mainstream pop music?
It’s a process that has been going on since the early ‘80s and New Wave making it big. Pop music has always taken things from underground scenes though. It’s a way to make the music hip and crossover to more people. Nothing wrong with that!
I’ve heard that you’ve worked as a soundtrack supervisor for Rock Star Games. How does the process of compiling video game soundtracks compare to DJing? What is your favorite video game soundtrack?
It’s a very similar thing in that you’re compiling a set of songs to set a certain mood and atmosphere. My favorite video game soundtrack? It would definitely have to be all of the Grand Theft Auto games (even though I did some of them). They just have all stepped things up in regard to music for video games.
What records from the past year do you think crowds will still be going crazy for a decade from now?
I think the Hercules and Love Affair album will still be a classic in a decade from now.
Related Reads
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Review :: DFA presents Supersoul Nobody Knows Anything
MP3: T&T (Tims Goldsworthy and Sweeny) Live @ MoMA
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