Today we’d like to introduce you to XEFER.
Hi XEFER, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for electronic music started in college after attending various festivals and concerts. During the Fall of 2017, I attended my first regional Burning Man event, “Hullabaloo,” in Columbia (MO), which opened the doors to exploration of finding my path as an artist. Regardless of not believing I’d be any good at it, I was driven to seek other musicians in the Kansas City area and started a punk band, “Broken Trojan.” During this time, I began experimenting with different instruments and found an art in transforming personal social experiences into music. In Fall 2019, I took a sabbatical to travel the world, spanning Europe and India. On this trip, I was inspired by the various cultural influences in music and fell in love with the electronic music scene in Berlin and Western Europe. Then, of course, 2020 rolled around, the world shut down, and the punk band was on hold, so I had the time to dedicate myself to learning how to DJ. I soon began picking up small gigs in art galleries around the KC area, which led to a following. I eventually took off creating my own production company (Cultivate your Inner Hex Productions), which helped pave my path to generating my opportunities. When not producing my bi-annual events, I perform monthly with my residency at MOD Art Gallery (Best of KC 2023 Art Gallery Winner) for First Fridays at the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City. I also perform alongside Kansas City Goth events dedicated to those within the gothic lifestyle that centers itself around a more emotional and sensual direction, which assists me in different forms of experimentation.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
All upcoming musical artists face common challenges, such as lacking preparation for a performance, feeling established within the artist community, or even wondering if they’re good enough. Luckily for me, before taking on DJing during my punk rock period, I gained confidence performing for audiences and took the attitude of not conforming to the “Industry Standard”. I learned how to not take things out of my control personally and filter out the noise of others’ opinions about my art, which is so important for artists to learn. There will always be opinions criticizing or telling you how things should be done, but what’s most important is for artists to learn what works best to create what they want rather than catering to others. For example, I used a ReLoop Mixon DJ controller that was different from the industry standard Pioneer/Rekordbox. It has gotten me pushback from other artists, who told me it would limit my opportunities. However, I chose this equipment because it gives me different capabilities and is more intuitive, allowing me to grow faster and create the sound I am going for. I still learned how to use Pioneer/Rekordbox to be more versatile, but I’m at my best when using my chosen equipment. One last thing to touch on is the competitive or exclusive nature prevalent in many art and music scenes. For many new artists, it can seem intimidating or difficult to find opportunities or become discouraged by egoism or exclusive/clique mentalities that you’ll find in the entertainment industry. In these situations, I do my best not to take it personally, and I have found ways to find and create my performance opportunities. I believe in collaboration over competition – eventually, you’ll find the people you work well with and can work together to build each other up.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Whether at a house party, a burning man event, or a venue, I love being at the forefront of bringing people together and creating an uplifting energy. I’m Mexican-American, and dancing is a massive part of our culture, so I love to play music that makes people dance. My main style of music is minimal techno, influenced by artists like Hozho and Boris Brejcha, and I like to mix in different cultural elements from Latin to Punjabi. My punk rock background brings an edge to my style, bringing a driving, sexy, high energy that gets people moving. I must continue pushing and growing to improve; it keeps things interesting. In early 2023, I took on the endeavor of producing my original music, and I just released my debut album, “Dark Matter,” on 12/12/23, which is super exciting and rewarding. I’m currently experimenting with mixing in live instrument elements, so we will see how my sound evolves over time.
Are any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
- Apps: Algoriddim, RekordBox, Ableton, Spotify, Tidal, SoundCloud, Procreate
- Podcasts: ERA X
- Books:
“Processing Creativity” by Jesse Cannon
“Doorways to Transformation: Everyday Wisdom for the Creative Soul” by Karen Kinney
“Never Get Angry Again” by David J. Lieberman - Resources: Midwest Burners, MOD Gallery, Kansas City Goths, and Apparition.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heylink.me/
XEFER/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/djxefer/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/DJXEFER - SoundCloud: https://
soundcloud.com/djxefer
