Chicago-born Juan Lopez aka Johnny Fiasco began his career as a DJ at some of the first underground house” parties in Chicago, and in 88 he landed a residency at Smart Bar with Mark Farina. 20 years on Johnny has been engaging new audiences with The “Klassik Fiasco” re-releases as well as a tour de force. The masterful and accomplished Fiasco continually reinvents himself through his timeless house music creations. Tonight (Friday 27th March) you can hear him spinning live on Awdio.com from the Oseao & Juno Party at the Miami WMC. We asked Johnny a little more about himself: Read the interview

Please introduce yourself:

“My name is Juan Lopez otherwise known as the tequila drinking Johnny Fiasco or Juan De La Madre.I am a producer and Dj from chicago and I still have real turntables, cassette decks and real synths!”

How long have you been DJing/Producing and how did you get started?

“I’ve been Djing and producing for 20 years now (wheww that’s a load off my back!) I got started in the era of hot-mix music in chicago mid 1980′s and it was totally non-intentional… believe it? My buddies decided to go from throwing rock shows to little house parties and well, they got really big. When the parties stopped, I kept moving on, and on, and on…”

Your hometown is Chicago, which is a key location for house music. Has living there been important for your development as a DJ and producer?

“It’s a great hub city for traveling everywhere and I doubt I would be a producer had I not lived in the house mecca of the universe. There was no escaping house music here… at all. Although things here have changed a great deal, there is still a pretty good core of support for the culture, although not officially by Chicago which is LAME but that might change in time. The city of Chicago has never cared much about our business and all we have to show for it is a street named after “Frankie Knuckles”. Outside of that, you still gotta dig to find the parties! The amount of historical talent here is amazing and will definitely continue to influence future producers all over the globe.”

Is Chicago still as important as it was within the electronic music scene and what are recent developments?

“I don’t think it is at the moment, but it’s a business that tends to focus on key cities and sounds. I have no doubt that it will point back to the windy city. We have our fair share of up and coming producers (not even referring to the played out Kanye West) and it’s all about timing, critical timing. I think once the market shifts and people want to hear a dirtier, organic and soulful sound they might look here again.”

You will be in Miami for the Oseao/Juno Party on Friday, have you played in Miami before, what are your expectations?

“I’ve played many times in Miami for WMC but never have many expectations, I just want warm weather. It’s been a brutal winter here.. time for some sun and Cuban food and Tequila my friend! Would you like another shot?”

What does the Winter Music Conference represent to you?

“Myspace, Facebook and Twitter all ending up at Wet Willies…. It’s just a great place to mingle with peeps and make new friends conduct some business and if your lucky, you might get some sleep!”

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently working on a track with Chuck Love for an Om Records 15 years anniversary compilation. It’s gonna be a downtempo organically synthetic moody vibe. I am diggin it now! A few other singles on the table as well.

What are the benefits to having your sets broadcast live on the internet via a website such as Awdio.com?

“It’s like sampling the food before ya eat it! The real deal.. no if and or buts! Raw and unedited. Kinda like real life eh?”

What are your hopes and fears for 2009?

“It’s all hope and no fear.. Things will get better, louder and happiness is there if you choose it. Dick Cheney will suffer and gunshot wound while hunting with George Bush, not once but TWICE!”

What is the ideal soundtrack for driving around Chicago?

“Oh that would be ‘Computer World’ by Kraftwerk. A nice long cruise down Lake Shore Drive will lift your spirits every time!”

What is your greatest Fiasco?

“I’d say not wanting to learn how to play accordion at the age of 8. My father insisted that my brother and I learn to play and actually took us for lessons…I was in total defiance! I was pretty set on learning guitar. Looking back now I think I should have given it a serious try!”

Interview: LS

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Tags: Chicago, DJ, Johnny Fiasco, Miami, WMC

This entry was posted on Friday, March 27th, 2009 at 10:16 am and is filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.