In Focus: Ceear
Ceear is one of Albany's latest DJs hailing from the Glens Falls area. Even though he is fairly new to the Albany scene, he has already begun to expand his reach outside of Albany. This reach includes a benefit show where he supplied lighting and DJ'ed to show support. Today we made him the spotlight for In Focus, here's what he had to say.
Here's where you can find Ceear:
FaceBook
SoundCloud
So Ceear, what got you into dj'ing?
I went to RIT, and i saw this one dude mixing and i started recording it and he was like "do you want me to mix?" and I was like "Mixing, that sounds cool!" So he pulled out like a little $80 mixer and he started mixing. He started playing Bassnectar and that was the first time I ever heard dubstep. The first song i heard was Matrix and it just made me so happy. So i went home after that trip ,and within that week I went out and bought a $350 mixer and I got straight into EDM. And i did my first show two weeks after that.
Recently I saw you became a part of Cavelife, what made you want to be part of that group and be involved with those people?
I want to be a dope ass DJ like every single one of them. You have to represent that swag of a group of DJ's that can throw banger after banger.
Do you feel that you have a lot to learn from the DJ;s that are a part of Cavelife?
Yeah, because Rome has been at it a little longer than me, and just the group of them they have a certain name for themselves, so being part of that I'm going to learn their way and how to adapt to their kind of music.
Do you feel like you have big shoes to fill, or do you feel comfortable?
I feel like my genre of music is the kind of genre thats like when I'm up Its time for everybody to dance. Its not like an hour of slow house music, Its straight up beat bangers
What DJ's have been your biggest inspiration?
Well first, Porter Robinson. His College Life Tour completely made me want to do what he's doing. Dada Life introduced me to the really upbeat electro house. Those guys were the first people that were like this is the kind of music that can get everyone fucking crazy.
What can we expect to see from Ceear in the future?
A shit load of banger shows. I'm going to start working with some people on the side and actually start producing a lot more. Im going to start making some really banging electro stuff and heavy bass.
Out of all of the shows you've been able to play so far, which has been the memorable for you?
Probably the Excision back up show. It was literally two hours of promoting and seeing a packed house of all the EDM family in Albany. Everybody that showed up was there for the show, and i feel like when i went on for my set it was like everything happened so quickly. So many girls were like "Hey can i gogo for you?" and i was like "Fuck yeah!!" Everyone was taking pictures, the gogo's were dancing and it actually felt like a dope ass party.
I know you also do a lot with lighting, how did that start out?
I invested in all the business, and I got all the lighting and i noticed that i needed some help, I needed one of boys to like help and be part of the scene. So now my friend Adam actually does all the lighting for my shows.
Other than providing the lighting for these shows, what are you doing to help promote the scene?
I'm all about it. If i have a home thats throwing an event, ill do whatever it takes. I'll promote on Facebook, do street promo and flyers and tag the shit out of stop signs. I'll do it all.
Whats been your worst expierience on stage?
Probably at the the pre-game cavelife party. I was like halfway through my set and i was doing all electro and right when i switched to a song I pressed something, not really sure what, but literally all my cues and everything got deleted. I had no mappings at all so I basically freestyked for 15 mintes and handed it too the next person.
I looked at your laptop once when you were playing and i saw that it said "Ceear Remix", tell me about that.
Whenever it says "Ceear Remix" I usually make like 3 or 4 layers that are inside FL studio, and ill put them together in a song. Its not like a whole entire song. Its more like a mash up but i've always just marked it as a remix.
What was your first EDM show?
Holy shit! That was so long ago. 2 years ago; Flinch, Crizzly, and 12th Planet in Hartford, Connecticut at Webster Hall. When Crizzly came on and dropped Crunk Step I was like "holy fucking shit!"
Have you ever tried to produce your own tracks from scratch?
I've never produced a whole entire track. I've produced like half a track and just never released it.
Would you ever like to collaborate with anyone?
I want to collaborate like crazy! I want to start doing banger shit with Rome. And one other dude I give a lot of credit to is Bandikook. Me and him are talking about doing some shit this summer.
And of course Tony's famous last question; Do you have any advise or words of wisdom for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
Everybody says it but if you work for your dream you can get at it. The thing is, if you work for it and you actually night after night, day after day, visit the sites and get your music out there, you can actually do it.
I see Ceear as having a very positive future with his music career. With the collaborations he has planned and the events he is putting together, I wouldn't be surprised to see himself working his way onto a main stage.