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Pwjcr 14Tlit f,unib*rj®ck Ax*Robot Circus is in townDJ, from Pafe 13Lrgm You just «IIlt;I|) them logctli-er and err ale one hi^ thing, kind of what I try to do in niv set,” VIc -Cracken said.“Well about Europe*, we were doing this thing at the Art Trek building up here in Flagstaff. One of the guvs that helped out was from London and he got me to go over there for a lew* months. While I was there, I was spinning records at a lounge and this guv who was a rep for Mo’ Wax records heard me and asked if I’d spin at this party,” he said.That party turned out to be Lego’s biggest party to date. It was held dining London’s famous Summer of Love in 1996, a series of mammoth festivals all dedicated to electronic music.“It was called the World of Dance Tour. It was held at Lydd Air Force Base is Ashford, Kent just south of London,McCracken said. The party was huge. It was like Lollapalooza butail electronic dance music. There were circus tents all around one hanger The main room, which was the hanger; had about 10,(XX) people in it and all total there were a little over 20,000 people at the event. I was blown out of my mind playing to some enormous crowd like that. It was the best feeling.’*After his stint in Europe, McCracken knew he wanted to dedicate his life to creating and spinning dance music. He gained popularity in Phoenix's party scene, last year being booked for more than 30 out of the 52 weekends.With some bigger DJs commanding S1.000, plus personal perks, for only a twlt; -hour set, success in doing what he loved was looming around the cornetJustin Baumgartner, sophomore religious studies and anthropology major, has seen McCracken per-lorm live in Phoenix, as well as in Flagstaff, and agrees that McCracken is coming up.“He’s progressed a lot in a very short time. He knows how to read the crowd really well. He knows how to keep the crowd going. In a few years he’s going to he huge,” Baumgartn er said.Mary Hanson, junior nutrition major, saw McCracken spin last semester.“He got the crowd excited. Everyone was dancing. His music is really upbeat. I thought all techno was the same but after hearing him spin I could tell his style was different. It sounded really cool,she said.But spinning other producers’ records into his creative and stylistic set had McCracken also looking to produce his own music.He enrolled at the Conservatory of Arts and Recording Sciences in Tempe, Ariz., where he received a diploma in music engineering. After graduation, McCracken completed a 6-week internship with Mo’ Wax Records in the heart of downtown I i me Ion.“Now I want to create my own stuff, put my own records out for me and other DJs to spin I’d love to spin a record that is my creation, that nobody has ever heard before, reflecting my style,” McCracken said.His first recording project was completed about an x nth ago with the release of his first legitimate mix tape called “R(bot Circus. The tape acts like an audio version of a business card.“It’s like buying your favorite band’s new CD. The tape is a chance for people to hear what I can do on a couple of turntables, McCracken said. “But it’s also a way for me to get my name to other promoters around the country. It's got all mv booking info on it. These tapes are circulating around New York, Baltimore, Washington state and San Francisco as well as up here, Phoenix and Tucson.“DJ Lego — Robot Circus” is being sold at Swell Records, 1444 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, Ariz.; Plastik Records, 116 S. Central Phoenix, Ariz. and Sound Factory Records in Tucson.McCracken said, the tape is a reflection of his brand of breakbeat music with a showcase of flawless mixing and a tight scratch technique.Though he said he would rather people hear him spinning live at a party for a better idea of what he can do with this music.Next up for DJ Lego is a party in his hometown, right here in Flagstaff.“I think the party is going to be called Electro Funk. It’s on Jan. 29 at Monsoons. The party won’t be any more than $8 and it's going to be all ages,” he said.In what is probably a bigger reflection of his up-and-coming status, McCracken is set to play at a party sponsored by the Winter X-Games, although details are unofficial at this time.Though his talents have taken him outside of Flagtaff, McCracken will always consider his hometown his venue of choice.“There’s nothing better than playing up here to everybody I know and you all know who you are. I remember going out to the middle of the forest with a generator, a stack of speakers and some turntables and playing all night. Those are the best parties to me. It’s tight and with all of my people,” he said.Baumgartner agrees that McCracken keeps Flagstaff close to his heart.‘Jason is a cool kid. He doesn’t get all big headed. He’s a down home type of guy,” he said.Hanson said Flagstaff will gain some new recognition in the form of 1^ Lego.“Flagstaff is really small. I haven ’t heard much of this style of music coming out of here. I’m sure he’ll represent Flagstaff well, she said.Jason Pannelon/Courtesy of DJ Lego A picture of the cover of Robot Circus shows one place McCracken’s music takes people after a little space travelling.
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