Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Steve Backmon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Steve, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve technically been pursuing an artistic/creative path in some shape or form my entire life. I took dance lessons for tap, jazz, modern and ballet for over 15 years. I was on the writing staff for my high school’s semi annual literary publication as a poet for 3 years. I have been drawing and painting since I could hold a pencil. My father was a house DJ in the 80s and I have been around the music scene since I was in my mother’s womb, so pursuing music was just the next natural step in my creative journey.

While I have been DJing for the past 4 years and producing for the last 2, it really didn’t click until I went from “pursuing DJ gigs” to “DJ gigs pursuing me”. When local bars, festivals, and even other DJs started requesting me to perform or do back to back sets with them, I realized this wasn’t just a hobby anymore. I started to see myself as a bonafide DJ.

Steve, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, I’m Steve, aka DJ Steezy. I am a son of Baltimore and I have been an open-format DJ for the past 4 years. I have over 22 residences throughout the Baltimore, Annapolis, DC, and Virginia areas. My musical roots were born from Deep House, influenced by my Dad, a former DJ from the original PT Flagg’s and O’Dells club era. Because of this I have a deep appreciation for House music of the 80’s and 90s and have attempted to emulate some of the greats from that time. I first started DJing in 2018, guest spotting with a local DJ a few nights a week and eventually getting my own solo nights after a few months of practice. The past 2 years, I have added producing to my arsenal. I have recorded dozens of Remixes, Mash Ups, and Bootlegs and released 20 Original Songs with my next single releasing next month. In 2021, I had a production credit on local artist Brian Glo’s Single “Twerk”, and later completed mixing and mastering production on Brian Glo’s entire Album, Peace and Power Vol. 3. In December of 2021, I released my first 5 Song EP, “House of Steez. Vol.1″and dropped Vol. 2 in June of 2022. Recently, I have been collaborating with some European producers to get more traffic for my music overseas.

My services include producing, mixing and mastering, as well as DJing for local events, festivals, school events, and weddings. I think what sets me apart from most artists, is I believe music is more than a sound; it is a feeling. I read the room and rotate my playlist to reach every person on some level during my set.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is that unique experience of connecting to people on a deeper level through music. When you are performing at a show and the crowd is vibing along with you, it really is an empathic experience. The more the crowd dances and really engages in the songs I am playing, the more that pumps me up. It’s a natural high.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Recently, most of the DJs in the DMV area have formed a Collective, headed by DJ Sway and Neil Nines. For the past few months, I’ve attended the networking events and the special educational seminars, where we have had guest speakers discuss social media, marketing/DJ branding, music production, working with record pools, gig sourcing, etc. these events have been truly educational. I have also been a subscriber to Sips & Ish, a DJ Podcast. It’s a fun alternative to traditional business leader podcasts where they mix cocktails & real talk about the struggles DJs face in relationships, entrepreneurship & life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://deadduckmusic.com/home
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_steezy_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dj.Steezy.86/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7zc0Yh7NGQeQYxwIM9syHR https://soundcloud.com/user-804571326

Image Credits
Molly King, John Schnieder, Adam Bona and Alex Dreisch