Unlocking
MorrisKode
What brought you to San Diego?
I grew up in Michigan and never liked the cold. Every summer I would fly to sunny San Diego to visit my dad. In May of 2002 I impulsively decided to stay in San Diego one summer instead of returning home to Michigan, ended up finishing college out here, and just passed my 20 year anniversary as a San Diegan earlier this year.
What inspired you to enter the music space?
Music has always played an important role in my life, from marching band and orchestra to solo competitions. I was introduced to electronic music during my senior year of high school in 2000, when friends invited me to see Bad Boy Bill at an underground Detroit warehouse party. I spent 2000 to 2010 as a die hard Paul Oakenfold and Tiesto fan until I dated an underground DJ from LA in 2010 who showed me underground house and techno, and I learned proper beat matching and harmonic mixing. My now husband, Jason, and I started dating in 2012 after our weekly 'Mixing Mondays,' and that's where my DJ name MORRISKODE came from, my maiden name is Morris. I only DJ'd at home or for friends for almost 10 years, until my dream became a reality during the pandemic in 2020, when I found Church of Music at the Gliderport and eventually joined as an organizer and resident DJ.
Talk us through your favorite genre(s) to mix?
The genres I play out regularly are organic house, tech house, progressive house, minimal and deep tech, and techno, mostly melodic. When I'm playing at home you'll find me getting lost in an organic house and progressive house musical journey.
With so many newly opened venues and recently started events, the San Diego dance scene is growing rapidly. What are your observations on the scene and community here?
The San Diego dance scene is definitely up and coming, but we still have work to do to compete with larger cities like Miami, LA and New York. Insomniac moving into the San Diego market is proof our scene is growing rapidly and attracting top notch talent from all over the world. Communities like The Afternoon Umbrella Friends, Pineapple Live and Music is 4 Lovers are bringing unique, high quality music experiences and top notch talent to the city.
What is your process for preparing for a set?
I rely heavily on Spotify for music organization. In my opinion, being a good DJ involves 90 percent prep and music organization and 10 percent playing live. I swear by Mixed In Key software to aid in harmonic mixing, and I keep my library organized by genre and release date. I typically have a playlist with 30 to 40 tracks that all go well together, and a starting and ending track in mind, and I just wing it from there, trying to deliver a fresh set every time I play.
Do you have a dream venue or event to play in San Diego?
I've played a lot of venues I used to dream of playing, Spin Nightclub, Nova, Oxford Social Club, Quartyard, Revel Revel, Euphoria at Lumi Rooftop. My current dream is to represent the city as a local DJ and open up at CRSSD. I'd also love to play at Camino Riviera and, last on my San Diego bucket list, Bang Bang.
When you're going out dancing in San Diego on a night off from DJing, where will we find you?
Sadly this is rare for me. If I'm at an event I am either DJing, leading organization, or working as a volunteer. If you catch me at a show not working, I am most likely supporting one of my close friends that DJ, or supporting The Afternoon Umbrella Friends or one of the other local underground collectives.
Being a good DJ involves 90 percent prep and music organization and 10 percent playing live.
Who are your 'ones to watch' from the San Diego scene?
Milad, also known as Sproutbeats, is the leader and co founder of The Afternoon Umbrella Friends and I owe a lot of my progress to him. I also have so much respect for my friends Amira, Tyler Chase, Laura Peck, Kale, Alex Barrera, Jovella with Sisiety, and Shonna.
What are your future plans, what should we look out for from you?
I joined The Afternoon Umbrella Friends in November 2021 to help execute Umbrella Weekend, a boutique camping festival with outstanding talent, venue and production. I've already committed to helping AUF with the festival again, so save the date for Umbrella Weekend 2023, March 9 through 13. I also started an underground, techno centric event series called S H A D E with The Afternoon Umbrella Friends in August, and I'm hoping to produce it twice a year.
If you could play anywhere, at any venue in the world tonight, where would it be and why?
It's the house music capitals of the world for me, Ibiza or Tulum.
In what ways can the San Diego dance community support you or your event(s) or collaborate with you?
To support me, follow me on Instagram and SoundCloud and share my music if you like it. Follow The Afternoon Umbrella Friends for info on upcoming Umbrella shows. To collaborate with me, if you are a DJ, producer, local vendor, performer, artist, photographer, or lighting or sound expert who could enhance the experience at music events, I'd love to connect.
Lastly, what's a track you want to share?
A beautiful organic house production by Savvas that I've had on repeat lately. I find organic house to be relaxing, but more importantly grounding.
MorrisKode