DJ Colin Pierce

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In the beginning there was Jack...

Way back in ‘98, James Daw (R.I.P.) took me to my first rave. It changed my life. I felt like I was home. Here was a place where the misfits fit, the modern day “land of the lost.” (thx Green Velvet). Here was a place you could really be yourself, no matter how weird or how dorky or how skinny or fat or gay or dark or pale or whatever you were. Nobody was going to judge you or beat you up or threaten to kill you or even make fun of you for any of it. There could be up to 3500 kids at a typical rave back then, from all and I mean ALL walks of life and backgrounds, all colors and creeds, jocks and skaters and band nerds and metal heads and hippies, rich, poor, you name it, and there was almost never a single fight. People became best friends for 6 hours, and some stayed that way for years, even a lifetime. For many of us this was liberating and life-changing, I was certainly one.

After a few of these parties I was particularly moved by a few performers who played live, on hardware - synths and drum machines - and decided I wanted to do that. It was a lot of money to buy all those hings though and I was broke. So I naively decided I would “just spin records for a while and save up the money I made to buy the gear I needed.” Two major problems with that idea that I didn’t foresee: first, I wasn’t really going to make any money from spinning records, and second, I was going to fall very much in love with the art of mixing, of playing one song over top of another, for a long time, not just a few bars near the end, but for whole minutes, letting them rise and fall together, building on each other, changing the sound with the EQ, and cutting things in and out with the faders and crossfader, essentially creating a new song on the fly. Coolest thing ever! playing music was something I really loved to do, but now I could play WITH music! I was completely hooked, and still am.

So as it turned out, I decided to do this and almost immediately arranged to get an apartment in Pittsburgh with my best friend, and landed the most perfect job at my very first interview, at a hip clothing store/youth culture hub called “The Avalon,” which was managed by one of the top local DJs, named “Bagel,” who hired me on the spot, and most of the employees were other prominent DJs/promoters. I got into all the big raves and club nights for free and could get on stage and watch the headliners, and learn. A couple years later, when I felt I was ready, I got my first gig, and then about a year after that, got a residency that helped me to finally make a impression and start to make a name for myself.

So much has happened, good and bad, and an addiction that I fed and fed and which finally took over my life and forced me to give everything up about 5 years ago. But that love keeps me moving forward, so though I don’t know what the future holds for me, I’m doing it now for the enjoyment first, and not worrying over anything else. One day at a time, just like recovery and getting healthy. Thanks for reading, liking, listening, sharing, and for the love and support! wouldn’t be here and couldn’t do anything without that! Peace

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