Jeremias Santiago-FTL

	DownshiftRadio spotlight

With an incredibly long list of record releases, Jeremias Santiago is living proof that it takes a lot of hard work to make it in today's crazy music industry.
With close to 30 record releases, most of which released in the past 2 years, 2 mix CDs and the casual gig routine, Jerry still finds time to fit Downshiftradio (the FTL show, every Saturday from 3-6:00 pm) into his hectic schedule and family life.
"The Latin All Star" series, "Good Old Dayz" and "That's House" are considered by most cutting edge House and Soulful DJs to be Jerry's prime and according to the artist himself, you aint seen nothin' yet.
The following interview was conducted with Jeremias Santiago on Saturday, August 23rd at the Downshift studio, NY.

Jeremias Santiago-FTL

How long have you been djing?

Well, I'm turning 28 on September 13th and I started Spinning when I was 9 so add it all up and that equals a very long time (laughs). I was born with the DJ bug. I was exposed to music and the concept of recording at a very young age through my father, who gave me his first reel to reel at the age of 4 (!) just to play with. But it wasn't until later that I was introduced to my cousin's Brooklyn Dynamic Sound crew that landed me the inspiration to play music for a dancing crowd.
As I grew older I was heavily influenced by Little Louie and Todd Terry and later on it was also Danny Krivit and Hippie Torellas.

Is it fair to say that those are still your favorite DJs?

Yeah...Well, you cant forget myself too (laughs), I think I adapted my own style through the years, I might not be the best but I can make you dance your ass off.

What's the story behind FTL?

I started a label with DJ Kevin Kevin back in 1997, but it didn't turn out to be the same as I envisioned it. We had different ways of seeing things as far as music is concerned and so we ended it. FTL (For The Love) wouldn't come to be if it wasn't for Dawn, my wife, who helped me recognize my talent and encouraged and inspired me throughout my whole career. She started FTL music with me, handled all the paper works, did all the research and got it running, so without her I don't think I would be here.

How would you compare dance music nowadays and yesterday?

Music was much better in the good old days. There weren't too many House producers and since the music wasn't commercial you wouldn't get a lot of people attempting to produce it, just those who REALLY loved it. Nowadays it all changed and there are too many so called producers out there. I think you can partially blame technology for it. There's too much computer and not enough producer. Look at early Todd Terry works, he did that all on an SP1200 sequencing sampler and those songs are still getting played today. Even though I use computers myself, I use it as a tool to record my music but not to play the music, as opposed to all the people out there that use the computer to make the music and exploit it by downloading copyright material. And that takes a toll on the hard working producers such as myself that try and make music a career. I mean, by the time that my record is out, there are already 200 people that have it on their MP3's. This business is tough, but I'll keep on doing it.

What do you have in your studio and what is your favorite gear?

Ahhhhh. now we're going to talk boring gear talk, so all you girls leave the room and come back shortly (laughs). Keyboards and sound modules include Yamaha Motif 6, EMU Proteus 2000, Roland JV1080, Yamaha MU50 sound module, Fat's Freebass analog bass and a Kawai K2. Samplers I have an EMU ESI sampler and Akai S5000. Outboard gear: Yamaha 24 channel 8 bus RM 800 board, Lexicon MPX 500, TC M-one, Digitech TSR24, Alesis Quad 2, 2 DBX 1066 compressors and a PC running Cubase. Out of the whole lot I like the Motif best because of the great sounds.

Is it easier to break into the industry today or harder?

Breaking into the industry biz is tougher than finding a virgin in Times Square (laughs). There are so many labels out there that don't care about talent but themselves. they don't have money, so they can't pay and they would much rather have a big name than a good track. So to all these labels out there s*@k on it, you'll call me soon. I'm not trying to be an ass, but you'll end up buying my tracks sooner or later.

What's your all time FTL favorite track?

I like all of them but "Priceless" (Latin All Star 2 EP) would be my #1 and "Da Good Old Dayz pt1" would be #2 but just wait for the future, that might change.

Speaking of which, what does the future hold for FTL?

I hate bragging about my future releases, sounds are always better than words. People that followed me for the past few years know how productive I am and I can promise you that there are a lot of releases and surprises on the way. "Da Good Old Dayz pt 2" is coming out next week (check out the exclusive track below) plus some collaboration works with Nicky P (Henry Street, Johnick) and some remix work for Blvd East.
Gigs wise, I live in NYC so that means that I'll take anything I can get (laughs). I started this bi-weekly event called " Essence" which is every 2nd and 4th Thursday at club "Happy Ending" on 302 Broome Street, NYC.

Jeremias Santiago Discography When worlds collide EP-Nervous-1997 | Me,myself and I EP-FTL -2000 Keyz of life-Next moov trax-2001 | 3 elements of life EP-Waako-2001 Keep it movin /soul sista's-Waako-2002 | Give you what you need /soul sista's-Waako-2002 Disco nights EP-Episode-2002 | That's house-FTL-2002 Thank you-Waako 2002 | yo shorty remix -Waako 2002 Don't stop-FTL-2002 | The latin all star 1-FTL-2002 The latin all star 2-FTL-2002 | The game album-FTL-2002 3 shades of sounds EP-FTL-2002 | Contrabalas EP-Waako-2002 You don't tell me anymore/soul sista's-waako-2003 | Dance-Episode-2003 An ep for new york-FTL-2003 | The latin all star 3-FTL-2003 Thats house downshift remixes-FTL-2003 | Tampa soul-FTL-2003 Dance floor EP-FTL-2003 | Red x-Drop-2000 Love connection remix-Waako-2002 | 3 elements of life 2-waako-2003 Back to paradise 2 - A mix CD by Jeremias Santiago-waako 2003 | Clock strikes 12 in new york - A mix CD by Jeremias Santiago-ZYX-2003

To order Jeremias Santiago's records contact:
Waako Records- 265 West 37th street suite 2107, New York, NY 10018. Tel-212-944-2590 Fax-212-944-0822 Waakorecords
Dancetracks- 91 east 3rd Street, New York NY, 11103 Tel-212-260-8729 Fax-212-260-8780 Dancetracks

As a surprise bonus, Jeremias Santiago provided us with his upcoming release "The good old dayz" part 2.
To hear the song click on the link below (right click to download).
The good old dayz pt 2

Jeremias Santiago - The FTL show - Saturdays from 3-6:00 pm EST.