Almost anything goes for NY deejay

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Staff Writer

New York DJ John Selway released his first mix-CD "Lightwave," in February. Next up: two nights at Maze in Waikiki. DJ John Selway 3:30 a.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Monday Maze, Waikiki Trade Center, 2255 Kuhio Ave. $10; for those 18 and over 921-5800, 216-4229

His best work has woven a genre-be-damned love of dance music into a tasty collection of solo and collaborative productions with the likes of Deep Dish, BT, Keoki and Christian Smith, among others. Released in February, Selway's first mix-CD "Lightwave" — showcasing what he considered "just a slice" of his production skills — has become a best seller for the recently regenerated Journeys By DJ series.

So why is Selway nowhere near his New York City home/studio each weekend, and instead taking deejay gigs in such far flung locales as Munich, Germany; Bordeaux, France; Osaka, Japan; and Honolulu?

"I like the communication of it," Selway said on a recent Manhattan Monday afternoon, immediately after happily reminiscing about a Saturday gig in Tokyo. "(I like) getting a chance to play the music I like, but also learning what the crowd responds to. I still like finding the balance between what I want and what the crowd wants and then, hopefully, finding a match. It's a rush."

First and foremost, though, Selway considered himself a musician.

Born into a family of Virginia music teachers, Selway was classically trained in violin and piano from age 5. He spent his college years studying music, music composition and studio engineering while noodling with turntables, synthesizers, drum machines and a growing collection of studio equipment.

Selway followed his first "official" deejay gig near his Washington, D.C., home in 1990, with DJ and musician gigs in Manhattan during college. He produced his first record in 1991 at age 17. He has continued to dabble in all of the above ever since.

"I've always covered a lot of different styles," said Selway. "I listen to everything. As far as dance music goes, I like it all. I mean, sometimes I get a little turned off by crassly commercial stuff. But anything else goes."

Structured like a well-thought-out tour through the rarely traversed corners of a DJ's musical attic, "Lightwave" was a welcome departure for Selway; it's "smoother" and a "little bit more listenable" than what he was known for.

"I play a lot of harder techno," said Selway. "Very powerful and full on. I also play electro. And sometimes I mix it all together. 'Lightwave' is much more. It's like a little bit of house and a little bit of techno, but more musical. It's a bit progressive and, occasionally, a bit trancey." He paused and caught himself. "Uh, tastefully trancey."

Still a week removed from his Honolulu dates, Selway was unsure what facets of his DJ personality would be on display at Maze this weekend. He was only a bit more certain when asked to choose between his DJ and production careers.

"Deejaying is fun and easy and profitable and I love it," said Selway. "However, in the long term and being true to myself, I'd have to say producer."

He stopped to ponder the finality of his statement.

"I'd be happy doing anything musical, though," he finished, laughing. "It doesn't matter if it's deejaying, making records, playing keyboards in a band, singing, doing karaoke or whatever. Anything musical is fun for me."