DANK RADIO: Jon of Pickle Productions & Quality Control [Featured Interview + Upcoming Event]

Pickle Productions present: Quality Control w/ Badklaat + Coffi + Megalodon | Tickets | Info

It's a new year and we like to start things off with a fresh vibe for Dank Radio. With the growing emergence of bass music locally here in the Los Angeles/Orange County region some have begin to feel the need of more deep vibes and less of the tear up/mid-range dubstep that has been prominent. We love all types and vibes, but sometimes it's nice to listen to proper lower frequencies and meditate on some bass music. Cue in, Jon of Pickle Productions who's throwing his first Quality Control event this Friday with the following line up: Coffi [Monsters/Gentlemens Club/DubstepFM/UK] + Badklaat [Dubstar/Bassclash/UK] + 2Mex [The Visionaries] + MC Kemst [SMOG/Pure Filth] +SamXL [Pure Filth] + Pavarotti b2b DJ Stax + Blankface b2b Maze Dubs and sound provided by Pure Filth. It's going to be a great way to start this year of fresh so let's take a few minutes to find out who's behind it all...

Nativity: First off thank you Jon for taking time to do this interview. With it being the week of New Years and the final week of prep before Quality Control I can only imagine how busy you are. Before we get into your upcoming Quality Control event let's start off with an introduction of who you are and how Pickle Productions came to be. How did it all start?

Jon: Yeah man super busy, as I just got home from running a NYE after-hours with Bloodthinnerz, Crs?, Hogwash. Running on fumes and herbs, what better time for an interview…

I’m just doing what I enjoy and trying to be successful with it. Music is a way of life, straight up, and I’m trying to make my mark on my little section of it. Pickle Productions is a new project started just a few months ago. Basically, I organize music events. Whether in a club, on a ranch in the hills, in the middle of the desert, in the middle of the forest, or in a downtown warehouse, where ever, with a heavy focus on bass music, quality sound, quality djs, and quality people are what I’m after. I truly enjoy this music and this scene, but I think there is a lot of room for improvement for what's typically available to us in So Cal. I am out to impress the diehard fans\producers\dj’s\Bass OG’s\experts, not the necessarily the mainstream cats.

Nativity: Now that we have some sort of foundation let's dive deep into some music. What kind of records did you listen to growing up and what was your introduction to bass music/dubstep/d&b/jungle/etc?

Jon: Growing up I listened to everything. I spent most my time on hip hop and classic rock. Outkast is my favorite music group, no questions. In those days Andre Nickatina, Bone Thugs n Harmony, Outkast, and 36 mafia rarely came out of my disk changer. At some point I got a hold of Dizzee Rascal’s “Boy in the Corner” and I was absolutely blown away with what I was hearing from the stereo in my car. It became my choice album to show off my system. I started going to EDM events\Raves not for the music, but for the experience. I really didn’t enjoy much of the music I was hearing until I went to a few dubstep and bass shows in LA. Been hooked on bass music and the its lifestyle ever since.

Nativity: Was there a specific song that got you hooked or maybe an event somewhere at a local club/warehouse/rave/massive?

Jon: So many to name man I don’t even know where to start. I will say I fell in love with dubstep because of Skream, Joker, Loefah, DMZ, Kryptic Minds, Rusko, Bassnectar, and especially Mary Anne Hobbs. Loefah’s Disco Recka and Skream’s In For The Kill seem to stand out in my memory. Bassface, Respect, SMOG, and Low End Theory definitely got me hooked on attending shows.

Nativity: Now that we've established things, let's time travel to the present and talk about Quality Control. It's quite rare to see an event featuring more deep vibes around here in Los Angeles aside from maybe SMOG and Respect. Many have expressed the growing need for something less tear up/mid range. How did the line up come to be? How did you lock down some these artists from across the pond and why did you choose the local talent you did? It's awesome to know that the amazing Pure Filth system will be present to emit the lower frequencies.

Jon: I agree with you, a line-up like this is not too common out here, especially as of late. With any genre of music there is a commercial “mainstream” side and there is a more organic side of things. You have the Millie Vanilli’s and then you have the Gang Starr’s. I think it’s pretty well known the reason why so many of the mainstream DJ’s\producers get the amount of attention they do is because they have a publicity team behind them and folks just don’t know what's all out there, at no fault to them. They just have never been exposed to it before. All of these guys are highly talented and entertaining in their productions and mixing styles. I trust their musical tastes and know Quality Control is going to be nothing but heaters all night.

Jon: They came together through networking. Some are friends, some are friends of friends, some just like my ideas I guess. Regardless it was a unanimous decision amongst all the artists and myself that this is a good idea. 2mex and Mear One are a big part of this line up to me because I really respect the message they put out to others. Exposure to enlightened minds and ideas AND dope beats, sounds like an easy choice to me. I am just glad all the artists are on the same page with me and on board to make this show happen. Some very high caliber people involved with this show and I couldn't be happier about the line-up.

Nativity: Being that this is the first Quality Control, will you continue this event throughout 2013? I know the year has just begun, but where do you see this going in the next year? 3 years? 5 years?

Jon: I’d love to keep QC rollin, I am doing a lot of emailing right now working on potential line-ups. Only time will tell if I can make it happen or not, but if the people support the movement, I’ll keep bringing out quality artist the diehard bass music fans want to see. As well as throw some really fun gatherings with beautiful people in beautiful places.

Quality Control Venue: Beyond The Stars Palace

Nativity: What's the best way to contact you if someone wants to be involved with Pickle Productions and/or Quality Control? Do you accept unsolicited music submissions?

Jon: Version: Production@cali-Bass.com Sure, but I don’t accept pushy artists :) If I like what you do, you’ll know about it.

Nativity: New Years resolution(s) for 2013?

Jon: Same as always. Do everything better. Make less mistakes.

Nativity: Thanks again for doing the interview! Is there anything else you'd like to share with your fans + family + supporters? Maybe a hint at any surprises for this Friday's Quality Control?

Jon: Nah just everyone just keep doing whatever it is that makes you happy! Surprises, you're just gonna have to be there to be apart of this unique experience! Nothing about this show is typical, and I suggest you get there early, and stay till the end to see EVERYTHING I have planned for the night ;)

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Bringing quality dubstep back to Los Angeles.

UK Dubstep headliners (1st US Appearance)

4 decks will be in the DJ booth, nothing but the best for the true bass heads in SoCal. This will be a night to remember.

The latest info is posted here first and announced frequently

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Presale tickets: https://www.purplepass.com/QualityControl

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Venue: Beyond the Stars Palace

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Address:

417 North Brand Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 91203

Sound:

Pure Filth

Time: 8pm-2am (line forms at 7:30)

Age: 18+

Door Price:

$30 ($35 for 18-20)

$5 Well Specials

$4 Beer Specials

VIP Bottle service with PRIVATE TABLES on the main floor and in the Mezzanine private lounge will be available. Send me an email with VIP Bottle Service in the subject like for more info and pricing. Production@Cali-Bass.com

Items Not Allowed: BroStep

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U.K. Line-up:

Coffi

London England

Monsters/Gentlemens Club/DubstepFM London

http://soundcloud.com/coffi-dub

Badklaat

Gloucester,UK

Dubstar/Bassclash

http://soundcloud.com/badklaat

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U.S. Line-up: