NCM GUEST MIX 007: JGODINA

 

In honor of our 6th Annual Bunny Hop coming up this Easter Sunday, we asked long time 'Hop' DJ JGODINA (Justin Godina) to make a vinyl only guest mix for NCM. Read the interview and stream the mix below and at Soundcloud.

 
 

Where are you from originally?
Salt Lake City Rose Park specifically

Who are your influences... what did you grow up listening to and in your formative years?
I grew up listening to a lot of Soul, Funk, Disco, '80s, New Wave & Early HipHop. Some of my Favorite Local DJ's were Shawn Phillips, Bam Bam Santoro, Ryan Raddon circa Manhattan Club Mon. Disco Nights and The White Knight he was a local club jock when I was underage but I had a couple of his tapes and he also had stints on the radio.

How did you get into DJing?
I used to flip Funk, Disco & 80's records for my Aunts & Uncles before they would go out dancing in the early '80s. And then I heard Herbie Hancock 'Rockit' with those iconic cuts from Grandmixer D.ST and I knew I had to try that. I wrecked like 6 of my family members’ styluses trying to scratch! I used to sit listening to the radio and record that song every time it came on. I had a 90 min cassette with nothing but Rockit recorded on it front to back.

I used to monopolize the music at all the party's that I attended and threw with my friends so in like '95 I started piecing together a sound system and DJing house party's we would throw. 

Favorite Record(s) at the moment?
FM Belfast 'Synthia'
Screaming Lord Sutch 'Flashing Lights'
Willie a Hutch 'I choose You'
Mathew Dear 'Little People'
Beck 'Earthquake Weather'
Public Enemy 'Cant Truss It'
Main Ingredient 'Summer Breeze'
E.L.O. 'Living Thing'
Mac DeMarco 'Chamber Of Reflection'

What do you love most about vinyl and about 45s specifically?
I love vinyl because it's a beautiful tangible medium that I grew up on, with amazing creative bizarre cover art; and 7"s Good 45's are difficult to find and more difficult to DJ with, just collecting the 45's to play a great set is a feat in itself—let alone actually playing a clean cohesive set. Mixing, scratching, and juggling Soul Funk & Jazz 45's is probably the most difficult task a DJ has, besides negotiating a proper rate.

Where are the best places to dig for records in Salt Lake?
Randys Records, Diabolical & Albatross are the obvious choices but I also frequent antique shops and flea markets.

What's the coolest record you remember finding? Where and why?
The coolest record I've found digging was definitely Jimmy Smith Root Down which was sampled by the Beastie Boys Track of the same name, was a great dig because it's rare and expensive record that I only paid $1 for but also because I got it from an antique store just a few blocks from my house at the time. It was a solitary jazz lp tucked into a crate of the typical thrift store garbage records you find everywhere Mo Tab, Herp, and a lot of easy listening.

How would you describe Salt Lake to someone unfamiliar with it?
Salt Lake City is a cool clean city but it's pretty Vanilla. Take that in any context you like.

You’re a staple at the Bunny Hop on Easter. Do you look forward to playing it, and why?
Oh, the Bunny Hop... it is easily my favorite party of the year. It is everything a great party should be. Great vibes, Great Music, Great Venue a diverse crowd coming together for a good cause and I'm flattered to be repeatedly asked to be a part of it!

What’s your most memorable gig so far?
My most memorable gig would have to be the Kid Cudi Twilight show I did, there were approximately 60,000 people in attendance. It was crazy to play for that many people, wild night for sure.

Thoughts on the music scene in Utah in general? What excites you and what could be better?
There is always room for improvement. We all just have to keep preaching our respective gospels and hope it reaches a few people and starts more aural revolutions.

Where do you see your DJ/music career going in the next decade?
I really want/need to focus on more remixes, edits, and original production. I feel like I've got a good ear and a lot of cool concepts that I just haven't brought to fruition. Also ideally I'd like to travel more playing amazing 45 sets so hopefully, if this hits the right ears and eyes I'd like to come to your town and play, so please book me. Have Wax, will travel.

TRACKLIST:

1. Deep Space 69’ Intro
2. Wah Wah Watson - Goo Goo Wha wha
3. Ohio Players - Funky Worm
4. Clarence Carter - Devil Woman
5. Rufus Thomas - Sixty Minute Man
6. James Brown - Think
7. Freeda Payne - Unhooked Generation
8. Ruby Andrews -You Made A Believer Out Of Me
9. Rufus Thomas - Do The Funky Pengiun
10. James Brown - Funky President
11. Lowell Foulsom - Tramp
12. Syl Johnson - Different Strokes
13. All The People Feat. Robert Moore - Cramp Your Style
14. Alvin Cash - Keep On Dancing (Instrumental)
15. Jesse Gresham Plus 3 - Shootin' The Grease
16. Lou Courtney - Hey Joyce
17. Little Royal And The Swing Masters - Razor Blade
18. Kool And The Gang - The Penguin
19. Archie Bell And The Drells - Tighten up
20. TSU Tornadoes - Getting The Corners
21. The Panic Buttons - O-WOW
22. Ike Turner - Funky Mule
23.Betty Everett - Sweet Dan
24. The Dells - Sing A Rainbow (Medley)
25. Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand The Rain
26. Charmelles - As Long As I've Got You
27. Ramsey Lewis - Les Fleurs
28. Sound Experience - 40 Acres And A Mule
29.. The Meters - Hand Clapping Song
30. Bobby Rush - Chicken Heads
31. The Village Callers -Hector
32. Elephants Memory - Mongoose
33. Syl Johnson - Is It Because I'm Black
35. Outro