NCM GUEST MIX 015: CONDRICK
Condrick on NYE 2021 at Social Disco Club
It's a tale as old as time. Beachboy moves to Utah for college, mountains, and snow. The twist? Ryan Condrick developed a serious case of Disco Fever along the way.
We first ran into this former music marketing manager for Skullcandy at Cosmic Crush, DJ Finale Grand's (aka Adam Michael Terry) boogie, funk, and disco weekly at ye olde Tinwell Bar. Over time he seeped into our consciousness like a fine wine, showing up to every gig, overprepared, knowledgeable, and positively egoless. A triple threat before you add his impeccable taste.
Shortly after, Condrick performed at the legendary monsoon-drenched Bunny Hop in 2019, where he ended up playing while standing on a stool to avoid being electrocuted. We all found a new respect for the lengths people will go to power the party that day. Ryan was no exception.
When he's not working on his online record store startup, Condrick can be found DJing weekly guest spots in downtown Salt Lake City or fixing up his home with his partner, Rebekah, and their dog Honey.
Are you native to Utah? If not, what brought you here?
I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. Long story short, I was drawn to Utah by the Wasatch Mountains and the convenience of being able to snowboard world-class terrain within a 30min drive from the city.
Is there a person, or band who turned you on to music when you were young? Was music a part of your childhood?
My family put me on to music from the beginning. My Dad shared his love for Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Jim Morrison, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd; which are the groups/artists I can remember hearing and loving from the jump. I learned to play the trumpet in an elementary school band class, and eventually the electric guitar outside of school.
When, how, and what inspired you to start DJing?
In 1998 my cousin, Spencer, was DJing up North in SF. Spencer would send my sisters and me personalized mixtapes. One, in particular, he sent me when I was thirteen titled, "I Try", is what got me into buying records and eventually DJing. Spencer showed me the ropes and helped me find my first turntable in 1999. I was initially inspired by not only my cousin in SF but also by prominent turntablists on the West Coast such as The World Famous Beat Junkies and The Invisibl Skratch Piklz. I recall playing a tape by J Rocc (The Funky President) titled, “Sex Machine Today", so many times the tape stopped working.
Is there anything particularly unique about living in Salt Lake City versus other cities or scenes you’ve visited?
Connectedness is one of the city's most unique and appealing qualities. SLC locals are genuinely interested in sharing music knowledge and experiences regardless of differences in lifestyle, background, or economic class.
You seem like you’ve taken a journey through a few styles. Tell us where you started and where you're going next?
To describe how and where I started DJing… It wasn't until I moved to SLC and attended the U of U in 2004 that I started playing small parties at the Foothill Apartments with college friends. The first opportunity I had to play records in a bar or a venue was thanks to Chase Loter (ChaseOne2). ChaseOne2 would sneak me into the Jackalope Bar on State Street before I was 21. I learned so much, and continue to learn from ChaseOne2. He's the main reason why I learned to get comfortable DJing outside of my bedroom. He always pushed me to, "play what the other DJ is not". He instilled confidence and helped me strive to create my own lane.
Over a decade later, Adam Michael Terry was a big motivator for me to get back out and play records in the wild. In 2018 Adam invited me to join him in playing B2B at his monthly residency Cosmic Crush at Tinwell Bar (now called The Pines). Cosmic Crush was an opportunity to play cosmic boogie, funk, and disco records which I had been collecting for over ten years but had never really played them out.
Moving forward I want to find an SLC venue to host my own residency and put time/effort into making original music. I've accumulated a humble stash of hardware instruments and I'm beginning to put in my 10,000 hours.
You have a relaxed vibe about you and a very natural interest in many kinds of music. Do you have a philosophy behind digging and gigging?
My genuine interest in all genres comes from my unyielding love for music. The reason I DJ in the first place is because it provides the means to afford to buy more records and develop more knowledge.
I’m not sure I’d consider myself a deep thinker or philosopher. But if I had to share a piece of advice for digging, I'd say buy records that truly resonate with you rather than to please an audience. Just do/play what you like hearing and trust your instincts.
As for gigging, treat everyone you work with, including the venue staff, with respect and kindness. As a DJ, you are an employee just like the bar/venue staff or the folks holding down security. The more you act like "the talent”, the less people will want to work with you.
Any life experience(s) you feel have helped you find and develop your talent and passion for music?
The most beneficial experiences which have helped me grow and learn as a DJ have been playing gigs that are outside of my comfort zone. I aim to be as versatile as possible so I can access opportunities to collaborate with a wider range of artists.
While I prefer to play all-vinyl, I know most audiences don't really care what gear the DJ is using. That being said I think playing records provides limitations that unleash spontaneous creative expression. Playing records on turntables requires the DJ to be financially and emotionally invested in the music they intend to play. Vinyl DJs have to be vulnerable and are dedicated to the music they bring out to share. It's more personal and deliberate than having a laptop with an unlimited library. No snobbery here. I admire plenty of digital DJs, just pointing out the difference in effort and dependency on the advantages new technology provides.
Another memorable life experience that helped me develop a better understanding of how the music industry works was the four years I spent at Skullcandy headphones working as a music marketing manager.
We are big fans of your weekly gigs around SLC including Friday nights at Varley, Wednesday nights at Lake Effect, and Sunday afternoons at Templin Family (TF) Brewing. Tell us about those and what you want to do next.
First off, thank you. I feel lucky to be seen by any other local DJs who attend the spaces I'm able to play. But I must confess, ALL of the weekly gigs I currently participate in are not actually "my" gigs. I am merely a guest or a co-host.
For the weekly gigs where I'm a guest or co-host; they are all predominantly geared towards grown folks’ music. The three venues mentioned are not primarily focused on a dancefloor, quite the opposite in fact. I aim to provide completely open-format and diverse sets composed of less common records that I feel have a timeless quality. I'm rarely confined by genre but always focused on a specific mood or energy. At Varley on a Friday I play sexier records that might compel people to want to be intimate with their date/partner. At Lake Effect on a Wednesday I'm aiming to help folks get loose after working a nine to five. And at TF I'm trying to provide relaxing and rejuvenating music with a nod towards escapism.
Looking forward I would like to establish my own residency in Salt Lake City. I haven't found a unique space that feels like home just yet. I hope to curate my own authentic and unique experience somewhere that puts music and the sound system first while maintaining a high standard of quality across beverage, food, and customer service. I know I'm not the only DJ yearning for a space like this in SLC, so I trust it's only a matter of time before this idea becomes a reality.
Covid notwithstanding… What would you tell your younger self if you had the chance? In relation to music, love, or life in general?
The advice I'd give my younger self about music and the creative process: Self-doubt is a creativity killer. The more you overthink things the less you will accomplish. When in doubt, put it out! Move fast, fall hard, get back up and learn from your weaknesses and shortcomings.
The advice I'd give my younger self about love: Tell the people you care deeply for that you love them. There's no knowing what love can do to help someone get through it and you never know how much time you will have in this life.
On life in general: Your time and your health are the two most valuable resources you will ever have. Don't give your time or compromise your health for anyone who doesn't value/respect/support you!
Do you have one favorite concert, dance floor, or festival memory from over the years that still gives you the feels?
The Annual Bunny Hop at Garage on Beck which took place on April 21, 2019 is an event in Salt Lake City that is forever embedded in my brain. I watched local DJs (most notably Sameyeam and Curtis Strange) play all-vinyl sets in the midst of a decently scary hail storm. There were moments when the violent sideways weather scared people inside and briefly stopped DJ sets while NCM crew were quick to cover the DJ booth with tarps and rescued cables from pools of rainwater.
Despite the downpour, I witnessed serious determination, comradery, and ingenuity from the entire community to keep the show going. There were moments when everybody was outside dancing in the rain on mud floors and various people were taking turns protecting the performing DJ from the weather by holding tarps down around the DJ booth so they could push through and play. It was fucking beautiful! I knew after witnessing that event, the Salt Lake scene has a unique and diverse energy that won't quit. SLC folks are determined to enjoy each other and all the connectivity music has to offer.
Got any projects or hobbies outside of records and music? We hear you’re interested in starting an online record store??? Very cool.
Most of my time outside of music is spent with my partner, Rebekah, and our dog Honey. Rebekah and I are constantly working on home renovation projects since our house is a fixer-upper. When the house projects aren't consuming all our time and money we go snowboarding in the winter and camping in the summer.
Yes! I'm in the process of launching an online record shop called Synth & Soul to provide an outlet to share records with people outside of DJing. A few years ago I started intentionally stacking inventory that would sit on ice until I could figure out how to develop a physical or virtual shop. With COVID in full force and the cost of rent in Utah exploding I spent these last five months gradually uploading inventory and designing the Synth & Soul website which I plan to launch on or before Valentine's Day 2022.
How would you describe the mix you made for NCM? The ideas and/or process…?
This mix was inspired and motivated by a conversation I had with Jesse Walker. He caught me performing at Nightfreq’s ‘Social Disco Club’ on NYE (2021) and asked if I would be interested in sharing the live recording from the night. I focused on including disco-centric edits that play a bit louder and punchier than the original source material.
I recorded it in one take in my living room with my dog, Honey, sitting right behind me on the couch using two Technics SL-1210 M5G turntables, a RANE TTM 57SL 2-channel mixer, and Ortofon Concorde MKII Club cartridges.
Anything else you’d like to tell the world?
Thank you for not asking me what my favorite record is, cause it would be a different answer every day.
TRACKLIST:
1. Dimitri from Paris & DJ Rocca “Don’t You Feel The Same” [Gomma]
2. JKriv and Dicky Trisco “Track 3” [Sentimental Animals]
3. The Patchouli Brothers “Ti Amo” [JustWhatTheWorldNeeds...]
4. J.D. Hall “Wonder Woman“ (Al Kent Edit) [BBE Disco]
5. Jacques Renault “Said I Would” [Razor N Tape]
6. Kapote "Pump It Edit” [Toy Tonics]
7. Red Greg “Do It” [Kojak Giant Sounds]
8. Watsonian Institute “Lil’ Sista” (Jamie 3:26 Edit) [G.A.M.M.]
9. Carol Lloyd “Get A Chance” (The Patchouli Brothers Edit) [Kojak Giant Sounds]
10. Hazmat Live “Dance With Me” [Papaya Records Detroit]
11. Carlos Romanos “1-2-1” (Prescription Pricing Authority Rework) [G.A.M.M.]
12. The Mighty Clouds Of Joy “Peace, Love & Understanding” (The Patchouli Brothers Edit) [G.A.M.M.]
13. Air Power “Be Yourself” (Frank Booker Edit) [Razor N Tape]
14. Sylvia St. James “All Good Things” (The Patchouli Brothers Edit) [G.A.M.M.]
15. Jupiter Beyond “Beach Buggy” (Mytron & Ofofo Edit) [Razor N Tape]
16. Melba Moore “Can’t Promise” ( DJ Monchan Edit) [Razor N Tape]
17. Art School & The Mighty Motor Gang “Emergency Loop” (COEO Edit) [Razor N Tape]
18. Vaughan Mason and Butch Dayo "Feel My Love” [Be With Records]
19. MezcalCuts“NiceDay”[TakeAway]
20. Ayx "Delirio Italiano” (Kapote Edit) [Toy Tonics]
21. Dino Soccio "Chimay Groove” (Edit) [Pleasure of Love]
Condrick is from California. The land of milk and honey.