Step Behind The Scenes With Seattles Tony H! (DMNW Interview)
A staple of the Pacific Northwest's electronic dance music scene, Seattle's Tony H is an established local DJ who has gained national exposure with releases from Space Yacht, Desert Hearts, Dirtybird Records, and more!
We sat down to interview the Panamanian house and techno DJ to talk about his new song , listen to his recent performance at Coachella, and dive deep into Seattle's EDM scene. Check out one of his latest releases , Suvecito , here and read Tony H's full interview below!
DMW: What inspires you the most as a DJ?
Tony H: What always drives and inspires me is the energy and the connection with people. I really enjoyed those moments, especially in intimate settings.
What is your best memory of your beginnings as a DJ?
Tony H : There are definitely a lot of combinations that come to mind. One of my favorite memories is when I first started gaming in San Diego, at a party hosted by Marquesa and VLL at a Twitch meet and greet with the Munchies Gang (my inclusive brand). I caught up with a bunch of people on my Twitch channel during a blast and we got a satisfying surprise from MZ Worthy!
Check out Tony H's Twitch channel here to see our next live stream!
DMW: Now that you have Coca-Cola in your hands, has anything changed in the way you prepare for PNW's big Wonderland show?
Tony H : That's not true, haha. I plan my collection in advance. Well, when I first started DJing, I was doing very little, but these days. Ideally, I will have an idea of the track I want to start on first and then I will go and feel the crowd and the vibe. I just want rock and sometimes messy beats and hear some DnB, crack or bass between my sets.
Watch Tony H's full Heineken home at Coachella 2023 pictured below:
DMW: I've seen you around town several times, as Mau Pee! Including clubs, space shuttles and some titles! How would you describe the electronic dance music scene in Seattle and your journey through it?
Tony H : Seattle's EDM scene is hot these days. Sometimes it has to do with who you know or what you've done for them rather than talents or skills. I've charted my own course in not playing these principles to my own brand and producing and styling music, but it's not easy for others to try to do that on stage. I really want to see more and hope to help more minorities, LGBT people and women on the show
DMW: Tell us about your artistic side, Munchies After Dark?
Tony H: Munchies After Dark is my second label launched in 2019, with a focus on melodic house and techno. I had the chance to sign artists like Sam Heap, Madlon, Novel Natura, Drawbird, Chris Tower and many more. It's definitely something I want to play with a lot and feature artists alongside the label.
DMNW: And most importantly, I know you just released a new song! Push it! Tell me everything! What inspires you? What are vibrations?
Tony H: The crazy thing about Pulse is that it takes place on my Twitch stream. I was randomly releasing music and working, and after a few hours, audience members like DJ Matt G and MZ TJA gave me feedback on what sounds I should download and use to create a track. We went to the hospital with a sound of hahaha.
So I uploaded a bunch of hospital samples and built a whole track around it, with the audience commenting on where to get things on the right track. It was definitely a fun experience to stream it and I definitely plan to do it again soon. Pulse is a funky house techno track with a funky bassline and Haunting Hospital samples.
DMW: Is there a type of music that you enjoy the most? Maybe a live or cross room? Is there anything else in preparation?
Tony H: I'm really a fan of the electronic/neo-soul sound pioneered by Kaytranda, Sango, Chanel Trace and others...so that's the genre I want to build on in the near future. You can hear what I plan to release in January 2024 on my next album.
DMW: What do you like to do outside of producing/DJing?
Tony H: Besides DJing, my favorite activities besides producing are figure skating, basketball and bowling. Interestingly enough, when I was 12 and 13, I bowled and came first both years, and I got bored and started playing basketball at my school and at tournaments. winter and summer.
DMNW: What message would you like to share with your fans?
Tony H: Lots of fun stuff in the business, including a nightclub with Donnie IV in the mural, a day trip to Seattle, and an LNM show with Shameless Monkey Attic. I'm also working on my second album after releasing "Big Hooper" in 2020, which I plan to release in January 2024 on the Late Night Munchies label. Finally, I'm starting a new project to help connect the community and empower others, including minorities, LGBT people, and women.
She started a DJ academy and eventually a place called "Passline Beats Academy" for DJs, production workshops, lectures and music industry advice on many other topics. We will fund most of the project when it is finished, if you want to participate and donate here is the link: https://gofund.me/aa646222
And if you see me in concert, don't be afraid to say anything!
DMNW: Thank you!
Tony H kicks off the Mural at the Seattle Center on July 4, performing with Chris Lorenzo, Lee Fosse, LP GOB and more. Get your tickets here! Unfortunately, we weren't able to catch Tony H of Wonderland PNW this year due to day two being canceled due to the tragic accident on day one that claimed the lives of two innocent victims.
We're thrilled to hear that an album is on the way in January 2024. For the latest updates from Tony H, visit his social media accounts!
