Internationally acclaimed DJ, video director and music producer Static Revenger has just wrapped up his Australian tour. With artist credits on over 3.5 million records sold worldwide, the Los Angeles star is most famous for his double platinum hit I Like That and as the writer behind Stan Walker’s gold-selling hit Light It Up. Last month he launched his new single Turn The World On, featuring electro-pop sensation Dev — the vocalist behind Like a G6 and In the Dark.
Turn The World On premiered on perezhilton.com just weeks ago and is already clocking up countless YouTube hits. Having shared the stage with Fatboy Slim, The Basement Jaxx, Beastie Boys, Chemical Brothers, Moby, Oakenfold and The Crystal Method, Static Revenger is also the man behind seven number-one Billboard chart-toppers.
Let’s just say his music makes us want to jump up off the couch and hit the clubs. He gave us some insight into the life of Static Revenger — aka Dennis White — the man and the artist.
First of all, I love the new song Turn The World On! What is it that turns your world on?
Thanks! An enthusiastically open mind for great ideas and experiences keeps my world turned on.
Static Revenger — how did the name come about?
I really should have a better story for this by now! When I was young, I was walking on the carpet in thick socks and touched a power outlet, and… aww, forget it — lol. The truth: twelve years ago, a producer I admired wrote something in the liner notes of his CD that really offended me. I’d actually made the effort to purchase it. So I concocted this notion that I’d produce records under some silly superhero name and sell more records than he did. And… well… I did.
How would you describe your music style?
I go for power, funk and excitement in the frequencies, with a bit of cheek. What I end up with is anyone’s guess!
Of all the songs you’ve produced, do you have a personal favourite?
I swear this is not a promo pitch, but the song I have coming after Turn The World On is called Bullet Train. I’ve been working on it for months and months and I’m still not sick of it. I co-wrote it with DJ Rap — who I also co-wrote the Stan Walker song with — and Miss Palmer, who had a great track last year called No Beef with Aoki and Afrojack.
What are you most looking forward to on your Australian tour?
The gigs are always a riot, and beyond that I have a lot of really great friends down here. The opportunity to see them and work or play with them is always a real blessing.
You were in a 90s rock band? Why the change in genre?
LOL — yes, I was! The very short version is that Richard Vission, who I produced I Like That with and who is a great friend, did a remix of one of my rock band’s songs that became bigger than anything we’d envisioned. At that point I’d already been DJing and was firmly in the electronic scene, so when the band fell apart I just followed the natural path toward electronic dance music.
If you could team up with any artist for your next hit, who would it be and why?
Bono or Bowie. Because they are them. We’d talk global politics or art history over an expensive meal — I’d record every word of it and pull something together from the experience. The track would probably be rubbish, but the night would be EPIC!!!
What advice would you give other DJs hoping to make it in the industry?
Be original, learn music, and find your own voice.
And what can we expect next from Static Revenger?
My mum always says that if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. So — really, who knows?
