Deyoung Williams’ event Honor will showcase fashion and music at Blue Beet May 1

Local Orange County DJ, fashion designer and promoter, Deyoung Williams aka Loner Rebel, will bring his seasoned musical talent as both a mixer and promoter to the Blue Beet in Newport on Thurs, May 1.

The OC Concert Guide had the chance to ask Williams about his biggest inspirations as a DJ, his thoughts on the current state of EDM in Orange County and how he got starting promoting events.

OCCG: How did you get into Promoting?
DW: Well I knew a guy while I went to OCC name Mike Hove. He kind of showed me the ropes. It was cool cause I just moved to Newport at the time and didn’t really know a single soul. So promoting was exciting for me. After working some events with Mike for Mak Entertainment I got into other stuff as well. I remember my first event I organized myself was about three years after I started I was so nervous. Then a girl named Lindsay Meek showed me how to throw my own events the rest is history.

OCCG: Which do you like better promoting or DJing?
DW: I’d have to say promoting. It’s a lot of fun and frankly I enjoy being behind the scenes. I have to admit it’s a lot of work and no one really knows the pressure you go through. Like whenever you have to get things going the right way it seems like everything goes wrong. I really stress on every event I do. Some don’t work out the way you want it but I realize that’s the best part. When it all goes wrong and you’re the person everyone relies on to make it right. That feeling is priceless.

OCCG: Have you ever had bad events or parties?
DW: Yes of course haha I threw parties when no one showed up. It’s depressing cause not only you lose money it hurts your ego. When I threw my first party in a field in Bakersfield, CA I knew it was only a hobby but a fun one. At the tender age of 16 I had no idea people even made a living off throwing parties. I grew up as a bar brat so I was always around the nightlife scene. My dad owned a bar in Milwaukee called Gill’s Place. I must have had it in my blood but I do recall the worst party I ever threw. It was my going away party and I was leaving for Santa Barbara. My friend had a warehouse where his band practice and I asked if I could throw a party there. Well it happened and I was determined to make it really big. So I invited everyone I knew and had my good friend’s invite everyone they knew it was going to be magical. Well 6 kegs latter and a huge fight where a good friend of mine Stevie got stabbed I suddenly lost all interest in throwing parties. I swore I would never throw one again. But that didn’t last long.

OCCG: Where else have you thrown events?
DW: All over really. A lot of it came about when joining in with other people. Cali Connect, State of Mind Entertainment, Lost Coast, and the list goes on really. But I got into the Hollywood scene about two years ago. That has been a lot of fun. There’s a big difference between LA and OC. LA is way more diverse and mellow. But OC has the uppity people that gives it a little more challenge. I like the challenge.

OCCG: What were the biggest influences that drew you towards EDM?
DW: Well I came from a musical background. I taught myself how to play guitar, and when I was a kid I played music instruments like the clarinet and flute. So when the U.S. made EDM popular, I was already sort of interested. My favorite DJ at that time was Designer Drugs. I loved how they mixed in so many genres of music during their sets. It was an honor to be there in person watching that amount of talent. In 2008 I started booking DJs at events and I was more intrigued with how they played instead of what they were playing. Trash Yourself were the first DJs I ever booked, and my love really took off from there.

OCCG: Who are some of your biggest inspirations as an electronic music artist?
DW: Of course Designer Drugs but lately a lot of the underground guys have been killing it. I have been stirring away from EDM lately as well. Artists like MAKJ, Bro Safari, Zedd, Drezo, DJ Spider, Joel Fletcher, Jay Scott, Brent Johnson, Knife Party, and I’ll say DJ Cobra.

OCCG: How have you seen the EDM scene change and grow in Orange County over the years?
DW: Well to be honest, it hasn’t grown in OC at all. It’s been on pause for years now in my opinion. I think the people running the shows here won’t give it a chance to grow. The Yost started to do something different by booking trap and dub DJs but after a year or so, they just started booking the same people over and over. That’s OC for you. It gets stuck in the “what’s popular” bubble and really doesn’t stir too far away from that. LA has a more diverse range of booking and shows.

OCCG: How would you describe your “sound” as a DJ and producer?
DW: As a DJ I like to be different. I think people always address me in that nature. I have only helped produce on tracks, so it’s been a journey of mine to learn everything I can. But I must say that bass gets me going while I’m DJing. Forget the drop, if you can keep people dancing and actually enjoying themselves, it is more rewarding than dropping a track you put out on Soundcloud for 3 min.

OCCG: Do you have any projects you are currently working on that we can look forward to hearing soon?
DW: Yes I do. We are actually bringing back our HONOR events. It was a great year for us last year. We booked a lot of talented people in the scene. Not just EDM, but music as a whole. That’s important to us in every aspect. We like to keep it new and fresh. We just hope OC likes it too.

OCCG: What are some of your major goals for your music career? Where do you see yourself five years from now?
DW: Five years from now I see myself being a full-on designer for my fashion label Doneall LeMark. Music and events are only just a hobby. It’s fun, but like all music it changes rapidly. No room in my life in 5 years for what I’m doing now in the scene, but we’ll see haha.

OCCG: What direction do you believe EDM will be headed in the coming years?
DW: Nowhere, it’s a dying scene like all music. Hip-hop was the biggest thing in the 90’s, and now it’s pretty much dead. I mean you have talented artist right there but only a few. That is what’s going to happen to EDM. People will get tired of it and something new will come along and takes it place. But only the best artists will continue on and make great music. I refer to this as the evolution of music.

OCCG: Is there anyone you’ll like to thank?
DW: Of course my mom and dad for making me. Then everyone I ever worked with. Everyone that helped me along my journey called life. Obed @ Social Group, Juan over at CSG, Everett w/ Cali Connect, Josh at Focus, wow the list can go on forever. Jason the man Stooks, Riley Nance aka DJ Nance, Brent and Brett. I know I’m going to forget someone but let me think… Christian Aguirre, JD Macy, Julia, TJ, Dillon, Colin, Andrew, Lindsay Momma Meeks, Stefanee at OCCG, and many, many more. Agh can’t think of everyone, but thank you everyone