Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

DJ Z-Trip to take over Friday night helm at Rain nightclub

LA-based turntablist will take over spot formerly handled by the late DJ AM

DJ Z-Trip

Courtesy

DJ Z-Trip will take on the Friday night turntable duties beginning Oct. 16 at Rain nightclub at the Palms casino resort in Las Vegas.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 | 6:27 p.m.

DJ AM (1973-2009)

DJ AM performs at Rain Nightclub at the Palms. Launch slideshow »
Click to enlarge photo

DJ Z-Trip Revolution poster art by Shepard Fairey.

Prepare for the Revolution. Z-Trip’s Revolution. The Sun received news Wednesday that the LA-based DJ, born Zach Saiacca, has partenered with N9NE Group and will be the new Friday night resident at Rain. He’ll officially kick-start Z-Trip’s Revolution, “a party for the people,” on Oct. 16.

Fresh off his America’s Best DJ win, Z-Trip proved during Paul Oakenfold’s Perfecto on Sept. 12 that he could win over music fans of all tastes with his unique brand of blending. While many would call him a “mash-up DJ” and he’s credited as a founding father of the genre, clubgoers’ preconceived notions will be shattered as he mixes layers of different recognizable and underground tracks live as opposed to just playing pre-produced and purchased mash-ups.

“It’s kind of sad when people call me a ‘mash-up DJ,’” Z-Trip told the “Las Vegas Weekly” in a 2008 interview. “Just the fact that I like to incorporate different stuff, rock or whatever, into my mix is one of many, many flavors. I like to consider myself a ‘well-rounded DJ.’”

“Z-Trip is the originator of the sound,” says N9NE Group vice president Michael Fuller. He cites “Uneasy Listening” with Z-Trip and DJ P as a groundbreaking album for the format that launched a whole new sound. “To them it was called ‘blending.’ Somehow it turned into ‘mash-ups’; I don’t know exactly how that happened. [Z-Trip] was doing mash-ups before it was called mash-ups,” Fuller says.

“We’re in the middle of a renaissance for Las Vegas musically, as well as in America,” Fuller believes. “The transition from open-format hip-hop and rock being the staple in nightclubs is quickly changing.” He feels collaborations of dance music and pop will become the norm next year. “Z just want to position himself in that, as well as do what he normally does, which is he plays cutting edge music in a very aggressive, technical fashion. So we’re supporting that movement.”

As expected, the specifics of the Revolution party are being kept under wraps. “Our format is production and talent and to go above and beyond every time we’re doing something like this,” says Fuller, though look forward to a one-of-a-kind experience. “[Z-Trip] has a bunch of surprises musically that he’s not even telling me,” says Fuller. “He says that he’s coming in two or three days earlier, locking himself in a room and just practicing for those three days. He is a meticulous perfectionist and I am positive that night whatever he does is going to be legendary.”

“Z-Trip didn’t want to come out of the box doing the same ordinary thing,” says Fuller. He did reveal that Rain and Z-Trip have partnered with groundbreaking graphic artist (and Z-Trip’s good friend) Shepard Fairey for the look of Revolution. “We have a couple of custom installations that we’re working on right now with Shepard Fairey,” Fuller says of the artist behind OBEY and Barack Obama HOPE posters. “He’s one of the biggest art icons in America right now. We are very excited to have him as a partner.”

Similar to Paul Oakenfold’s Saturday night residency at Rain, special guests will take control of the turntables when Z-Trip isn’t spinning of Fridays. Fuller explains Z-Trip is set to spin about 30 dates over the next year, with Will.i.am, Jazzy Jeff and others making guest appearances on Z-Trip’s off nights.

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