Local DJ Tomas DeLa Noche always puts on an interesting show when he’s behind the mixing board. His house-music sets are catchy and feature insanely good dance beats; after well-received sets at the Coachella Valley Art Scene and The Hood Bar and Pizza (with Independent resident DJ Alex Harrington), Tomas DeLa Noche is making an ever-bigger name for himself in the Coachella Valley. For more information, check out soundcloud.com/tomasdelanoche.
What was the first concert you attended?
Johnny Cash at the Greek Theatre (in Los Angeles), circa ’97, I believe.
What was the first album you owned?
Probably the first for a lot of people: Bob Marley and the Wailers, Legend.
What bands are you listening to right now?
Well, in the way of DJs, Get Down Edits are really doing it for me. Their selection is impeccable. Also, anything by Crazy P, given they can do no wrong.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
To each their own, but in all honestly, I really can’t stand anything EDM. Music has got to have elements of soul, jazz, funk or disco, or it just doesn’t appeal to me. Special bulletin: House music is NOT EDM!
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
I’m going to go ahead and say the Bee Gees. I feel like I would totally be in my element grooving to their songs.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Prince! LOL!
What’s your favorite music venue?
Locally, Bar in downtown Palm Springs. DJ Abe and DJ Tone play nothing but old rare grooves on vinyl every Saturday night. I’ve been once, and I was completely beside myself with happiness.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
Lyrically, I’d have to say the some of the best writers are hip-hop cats. In “Ex Girl to the Next Girl,” Guru from Gang Starr explains: “My homeboys told me drop her, cause it would be to my benefit. She used to say I better quit, hangin with those derelicts!” But really, all the lyrics in that song get stuck in my head.
What band or artist changed your life? How?
This is an easy one: Anyone who knows me knows I wouldn’t be listening to any of the music I listen to, or know half of the amazing people I have met (particularly in the house scene), if it wasn’t for Mark Farina. I owe it all to him.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
What inspired John Fogerty to write so many songs about the South when he and the band were from California?
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Both “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum and “You Sexy Thing (I Believe in Miracles)” by Hot Chocolate.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
That’s like asking the pope which bowl of holy water is his favorite. But considering there’s a gun to my head, Mark Farina’s Mushroom Jazz 3.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Beautiful Wicked Game” by Jask. It is a great mashup between his single “Beautiful” featuring Jocie and the Chris IsaaK classic “Wicked Game.” Jask is a personal friend of mine, and I’ve got to tip my hat to him every time, because he really is one of the best producers out there. (Scroll down to hear it!)
