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What is Non-Fiction? By definition, Non-Fiction is the truth. It is also a connotation for a broad genre of literature, but in this case it refers to one of Orange County's emergent DJs. Rising quickly in the house music scene, Jose Tobar, (a.k.a. DJ Nonfiction) has been bringing house music to the local masses for over five years. He has been a steady and true member of the Focus resident DJ team for the last 5 years. Focus is a night club in Newport Beach catering to a core group of house music aficionados. Nonfiction continues to be booked at major events in Vegas, Miami, San Diego and even France! I met up with Nonfiction at Focus on Tuesday night, opening for DJ Colette, to see him spinning on his home turf. When I caught up to him he was mingling in the crowd and shaking hands with several of the regulars and groups of friends that he's made in the past half decade. We took a seat off to the side, bass thumping in the background, to find out the Nonfiction version of being a House DJ.
PD: So what prompted you to be a DJ?
NF: Well right after High school I started. My friend’s brother was a DJ and I just liked something about it, it intrigued me. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it.
PD: When was that?
NF: I actually started before 1992, but when I began college I started playing everywhere. I was at UCI doing frat houses, sororities, and house parties. I started as a hip hop DJ, playing on like, kitchen sinks with a Radio Shack mixer.
PD: How does being a Hip Hop DJ compare to House or the Electronic scene?
NF: Well when I got to Focus there was a big change in crowds. There is more respect in dance music, with Hip Hop you have people coming up every five minutes asking 'Can you play that 50 Cent song?' or 'that new song that goes like this..' with Dance music there is just more trust in the DJ.
PD: Who are your inspirations?
NF: I'd have to say Mark Farina and Derrick Carter
PD: What has been your best experience as a DJ?
NF: Well I've played all over, Miami (WMC), Vegas, France, but to be honest the best is a good night at Focus. It just has the best vibe out of all the places I've been.
PD: What's been your worst?
NF: Oh man, I've DJ'd at a spot where the wiring was in reverse and the left deck was on channel 2 coming out of one speaker and the right was coming out of the left, the equipment was bad and all other kinds of stuff. In the end it makes you a better DJ, it's a challenge. Now I get to look back on it and laugh.
PD: What artists do you listen to besides house? Who's on Non fictions iPod?
NF: Little Brother, 70's soul and funk, Indy rock
PD: What is the most important part of being a DJ?
NF: You got to be a dancer first. Never trust a DJ you've never seen dance. You've got to feel it from both sides to get that response and to be able to play to a crowd full of dancing people.
PD: Alright, your dead in heaven, what 3 artists would you want to talk to?
NF: Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson and...Miles Davis. No wait Jimmy Hendrix. No wait, scratch those two, Bob Marley. Definitely Bob Marley
PD: Haha! That's interesting, as a DJ I'd think you'd say all musicians, why Mr. Poe and Emily Dickinson?
NF: Well that's part of what Nonfiction means; I was an English major at UCI. I'm a really big reader in my spare time.
PD: What's your favorite avenue for music?
NF: I like the warehouse scene, I just recently played for Dynagroove. It goes all night, plus they serve alcohol all night. I like how it's a little dangerous; people are just going off till the sun comes up.
PD: What is your opinion on the House scene in Orange County, where do you see it going?
NF: It's good, a lot better than 5 years ago. House is still new to a lot of OC people. There is less judgment than say, LA or Vegas. The crowd is just open to this new type of music because they've never heard it before, they aren't focusing on, oh that was a bad mix or, they shouldn't play that track. They're down for the new experience.
PD: Right on! Any last shout outs, or gigs coming up?
NF: Yeah, I'm opening for Mark Farina in San Diego, so I'm really excited about that. I've been producing tracks which can be found on iTunes, Traxsource and Stompy.com. I'll be on Catalina Island in June for Ama Paradiso, Lightning in a Bottle. As far as shout outs I just want to thank my girlfriend Missy for supporting me through everything, she helped me stop drinking a while back and since then my DJing has shot up ten times. So, thanks to her.
DJ Nonfiction’s Favorite Links
www.myspace.com/dj_nonfiction
liveatfocus.com
http://www.liveatfocus.com
VIDEO 1 - Interview with DJ Nonfiction - House Music Scene in OC
VIDEO 2 - DJ Nonfiction Opening for Mark Farina
VIDEO 2 - DJ Nonfiction Opening for Mark Farina
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