Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Spotlight on local music: DJ Rosco

Names (stage and real): Ross O'Connell, DJ ROSCO Hometown: I grew up in Belleville, went to school and lived in Montreal for six years and have been living in Whistler for seven, so ummm Bell-Mont-Stler? Pique: So, is music a full-time gig for you, o
58633_l

Names (stage and real): Ross O'Connell, DJ ROSCO

Hometown: I grew up in Belleville, went to school and lived in Montreal for six years and have been living in Whistler for seven, so ummm Bell-Mont-Stler?

Pique: So, is music a full-time gig for you, or do you also have a day job?

R.O.: Yeah it definitely consumes the majority of my time, passion and devotion, but I also work as a Financial Advisor two days a week at TD Bank.

Pique: What's your "Whistler story?" (When did you arrive and what brought you here?)

R.O.: I came to Whistler for Christmas 2002 to visit my brother, but I wanted to stay longer. Before I left for Whistler I packed my records turntables and clothes and asked my dad to send them out (in that order!) to me if I ended up staying in Whistler, and here I am seven years later!

Pique: What do you love about this place?

R.O.: Just about everything; the mountains, lakes, trails speak for themselves. The people here are great, super positive and generally good people. I love DJing here because everyone is ALWAYS down to party and have a good time!

Pique: Anything you hate about it?

R.O.: Working a day job on powder days!

Pique: When you aren't on stage, where can people find you hanging out?

R.O.: On the mountain, in my studio in Function, by the lake with my dog, or on my motorbike!

Pique: How were you introduced to music and DJing?

R.O.: My family is really into music and my earliest memories are of listening to eight-tracks and playing my dad's records on my Mickey Mouse turntable - I completely destroyed his record collection! And yeah I'm old! I got into DJing just out of love of music and going to clubs, I was that guy glued to the booth watching the DJs.

Pique: What kind of music do you use during any given set?

R.O.: I play classic hip hop, party rock and electro house music with a touch of top 40. Really, whatever I'm feeling and think the crowd will get into.

Pique: What are your thoughts on Whistler's music scene, today?

R.O.: I think Whistler's local music scene is great. We live in a town that has world-class local talent and we get exposed to so many acts with all the shows and festivals that come through town. With the Olympics coming this year there is a huge potential for the local music scene and I really hope the event organizers and party planners take advantage and book local acts, myself included! (www.myspace.comdjrosco1)

Pique: Where else can people catch you playing around town?

R.O.: I play random parties and one-off events around town pretty regularly, and am in talks now to get an après session for the upcoming season - check the Pique listings!

Pique: What's been the most memorable performance of your career?

R.O.: I have a lot of favorite shows and really memorable experiences and have been able to open for a lot of great acts including MOP, Beatnuts, Guru and DJ Doo Wop, Talib Kweli, but one of the most memorable was a private party in California where I had the dance floor packed and everyone was jumping and going off, a stage manager came and told me I had to stop the music or the floor was going to break, however the promoter was game for me to keep going. About a minute later the dance floor came crashing down! It was awesome, no one was hurt and I literally blew the place up!

Pique: I understand you recently had a gig in Las Vegas. Can you tell me a bit about that experience?

R.O.: It was amazing, my first time in Vegas and what a blast! I played at The Sapphire Pool, a daytime adult pool located at The Rio during a World Poker Series Tournament. It was a lot of fun and like no pool I've ever been to! It went really well. I've actually been booked there again this week and in September. I'm headed to the airport right after this for a week.

Pique: And you have two more big shows coming up in Chicago and Montreal! Who are you playing with at those gigs?

R.O.: The Chicago gig is a private party featuring yours truly and the confirmed Montreal gig is at Blue Dog with Team Canada and I still have to hear back from a couple other venues in Montreal. Also it's starting to look really good for a regular gig in Las Vegas.

Pique: How is your style and approach to DJing received outside of Whistler?

R.O.: It's been a really positive reaction. That's why I'm starting to book more dates outside of Whistler; every show has gone really well and I've gotten great feedback!

Pique: Even though you've been playing outside of town a lot lately, do you still plan on keeping Whistler as your home base?

R.O.: Absolutely - Whistler is home and I have my residences here. I plan on playing outside of Whistler more and more, but this will always be home.

Pique: Hit shuffle on your iPod - what are the first three songs you come across?

R.O.: Ain't no Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye (re-edit)

Holiday - Dizzee Rascal feat. Chrome

Silky - Cam'ron

Pique: What musician (alive or dead) would you like to perform with?

R.O.: I'd love to have worked with Michael Jackson, or even just watch him work. He was a genius.

Pique: What are your musical goals?

R.O.: I want to be able to travel around the world and play shows. I also am getting into production as I have a lot of ideas I want to put out there.

Pique: Do you have any new projects in the works?

R.O.: I'm working on getting booked outside of Whistler as well as for Olympic venues. I've recently done some scratching for a couple of MCs and singers. As I mentioned I'm trying to learn a few programs for producing tracks. I've also rented a studio in Function, which I plan on doing DJ "lessons" or jam time out of, for people who want to learn to spin or already know how and just don't have the chance because they're traveling and couldn't bring their crates of records or computers. It's still in the works but you can hit me on my MySpace or e-mail if you're interested! dj_rosco1@hotmail.com