Blake Baxter Quote:
I like things that are different and yet anyone can relate to…
Sometimes through humor, sometimes with sexy lyrics.
I keep it edgy; I love poetry; Chatting to rhythms…
Most of my tunes are based on a poem that I’ve written or lyrics from a song that I like
I am not just Techno music I am more than just House music
I can bang hard and speak softly to a beat
I am sound
I am rhythm
I am music
and music is my life.

Q: Are you the self-proclaimed prince of techno?
A: I hate that question as much as the association. I think journalists write that because it looks good on paper. I never consider my self the prince of anything. I dislike that. I may have joked about it, but I don't take any of that shit seriously. Anyway, Cliff Thomas of Incognito started that and UR used it on an EP record that I produced. I had asked them not to, but they like to joke around as much as I do. It's a old Detroit joke that just won’t go away.

Q: How does Blake Baxter fit in with Detroit Techno?
A: I am from there, grew up there and I work with Detroit-based labels like KMS, Transmat, Incognito, UR. I was DJing and producing in Detroit. I love Detroit and love being from Detroit. Detroit made me the man that I am today… Ha, ha, ha who ever he is! (laughs)

Q: What do you think about the Techno exhibition at the Detroit Historical Museum?
A: It’s not a bad exhibit and it's an honor to be respected in such a way. I think the exhibition is a little one sided I'm tired of that. Belleville three bull but if you’re in the D, it’s worth checking out.

Q: Do you still hang out or speak with any the Detroit boys?
A: Yes…and no! I always like to see someone from the D. I'm cool with almost everyone. Most of us as producers, artists, DJ’s, we're in our own zone and trying to survive. We are all over the globe put-in work, keepin’ busy.

Q: Are you still cool with Derek?
A: WHOA!... We use to be cool a long ass time ago. I do wish we could go back but you can't. I wish him well and, besides, I'm from the Dirty D. We don't kiss ass we kick ass! Anyway, he's the man people love to hate but I don't hate anyone. It's a waste of energy. He's done some great things in a big way but he's also burned a few bridges along the way. To get to wherever the hell he's at. WHOA! (grins then laughs)

Q: How do you feel about today’s Techno?
A: Man, it's just OK… Nothing great has happened besides me! Ha, ha… Yeah, baby! Today’s Techno is all about loops. Everybody's got Reason or Acid Pro and you can hear it... As a DJ, I like to mix the classics with the new tech. It's the only way I can stand it. Not too fast and not too slow...keep it pumpin'.

Q: Do you use software or music production programs?
A: Yes, but I still use and love my outboard gear 808, 909, 303, Moog…the real shit yo! (a big smile). I like to incorporate it all together and I like to work vocals, as well, to add a live fill.

Q: What software are you using?
A: Logic, Pro Tools, mostly on the road I mess around with reasons to pass time.

Q: Which do you prefer most, DJing or working in the studio?
A: I prefer to produce. I love working in the studio and being creative. I am blessed to be able to do both. As a DJ, it's good to see people’s reaction to your music. It keeps the creative mind fresh.

Q: Which is your favorite style to DJ and produce?
A: I am closer to the house style because of the tempo. I don't DJ too hard or real fast. I like congas pumping bass lines, sexy soulful type music—music you can see the ladies shake that ass too and get your freak on. But being from Detroit, people expect techno like UR or Tresor style—I like to bang sometimes! But I'm not Jeff Mills.

Q: You have managed to stay active as a DJ and producer for quite a long time. What’s your secret?
A: As a DJ, my secret is is Mix Media and Dynamix . They keep me working! And having records out helps, as well. You’re only good as your last release and I come from a historic tech background that helps, as well. I'm from the old school. But I keep it fresh and am always thinking of new ways to work. When UR came over to Europe in the 90's, they hit big time. Everyone was producing and DJing harder and faster techno. I could not keep up and did not want to, but a brother had to eat! I still liked house and first wave techno so I thought to fuse House with Techno. One such project was (One More Time) and another one was (Brother Gonna Work it Out). At that time it was Raves Hardcore or Trance. I did not play at the big sell out raves. I was not into it. I was a club kid, not a raver. So I played the smaller clubs and producing tunes like the H-factor House produced in a Techno way. (Our Luv) was from that album. These days raves are like dinosaurs but House Tech is a necessary thing.

Q: Are you the prince of House Tech?
A: Fuck off…Ha, ha, ha… I'm a innovator…get it... (more laughs)

Q: What do you like to do when you’re not DJing or in the studio?
A: I love motorcycles. I ride with a motorcycle club call the Ruff Ryders Detroit chapter. I'm a biker boy… I have a ‘95 ZX 600 and a ‘04 ZX10 1000 KAWS, baby! If you ride, you know what I'm talking about. I also like to go to poetry cafes and lyrical lounges. I like to take long walks. I like to look at landscapes and architecture and nature. I like Mountain biking and snowboarding, but most of all, making love to a beautiful, big butt woman! Oh! And satellite TV… (he laughs)

Q: What would you be or do if you did not DJ or produce music?
A: A porn star and a hit man… (smiles, then laughs)… It works for me. Doing chicks and ridding the world of evil dictators and terrorists! What!? Somebody’s gotta do it… (more laughter)

Q: What are your future plans?
A: To produce and release some Hip Hop and R&B on CD and vinyl. I have two Hip Hop artists and a vocalist signed to Mix Management. My goal is to get them a deal and also to do some Hip Hop remixes and R&B production work. And on the dance tip, do some Hip-no-Tech Hip Hop fused with Techno under AKA (the Underground Track Master) released 11/04 on Mix Records (Futuristic Throwback EP) all in good fun.

Q: What do you love and what do you hate when it comes to being a DJ? Like doing tours and playing clubs?
A: Wow...how many pages do I get…? (Big smile, Hmmm) I am truly blessed. I love to travel and seeing the world. It has always been a dream of mine. But I hate flying, sitting, waiting, and most of all, the rude people at the airports cues lines passport controls especially Amsterdam Schiphole AKA schstopole get it races profiling bastards and Frankfurt an unorganized bore and the toilets suck, yo! mad small I love playing the small clubs 200 to 300 in your face sexy house gigs. I hate it when promoters book you for House on a Techno night and I really, really hate drugged out fist pumping tech hooligans. I love hotels with a gym and sauna and at least, clean with a bathtub, man.... (laughs) And I hate hotels out in the middle of fucking nowhere, two hours from the gig. I hate bad, fucked up sound systems. It makes the DJ look bad. I love to see more than just boys on the dance floor. I hate DJing at 4am to 6am and my flight leaves at 7:45. I love DJing clubs that are open-minded when the people don't just want the hard stuff—they want to pump up the classics, they want techno, they want house, they want history and know their tunes and who's the DJ and at the end of the night they had a good time!

Q: How often do you DJ in Detroit?
A: I used to DJ a lot in Detroit. I was the man at Majestic Theater, Shelter, Wax Fruit, Leland House, and Jimmy's. That was the 90's. I promoted some Tresor parties, as well, but it's been quite some time since I played the Detroit. The scene there is so spread out and out of synch. The club owners don't respect the promoters and the promoters don't respect the DJ or local artists. The Detroit music festival was and is great and a much needed concept for Detroit. But in that case, you have other artists taking advantage of other artists by asking them to play for free with no promotion. They are so desperate that they undercut themselves just to say, “I played there,” and promoters know this and take advantage of it. I would love to play in Detroit, but I’m not into head games. Besides, I'm booked a lot in Europe. I tour there monthly and I support that which supports me. Maybe one day, when it's right, I'll come home and bang, but until then, I'll stick to what works best for me.

Q: What are the names of your record company or labels and AKA's (also known as)?
A: Mix Records, Mix INC, Mix Media, Phat Joint, Afrodisitrax, Underground Track Master, B-BAX, Rebel Alliance, E.M.P, Poetry and Rhythm and The Sound Republic and you know the other AKA’s. Mix Record, Inc. is the main company—everything else is under the umbrella. Mix Media is a make-things-happen company, like promotions, contracts and bringing artist DJ producers together. Afrodisitrax is an afro-soul-disco-filter and DJ friendly dance track label. Phat Joint is a Hip Hop remix label. B-Bax is an AKA DJ Hip Hop & R&B. Rebel Alliance is a group project underground Detroit-style Techno. E.M.P. is an electro techno project/label. Underground Track Master AKA is Hip Hop mixed with Techno. The Sound Republic label is a poetry and house rhythm jazzy dance label and production project.

Q: What are your favorite tunes or production produced by Blake Baxter?
Whoa…! then a smile.
A: 1. When a Thought Becomes You (UR) Detroit
2. Forbidden Fruit (The Sound Republic) Detroit
3. When We Used to Play (KMS) Detroit
4. Club Fantasy (The Sound Republic) Detroit
5. Vision of You (UR) Detroit
6. Our Luv (Disko B) Munich
7. Brother Gonna Work it Out (Logic) Frankfurt
8. One More Time (Tresor) Berlin
9. Sexuality (Incognito) Detroit
10. The Drum Major (Tresor) Berlin