Exposed Vocals Interviews KNG JOHN

Just like his mixes Dj KNG JOHN has diverse style, since growing up in Chicago & Houston hence merging two different city cultures have formulated into a Dj that can play for a hardcore hip-hop heads to those who just want to dance all night long, either way it is always a good time!

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an Dj?

KNG JOHN:  Well I grew up on the southside of Chicago and it is only two ways to really prosper, Basketball or Rapping and I can’t do either good enough to get paid but I’ve always had a ear for music, beats, sounds and just good vibrations. I brought my turntables and the rest is history I’ve been grinding ever since, from a crowd of just my close friends to crowds of thousands of people I’ve never met at SXSW and other festivals.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

KNG JOHN: I was watching a documentary on Basquait and his life’s work and they called him the king of black art and art period in his rising. From there I formed the idea that we are all kings and can be great if we just give into what we feel and live life free, So KNG JOHN was perfect for me.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

KNG JOHN: I think it has its pros & cons, because it gives you the platform and control to really get your sounds out there to places and people you physically cant go at the moment however it always leads to people ‘illegally” downloading your music and that hurts the artist. Its good and bad but as far as all my mixes & original music it is all FREE.99, one day I will charge but everyone in this world can use some good vibes.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

KNG JOHN: I’m still a start up lol, but my advice is network and get out of your comfort zone you have to take risk and willing to give it your all if this is what you want to do

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

KNG JOHN:  TONS! But the crowd will never know, I practice everyday for at least an hour to make sure I’m prepared for if the track is off beat, my turntables stop or even if I break my hand lol, I’m prepared

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

KNG JOHN: All the time with the big bro DRO FE and with my family DRE PRINCE both great artist and have given me a lot of opportunities to be great! And the most interesting from any tour I’ve gone on has to be the tour buses because everyone is on there chilling, creating and just being themselves so its just a good atmosphere and can create some of the best collaborations

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather beat making inspiration? What is your usual beat making process?

KNG JOHN: Most of my inspirations come from everyday life and sounds. I can see something and it sparks an idea that I then form into a beat then into a song. As far as the process for creating beats, I grab my brother Duece ( Better know a The Produecer ) and we lock ourselves in the Dojo lol for a few hours and just go through tons of sounds, drums, claps, videos anything we can get on hands on and just create.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

KNG JOHN: No website yet for my music but I do have a soundcloud, bandcamp and a mixcloud!

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

KNG JOHN: I am a avid listener of Beyonce, like every single album ha ha other than that my phone has literally 75 GBs of music from around the world

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

KNG JOHN: First I’m buying a compound with a studio & basketball court and the rest I’m saving and investing in my business, I’ve been learning about stocks lol but with a year off I would book a world tour of free shows so I can rock crowds around the world and experience the many different cultures.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

KNG JOHN: Yep, I’m waiting on technics to drop the new 1200’s so I can buy them lol and as far as projects I’m currently working on a 5-8 track LP I will be putting out on my birthday 8/28!

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

KNG JOHN: All honestly, I reach out to many different blogs send them my mixes and original music for review and just let it go from there. I also have a good & supportive group of fans that repost my mixes and share them with their friends and family so I’m building everything organic

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Artist: Kanye & at Chicago university, that where it all really started I met him up there on accident as a kid and to be able to do that for our city would be awesome

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

KNG JOHN: Nah, everything on the low besides that LP and even so no leaks lol

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

KNG JOHN: I would be a cook! Lol I’ve loved food and can really throw down in the kitchen from watching my grandmother cook for us growing up

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

KNG JOHN: It was College Dropout, Kanye West and there were no words in my head just sounds, every sample, every drum, every clap created a beautiful picture in my head like a personal music video for me

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

KNG JOHN: I just don’t sleep lol since like I will get off work and go straight to a gig or straight to the studio to create something awesome. So no sleep and a lot of water ha ha

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

KNG JOHN: Just be ready for me, like I’ve been working hard and finally starting to get a little shine so I’m not going to take it for granted because there are people that want to be in my shoes and “I aint shit yet” lol. Definitely just be ready for these good vibrations I am about to send out!