Needle Exchange: A DJ Questionnaire with Airick X

His craziest gig, his go-to records and the music you should never ask him to play.

By Matthew Singer
IMAGE: Jason DeSomer Photography.

Years DJing: 23.

Genres: Electro, techno, '80s, disco, dirty, hip-hop, pop, rock, noise, rare-to-find, doo-wop.

Where you can catch me regularly: Blowpony at Bossanova Ballroom, third Saturday of the month.

Craziest gig: A break-in party situated at a school. It was ages ago, in another city. It was adrenaline-filled because the police showed up and there were people running everywhere, but not really in fear—more or less laughing and kinda taking in that the police can't really arrest over 300 people. It was intense and kinda funny.

My go-to records: Le Tigre, "Deceptacon"; Dead Kennedys, "California über Alles"; Gravy Train, "Hella Nervous"; Beth Ditto, "Open Heart Surgery"; Kleenex/Liliput, "Heidi's Head."

Don't ever ask me to play…: Eminem.

NEXT GIG: Airick X spins at Blowpony's Christ-Mess at Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside St., with Lady Bear, Aurora, Matt Consola and Just Dave, on Saturday, Dec. 24. 9 pm. $7. 21+.

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43.08Airick XBlowponyDJsNeedle ExchangePortland DJs

Matthew Singer

Matthew Singer

A native Southern Californian, former Arts & Culture Editor Matthew Singer ruined Portland by coming here in 2008. He is an advocate for the canonization of the Fishbone and Oingo Boingo discographies, believes pro-wrestling is a serious art form and roots for the Lakers. Fortunately, he left Portland for Tucson, Arizona, in 2021.

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