Needle Exchange: A DJ Questionnaire with DJ Solo

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

By Matthew Singer

Years DJing: Started DJing in 2011, and my first club gig was at Afrique Bistro on NE MLK and Russell.

Genre: Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae, hip-hop, soca, reggaeton.

Where you can catch me regularly: Every first Saturday at Local Lounge; every third and last Saturday at Vertical Room; every Wednesday at the Barrel Room for World Beat Wednesdays. I also do the Way Up monthly at Holocene.

Craziest gig: Crazy in a good way was when I first DJ'd at Holocene. That was my breakthrough moment. It was the best feeling ever.

My go-to records: I cannot play my set without playing any Mr. Eazi songs, especially "In the Morning" featuring Big Lean. Also, Wande Coal's "Iskaba."

Don't ever ask me to play…: Shatta Wale. His dancehall music style to me is just a bunch of noisemaking, and I personally think as an artist he can carry himself better. It will be good  for him to stay with the "hiplife" genre.

NEXT GIG: DJ Solo spins at Vertical Room, 631 NE Grand Ave., on Saturday, Aug. 26.

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Barrel RoomDJ SoloDJsHoloceneNeedle ExchangePortland DJsThe Way UpVertical Room

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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