Needle Exchange: A DJ Questionnaire with DJ Klavical

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

By Matthew Singer

Years DJing: 21 years solo and in bands like Sick Mediks, Abangatang, Mic Crenshaw, Redray Frazier and DoveDriver.

Genres: Original breaks, hip-hop, funk, soul, future funk.

Where you can catch me regularly: Third Fridays at Swift, second Saturdays at Moloko, third Saturdays at Laurelthirst with Redray Frazier.

Craziest gig: 1999 Gibson Island near Vancouver, B.C. Crazy party in the woods with thousands of drunken Canadians. I played on a stage 50 feet in the air with a net in front to prevent beer bottles from hitting me. There must have been 10 fights—people kept getting knocked out next to my car.

My go-to records: "Rock Steady" by The Whispers.

Don't ever ask me to play…: Absolutely anything from your phone. And no, I don't download during my set. Go listen to it in your car, get pumped and go home.

NEXT GIG: DJ Klavical spins at Swift Lounge, 1932 NE Broadway St., on Friday, Sept. 15. 9 pm. Free. 21+.

Explore more on:

DJ KlavicalDJsLaurelthirstMolokoNeedle ExchangePortland DJsRedray FrazierSwift

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.

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office.

Help us dig deeper.

Support