03.03.2021
This week’s mix feature is Garrison Briggs – starting off the five week March Mix Mayhem series! He lives, breathes, and sleeps techno, fashion, and travel, and is filled with love for his dog Effy.
I am happy to have him on and have you learn a bit more about Garrison through his interview and other features!
In his interview, we talk about things like his dream destination for a DJ set, the story of how he got his dog, when he started DJing, musical inspirations and his favorite label, his favorite thing about Detroit, disco balls, and more.
This is also the fourth week of our new partnership with Deep Space Radio! Each mix will exclusively premiere on Deep Space Radio at noon on Wednesday – and then be available on the detroit.dance SoundCloud as per usual at 3:13pm EST.
Be sure to check out his mix, on SoundCloud now. I hope you enjoy!
detroit.dance: When did you start DJing and why?
Garrison: I got my first mixer in like 2017. It was one of those really small Pioneer controllers that had everything in one. I was using that and Virtual DJ, which taught me the basics. It wasn’t until maybe 2019 that I had my first gig. That’s when my stuff really started to take off.
Ever since I graduated high school, going to shows and festivals became such a big part of my life, and I don’t know, they’re just so inspiring. I like how DJs can create a moment and an atmosphere, and I love how creative the whole thing can be. So then I thought that it was something I could do successfully.
detroit.dance: Describe your sound and what genres you prefer to spin for those that don’t know you.
Garrison: It’s definitely hard techno, mostly with a European influence. I try to incorporate Detroit sounds too, maybe like a vocal sample or an iconic track. I also like to incorporate a little psytrance and other interesting sounds to a fast paced beat.
detroit.dance: Do you have any musical inspirations or role models you’d like to talk about?
Garrison: DJ Holographic is really inspiring. I would go to her shows before she was where she is now, and to see her growth, and her start booking really big festivals and come out with her own label…it’s really inspiring to think that I can do that too.
detroit.dance: What has been the most memorable gig for you so far?
Garrison: My last one which was at The Magic Stick. That was at the end of last summer, I played for three hours and before that I had never played that long. I remember preparing for it and I was like, “Oh my god, three hours, that sounds so crazy to me.” Usually my sets are an hour, an hour and a half. But it was great. Due to COVID with less capacity, it sold out. The energy from the crowd was so uplifting and motivating.
detroit.dance: How has the pandemic affected you overall?
Garrison: It’s been nice having a lot more free time to practice and get better as a DJ, but after a while it’s really hard to find motivation or a drive to even get up and mix. I was kind of like, “What’s the point? Nothing is going on.” Over time I lost my fire behind it because I was getting so bored with everything. Motivation comes and goes, but it’s definitely hindered it more than I thought. While I was working and going to school, I wished I had more time to practice, and then I had all the time and I didn’t want to do it anymore.
detroit.dance: What is one thing musically that you feel like you could improve on, and one thing that you feel like you’re good at?
Garrison: I think I do pretty well with track selection. I love my music and I think I’ve got that in the bag. The thing that I want to improve on is simply my overall skill….transitions, beat matching. I also really want to learn how to spin vinyl. My dream house that I’ve envisioned has always had a giant wall of records, with old library ladders that slide back and forth. I’m down to spend a lot on vinyl and I want a huge collection when I’m older. But for my overall skill, I’m way better than I used to be, but I still have so much more improvement that I can do.
detroit.dance: Are there any specific DJs/labels that you really like right now?
Garrison: I love Trip Records, Nina Kravitz’s label. I feel like the music that comes from there is very obscure and like out there but really interesting to listen to. As for artists, PTU is really cool, Vladimir Dubyshkin, and Maxime Iko. They always come out with very unique tracks.
detroit.dance: What is your favorite thing about Detroit?
Garrison: The people here are really great, I think when I have gone out in other cities, the crowd is very off-putting at some bars. They’re not as friendly or open to just dance and vibe with each other, but in Detroit, it feels like a small town where you start to see a lot of the same people, and those connections grow by being together and dancing.
detroit.dance: You like to travel, so what are some of your favorite places that you’ve travelled and any stories that pertain to those places that you’d like to share?
Garrison: I went to London last year. I went to visit my boyfriend at the time who was studying abroad, and it was me and my friends who were on spring break. I had never been to Europe before. It was so different, but also the same. The people were so friendly, the city was so clean, everything was so aesthetically pleasing… and I was like, “One day, I will live here.” I felt like I belonged. It felt like home. Interestingly, my flight home was on the day that the US closed the borders from COVID. If I would have booked my flight for the day after that, I wouldn’t have been able to come home. COVID happened in the blink of an eye, everything was fine and then right before I was supposed to go home it was like a crazy explosion.
detroit.dance: Do you have a dream destination DJ set?
Garrison: Yeah, I want to go to Berlin so badly. So Tresor and Berghain for sure. I have in my five year plan to move there because of the people, culture, and music. I’ve never been there but I feel like that’s where I need to be.
detroit.dance: Besides for Berlin, are there any other places on your bucket list to travel to post-COVID?
Garrison: The second the border opens I’m flying to Berlin as a graduation gift to myself. Other than that, Egypt, Italy, Amsterdam, and San Francisco.
detroit.dance: Your dog is super cute – where did the name Effy come from?
Garrison: I’m obsessed with her. I got her as a Christmas gift actually two Christmases ago. She’s a little Craigslist puppy. A Pomeranian and a Chihuahua had puppies accidentally and so we were able to get her on Craigslist and she’s such a ball of joy. She looks like a Chihuahua, but has a Pomeranian attitude, so she’s super sweet and not nasty. She can have her moments but she is a lover. For her name, there’s this show called Skins and growing up that was my favorite show. It literally made me the person I am today. There was this girl named Effy and she was the blueprint. I have always been so obsessed with that character that I knew I was naming my dog after her
detroit.dance: What do you do outside of music?
Garrison: When I’m not DJing or doing music related stuff, I’m either at school or I’m at work. Right now I am studying at Wayne and it’s my last semester. I’m going to school for communication studies and music technology. My job is for this juice company – it’s locally owned and we make raw organic juice, and I work in the warehouse processing orders along with delivering them to stores and grocery stores and coffee shops.
detroit.dance: What are your other hobbies besides for music?
Garrison: I learned during quarantine that pretty much my only hobby outside of DJing was going to the club. I remember being like, “What is there to do? What do I find interesting when there is nothing open?”, but honestly my time is really just consumed with my dog. She’s a little puppy and I love her so much. And I also love clothes and fashion so whenever I have the day off I always go thrifting.
detroit.dance: Let’s talk fashion – do you have any favorite places you shop? What’s been your best purchase and worst purchase so far?
Garrison: I prefer to shop at thrift stores. I usually always find good stuff at the Salvation Army in Southwest. The one on Fort Street is alright. Always hit or miss with that one. I don’t really shop at bigger stores unless I need something specific. And as it goes for best purchase, I went to a vintage market in Hamtramck last fall, and I found a pair of Versace jeans that are bootcut and very industrial looking and black – for $20! I was like, “What just happened?”. Whenever I’m wearing them I’m like, “Bitch I got Versace jeans on.”.
For the worst purchase, I feel like lately it’s been hard to go thrifting because you can’t go into a dressing room and try things on. So I’ve been buying a lot of stuff that looks like it’ll fit but then once I get home and I put it on I realize I can’t wear it. It looks weird or something. So lately those are my worst purchases.
detroit.dance: Did you ever watch Project Runway, and if you did would you want to be a contestant on it?
Garrison: I didn’t start watching that show till later because I grew up without cable, so I feel like I missed a lot of pop culture. I just watched SpongeBob like two years ago, didn’t see anything on Nickelodeon or Disney Channel. I like the newer seasons because it’s a lot more modern and it’s kind of hard to watch the episodes from early on.
I would love to learn how to sew. That’s a skill that I want to have but it’s so intimidating. I’d have to buy a sewing machine and learn all of these things. I think I have good ideas. I’m always like, “Damn I wish I knew how to make something a certain way.” If the skill was there I would love to.
detroit.dance: I’ve noticed that you’re into astrology, so what draws you to that?
Garrison: For me it is so validating and like makes so much sense. It explains why people are the way that they are. I’m not religious whatsoever, but for some reason like that just makes more plausible sense to me than anything. It’s so interesting to me.
detroit.dance: I’m about to text you a picture of a bunch of strawberries and I want you to tell me which one you are, ready?
Garrison: Go for it.
Garrison: I’m the necked one.
detroit.dance: What are your plans or goals for 2021?
Garrison: I want to release an EP for sure. And find some resource that can teach me how to spin vinyl. Personally, I’m graduating this spring so I would love to find a career within the music industry eventually. But with everything being closed right now, I don’t want to put any pressure on myself to do anything that’s almost unattainable. I want to focus on my creative side and things I can do for myself.
detroit.dance: Would you rather be stuck inside a disco ball forever or surrounded by disco balls forever?
Garrison: Surrounded by disco balls forever. I try to live my life like that every day. I have one in my apartment, one in my car…if I can be in the presence of a disco ball in every moment of my life, then I’m good.
Make sure you check out Garrison’s Destination Detroit (Motor City Wine), and his Recipe by Request that will be posted on Friday (Veggie Super Burrito from El Taquito Taco Truck).
Keep up with Garrison on his socials: