Teklife DJ Heavee is a sonic force of positivity. One of the cornerstones of Chicago’s vibrant footwork scene, Heavee is continuing to push the lifestyle forward. Cue the release of his latest EP in celebration of his 3k followers on Soundcloud, aptly named the 3K EP. Sonically, 3K leaps forward, mixing together grime and acid house sounds with the distinctive sound that made Teklife a global name. The resulting songs are fused with pure Chicago sound, featuring a Cakes Da Killa remix and collab with fellow Teklife member DJ Taye.
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Heavee: I recently reached 3,000 followers on Soundcloud, and really wanted to celebrate this milestone with everyone who has been a part and will be a part of the journey! Getting music directly to the listeners who enjoy what we do, possibly gaining any potential listeners who aren't as familiar, and keeping the fans informed and entertained are always the top priorities for me! For the 3K EP, I also wanted to thank all the people who have been involved in everything I've been apart of! The friends, family, and fans have made the last three years of my life truly unforgettable! A lot of progression has taken place and while I'm in between projects and touring, I needed to keep everyone out there up to date on what Heavee is doing!How did you get involved with Teklife? How have you seen the crew evolve since you first joined?
I got my start in high school working on tracks with Earl, who was also a part of the same footwork crew (Animosity) at the time. Then, I came into contact with Rashad and Spinn In 2008-2009. I got the OK to come over to Spinn's house and meet them and check out their music-making process. I was immediately shadowed by how amazing they were, but they managed to see potential in me through the rough collection of noise I called tracks. Coming from a dancer’s standpoint, I felt like I never had enough tracks, and that was where the urge to make the music really came from.
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Footwork is Chicago! It's infectious because it's rooted in positivity. It's original intent was and has always been to keep people partying together and out of the streets. Footwork, in cohesion with the music performed, can be known to uplift spirits and bring people closer together as if we're sharing the same frequency. It's not about the people, it's not about who's on top, as a lot of our music suggests it's all about the feeling!What makes performing in Chicago unique?
Being at home performing can be a double-edged sword. And I say that because it's a great feeling to be a part of Chicago dance music history, carrying on the torch as one of the up and coming DJs. In the same breath DJ's work hard and too often are overlooked and underpaid. Never the less, I say the love of Chicago is unmatched. The performances that showcase the dance and music together allow crowds to better receive the entire experience, which rarely gets to happen on the road due to a lack of traveling, road-ready dancers. I hope the up and coming footwork crew "The Era" will be the guys to come in and change that! Look out for them!How are you continuing to push forward? What’s the next big sound?
Pushing forward is literally doing just that! Sometimes it gets rough with the passing of Rashad, but I feel like he made it clear that if I want to do this, nothing is in the way of me, except me! I want him to be proud of everything we accomplish, because he worked hard to show us that there are opportunities and a different life available if you dedicate yourself to your dream and give it your all! As far as the next big sound, I'm only one person so that's tough to say, but continue to check the growth and progression of Teklife to see what comes next!There’s an overwhelming sense of positivity in your online presence and I was wondering if that was a conscious choice. Do you aim to have a positive outlook on life? If so, how does that fit into your life and music?
I make a choice to put out good energy because that's what I want around me. Ideas become reality when we believe in them, so it would seem beneficial to Look at life from the bright side! Even on a rainy Monday like today I can smile and appreciate the bad times, because they too are apart of the path that bring us closer to our destiny. Whatever that might be, I hope it's lit!Aliza Abarbanel already misses Chicago. Follow her on Twitter.