From the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Oscar G

From rocking Ibiza to remixing Madonna, Oscar G's on deck.

by Joanie Cox

October 12 2005

The bass is thumping hard as hundreds of people rock out to house music on the dance floor at Space nightclub in Miami. In the DJ booth above them, Oscar Gaetan is flipping switches on his mixing board as if he's playing an intense video game. The DJ, better known as Oscar G, pushes a button, and the room fills with fog. He presses another, and the room flashes with white light, prompting everyone in the club to raise his or her arms and scream.

Since 2000, Gaetan has wielded such power over Space's clients, moving their bodies with the skill and ferocity of a possessed puppet master. Gaetan, 33, no longer holds a weekly residency at the club, but when he returns once a month to spin, the dance floor reaches its maximum capacity. The intensity he exhibits in the booth belies the quiet, laid-back person Gaetan becomes outside it. While most marquee-caliber DJs demand star treatment at every turn, Gaetan would rather drive himself to work than have some promoter ferry him to a nightclub via limousine or helicopter.

Bill Kelly, founder of the annual Winter Music Conference, says Gaetan is one of the few DJs whose talent is far greater than his ego. "Oscar is one of a half-dozen DJs in South Florida to have a steady gig in a world-renowned club," Kelly says. "He's great at what he does; he's consistent, has a good ear and a club owner who stands behind him. I think he's appreciative of where he's at. A world-renowned DJ will come to town, and Oscar may open or close the show for them. And a lot of times, the crowd will like him better than the headliner. But Oscar never gets a big head about it."

Many people think he deserves to, however. Gaetan is considered by fans and DJs alike to be a pioneer of house and tribal music. He won Best DJ and Best Producer at this year's inaugural DJ Music Awards, where he beat out house-music heavyweights Ivano Bellini, Gabriel Fain and Cedric Gervais. He frequently spins at clubs throughout the world, including ones in Ibiza and Japan, and he is often called upon to remix tracks by the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.

Gaetan now has another reason to celebrate. Star 69 Records has just released Made in Miami, a two-disc, 24-track collection of the dark house and tribal beats for which Gaetan is known. It's also his first studio album, following a string of live releases. The material ranges from previously unreleased tracks to Gaetan's classic "Reach for Me," recorded under the name Funky Green Dogs. He also includes a mash-up of Basement Jaxx's "Fly Life" and Ralphie Rosario's "You Used To Hold Me."

Gaetan says the album represents not only what he calls "the Miami sound" but also his 16 years as a professional DJ. "The Miami sound to me means dirty, sleazy, sexy, tribal, energetic, dark, bottom-heavy house," he explains, adding, "I have always tried to be an ambassador for Miami when I tour. This CD is a reflection of the sound I take from Miami to the rest of the world."

At Made in Miami's release party Sept. 17 at Space, Gaetan spun for 11 hours straight in a not-unusual display of endurance. "I take a break only if nature calls," he says. "Once I get started, I like to stay focused, and I'm always thinking three songs ahead."

To gain the control he has over clubgoers, Gaetan says, he spends a good deal of the night reading the audience. "I try to envision how I want the entire night to go and where the peaks and valleys of my set will be," he explains. "The audience is what will always determine that in the end."

At a time when most local clubs are strictly spinning hip-hop, Space allows Gaetan to expose his audience to more-cutting-edge, progressive sounds. "I think the ultimate goal is to stay fresh -- to continue to push your envelope, stay innovative and remain current and relevant," he says.

Gaetan is particularly adept at stripping a song to its core and then building it up again. "I like to dissect the song and find a few elements I really like and then start from there," he relates. "It may be a vocal part or a drum loop that leads to a new idea that may become the main part of the mix. It's a process that is always different."

One thing that remains constant is his work ethic. In addition to his busy touring schedule, Gaetan runs two record labels, Murk and Murk Classics, with his business partner, Ralph Falcon. He considers the launch of Murk Records in 1991 the turning point of his career.

"When Ralph and I started Murk, our music was embraced by many of the DJs we loved at the time, and they allowed it to be heard by tons of people," Gaetan recalls. "They introduced our sound to the world, and that gave us the opportunity to start touring."

Years later, top DJs such as Armando Pena and Erik Velez have cited Gaetan as a major inspiration, a recognition for which he is grateful. "When other DJs acknowledge [my work] and are inspired by it, it is an honor for me and very satisfying," he says.

Back at Space, it's 10 a.m., and Gaetan has just completed another all-night marathon session on the decks. Most of the club's patrons have gone home, though it's not unusual for Gaetan to keep the party going until the room is empty. Soon, he will slip on his Prada sunglasses and head home to crash.

"When I'm up all night like this, I usually pay for it on Sunday," an exhausted Gaetan says. "When I get home, I usually order a huge pepperoni pizza and vegetate on the couch, watching bad TV."

Oscar G will spin Nov. 23 at Voodoo Lounge, 111 S.W. Second St., in Fort Lauderdale. Admission is $20. Call 954/522-0733 or visit Voodooloungeflorida.com. Then, catch him Nov. 26 at Space, 34 N.E. 11th St., in Miami. Admission is $20. Call 305/375-0001 or visit Clubspace.com.