A versatile record ranging from mid-tempo lush to up-tempo party funk, Kidgusto is establishing himself as a force of eclecticism to be reckoned with.

To top things off, TrueGrooves donates portions of its profits to local DC community organizations. JB caught up with Kidgusto to catch some of his light in the dawn of his career.

You started out as a percussionist and have moved through that into DJing and production. Could you elaborate on this?
Well, I started playing the drum kit in elementary school and kept it going through high school and still play to the present day. Along the road, I picked up other instruments as well. The wide array of bands in the DC area definitely influenced me and the band I played in as well. There is so much great music out there that needs to be heard, so my main motivation in DJing has always been to get underground music out to the public, and to get them moving in live settings.

How has Washington DC as a city impacted you and your music? Is there a DC sound and/or identity?
DC is and always has been a melting pot for different cultures to thrive in. Granted, it’s at times difficult to mix the diverse communities together because of certain racial and class structures. But I feel with the underground music community, we all contribute to break out of those boundaries that we have created for each other.

In what ways is being eclectic definitive of you and/or important to you?
Musically speaking, being eclectic means to dive into and embrace all styles of music that come from all corners of the world. For me, the more unique the rhythm, the more excited I am to hear it or play it live.

Following the same vein of thought, what are some of your more foundational influences?
I can say that everything around me influences me to the fullest degree. The beautiful thing about living music, though, is that everyone more or less loves and needs music in their lives. So through music, you can be introduced to endless cycles and factions of life experiences like, love, pain, the good times and the bad, and what have you.

Please elaborate on TrueGrooves (your record label).
TrueGrooves started out as a website with the intention of growing into a record label with a community outlook. It became a reality when my fellow DJ comrades, Moose, Neil Payne, and Sean Haney from our crew FunkDC joined in to make this happen. Our second EP will be coming out in late June, so be on the lookout for that.

What is your approach towards remixing?
I like to always take on different approaches to remixing tracks. That way something new and different comes out of it each time. When I work on remixes or funk breaks, I want people to recognize certain elements of the song, so it evokes some emotion. That way they can automatically feel an affinity with the song. And in doing that, you’ve already gotten the listener past the pre-conceived notions of them judging you and not the track.

In your opinion, what is the role of the DJ in modern culture?
To make people feel. Whether it be happiness, pain, nostalgia, or what have you. The DJ’s job is a dynamic task that has to always be for the listener, or in many cases, (which I prefer), the dancer.

Tell us more about your upcoming EP on Rhythm and Culture Recordings.
My upcoming EP called ‘Movin’On’ is a strictly original project on which I mostly composed and played all the instruments in the songs. I also feature some mad talented artists from the DC area too, [like] an inspiring native Peruvian flute player named Juan Cayrampoma. The style of this EP ranges from mid to uptempo bossa nova, to organic, banging downtempo tracks.

What sort of balance are you seeking between the organic and the electronic?
You said the keyword… ‘Balance’. That’s basically my mantra when I create music: find the balance between the digital and the analog and you’ll be set. The way I feel is that the more open-minded you are when you create music, the more exposure you get from different methods of producing, which in turn make your music sound more original.

How does the music you play and make reflect the life you are leading?
By being an artist, it usually means that you are creating and portraying something from out of your environment, which in turn reflects the life you lead. Balance has always been a big factor in my life and everyday I work to keep this mentality a reality. I’m not really sure how my music conveys my strive towards balance, but i think it can be found in its subtleties.

What are you currently striving towards or what are you hoping for to push you from where you are at to where you want to be?
My boy Pascal, who lives in Japan, heard that my first EP came out recently. He was going to send me a check, so I could mail one to him, until he saw my record in his local record shop. That seriously hit home for me and humbled my ass.