DJ keeping foot on the, er... vinyl

Stage name/Real name: Valyetti/Frederick Valyetti Rising-Moore

Hear him: 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Thursdays, The Ritz Grill, 15 S. Tejon St., and 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Feb. 25, March 11 and March 25, Oscar's, 333 S. Tejon St.

Style: "I'm very much into San Francisco and Chicago house music. It is that really funky, jazzy, Mark Farina kind of stuff that just makes you feel good," he says. "However, it's very difficult in Colorado Springs to play the style of music that I love. Most people in this town want to hear hip-hop. I've adapted. I can play any kind of Top 40 and underground hip-hop your heart desires."

Scratching/mixing techniques: Along with what he confidently terms "flawless mixing," he says he can perform every scratch in the book. "I even took it to the next level with my foot scratch."

History: Valyetti started spinning records in 1998, when his real dream was to be an Olympic pairs skater. He and his Russian partner went to Nationals twice, he says, but that's where the dream ended. "We traveled around with the ice shows for a while. Finally, I decided music was a lot more fun."

Favorite places to play: "Outdoor venues," he says. "There's something about being out in nature that lifts everyone's energy levels that much higher, and makes people more relaxed. I like to be in a free, nonjudgmental atmosphere, a place where everyone is just having a good time. My ultimate dream would be to play venues like this all the time. I would love traveling around the world making people happy. I've been a performer all my life. It's what I was created for."

Day job: "My wife Roxy is the worker, and I'm the housewife!" he says. "I hope to change this someday, but it's hard to find the time when raising two kids. I'd like to give thanks to my wife; I still have a very long road ahead of me, and without her I could not travel it."

Contact him: Valyetti23@adelphia.net

CONTACT US: Hey, club DJs! If you would like to be considered for a DJ Spotlight and you have local gigs booked, call 636-0374 or e- mail Lnavarro@gazette.com.

Copyright 2005
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