Chicagoist Mix #11: Kyle Stewart
By Jake Guidry in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 23, 2011 7:00PM
Chicagoist Mix Series is an ongoing feature that profiles local DJs/producers and features a mix compiled exclusively for Chicagoist. This is mix No. 11, brought to you by Kyle Stewart.
We're back at it again with Chicagoist Mix Series, and this time Kyle Stewart of Bizzies is bringing the heat. While not quite yet a household name, Stewart has done nicely carving a niche in Chicago's music scene. Stewart runs Bizzies (formerly Hot Biscuits), a local dance music blog that's been going since the electro heyday of 2007. Bizzies keeps a close eye on some of the most forward-thinking dance music around the world, so if it's on the site, chances are you should check it out. Of course, Stewart is also a DJ, and has opened for the likes of LOL Boys and Girl Unit, bringing a nice blend of UK Funky, bass, grime, and garage to the decks.
Mix No. 11 is a healthy dose of some of the sounds that Stewart has been into lately. New tracks from Joy O and French Fries make the cut, as does a solid array of other housed-up UK funky. Check below for our interview with Stewart, as well as his mix.
Chicagoist: So, most of the people we've featured on Chicagoist Mix Series aren't native Chicagoans. What brought you here?
Kyle Stewart: I first came to Illinois [from Waukesha, Wisconsin] to attend The Illinois Institute of Art - Schaumburg, and shortly after I graduated, I moved to the city. I have a bachelor of fine arts in interactive media, which led to me being an art director at Digitas, an agency downtown.
C: So by day you're doing design work, and by night you're working on your blog and DJing?
KS: Pretty much, yeah. I don't actually DJ out that often, so it's more blogging and doing personal design work and working with Kyle Woods [Kid Color].
C: How did working with Kid Color come about?
KS: His manager was quitting to pursue other interests and Kyle reached out to me sometime after to fill the role. At that point we had known each other for a while, and it was something I was very interested in, so I graciously accepted.
As far as actually "managing", he doesn't need a whole lot of help for local booking (just because he's been on the scene forever and has relationships all over), so it's more getting the word out digitally and working on exposure out of the city.
C: Are you looking to manage more artists, or is Kid Color an exception?
KS: I would actually love to work in music full-time some how. And I like managing a lot. The idea of working to get something for someone else is more appealing to me than trying to get something for myself. The latter feels selfish. I don't think I could do it for an artist I didn't honestly believe in though. That would be tough.
C: So, you're probably best known for your blog Bizzies, at least within the Chicago music scene. How long have you been doing that, and what's been the most rewarding aspect?
KS: Well, I don't know if I would consider myself "known", but we have done a fair share of giveaways for local shows. The first blog post was back in 2007, and the idea of blogging was inspired by my good friend Mig Reyes. I would always share music with friends so it just seemed like a good idea. And this will sound cheesy, but the best thing about posting music is that it's helping, in most cases, a lesser known artist get out there a little.
C: So with this mix, can you tell me a bit about it?
KS: I thought about when I listen to mixes and found that 99% of the time it's at my desk while I'm working. So I wanted to make it upbeat. It's pretty heavy on UK funky/bass tunes which, ironically, had to be slowed down a touch because most of those are usually 135 beats per minute and up, whereas I tried to keep the mix around 130.
C: Speaking of the heavy UK elements, any idea as to why these sounds have had such a hard time taking off in Chicago?
KS: It's not popular enough here... yet. It seems the younger generation of party goers got stuck in 2008 Bangersville and the promoters see that. Lollapalooza and North Coast lineups can prove that point. It makes sense, because at the end of the day they have to make money. So they book accordingly. It was really nice to have Red Bull and Smart Bar step up to bring Girl Unit in. I think that night did pretty well, all things considered.
C: So you think it will catch on before some new style comes along? I think we may be entrenched in poorly produced dubstep for a while.
KS: It's probably wishful thinking, but I can dream. I can't say I want it to turn into what dubstep has turned into though. Maybe it's best if America doesn't chew this genre up just to spit it out as something we all hate.