Cultivating The Vibe: DJ Ivan The Terrible At The Emerson Reno

Photo by Sam Ray-Johnson.

For some, DJing seems easy. You string some songs together that sound good, make sure the transition is smooth and boom – you’ve got a party. For others, DJing is a bit more challenging, trying to think of ways to put a unique spin on old tracks and samples. As a listener, some wonder if DJing is one or the other, or perhaps both, curating a collection of songs that already exists and making something new out of it. It’s an art that is both organized and free-flow, creative and technical. 

As someone who tried their own hand at DJing for the first time this year, I couldn’t wait to hear what Ivan Gates, known by his stage name DJ Ivan The Terrible, had to say on the matter. For him, DJing well really depends on the kind of show you’re at, and how the people are responding. It’s a dance between producer and audience, something that demands attentiveness and skill. 

“The hardest part of DJing is gauging the room constantly,” Gates said. “I could play all these songs at home in the same order and it wouldn’t do that same thing.”

Where some DJs pull old disco songs, throw a beat under it and call it good, Gates’ set last weekend at The Emerson Cocktail Lounge was funky, fresh and fun, nodding to classics like Marvin Gaye, Talking Heads and Daft Punk, to tracks I had never heard before. Also a plus – he was doing it the old fashioned way, with legit turntables and vinyl records. As a vinyl collector myself, the urge to see what was up his sleeve was strong, and he didn’t disappoint.   

“All art no matter what is drawn from somewhere,” Gates said. “What inspires me is finding new ways to say the same thing.”

Coming from a musical background playing bass and as an audio engineer, Gates says half of the draw of DJing for him is the history behind the records, and that was apparent in his set. I found myself wondering where certain tracks were from, a peak of interest that always delights me at Reno shows if it happens. What started as a hobby for Gates has turned into a full-time pursuit, and he says part of the joy is rediscovering old music and figuring out how they flow together with other songs. 

“Producing music, it’s been getting easier, but presented with a blank page I’m not amazing at creating… a fully formed idea and making it amazing,” Gates said. “Music production for me with DJing is a lot more fun because I already have stuff to work with.”

Gates says while he always wishes the scene was larger, the charm of the Biggest Little City is the comradery between musicians and Reno DJs. He says no one tries to steal each other’s gigs, and if you try – you won’t get very far. People look out for each other here, and the willingness to share knowledge is something Gates encourages up-and-coming artists to embrace. 

“Meet people in the scene, go to other shows,” Gates said. “Go talk with people who are already doing what you want to do, put them all in a satchel and try and fill out your toolbox… any kind of music or art, seek it out and push yourself.”

One thing he says could improve is how DJs in Reno are compensated, something I’ve heard before from other Reno performers. 

“Just because I have fun doing my job, doesn’t make it less valuable to you,” Gates said. “The hardest part of the music business is the business half of it… knowing my worth.”

So how exactly did Gates get the stage name, Ivan The Terrible? Well, it’s not just for the historical reference, he says. 

“It’s a bad joke that keeps on giving for me. If the set is bad, I have the excuse that it’s in the name.” 

With a sense of humor and an upbeat attitude in tow, Gates says he’s on the lookout for whatever comes his way in the coming months. While he’s got shows lined up through March, he says he’s always looking for the right project to take part in – whether it’s DJing or playing in a band. He has only one message for his fans, though: 

“Have a good time, all of the time.”

To catch DJ Ivan The Terrible’s next set, visit his Instagram here.