Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Swiff.
Hi Jeff, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a house head, dancer, DJ, promoter and producer in south Mpls. To jump back to the start- just before the turn of the millennium, I was a wide-eyed teenager who was just waiting until I was sixteen to get out of the house, off the forums, out of the clothing shops, and out of the record stores, to get IN to the parties. I had found the music via big box mixtapes first, a bedroom DJ setup came second, record stores were third, and party flyers/local mixtapes and people were fourth. After all I had imagined, loosely knew, or had absorbed, the parties were the destination, and I was chasing this music. I knew that all the cultural hubs I had already associated with this music would eventually lead me there. (I couldn’t wait to get there) This was all of course- well before I knew what it would feel like to hear [house] music on a real system, surrounded by a sea of people, movin’ and groovin’ that would- when finally experienced, sear memories into my consciousness for the rest of my vibe-chasing days. I went from wide-eyed kid on the dancefloor, to helping out wherever I could, to eventually throwing my own events with some of the very people who inspired me from the jump. Over the years, I learned how things worked behind the scenes, how to build rooms that feel inviting and maintain a strong energy curve. I stayed present and “never not” engaged in DJing, organizing, designing, working, collaborating, or pouring back into the culture that raised me [musically]. Two decades later, I’m still doing most of the same things: still throwing parties, still DJing, still chasing and helping to create spaces that can capture versions of the moments that first got me hooked. The only thing that looks newish, is that I have a record label to tend to with my musical bruv Christian James, called Nicewon Recordings, which gives us the opportunity to nurture worldwide relationships through the sharing of music. [ours and that of others as well] What a treat, right?! If I’m trying to distill a lifetime of hobbyist LOVE and passion down to a short phrase, the indelible Boo Williams comes to mind when he said; “I’m just trying to pass this thing on”.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
“Nothing worth chasing comes easy” as they say, and for me, that’s always implied some built-in adversity, for sure. Anyone truly plugged into the arts and music culture already understands that there’s no shortage of challenges, perceived or real, when you’re “working” in music or sharing your art. When you’re early on your vision or path, earning trust and access is difficult, as is carving out the time and finding the money to put behind it all while having enough confidence and trust in yourself to justify the risks you’re taking. It takes resilience to consistently hold steady through empty rooms, financial losses, lack of access to resources or opportunities, or having to start over, etc.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love bringing people together through this music, and I’m probably most known for doing that through parties, DJ sets, making tracks, and collaborating with others. I tend to focus on the deeper shades of house, and I’m really proud of what we’ve built here in the city with House Proud in particular. The HP family now reaches all over the globe, and after dancing in so many different places around the world, HP still feels special not only to me, but to many others as well. “In order to set yourself apart as a DJ, you had to have that collection” is a sampled line in a track I made, and it’s a stamp for what I believe. You have to have the commitment to sourcing and finding cuts that have something particular to say on the floor. I guess you could say that I’ve developed a sound and a commitment to quality in what I’m doing, and I think people pick up on that in either a familiar or hopefully connective way.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
IMO- risk is essential, no doubt. It’s how growth happens, and it’s literally a part of the “work” when you are building something real and lasting. Be it a party, a label, or just your own standard- there isn’t a version of those things where you’re not taking risks to push things on to the next level. You make decisions along the way and there’s always some level of uncertainty that underscores how you move- and you either accept that, or you don’t move forward at all. This is true of life at large for me, not just for art and expression endeavors. Early on, the risks were financial, and to a large degree, about earning acceptance from peers and family for choosing a path that looked nothing like what was “expected.” As my musical identity took shape and I committed to it for the long haul, the risks shifted, as did my ability to adapt. When you trust your chosen path and hold steady with your values, the rewards show up in ways that truly matter, and are everything. Speaking of everything.. both Jack Canfield and George Addair pushed this one + local creative Centrific often cites it online as well: “Everything you want is on the other side of fear”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jeffswiff.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffswiff/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeffswiff
- soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jeffswiff
