DJ Mes

DJ Mes

Artist Biography

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• Last edited by: djmes1 | view edit history
• Date: 06 Dec 2011, 10:49
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In an era where digital labels increasingly
dominate underground house, DJ Mes
(Jason Sutton) and his San Franciscobased
Guesthouse and Guess Who
Music imprints have defied the trend,
producing a big brand of vinyl and digital
beats that range from quirky and jackin’ to
deep and dirty. Since its May 2005 inception,
Guesthouse has guided the vibe of the
underground sound, introducing artists such
as Cosy Creatures, The Sound Republic and
Gramophonedzie to global house audiences
and staking claim as one of the industry’s
premiere, international labels.

Mes’music career dates back to themid-
1990s, when the Bay Area-born producer
took early influence from the likes DJ Dan
(Funky Techno Tribe) and TonyHewitt (Tango
Recordings). As an avid fan of ’70s and ’80s
funk, disco, electro and hip-hop,Mes quickly
learned tomeld his earlymusical influences
into a deep, driving sound that would go on
to define him as a DJ. Mes’ attack of bass
line-heavy tracks separated his performances
fromotherWest Coast DJs of the day,
and quickly earned him performance opportunities
at the legendary San Francisco’s
Area 51 parties, The Gathering, Freedom
and The BurningMan Festival.
His performance success led to his cofounding
of Daddy’s Records in 1996 with
partners Rob Doten (Wicked, Greyhound
Records) and Buna (Wicked. E.T.I., Oboro).
Shortly after, he began producing regularly
and landed his first residency at Reno,
Nevada’s Spin Cycle. The gigwould kick start
what has become an international touring
lifestyle for Mes, who—more than 12 years
later—continues touring regularly and showcases
his blend ofWest Coast beats and Chitown
boompty house. Some of his signature
stops have included Chicago’s esteemed
Slicks Lounge, Scotland’s Isle of Skye festival
and the Deliro Party on the Sugar Loaf in
Rio Brazil.

After years of releasing tracks on acclaimed
labels such as Cajual, Black Cherry, Magnetic
and Safe In Sound, Mes was ready to
releasemusic on his own terms. In 2005, he
set out to launch a vinyl imprint that embodied
the same genre-crossing sound he
played and produced both on the decks and
in the studio. Inspired by the close-knit vibe
of the underground house community in the
U.S. and beyond, the nameGuesthousewas
born. Since its inception,Guesthouse has releasedmore
than 138 EP’s, including 38 vinyl
releases.

“With Guesthouse, I’ve always tried to
focus on consistency, quality and music
aimed directly at the dance floor,”Mes says.

“It’s important for me to support and showcasemainstay
artists aswell as the freshest
up-and-coming talent, and I think that’s one
thing that sets us apart fromother labels.”

Some of that breakthrough talent includes
boundary-bending artists such as Gramophonedzie,
Australian producer Ricardo Rae,
and The Sound Republic,whose first two full
EP’s onGuesthouse helped usher in the new
school sound that defines underground
house today. Classic cuts such as Cosy Creature
“Show You the Way” continue to pulse
as the defining beat to a genre that continually
evolves in subtle ways.

Today, Mes continues bringing his big
bass-lined tracks to global audiences
through both his label releases and performances.
He continues to play as a resident
for Los Angeles’HAWTMusic Collective
as well maintaining prolific production
schedule for both of his labels.

“I started Guesthouse to put out music
that I liked and might not otherwise get the
chance to see the light of day,” he says. “It’s
really helped me reach a much wider audience
by getting into record stores around the
globe—thus making Guesthouse a household
name for boompty housemusic.”

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