We Know The Feeling: Mandy Larsen (Beatport Denver)

We Know The Feeling: Mandy Larsen (Beatport Denver)

20 December, 2010 | 2.36AM

• Written by: Sean Lewis
• Filed under: Music News: mandy larsen, we know the feeling

You can trace Mandy Larsen’s passion for dance music in a straight line from the vinyl platform boots of her tender years as a dancer to the gradient tools of Photoshop. Don’t worry, we’ll explain. Coercing her to summarize the novel of her life is no small feat, but just about anyone will cough up the info if you’re annoying enough. Tricks of the trade. So, before I annoy the readers, I present to you: Mandy!

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Arvada, CO just outside of Denver. During the summer, I spent my time in Huntington Beach, CA living with my dad.

What was the first album you purchased?

The first album I purchased was Deee-lite’s Sampladelic Relics And Dancefloor Oddities. I found it at a used CD shop and it lived in my CD player for at least eight months.

What were some of your earliest musical influences?

My older brother and sister had a lot of influence on what I listened to. I grew up listening to mostly to radio pop, hip hop and heavy metal (thanks to my brother), but I always liked the songs with a little higher energy, C+C Music Factory, Crystal Waters, Technotronic. I realized all those songs were actually dance music when my older sister turned 18 and would show me the music she listened to when she went out to the clubs. 

What was your first concert/live musical experience?

Tonic. The lead singer winked at me and gave me his guitar pick at the end of the show. (Swoon.)

When and how did you get into Electronic music?

Strangely enough, one of my teachers at church was a mobile DJ and I started going to his gigs with him to help run the lighting equipment. I eventually started DJing when I was 17. When I was 19, I happened to fill in for a friend as a go-go dancer at The Church nightclub one night and discovered I liked being on the outside of the DJ booth instead. For the next eight years I was a graphic designer by day and a go-go dancer by night (kinda like a superhero).

Have your tastes evolved since then?

Dancing gave me the opportunity to learn about all the different DJs that came through the Denver clubs, but working at Beatport has opened up the floodgates to all the amazing music that’s happening around the world and in the studios of the producers that don’t make it out to the clubs. It’s amazing how much good music is out there just waiting to be discovered.

What’s the best thing about living in Denver?

It’s got a little bit of everything. The longer I live here, the more I realize how great Denver really is—my family and friends, the sun and the snow. Now if we can just get a beach here, I’d never have to leave.

Beach? Agreed! What do you do here at Beatport and how long have you been with the company?

I am the senior designer, holding down the Beatport creative department, and I’ve been here for four and a half years.

In layman’s terms, what does that mean?

I draw pictures all day long.

Doodle for dollars, huh? In what way has Beatport changed your life?

It allowed me to combine my love of dance music and my love of art, and has introduced me to so many great people. I couldn’t have asked for more.

What are your top three artists of the moment?

DJ Sneak - to dance to.

Fish Go Deep - to chill to.

Robyn – then and now.

Top three tracks you’ve heard in the past three months?

Chymera, “These Jagged Shards”

Katy B, “Louder”

Dennis Ferrer, “The Red Room”

Worst pickup line you’ve ever been approached with?

The most common, most annoying and least effective: “Daaamn, giiirl!”

The strangest: “Do you come with a spoon?”

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

Even though I grew up in Colorado, I went snowboarding for the first time last year. Now I spend my weekends on the mountain.

What musical artist would make you star-struck?

Daft Punk. They are legends. Plus, who wouldn’t be in awe of those suits?

If it weren’t for Beatport, where would you be now?

Probably California. I was about to move to there before I got the job offer here.

Complete these sentences:
I’ll never forget the time I ____

I’ll never forget the time I went snorkeling off of Molokini.

I hope to someday forget about the time I ___

I hope to someday forget about the time I fell down while dancing in front of 10,000 people.

If I could be a ____, I would be a _____ because _____

If I could be anything, I would be a panda because… uh… have you seen Panda Cam?!

I would rather _____, than listen to ______

I would rather forget to wear pants to work, than listen to hardcore techno.

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