With a love for performing that began in grade school when using two tape decks to spin basement parties, DJ TREW’s main aim is to weave a common thread through seemingly disparate genres. Drawing inspiration from the early 1980s NYC art/music world, he believes no genre is off limits, no collaboration too outlandish. Honing his chops during the 1990s Rave & Hip-Hop scenes on the East Coast (Baltimore/DC), it was Chicago’s wealth of musical and architectural history that pulled him westward in ’98. “Like most kids back then, I thought ‘Percolator’ was a Baltimore Club track. Once I found out the truth I knew this is where I was meant to be!” he exclaims. Soon after, he quit his corporate job, cashed in the 401k, and invested his entire life into music.
In a relatively short period of time, DJ TREW has performed or held residencies all across Chicagoland. Everywhere from Downtown, Pilsen, Wicker Park, Uptown, & Southside at venues like Smart Bar, Darkroom (RIP), Sonotheque (RIP), Crocodile, The Shrine, Subterranean, Double Door, Congress Theater, Abbey Pub, Beauty Bar, Evil Olive & played stages at West Fest and North Coast Music Festival. He has also been lucky enough to perform with artists like Snoop Dogg, Mayer Hawthorne, People Under The Stairs, Devlin & Darko, Nightmares On Wax, Mint Condition, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Jeremiah Jae, French Horn Rebellion, Chancellor Warhol, DJ Rupture, DJ Logic, The O’My’s, Matt Shadetek, Bobbito, JC Brooks, House of Pain, Van Hunt, Jneiro Jarel, Devin the Dude, Bonobo, Cut Chemist, Quantic, Currensy, Afrika Bambaataa, MF Doom, Mos Def and dozens more.
While not DJing he co-owns Ground Lift Media – an event production & experiential marketing company, is 1/2 of the DJ/Production group Altered Tapes, does freelance design for numerous Chicago venues, and is deep into vinyl excavation having amassed thousands of rare Soul, Funk, Disco, & Jazz records.