Joe Silva Interview

It really isn’t difficult to spot a DJ, even in a densely crowded trendy café. Joe Silva was sporting the typical DJ signature clothing that his generation of beat-slingers coined in the 1990s. His slender build is draped in a bright blue hoodie and track pants that flow into crisp white sneakers. I noticed Joe ordering an espresso while chatting diligently with the barista, as she flaunts her pearly-whites laughing at his joke. He was mild-mannered and pleasant as we sat down for a pint. He was full of youthful delight, making it impossible to guess his actual age. 

Photo Courtesy of LCPhoto

Joe is a rare variety of Canadian musician; he is one of Canada’s only veteran producers of house music. This genre of electronic music originated in the underground discothèque’s of Chicago, and is now a “Global phenomenon,” as stated by Forbes Magazine in September 2012.

Joe recalls, “For most of my teenage years I was playing keys in a three piece progressive rock-band, then I started listening to local DJ’s like Harry Chan spinning underground dance music and I was inspired.”

 Joe was a hard working teenager, he had an early morning paper route and in the evening he would work in the kitchen of his restaurant job, all for the purpose of funding his musical passion.

“I was finally able to purchase a Korg analog synthesizer.” Says Joe, as he grins re-living the moment.

Photo Courtesy of FPO

Joe was attending Red River College studying computer engineering when he composed his first house album on a – now archaic – Commodore 64 computer. He combined his skills of music and technology to create a groundbreaking record, when the house music genre was just beggining to emerge out of the shadows of warehouse parties. Residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Joe had to work extra hard to get himself heard and taken seriously as a producer.

Joe says, “I copied my album onto hundreds of cassette tapes, which took forever. I went to record shops and rave-parties handing my tapes to touring DJ’s, promoters and label owners. This was networking before the internet.” Joe taught himself the inner workings of the music business without a manager or mentor, networking the old fashioned way by calling up promoters and fellow DJs across the continent racking up massive phone bills.

The DJ, unlike musicians forming a band, is most often a one-man operation; which is an ideal musical outlet for a do-it-yourself enthusiast like Joe. James Wolf a long-time Joe Silva fan and record collector says, “Joe can be a reserved guy, before he plays a show he always hangs out and watches the crowd to feel them out. When he gets on stage he’s electric, he comes alive with the dance floor.”

It was in 2001 that Joe decided that he could make a living off music and he no longer needed the supplementary income from his day job as a computer engineer. So he quit with a smile on his face.

“In 2001 I decided I was never going back to work. My wonderful wife actually supported this decision. At times the bills start to pile up, but that gives me motivation to create more music.” He laughs; his eyes show happiness and no regrets.