Turn Up and Tune Out with DJ Trent Magik
- Share
- Tweet
- Pin
- Share
A Q&A with DJ Trent Magik
Sway Brewery’s funkiest resident musician is DJ Trent Magik (Trent Brusky), curator of Turnout Friday Vinyl Night. We spoke with him about Vinyl Night, being a DJ in Door County and his favorite tracks. This conversation has been edited for clarity.
Emma Chamley (EC): How did you get involved with Friday Vinyl Nights?
Trent Brusky (TB): Well Matt [Sampson], the owner of Sway, we’re friends, he knew that I like to spin vinyl, and that I have a pretty cool collection. So I kinda brought it up to him one day, I was like, “Hey, would you be down if I just spun some vinyl at Sway?”, and he said, “Yeah, let’s make it a thing.” So we made it a thing. It’s about as simple as that.
EC: Tell me about what people can expect from your set – what’s your DJ style?
TB: I’ve been collecting records for the past 20-25 years or so, and in the past three-to-four years, I’ve really been ramping up a collection to play for people. I really try to get different genres of music people might not have heard of before. And then I basically curate different lists and genres to play out. So we have themes for each Turnout Night, which is super fun because it’s not just randomly selected stuff. I love spinning vinyl and records because I can play anything from Latin Disco, to stuff from Denmark, or even South African blues from the ‘70s or ‘60s that’s just really unique and different. What I really love to do honestly, is show people a lot of cool sounds.
EC: What kind of theme nights have you done so far?
TB: One was Yacht Rock night, so I catered to the ‘60s and ‘70s babies, hit them with some ‘80s light rock and alternative music for that whole night. Then the Friday before that, I did Argentinian Jazz. So I have three-to-four hours of jazz music from South America. Another theme is gonna be ‘60s and ‘70s funk. Everything I curate, I put in a certain order, so I’ll drop the needle at home on a record, and really listen hard about how the night can flow, to bring out my own style in that way.
EC: What do you think having a DJ as opposed to a live band brings to a place like Sway?
TB: Sway’s whole aesthetic is like an easy drinking place, where you can go and there’s more of a relaxed feel. I love that, and that sort of plays to the style of DJ that I am. I’m not like a club DJ, like “Let’s ramp up the party and get crazy!” or anything. To me, I’m DJing in the hope of having people come and listen to something they’ve never heard. I actually get a lot of people that come up to me and ask me what I just played, or wondering about a cool sound. So as far as Sway goes, what I’m bringing to the table really goes with Sway’s aesthetic because the way that I like to DJ is a little more relaxed and chill.
EC: What do you think having a DJ as opposed to a live band brings to a place like Sway?
TB: Sway’s whole aesthetic is like an easy drinking place, where you can go and there’s more of a relaxed feel. I love that, and that sort of plays to the style of DJ that I am. I’m not like a club DJ, like “Let’s ramp up the party and get crazy!” or anything. To me, I’m DJing in the hope of having people come and listen to something they’ve never heard. I actually get a lot of people that come up to me and ask me what I just played, or wondering about a cool sound. So as far as Sway goes, what I’m bringing to the table really goes with Sway’s aesthetic because the way that I like to DJ is a little more relaxed and chill.
EC: Do you have a background in music?
TB: Yeah, I’ve played in bands most of my life. I’ve been in a couple full time touring bands before, played guitar most of my life and been a vocalist. Mostly hardcore music, but I mean I’m all over the board as far as what I’ve played. The bands that I’ve been in are all more punk and hardcore, that’s where my heart was at at the time.
EC: What would you tell someone coming to Turnout Vinyl Night for the first time?
TB: Come with an open mind. Don’t be shy, come up and ask questions, and come enjoy the ride with me. At the same time I’m sitting here presenting this music, I’m also learning about the music as well. And definitely drink Sway beer.
Turnout Fridays Vinyl Night: DJ Trent Magik spins vinyl at Sway Brewing & Blending on Friday evenings from 4-8 pm. Sway is located in Baileys Harbor at 2434 County Road F.
