Bio-About

          As a kid, Prievo grew up taking music from radio stations and old vinyls from his parents and grandparents collection and recording them down onto cassette tapes to distribute within his friends and family members.  He grew up with a microphone in one hand, headphones around his head, and an ability to bring entertainment to a group of people both small or large.  Whether his entertainment was accomplished through music, magic or card tricks, or whatever other fad he decided to jump into, Prievo left people always shaking their head wondering just how he does some of the things he does.

When it comes to music and being a DJ, there is no change.  He is one of the hardest working individuals juggling two careers and working each day to try to be more advanced, talented, and musically inclined than the day before.  If you have ever been to an event hosted by DJ Prievo or listen to him on his weekly radio mixshow on The Border 106.7 in New York or spend your workouts with DJ Prievo with the #1 Fitness App, Fit Radio,  you will know that DJ Prievo takes each day, each event, each gig, each set, to each song, that he does with pride and confidence that you will stay longer, drive farther, push harder, and overall enjoy your time much more by having listened to him.  He has been DJing for just under 10 years but has always been the "DJ" for family functions and is said to have come out the womb with headphones and rhythm. 

Driven by his love for music and the satisfaction of accomplished entertainment, DJ Prievo works hard each day to be prepared to bring something fresh, different, and fun at each event.  Whether he is playing on the radio, in the club, at a bar, or just messing around in the studio practicing new routines, DJ Prievo regardless, truly loves what he does, loves the people he has met and thankful for those who have been with him since day 1.  He appreciates every single person who says, "I'll be out to see you tonight" and follow up on that by being there for his support.  He gets support from several friends, both old and new, and support from several other artists and DJs throughout the world and is forever grateful to be able to have met and/or worked with such talented people and hopes that the list only grows more. 

Aren't You A Career Fireman? How Do You Find Time To Be A DJ?
Yes, I'm actually a career firefighter with the Baltimore City Fire Department as of October 2011, and consider myself just as much of a career DJ as I am a career fireman, if not more. I spend probably about 20 hours a week on my laptop SOLELY looking for new music.  And by that, I don't just mean the newest Black Eyed Peas or Avicii song that hasn't even made it to the radio airwaves yet, what I do when I search for music is first know what I have for an event coming up. If I need anything specific I head there first.  If not, I do two things.  I dive into older genres (i.e. Oldies, Motown, NuMetal, Rock, Classic Rock, Old School Hip Hop, Disco, 80's Pop etc.) and I spend some time learning about that genre and the artists surrounding that era.  And with this I find what songs I think I could use.  Then, I find those songs or that song. But I don't just stop when I find the original. I look on several blog sites and remix sites to try to find a good remix that could fit into every situation. For example, a good Jackson 5 song like "I Want You Back".  I have had the original since day one, but finding a good redrum with an extra snare or deeper kick drum to make it "bump" a little bit more may fit great for that extra energy you need on a wedding dance floor.  A good uptempo version, electronic or Baltimore Club type version might be better for a bar or club setting and have the patrons hands up, with an "I Love this song" but not kill the mood with the original motown sound.  However, if I look and do not find a version I like or could use, I spend time in my studio making my own edit.  This could take anywhere from 20 minutes for a simple redrum to hours if I get into full reproduction work.  This is just 1 song.  Yes, 1 song of thousands.  So for the question to be fully answered, it's easier for me to say that I just try to fit in a social life and sleep around me being a DJ.  That's the honest truth. I am fine with a couple hours of sleep a night, a power nap midday, and I don't know how many times I've DJ'd on a Friday night, worked my day shift on a Saturday at the Firehouse, back to DJ Saturday night, then work my day shift Sunday.  I love what I do and so I never complain or wish I was spending my time doing something else.

What's the easiest part or the hardest part as a DJ, atleast in your experience?
The hardest part is actually landing residencies and gigs with local clubs and bars.  As a DJ your a business, so you have to sell yourself. But before, when you could go in, talk to the manager and get a chance, those days are gone.  All I ever really need is a chance, then the next phone call is usually right there behind me packing up from the first night.  Today's social media has made things so you as a DJ are a promoter, you have to invite people to events, and make a VIP list, and show the club and bar managements and owners that you are bringing people into their establishment.  I have seen several times before DJs who cheat and pay for twitter followers or facebook fans and have a great looking website and what not, get a job when they have only a year or two experience as a DJ.  What bar and club owners, mostly bar owners however, don't understand however, is for the 10 people that actually came on their list, may happen no matter who the DJ is.  What's more of a benefit to that establishment is having someone who came out for "just a drink" stay longer as well as those who are just bar/club hopping.  If the DJ is good enough, you can do a timeline video and watch the place fill up and stay full til close to closing.  It's an art and a talent, and I take pride and confidence, without cockiness, knowing I can fill and keep your establishment full for the night from the first set.

 I think the easiest part of being a DJ is the playing of music.  I mean, have you ever gone out to a bar, put $5 in the jukebox, picked your favorite 3 songs to play, and sat back down to finish your drink.  How hard was that?...The difference between a good DJ and just your every day ordinary Joe DJ, is your experience, dedication, and the ability to ALWAY work to be better.  Reading a crowd is one talent I am very proud to have and I think I'm very good at it. I can pretty much predict where a crowd is headed even before we get there and with this I can plan accordingly.

Do you ever want to be that "famous dj" and go on tours?
Haha, famous, no. I don't DJ for that.  I have a hard enough time making sure I'm posting enough stuff to Facebook and Twitter I couldn't imagine.  But to do tours? Absolutely.  That would be great.  For me, I am an open format DJ.  True open format.  I can go from Hip Hop to Electronic to Disco or Oldies to Rock and Country, it all depends on the event.  And so their really isn't a huge calling for DJ's in the "touring" industry.  You really need to be known for something, like your personal production, remixes, or your own sound.  You would never see Deadmau5 reading a crowd and saying, or I should play this next.  Whatever he has already prerecorded for the night to correspond with the lights, the people are going to love it regardless.  I would love to be a tour DJ with an artist of some sort.  I was once able to meet up with someone who I now work with on occasions, DeeJay Silver, who is Jason Aldean's (Country Music Arists) touring DJ.  I met up with him on Jason's tour in 2012 and watch as Silver worked the crowd in between sets.  He was playing Top 40, Rock, and even some Electro and dubstep.  The people loved it and it kept the party vibe going the entire event with no downplay.  After I got to spend some time with him and their crew, I knew that I would love to be able to do what he does.  Enjoy all genres of music, meet new and amazing people, work with some great people, and be able to travel and see the country, that would be amazing.  I don't need to be famous or rich and wealthy, I would just be satisfied being able to wake up and look at the map and say, "There, we'll be there tomorrow rocking a show."  That would be cool.

Do you ever take a break or time off?
The work involved with being a DJ can get frustrating at times, but it is a lifestyle, it's not just a side job or type of thing that you can slack off on.  Even when most, hardworking DJs, take a vacation, they seldom ever really take a vacation.  The thought of going a week without staying current on music, or the business itself, is not an event I would look forward to.  I'm not saying if I went a week without doing this I would be a horrible DJ or I would go crazy, no, I'm sure it would be just fine, but it's a routine and sometimes messing with a routine can scare ya a bit. 

What kind of set up do you use to DJ?
It really depends on what type of event or if I want to lug around certain things but my main set up is:
-Macbook
-Serato Scratch Live
-2 Pioneer CDJ 800's or 2 Technic 1200's
-Pioneer DJM 800 Mixer
-Novation Dicers
-Akai MPD 18

What about your studio set up?
Well I do two different studio set ups all combined in one because I record for my weekly radio show on The Border 106.7 and also do my syndicated mixes for Fit Radio. That set up is my same DJin' set up just ran through my production studio and recorded onto my PC.  For that studio I have:
-Thinkpad PC
-Macbook
-Ableton Live and Pro Tools (Mostly Just Use Ableton)
-M-Audio USB Interface
-Axiom Pro 49
-2-M-Audio Bx5a Monitors
-2 17" Computer Monitors
-AKG Perception 220 Condenser Microphone
-Wireless Mouse & Keyboard
-Sound Proofing Along Walls