Nutritious, an interview with a musical healer!

What relationship do you see between house music and healing?

The music I’m attracted to is spiritual in nature... which folds right into health - I believe the essence of healing is experiencing the connection of one’s own self -or spirit- with nature.

What were the musical influences you had while growing up?

(Looking for actual bands or group here.)

So many... when I was in my teens, picking from popular music, I’d say the Beastie Boys were a pretty big influence. Charlie Hunter, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Funk Master Flex, Louis Armstrong, Etta James, the Dead, Phish, Parliament, James Brown, Pink Floyd, Rush (especially the jazzier side), Hendrix, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, The Doors... I listened to a bunch of music, I could probably go on forever.

Who was your biggest influence musically growing up?

(Looking for actual person here, mother, father, grand mother, etc.)

My older brother Willie. He was a brilliant musician - classically trained on violin then guitar. He took his life a few years ago - so violently and tragically that it’s taken me a long time to rebound from the trauma of it, but now that I can look back and reflect my experience with him... he was molding me into a musician since I could crawl. I think that’s all he ever wanted... he wanted me to experience the world through art and music rather than become a stuffy business man. Although he took his life for many varied reasons, I think the timing of it coincided with a point in my own life where he realized I was secure in that direction, I was becoming a ‘successful’ ‘artist’. I think he felt that his job was complete and he could finally let go, at least in the material world. I’m so grateful for his part in my life. Music is such beauty. I miss him everyday but he’s always with me.

What made you get in to djing?

I connect it back to so many things. My parents just loved music... and they had records and consumer turntables around the house, and I was always fascinated with them. I started grabbing for the vinyl at a really young age and trying to scratch records. We’d listen to the radio at home and in the car -- probably more than we ever watched tv -- and just get into it and get involved on the vibe. Once I started going to dance parties in NYC and hearing djs spin house and techno, I was hooked. First thing I did was try to make mixtapes and original songs. Then, in an attempt to go to college, I had to leave my drums behind because the administration wouldn’t let me store them in the dorm. Two Technics 1200s and a Numark mixer fit perfectly across my dressers in my dorm room and I started spinning out of a need to have beats in my life. I would open-up the windows and play to the campus all day. When I wasn’t there, I left my friends the keys so they could practice, too. 

Can you define your style? If so we do!

I’ve been told Funky - I hear it from a lot of people... so, that’s probably a decent word for it. Although I’d like to think there’s more to it than that, I definitely have an appreciation for what funk is. I think there are elements of funk in most music... I really gravitate towards these blends of music where there’s these subtle hints of funk, sometimes no funk at all, and also songs with ridiculously obvious, exaggerated funk. Then, I mess with the dynamics in between.

Nutritious, why the name? What's the story behind it?

I became obese in my mid teens when I was gigging a lot, in bands. I got up to about 80 pounds heavier than I am now. After a few years, I became conscious of it and started working to stay fit. But, I wasn’t really educated about nutrition. I was simply buying into what the mainstream had to offer at the time: fat-free foods, salads, chicken and fish. This stuff can ultimately help you lose weight, but won’t really help you be healthy... and it may not nourish you at all. Truly, I had no idea what real nutrition was and I went through years of rebounding and reoccurring depression - this seemed to coincide with the times I was gigging and partying the most.

Eventually, I met a dancer in Toronto while travelling around and she explained to me how she turned her life around by fasting. She kicked drugs, got her kids back from the State, madness turned to good. I was intrigued by this, so when I got back to NY, I started studying natural healing.

I did my first fast and it changed my life. I began doing yoga and started feeling really grounded and alive. Eventually, I decided I wanted to help others experience this, but not without an actual education in it, so I enrolled in the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts led by Anne Marie Colbin. I was so into it, I completely rocked school. I was going to class sometimes 6 days a week all-day-long and gigging at night and going to rehearsals, too. The healthy eating and spiritual practices revived me and gave me the energy to enjoy it all.

I was rocking school and gigs and I received my degree from there and immediately got offered an opportunity to help Montel Williams heal his MS. I hit that up and he was so excited about the food choices I introduced him to, he asked me to help him write a book about it. I decided to do more research for the book and studied with some of the great nutritionists and leading health educators in the world. We completed the book and it became a New York Times bestseller, even though before the book went to print, I had to scale back my theories and recipes to appeal to a wider audience. In any case, I figured it was still a helpful product to stand behind. As this was all happening, I felt I was moving away from music and I wanted to delve deeper into music without losing the ability to connect with people about nutrition, so I changed my dj name to Nutritious.

What your favorite thing about the DJ lifestyle?

What I like most about my DJ lifestyle is connecting with people... the smiles, the laughter, the fun and excitement at a great party - the dug deep dancing on the dancefloor, just grinding it out with the dancers. It’s such a blessing to be a part of something that people love and enjoy.

What's the worst thing about the DJ lifestyle?

It’s often disheartening to meet negative people in this scene. When I encounter their energy I think to myself, “You’re a dj... you make people dance - lighten up! You’re so fucking blessed!”

Holistic - describe it in your words.

We’ve been led to believe that the mind, body, spirit are all separate things. This is simply not true. They are all one person. Every person is connected to all things whether they realize it or not. Holism is the understanding of this oneness - otherwise known as the Whole.

What is your opinion on the state of America's obesity problem?

In many ways, it’s getting better. People are becoming more aware of the importance of a plant based diet. They are awakening to the importance of eating wild foods grown in mineral rich soils. They are starting to eat seasonally, locally, organically. More and more people are understanding that processed foods are devitalized and actually create hunger and disease. There’s a mass awakening happening and I believe obesity will soon be a thing of the past.

How much does good diet play in one's creativity?

Again, everything is connected. Our bodies are emotional, not just our minds. As an example, when you stuff your gut, you’ll feel stuffed emotionally. If not sleep, another common reaction to this is anger and rage, it’s the bodies way of un-stuffing itself ...by bursting out with emotion. Diet is not just “what we eat”, but also how we eat, where we eat, when we eat, why we eat... all of these tie emotions into the experience. Emotions obviously play-in to creativity, so I believe one’s creative output is a fairly direct reflection on their diet.

Is there anyone special in your life?

Yup. My amazing girlfriend, my family. Everyone I associate with is special. The people in my life are a gift from the universe and I’m so grateful for their presence.

True healing, what does it mean to you?

When you can live a majority of your life feeling happy and content, pain-free, spreading love and joy... you are doing pretty damn good.

How much does a sound mind play in healing? Can you ever get better if you don't believe you can?

Anything is possible. However, having your thoughts focused on what you’d like to experience will certainly accelerate the process. Add to that any spiritual functions you can perform to coincide with the healing process and it’s even a more-rapid process. Add to that associating with other people with a similar vibe and vision, even better.

If the mind is broken can the body still heal correctly?

At the core, our systems are designed for healing. Life wants to be healthy... it’s survival. Our cells make up this survival system and I believe our cell’s ability to adapt is much quicker than most people believe. In fact, I believe our cells, our genetic makeup, our disposition, our health  can change at the drop of a hat - instantaneously - for better or worse. We are remarkable beings, with super powers that we’ve only begun to discover and tap into. There’s really no telling exactly what we are capable of. It’s no secret, however, that when your thoughts are focused on healing, the healing process is greatly enhanced.

Okay this one here, I need to paint a picture. Sunday morning, we've rallied all night, still dancing like maniacs, it's a beautiful day. It's time for warm sun and good food, you have one record and one dish. The goal here is be yourself, feed us the ultimate meal and record.

The posse cuts the music and enjoys the sounds of nature... We down fresh coconut water. Followed by some watermelon. Then, we pry open some fresh shellfish from the sea, oysters and clams mostly. Then, some raw, some steamed, some grilled over a pit fire, we have a feast of local fruit and vegetables. After chillin a bit, passin the kutch, we all feast on raw cacao and fire up the soundsystem again. I spin Moquita’s “It Comes To Me” on Shakedown Recordings to get it all started as the sun begins to set.

Links for “It Comes To Me”

at the Worship Store: http://worshiprecs.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=146

www.djnutritious.com

www.facebook.com/Nutritious1

soundcloud.com