An Interview with DJ Tony Moran

Unquestionably one of the top talents in the DJ world, Tony Moran is no stranger to Philadelphians. Whether you have been lucky enough to catch him here in Philly (like his amazing Blue Ball performance several years ago), out of town at one of his many residencies or just snatched up one of his incredibly hot CDs; this DJ can make even the graves give up their dead...and dance.

Associated Content: You started spinning at a pretty young age, correct?

Tony Moran: Yes, I started spinning in my teens.

Associated Content: What drew you to a career as a DJ?

Tony Moran: I started my career in the early '90s when the freestyle scene was hot. The big acts back then were Expose and SaFire. I produced a song called "Show Me" by three young girls that skyrocketed up the charts. The girls became known as The Cover Girls and their record went platinum and soon I was fielding calls from the likes of Gloria Estefan and Cher who hired me to turn their pop songs into dance floor tracks.

Associated Content: How do you describe your signature sound?

Tony Moran:Hi energy and happy with hard beats.

Associated Content: Tell me about working with Kristine W and the new single "Walk Away".

Tony Moran:Walk Away was originally penned for Whitney Houston and her new album but then she wasn't ready to get back into the studio. The song was so hot I knew I had to record it... but it couldn't be with just anybody. There are very few artists that can sing Walk Away. Kristine, of course, is one of the few. So I pitched it to her and she said yes as soon as she heard it. She loved it so much and was afraid I'd give it to someone else that she literally hopped on the next plane from Vegas to New York to record the track. We had such an amazing session. She tore the shit out of that record. It is one of the hottest tracks on the album. Mark my words - it will go all the way to #1 on Billboard.

Associated Content: You called Deborah Cox "the ultimate diva"-why?

Tony Moran: Deborah Cox can sing. No one does it like Deborah. She is the powerhouse vocalist. And she conquers every genre-dance, r&b, musical theatre ... and now, with her latest album, even jazz! She is a producer's wet dream.

Associated Content: Your new CD, "The Event" has a whopping 24 tracks on it. That's incredibly ambitious - why such a large undertaking?

Tony Moran:Trust me, there were days I was wondering that myself. "The Event" is, without a doubt, the hardest record I have ever worked on. It was a huge undertaking, and my blood, sweat and tears are all over this record. I guess I really wanted to give something back to the genre of dance music and also introduce something new. Everyone is saying how the circuit is dead and dance is over. I disagree. Dance music, like every other genre of music, is evolving. Look at Britney... everyone counted her out but now she has a new hit record. Dance is making a comeback. It just needs to find its groove again. I think my record will help get things right back on track. It's my baby and I am so proud of it.

Associated Content: How long was "The Event" in the making?

Tony Moran:Two very long years.

Associated Content: You sang when you DJed here in Philly for Blue Ball several years ago, and you have some vocals on this album. Would you like to do more vocals in the future?

Tony Moran:Definitely. I'm a lover of music, and sure, I'll lend my voice to a track if it needs it.

Associated Content: Excited to return to Philadelphia? What is different about the City of Brotherly Love crowds?

Tony Moran:Of course. As a New Yorker, I think of Philadelphia as the sixth borough so I don't really think Philly crowds are all that different from Manhattan crowds at all. Now if you want to compare NY and Philly crowds to west coast crowds, I can do that. There's a world of difference there. We east coasters tend to be a little darker, harder and edgier.

Associated Content: Vinyl versus electronic?

Tony Moran:Vinyl.

Associated Content: Gay versus straight crowd?

Tony Moran:Gay.

Associated Content: Large space versus intimate space?

Tony Moran: Large.

Associated Content: Beyonce versus Rhianna? Ouch, hard one. This week, Rihanna. That can change next month!

Associated Content: What is next on your plate?

Tony Moran:I'd like to say rest, but man, have you seen my schedule? I think my manager is trying to kill me.

WALKING TO NUMBER ONE
Dance diva Kristine W has topped the dance charts a record-breaking nine times, and this week she made it an even 10! "Walk Away", her smash single recorded with Tony Moran for his album The Event, was originally penned for Whitney. When Ms. Houston passed, Kristine snapped the ditty up. Don't mistake it for Kelly Clarkson's song of the same name, this tune is all Kristine W. She is currently touring as part of an ensemble called DJs Are Alive, a live performance and DJ mixing ensemble which includes The Scumfrog, DJ Skribble, Static Revenger, and D:Fuse.

Myspace.com/kristinew

Djsarealive.com.