Every time he steps into the DJ booth, Gauthreaux forges a path through a diverse musical landscape, guiding throngs of party-goers through peaks and valleys of soulful funk, progressive rhythms, tribal drums, disco house, and melodic, driving trance. Gauthreaux has made the trip countless times, though he never takes the same road twice; each outing behind the turntables represents an excursion into uncharted territory, and those of us on his dance floor trust Gauthreaux's keen instincts.It's a consistency the disc jockey attributes to thorough preparation. Gauthreaux regularly spends dozens of hours every week meticulously scouring (online) record shop shelves for the latest cutting-edge tracks and poring through (virtual) record bins for rare, overlooked classics. His tastes reach far and wide, making him one of the most versatile DJs on the scene today.
But the journey of Joe Gauthreaux goes far beyond his stewardship in the booth; for Gauthreaux, life is a journey, and, much like his DJ sets, it is intriguing, emotional, and unpredictable.
Gauthreaux debuted on the decks in 1996, quickly earning the respect of his peers after garnering resident status at New Orleans hot spot Oz. His all-encompassing sets soon caught the attention of out-of-towners, and it was only a matter of time before Gauthreaux was being imported by clubs across the U.S., in addition to international venues throughout Canada and beyond. The incomparable versatility of his sound immediately endeared him to the circuit culture where he remains a top draw, spinning high profile events such as Black & Blue in Montreal, Cherry in D.C. and Toronto Gay Pride, just to name a few. In 2002, his skyrocketing prominence in the scene prompted Centaur Records to offer Gauthreaux his first CD compilation, Party Groove: Blue Ball, and his high profile led to his ongoing tenure as a reporter for Billboard Magazine.
In 2003, Gauthreaux found himself at a crossroads: He had reached his full potential in New Orleans, and New Yorks thriving DJ culture seemed ripe with opportunity. But nothing is guaranteed in the Big Apple, and relocating would mean sacrificing all he had worked for in the Big Easy. Nonetheless, Gauthreaux selected the road less traveledand it proved a wise choice. Within a few years, he was playing at esteemed locales such as Lotus, Spirit, Roxy, Avalon, Pacha, and Fire Islands iconic Pavilion. Of course, his journeys abroad continue thanks to his regular appearances in Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, as well as Parade in his native New Orleans and SBNY in his present home of New York City.
And so Gauthreaux continues onward, traveling the world and delving into new, unexplored musical terrain. Its anybodys guess where his journey will lead, but if Joe Gauthreaux's life is anything like his DJ sets, its sure to be one hell of a trip. Video of Joe Below:
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