BTD003 – Saliva Commandos: In:Command Records, Crafting a Unique Sound, Percussive & Afro House, Respecting DJ Culture

In this episode, Robert catches up with George Aponte, aka Saliva Commandos, a veteran house music DJ and producer with roots in the Bronx, New York. Robert and George discuss: George's Early Life: Born to Puerto Rican parents in the Bronx, George grew up immersed in diverse musical influences, from his father's guitar playing to the emerging hip-hop scene. DJ Origins: Inspired by neighborhood street jams and DJ equipment he saw in the late 1970s, George bought his first turntables in 1986, determined to become a DJ despite family skepticism. Artistic Range: Beyond music, George has a background in film production and graffiti art, which continue to influence his musical creativity. George's Key Influences in Hip-hop, house & latin freestyle George's journey to become Saliva Commandos showcases how cultural roots, diverse influences, and unwavering passion & optimism can shape a successful career in electronic music. Transcript: https://learningtodj.com/btd-003-saliva-commandos-transcript EPISODE LINKS Saliva Commandos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salivacommandos/ Saliva Commandos Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1KoSnTUvEhtwNeZqaZnZ9M?si=8wkctonyQcia5moxh0PZEg&nd=1&dlsi=a74d1a5cebc64a7d Saliva Commandos Website: https://www.salivacommandos.com/ In:Command Records: https://www.beatport.com/label/in-command-records/49820 UNDER THE RADAR, ON REPEAT & GUILTY PLEASURE Under the Radar: Saliva Commandos - Roomba On Repeat: Saliva Commandos - Ofra Murd Guilty Pleasure: Saliva Commandos - Promesa For a full playlist of all guest picks checkout the Official Guest Selections Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLplpjQxEA1gIpLmc2YiozGj83-k3qvST3u0026feature=shared PODCAST INFO: Beyond the Decks is your guide to mastering the art and business of the DJ, electronic and dance music industry. Podcast Website: https://learningtodj.com/podcast/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-decks-podcast-with-robert-simoes-learningtodj-com/id1758609395 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/34jVG0wkfNyinasE9G2jln RSS: https://learningtodj.com/podcast/feed/ Youtube Full Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@learningtodj SUPPORT & CONNECT Twitter/X: https://x.com/l2djschool https://x.com/robert_x_world Instagram: https://instagram.com/learningtodj https://instagram.com/robdeepmusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Learningtodjcom/61556544425570/ Quora: https://learningtodj.quora.com/ OUTLINE Introduction and George's Background (00:00:00) Early Musical Influences and Beginnings in the Bronx (00:02:28) First Interaction with DJ Equipment and Early DJing Experiences (00:06:42) Transition from DJing to Music Production (00:09:22) Challenges and Persistence in Learning Production Techniques (00:28:08) First Record Deal and Breakthrough (00:34:22) Developing His Unique Sound and the Creation of Serve (00:32:30) Technological Evolution and Its Impact on Production (00:41:52) Founding of In Command Records (00:52:33) The Importance of Maintaining Artistic Integrity (00:45:31) Resilience and the Turning Point in His Career (01:00:31)