Hunter Vaughan is a twenty year old DJ who already has some of the world’s most famous Tech Funk DJ’s sitting up and paying attention. After so few years Hunter Vaughan has produced some tracks and made remixes that bounce off the walls in Clubs, at raves and at Festivals all over the globe. Coming 1st in the Dandy Kid Records/Defunct! remix competition against hundreds of others, while also scoring as a top 6 finalist in the U&A Recordings / Mike Hulme remix competition & on top of that, multiple releases reaching the Beatport Top 50 general and Top 10 Weekly Charts while also having remixes featured on top blogs like Elite Force's 'Tech-Funk Manifesto'. Hunter Vaughan lives in Plano Texas America and is one of the most helpful and friendly people that I have talked to, admittedly only on line, I am sure though that in person he would be just as cool. Looking at his facebook photos, he looks like someone I would be happy to party with. I hope that he will have the success he deserves and I am excited for 2011 and what he will have to offer.

• I would like to start by thanking you for doing this interview with clubnetuk…

My pleasure.

• You are one of the worlds top Tech funk DJ’s how long have you been Djing Tech funk?

Agree to disagree but to answer your question I'd say almost a year now.

• Ok well you are def heading that way in my humble opinion.How long have you been Djing in total with any genre?

Since I was 17. I am 21 now.

• What kind of music were you first mixing?

Fidget House.

• Do you remember what your first Vinyl was?

The only piece of 'Vinyl' I own is 2 x Traktor Pro Timecodes ;)

• When I was younger I bought some terrible music and my first single was Vanilla Ice, Ice Ice baby do you remember what your first single and album were?

The first Album I remember actually going to the store and paying for myself was Deftones - White Pony. My mom dated Vanilla Ice before he was Vanilla Ice. True story.

• Cool well there you go.Who would you say were your biggest influences musically when you were growing up?

As a child I always enjoyed listening to my mother's collection filled with Depeche Mode, Moby, The Police, Tears For Fears, Duran Duran, etc. When I was a teenager it was all about the 90's alternative rock scene: Tool, Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Incubus, Sublime, 311, etc & even some of the 'harder' stuff like Lamb Of God, Children Of Bodom, Meshuggah and so on.

• I remember my first rave it was an illegal rave when I was 13, fell in love with the scene, do you remember your first Dance music event and what was it?

Yes. It was at a magical place called Afterlife in Dallas, Texas. I was 17 and having the time of my life. It's still open today and is where I consider the beginning of my DJ/Production career to have spawned.

• Where do you see the Tech funk scene going within the next couple of years?

Well with big dog Elite Force & several other HEAVY hitters displaying some serious output of skill as of late, I honestly think 2011 and on is the start of something very big for such a small movement that is slowly but surely taking shape into something I can't exactly put my finger on but if we all continue to do our part in championing this one of a kind sound then I expect a turn for the best very soon.

• Who would you say is the DJ or producer you most admire at the moment within the dance music scene?

Elite Force / Zodiac Cartel

• Where would you say is your favorite place to play out at?

The festivals for sure. Last year treated me with 2 amazing experiences to play at both the Electric Daisy Carnival:Dallas Edition as well as the annual Meltdown Music Festival hosted in Dallas.

• Have you got any collaborations planned or coming up?

Been lots of chit chat with a lot of local producer friends as to when we all plan on throwing down but nothing is concrete yet. I'm dedicating this summer to more bootlegs & a continuance to a side project I have been piecing together called De La Vaughan with fellow friend Justin Vaughan (not related) which focuses mainly on the heavy bass side of Glitch-Hop/Mid-Tempo Breaks/Dubstepishstuff using Traktor Pro synchronized with Ableton Live as well as various MIDI controllers for more live production elements infused with traditional DJing with a spicy twist.

• Is there one person within or out of the dance scene you would like to work with, using their vocals or maybe another producer?

A track with Zodiac Cartel would tickle my fancy to no end but back in reality I'd love work with up & coming Dallas dubstep producer and good friend Jimmy B aka Droopy aka 1/2 of AFK. I'm on the prowl for talented female vocalists as well so if any babes with a good voice want their frequencies mixed in a track holler!

• You have done some of my favorite remixes and tracks at present what you say is the piece of work that you have produced that you are most proud of or says Hunter Vaughan more than any other?

My remix for Mike Hulme's track 'Sweet Inspiration' is one of my favorite remixes I've done to date which is surprising to me because I normally prefer the more heavy hitting in your face Tech-Funk like my re-work of Zodiac Cartel's classic 'Beyond The Dancefloor'. I think those two show both the dark, techy yet progressive side of HV as well as the more drivey yet bangin' side.

• Is there any up and coming DJ’s or producers that you think we should look out for this year?

Totally. On the local front we got Dallas Resident / Breaks Badman Left/Right who's recently stepped up his game with new collabs from Digital Pizza & the newly united force with DJ Titan known as Team Awesome displaying some very promising forthcoming previews & bootlegs dedicated to 2011 that are quite the talk of the town. Next up is a couple Dallas dub cats named Jimmy B & D-Queue. With Jimmy catching airplay from Datsik & Rusko while D-Queue getting track support from Bassnectar, there's no doubt in my mind these boys will be hitting the hot spots sooner than later!

• Can you tell the readers one thing that we would not already know about you? Any ballet lessons in the past or kitting classes?

I love bacon & whiskey.

• Thanks for doing this interview what is coming up for Hunter Vaughan in the next 12 months any trips over to the UK planned?

2011 is definitely a year for more goals to be set. I'd love to start getting more DJ shows booked mainly out of state and HOPEFULLY overseas as well as finish up several remixes in the works as well as more original productions.

• And finally what have we got to look forward to production wise from you in the near future?

Shortly before summer I plan on wrapping up a few remixes, one I just finished which is a 100% Tech-Funk remix for Zodiac Cartel. A remix for Dandy Kid Records which will bring back some of the fidget roots I love so much & lastly an electro remix for Dallas' own Jeremy Word who has played a respectable part in the Dallas EDM community for many years running. The track is set for release on Dave Aude's label, Audacious.

Have a listen to Hunter Vaughan - Krakken Promo Mix (April 2011)

Hunter Vaughan - Krakken Promo Mix (April 2011) by Death Proof Recordings

www.listn.to/HunterVaughan - Facebook Fan Page

www.soundcloud.com/getfamousx2 - Soundcloud Page

http://huntervaughan.bandcamp.com/ - Free WAV downloads of selected tracks

http://clubnetuk.net/m/djs/view/Hunter-Vaughan - Clubnet UK DJ Profile