Shifty Johnson is 1/2 of the VOLT MODZ production duo with K Ford. He is also apart of the Lake Street Project which consists of Shifty Johnson, Terry Swank, DJ Monna, and Kevin Ford.
Influences
Roy Ayers, Herbie Handcock, Jimi Hendrix, Kool Keith, Frank Zappa, Derrick Carter, Hardkiss Brothers, Prince, Justin Martin, Jesse Rose, Lee Mortimer, Justin Long, Mazi, Heather, Geto Boys, NWA, Black Moon, Dubtribe, Aphex Twin, Inland Knights, Terry Swank, Sista Stroke, Andrew Emil, Adrienne Sanchez and everyone who sweats on the dancefloor.
Sounds Like
Mushrooms, sex, and moogs over dirty chunky beats.
Shifty Johnson is the adopted son of LaShonda Johnson, AKA Miss Evelyn a respected fortune teller on the northwestern Ohio carnival circuit. Miss Evelyn was not only a respected psychic; she was also an avid record collector. From the time he could walk until he began working at the age of eleven, Shifty spent his days immersed in his adopted mother's record collection. While other kids his age played with Transformers and GI Joes, Shifty learned about Roy Ayers, Herbie Handcock, Marvin Gaye, Willie Hutch and Rudy Rae Moore.
Shifty wasn't his given name. He earned it as an accomplished pick pocket working the carnival goers on the midway in any given town. A bow legged carnie named Seth Vargo actually gave him the name after watching the young Shifty lift a wallet from an incredibly attractive woman's purse while grabbing her butt and casting blame for the feel up on the man walking behind her husband. A fight ensued and Shifty slipped away.
Shifty's first DJ gig was blasting Def Leppard, Falco, Duran Duran and various other popular artists of the day on a ride called the Himalaya. During a particularly slammin' set Shifty was discovered by the owner of a chain of roller skating rinks. He quickly became a crowd favorite and traveled all over northwest Ohio and southern Michigan rocking a special blend of old school hip hop, electro, and funk.
As roller skating declined in popularity Shifty struggled to adapt to the changing market. He fell head first into the little-known and seedy roller skating underground. These were Shifty's dark years. A heavy drug addiction, forays into the world of amateur porn, and a propensity for general shiftiness earned Shifty a sordid reputation. Nonetheless, the name Shifty Johnson still became synonymous with good parties and funky music throughout the tri-state area's (Ohio, Indiana and Michigan) underground roller circuit.
In late 2004 Shifty finally came to terms with the fact that roller skating would never make the long awaited come back he desperately hoped for. He also knew that he needed to move to the big city if he was ever going to realize his dream of becoming a superstar DJ. On January of 2005 Shifty loaded his records onto a Greyhound bus and moved to Chicago.
After arriving in Chicago, Shifty quickly realized that he needed to hustle for money if he was going to try to break into the cutthroat Chicago DJ market. He turned to what came naturally: Shifty returned to porn. Chicago pornographer and self proclaimed international playboy Terry Swank met Shifty during the filming of Paging Doctor Johnson. Between takes, and when Shifty wasn’t breaking in a new starlet, Terry and Shifty would talk about music. Soon Shifty formed his own production company called Shifty Johnson Fuck Flixxx, and kept in touch with Terry Swank for the purpose of music production. Their first collaboration yielded the Revolutionary Music release “Her First Time” out now on For Those Who Lead the Triple Life Vol. 1.0.
Since being signed as an artist by Revolutionary Music, Shifty has been gaining fans around the world with gigs in England, Scotland, Belgium, San Francisco, Denver, Miami and all over Chicago. He was a resident DJ for the entire 3 years that the legendary Chicago underground venue the Safe House was in existence. It was here that he shared the decks with industry heavyweights such as DJ Heather, Fred Everything, Justin Long, Diz, Mark Grant, and DJ Harri.
Shifty Johnson is apart of the production collective The Lake Street Project that was responsible for the hit song Forever which spent over 8 weeks on Billboard’s Club Play Chart.
Currently he is working hard in the studio on remixes and original productions as 1/2 of the production team VOLT MODZ with K Ford.
Hi!
Eklektisch 007 is OUT @ Beatport!
HERMANEZ - BLISTER with super remixes from SPEKTRE & WEHBBA!!
Played & Supported by:
Gregor Tresher , Danny Tenaglia, Dominik Eulberg, Gel Abril, Tomcraft, Ilario Alicante, Ahmet Sendil and many others!!
https://www.beatport.com/es-ES/html/content/release/detail/175007/Blister
Thanks for your support!!
Have a nice weekend :-)
Digital Box presents a debut single called TWISTED by YOMO - "the little Russian Deadmau5," featuring a remix by the one and only Rock Rockwell. Out Now and ready to download!! Available at major download stores worldwide!
Only the best comes out of the Box!!
Digital Box Records
TPC PLASMIKLIVE @ LA JAVA VENDREDI 22 MAI 21H
(+soirée electro-minimale Into the groove 00h-6h)
SKIZOFONIK live (electro-techno)
www.myspace.com/skizofonik
E- swat & The 7tproject live (electro world sound system)
www.myspace.com/7tprojectwww.myspace.com/djeswat
paf: 5 euros
La Java 01 42 02 20 52
Metro Belleville/Goncourt
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0686382060 TPC Infoline & booking
Digital Box Records presents a double feature of this month's releases by Acidd Punks and Radio Hookers. "I Wanna Be A Star" EP by the Acidd Punks is OUT NOW and "Electric Body Music" EP by the Radio Hookers will be out APRIL 24th! Available at major download stores worldwide! Nothing but the best comes out of the Box!!
Cheers,
Digital Box Records
Click the banner to download "I Wanna Be A Star" EP
MR WHITE: the (wmc)dub is pretty cool MARK FARINA: Prztz is super talented! LUKE SOLOMON: Record is sick sick sick Future Boompty DA SUNLOUNGE: I like Prztz 'B1 WMC Vox' LAWNCHAIR GENERALS: they sound great. Thanks for the great tunes! ANDY RILEY (Inland Knights/Toka Project): likin wmc vox and dub JOHNNY ROCK (Freaks,MFF): its frigin hot!!!!! prztz did it again .. my brazilian brother from another mother LIL MARK (Classic,Paranoid,Baker Street): love it. prtz production is brilliant
Supported by: Ramon Tapia, Mihalis Safras, Nihad Tule, Tony Matt, Wehbba, Mihai Popoviciu, Marko Nastic , Bloody Mary, Gennaro Mastrantonio, Joy Kitikonti and many others!
Hello Family and Friends!
Sneakers & Speakers has teamed up with Gradient Magazine and Astrosauce Clothing. We are building a whole new community that is lacking in the NYC electronic music scene. We want you to meet you and welcome all of you to our new world!
SNEAKERS & SPEAKERS OFFICIALLY INVITES YOU TO THE START OF OUR 2009 NYC EVENTS
PLEASE CONTACT: info@sneakersnspeakers.com for additional information and guest list requests.
THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON TUESDAY MARCH 3RD: NUL N VOID HEADLINES AT THE ANNEX!
SKIZOFONIK live (electro-techno)
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