The years 2010 – 2015 were a fascinating time for music. Electronic music, especially, skyrocketed into the mainstream. EDM is now all over our radio stations and commercials. It went from being shunned at parties to taking them over. SmokeHouse formed in early 2016, getting together to continue the upward climb of dance music, in a different way. Using strong ethics and a team oriented mind state, the SmokeHouse team is set to make major moves this year moving forward. I chatted with founding member Brandon Sutton to see what it takes to run an artist collective and event company. Check out the full interview below.
How did SmokeHouse start out as a group of DJ/producers and grow into it’s own brand throwing shows?
SmokeHouse started out as a collective. I had been throwing events for a few years by the time we got started. Once we got our feel down, throwing events was kind of assumed The goal of SmokeHouse has been a mix of two things: 1. Delivering forward thinking music & 2. Helping each other get to the next level(s). Trends sell and that’s really good but we’ve always had pride in attempting to beat the trends in the studio and on the decks. We started with a general love for house music, but a few of our guys make everything. Jared (Too Kind), Dimitri (Big Feta), & Grant (Grant Lee) make an array of genres. Kyle (Kyle Kinch), Ken (KC Gilmore), Ronnie (Ronnie Lopez), Quinn (Quinn Reiland), & myself tend to stick to house. We would all surprise some people with the ranges we’re capable of live as well as in the studio.
What motivated you to pursue SmokeHouse?
It kind of started with us just trying to pool knowledge and resources with a group of guys we believe(d) can make it. I grabbed Quinn Blalock and Mike Gaurd with the skeleton of an idea, then recruited some homies. Once we gelled and people liked the vibe, I tried to get us on as much stuff as possible. We pulled it off for almost 2 years before deciding to slow down.
Whats one “up” and one “down” example moment that best reflects the day-to-day as someone who creating events?
I would say the biggest “up” for creating an event is watching it actually happen on the day of. It’s maximum stress and you need a phone charger on deck, but seeing people enjoy themselves after however many hours into it is very fulfilling. One “down” I would say is how often people wait to the very last minute. If it’s your event, it’s your job to make sure everyone possible that wants to go can be accommodated. Having it made clear ahead of time makes it a smoother process. With the way human nature is, we like to wait til the final minutes to make a move. It’s a good thing really, to have people WANTING to come, but the only “down” I can think of.
Is there a dance bubble that will ever burst or is all about listening to changes, adjusting, and marketing? Can someone always throw relevant events if they’re adjusting fluidly in these times?
At this point, dance music is mainstream and can sustain. There will be variations on popular genres, but those can be adjusted too. It’s like the fashion industry. Every season what’s dope changes and major designers stay relevant by adjusting to the trend, and/or setting the tempo with their own flare. That’s similar to what our goal is whenever we throw a show / event.
Are their differences in tastes between the major cities in South Florida that SmokeHouse plays into?
Not major differences in tastes, but underrated tastes for sure. Ft. Myers has a big love for the underground scene that people aren’t too aware of. They get down. Miami, Orlando, and Tampa like everything to different extents. I’m thankful our guys are versatile enough to handle all of the demands when called on.
What key lessons were learned through SmokeHouse from inception until now, and what’s to come for the organization?
Biggest lesson I’ve learned is don’t over-do it. There was one night I can remember we had guys at three different places in Tampa, one in Orlando, two in Ft. Myers. We were double booking ourselves. We had multiple guys playing 5+ nights a week. We were releasing one EP a month, as well as throwing a show a month. It kind of watered us down. When people knew we’d be out a million times a week, it devalues the need to go to event A or B we really need a push for. We took the break to focus on individual brands, which in turn makes our names carry more weight, and focus on a few events per month vs doing a few events per day. I want us to do an extra philanthropy on top of doing our Puppy Picnic again. We’re all sitting on some heat and in the months to come, we’re excited to get that out at some pretty cool parties.
What does SmokeHouse have coming down the pipeline for late 2018 or 2019?
In 2019, be ready for some new music. The SmokeHouse thrown shows will come, but we’re pressing in the studio for the time being. We’re going to be doing a ton of things with Liive Presents and a few other teams across the state.
Connect with SmokeHouse
https://www.facebook.com/pg/SmokeHouseTribe
https://twitter.com/smokehousetribe
https://www.instagram.com/_smokehouse
https://soundcloud.com/thesmokehouse
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