Bob Campbell is composed of Bob Vasilauskas and Trev Campbell, two DJs and friends who joined forces in San Francisco. In addition to DJing together, they also work as Black Magic Disko, throwing great parties in clubs and other venues in the Bay Area. We got a chance to catch up with the guys to discuss how they originally got into electronic music, their experiences throwing parties in the San Francisco Bay Area, the most gratifying moments of their careers, and some of their dream gigs. Be sure to check out the exclusive mix they made for Pulse below!
For people who don’t already know you, can you tell us a little about yourself? Bob: I am a fourth generation Californian, born in Orange County but raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. I like wearing black shirts, I have an addiction to kidrobot toys, and an affinity for street art.
Trev: Well, for some reason people started calling me the "rave child" a while back, somehow it stuck… Oh, I also work for Smoke N’ Mirrors Records doing a little bit of everything.
How did you first get into electronic music? Bob: My sister got me into electronic music at a pretty young age, playing a lot of new wave and industrial records. I went through a punk phase after that soon finding raves in Oakland that had a very free vibe. That led me to discovering west coast DJs like DJ Dan, Jeno, Doc Martin and Tony.
Trev: I’d say I first got into electronic music back when I was 13 or 14. Nothing crazy, but I did find a CD I had made with a bunch of the big room jams from the late 90’s. Things really got shaking when I started recording multiple shows a weekend throughout San Francisco with a friend a couple years ago, finally learning what real house music was!
What has your experience been like throwing parties in the Bay Area with Black Magic Disko? What events do you have planned that are coming up in the next few months? Bob Campbell: We've had a good time throwing the Black Magic Disko parties both in the clubs and the more low key venues. Andhim had the place going off so hard sweat was dripping and it got into the CDJ, causing the player to go haywire. Guess it was a pretty poppin dance floor…
As far as future parties are concerned, we have a crazy packed month ahead of us. Coming up we are doing a collaboration with Direct to Earth featuring techno legend Marc Houle. Coming in hot after that is the San Francisco debut of Trickski, followed by yet another San Francisco debut of Mind Against from Life & Death. Finishing out the year, we are also bringing DJ Sneak and Hector Moralez to a TBA location. This should be a banging night in December.
What has been the most gratifying moment so far in your career? Bob: Playing on my birthday at the Raindance Festival was pretty amazing. The sun coming up over the granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains was the perfect backdrop to play some really nice tunes.
Trev: Yeah, that was hella fun, super hot though! That’s definitely up there in my top moments this year, but I’d have to say mine was playing on the Mayan Warrior at the burn this year. Great sound, amazing art, electrifying dance floor!. Makes me still all smiley!
Credit: Amanda Kershaw
Is the stuff you play now what you’ve always played or has your style evolved over time? Bob: It's definitely evolved over time, but I have been playing deep house and tech house for a while now. I used to play a more tribal dubbed out sound with a hypnotic vibe whereas I think I’ve progressed into more of a minimal techy sound over the years. When playing with Trev, as Bob Campbell, I play a sound that's a little more deep and more of dark disco than when I play by myself.
Trev: My style has definitely changed. I used to be super into techno and minimal when I first started playing music a couple years ago. Somewhere down the line I got bit by the house bug, then I’d say sometime towards the end of last year, I got kind of obsessed with that really deep sexy stuff, which I still am all about. Playing as Bob Campbell though allows me to get back to those roots and mix it up a bit.
Where have you been playing recently? Bob Campbell: Monarch, Public Works, Underground locations throughout Oakland and San Francisco.
Credit: eye-c
What are some of your dream gigs? Bob: Playing at the pyramids or Machu Picchu would probably be the coolest places to play. Opening a Black Magic Diskotheque in San Francisco is my ultimate dream. Playing in your own club is probably the biggest dream i have right now.
Trev: Ahhh yeah, that would be dope Bob! For me, I think it would be on point to play a couple quality festivals that aren’t in the good ole’ USA.
Can you tell us a little about how you decided to approach the exclusive mix you made for Pulse? Bob: I picked tracks from the past year that I felt had both the vibe of Bob Campbell and have a timeless sound. Some of them are on labels I've cherished for years like Adult Only and 2020Vision. I feel we have the ability to slide between sounds, from deep to housey to techy and back, so I felt we should show that in this mix. This was intended to be for both the dance floor and for the after party when you are chilling with your friends. Fun and bouncy yet deep and spacey.
Trev: Song selection was based on what I thought would best showcase the tracks that we have played out and are playing at the moment. Kept it deep, but not too deep, with some tech here and there, and of course a house jam or two in the mix!
Credit: Amanda Kershaw
What else is on your horizon? Bob: We are going to Tahoe for New Years and it's going to be pretty special playing at this festival called SnowGlobe. We will be staying with good friends Bells & Whistles who are always having a good time and super funny. After that it's back to the drawing board to see how we can keep Black Magic Disko on the map in San Francisco.
Trev: Lets see, Tahoe, then BPM, then San Francisco, then the UK, then summer. Lots of raving and music enjoyment to be had I suppose.
Header image courtesy of Amanda Kershaw