Chatting with Kowboy

Kowboy has easily become one of my favorite Texas DJs.

I heard about him through the grapevine when he still lived in DFW. I hadn’t gotten to see him DJ but I pulled up a mix he had recorded and I was thoroughly impressed. And I heard that he only plays vinyl, which is always a plus for me.

I decided to give him a shot playing at Body Mechanics and he had an amazing set. The crowd loved it.

Since then I have gotten to see him DJ a few more times and every single time has been incredible.

While many DJs these days like to boast and hyperbolize about themselves; Kowboy keeps a low profile and focuses on what is most important: the music.

I set up an e-mail interview with Kowboy and learned a bit about the man behind the decks. Don’t miss his set this Saturday at Body Mechanics.

Where did you grow up and what were your first experiences getting into music in general?

It’s hard for me to say where I grew up — I had a somewhat unstable childhood and was moved around a lot as a kid, living in four different states and attending eleven different schools. But when people ask me where I’m from, it became easy for me to say I’m just from Texas. And I’m proud of it. I like Big Red and barbecue. Nothing tugs at my heartstrings like Willie Nelson and Tony de la Rosa. I’m a Texan through and through.

I was lucky to have diverse musical influences from various family members growing up. DJ Screw, dance music, and rock from one of my uncles. Screw and other Texas rap from another. 60’s and 70’s outlaw country from my grandpa. Tejano and oldies from my other grandparents. And lastly, my other aunt and uncle got me into psych, shoegaze, reggae, and all things cool and underground as a young teen.

What were your first experiences with dance music?

My first experiences with dance music were with my mom and my Uncle Zeb (RIP). Dallas has always been a hot spot for nightlife and dance music, going back to the 80’s, and my mom would drive from the small town of Cleburne to go clubbing in the 90’s a lot. That music would spill into her everyday, and I have fond memories of her and I riding around and listening to stuff like New Order and house hits when I was super young.

My Uncle Zeb was a big influence on me as a little kid, and at one point he showed me drum & bass and jungle. I remember in particular we’d listen to Roni Size and a great compilation called The Drastic Jungle Project a lot. He was a great dancer and pop locker, and I always tried to hang with him when I could to learn how to dance and soak up whatever music he was showing me.

Later on as a young adult, my friends DJ Lostcat and Tiago Varjao reintroduced me to dance music and showed me the way. Tiago in particular would have these legendary all night raves in his loft in downtown Cleburne, flying people in like Traxx and Xosar. These were absolutely foundational for me becoming a DJ and understanding the culture. I always describe these as a sort of oasis — a night of complete freedom of expression and sonic exploration in the middle of a highly conservative small town in Texas. It was incredible!

Kowboy’s great great grandpa

I know you have a big range-tell us a bit about your different tastes and styles as a DJ.

It all goes back to my family influences — all of these different stylistic influences I had as a kid are still my favorite music, and a lot of what I DJ today. I’d say my “specialties” as a DJ though; are dance music, reggae, post-punk, country, and Tejano. Music is way too vast for me, or anyone, to be into just one thing, and I’m blessed to have been shown this from a young age.

At the same time it can be inhibiting — I never really fit in growing up and still don’t. I’m not a punk, hippie, cholo, raver, redneck, goth, etc…I’m all of these things and it took me a minute to realize and own this. To this day, though, I sometimes feel like people don’t know how to take me when I’m playing a rave one night and a Tejano night the next.

What made you decide to DJ with vinyl and not digital?

It wasn’t a conscious decision! Next year I’ll be going on twenty years of collecting records, and seventeen in the record business. I started collecting when I was twelve and selling at fifteen. When I got heavy into dance music in my early twenties and I decided I wanted to DJ, I already had one turntable and a system — why would I not get another and a mixer? Digital just never crossed my mind.

What are some of your favorite places to dig for records?

Anywhere I can find a deal, which is getting much harder these days! Antique malls, flea markets, junk shops, etc. My favorite record stores, though, are what I call my “home shops” — Doc’s in Fort Worth where I worked for almost eight years, and Brainwave here in San Antonio. Outside of them, Domino Sound Shack in NOLA. Forever and always my all time favorite shop.

Kowboy’s grandma

What is some music you have really been enjoying lately?

I’ve been listening to a lot of salsa lately. I didn’t really explore it much until the last five years or so, and it’s been fun diving deeper into it. I’m a drummer, and the hyperrhythmic aspects are like candy for my ears. It’s hypnotic dance music at the end of the day. The slower tracks are always beautiful too.

Outside of this, Screw, Tejano (or more specifically Texas conjunto music), and reggae are always in regular rotation for me.

Tell us about your background and experiences playing as a drummer.

My Uncle Rob who got me into shoegaze and other cool shit was also my first drum teacher starting around 10 years old. I played drums in two bands starting in high school: Fungi Girls, a psych/punk/shoegaze sort of band, and High Art, an angular post punk band. We toured, had records out and what not; then eventually fell apart. I got burnt out and jaded, and not too long after I picked up DJing. I actually just this year started playing again for the first time in eight years and am hoping to keep at it. Playing drums feels great, and is a much different release and outlet for creative expression compared to DJing.

Besides music, what else inspires you?

Hand painted signs, graffiti, and lowriding. Making conversation with strangers and the elderly. Mexico and Texas. My grandparents. My girlfriend. Taking any back road or alternate route I can take. Weirdos, freaks, and anyone else unafraid to be themselves and no one else.

Kowboy’s truck

Any last words for the Body Mechanics crowd?

I always look forward to playing these, more than most any other dance event the last couple years, and that’s due in part to the BM crowd. It is one of the only dance nights happening in Texas these days that exemplifies what it’s all about — an open space where freedom of expression feels welcome, and a crowd that actually comes to dance.

There’s no egos, no shitty promoters trying to capitalize off the culture, no Instagram influencer bullshit, no rules on having to play the trendiest new Hör version of techno — just diverse DJs playing to people looking to dance and have a good time. This is working class music and it should stay that way. Shout out Auntie Dev and Body Mechanics!