Brian Small got his first pair of turntables in 1994 when he was still a kid going to Kettle Moraine High School. He quickly taught himself the techniques needed to spin his way into primo DJ gigs under the club name "Biggie Small." (Not to be confused with famous rapper/freestyler Biggie Smalls -- aka the Notorious B.I.G. -- who was shot and killed in 1997.)
Small -- along with fellow DJ Chase Brandon (aka HiSpdChase) -- launched one of Milwaukee's longest-running club nights, Syst3m, in the basement of Three, 722 E. Milwaukee St. The gig lasted for almost 3 1/2 years before the 12-in. players decided to call it quits, but not before they made deep grooves in Milwaukee's underground electronic music scene.
Today, Small -- who, for the record, is 6-7 -- returns to a regular gig, this time at Art Bar, 722 E. Burleigh St., to host Mixed Signals, an "open deck" event every Thursday night that allows five local Djs to take turns in the booth.
OMC recently caught up with Small to ask him a few Q's.
OMC: Who or what were your early inspirations?
Biggie Small: My first DJ-ing inspirations came from early hip-hop. I was always into what the DJ was doing: mixing it all up, providing the party. I was really into DJs like Grandmaster Flash, Jazzy Jeff -- all the early New York/East Coast stuff. But then, in the '90s, hip-hop was changing a lot, turning into more "gangsta/kill kill" stuff so I kind of strayed away from it. It was around that time I discovered house music and techno and its DJ culture and I was all about it right away.
OMC: Why did you leave Three?
BS: We did well over 150 shows at Three, and there was no exact reason for ending the night. I never looked at it as "leaving." It was a huge commitment to be at the event every week -- first one in, last one to leave. I needed to be refreshed, that's all.
OMC: So you're refreshed and hosting a new event at Art Bar ...
BS: I'm involved with getting their new Thursday night up and moving. It's called Mixed Signals and it started May 18.
OMC: What does Mixed Signals entail?
BS: There's four or five DJs per night, each get 45 minutes on a turntable, that kind of thing. It's not a free-for-all, but interested DJs can talk to me or email Don and get on the list and get a slot. It's that simple.
OMC: What genres of music do you use?
BS: I like a wide variety of music: funk, disco, hip-hop, house, techno, electro. Mostly underground independent stuff.
OMC: Is Milwaukee a good fit for you both personally and professionally?
BS: Personally definitely; professionally sometimes. I love Milwaukee as a resident, but professionally as a DJ here, you really have to compromise your sound to play where there's pay.
OMC: Did you grow up in Milwaukee?
BS: No. I grew up in Muskego and Wales. Now I live in Riverwest.
OMC: Who else in this city do you think is a great DJ?
BS: There's tons of them: Hispd, Johnny Armstrong, Mr. Timms, Why-B, D-on, Lukewarm ...
OMC: What's your favorite Milwaukee bar?
BS: Art Bar.
OMC: Restaurant?
BS: I love EE Sane on the East Side. Good Thai.
OMC: How does the Milwaukee club/DJ scene compare with Chicago's?
BS: I don't know too much about Chicago, but Milwaukee is really developing into something to take a look at.
Mixed Signals is every Thursday night through the end of June at Art Bar. 9 p.m.; no cover. To be considered for a DJ spot, email Don Krause, Art Bar owner, at artbar-riverwest@wi.rr.com.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
