With the announcement of this year’s Substance Festival at the Great American Music Hall, we here at SF Sonic wanted to highlight some of the bands and artists playing over the three nights, whether they’ve been around for years or are early in their musical journey. A party is only as good as its DJ, and with Omar Perez behind the deck it’s sure to be an unforgettable event. Omar has been DJing in the Bay Area for decades, and, along with different guest DJs every night, Omar will be spinning records every night of Substance Fest. I talked to him about his approach to DJing, his history behind the deck, and what to expect from his set at Substance Fest this year.
Tyler King: How long have you been DJing for? When did you first consider that DJing was an avenue that you wanted to go down?
Omar Perez: I’ve had turntables since I moved to San Francisco in the early nineties. But professionally speaking, I’ve been DJing since Popscene started in 1995. I figured it out pretty early that it was something I loved doing.
TK: Was there a specific gig where things clicked into place for you and you realized that this was what you wanted to do?
OP: I honestly can’t recall one specific gig where things clicked for me. Maybe because I’ve been doing it for so long but also because things are still clicking for me after all these years and things still feel exciting. So that feeling is ongoing and present at every gig. Good or bad, I always find myself taking something meaningful away from it.
TK: Club Leisure recently celebrated its 21st anniversary. Firstly, congratulations on reaching that milestone! Secondly, I’m wondering what the impetus was to create Club Leisure? Why a night dedicated to Britpop?
OP: Thank you! When we started Popscene, we did so because we needed a place to hear the music we loved. We weren’t hearing Britpop, post-punk and Madchester at any bars and clubs we were frequenting, so we created a place to gather for the musically like-minded. 9 years later, we found that both Popscene and the times had changed, so it felt right to do a night that paid tribute to the music that we used to play when we started Popscene. We sort of paid tribute to ourselves!
TK: I know some people who DJ and they stick to a very rigid setlist that they have made before the show begins. Do you have that kind of approach, or do you prefer to be more fluid and let the audience and their reaction to the music dictate what you play?
OP: It depends on the gig. I personally prefer a more open-format, multi-variate approach to DJing. The juxtaposition of disparate genres and styles blended together is always thrilling. But if I’m opening for an artist, they and their audience dictate where the night goes. I like to plan ahead but I also have to be ready to pivot if the crowd isn’t engaged. There have been artists from the 80s who ask that no 80s music be played, while their audience is there to specifically hear 80s music, so that gets interesting.
TK: How do you feel about the debate of vinyl vs digital when it comes to DJing?
OP: I’ve been doing it long enough to have used both and I’m old enough to not care too much about it. As long as you’re into what you’re doing and you’re honest and dedicated to your craft, you can do it with any tool you like. Unless it’s AI. Don’t use AI.
TK: Have there been any favorite gigs that you’ve done in the past? Any horror stories that you’re at liberty to share?
OP: Opening for Grace Jones, OMD, Jesus and Mary Chain, and Duran Duran were dreams come true, even though Duranies can be a tough crowd. I had a major equipment breakdown in front of five thousand people whilst opening for Lana Del Rey. Fortunately, no one noticed but it was a pant-shittingly scary DJ set.
TK: You DJ at so many different kinds of events, from shoegaze and post-punk bands to John Waters’ dirty Christmas shows. How deep down does your knowledge of music go? And have you always had such a strong draw to music?
OP: I think it’s less about the knowledge you retain than it is about how insatiable your hunger is to discover and play music. DJing to me is as much about sharing my enthusiasm for the music as it is about sharing the music itself. I’ve listened to a lot of music over the years. My mom would let me pick out records to buy from a very early age so I have bought a lot of them over the decades and my knowledge runs pretty deep but my appreciation and enthusiasm run deeper.
TK: How do you feel about DJing at Substance Fest coming up? Are there any bands that are playing it that you’re most excited to see?
OP: Substance and Mosswood Meltdown are my two favorite festivals in the United States. Both are fiercely independent and curated with so much love and dedication. I’m very fortunate to have been asked to DJ Substance because it allows me the rare opportunity to cull from the past and fit it into the sound of the future. Blending new and classic artists that I don’t get to do anywhere else. This year’s line up is so insanely good, it’s impossible to choose who I’m most excited to see but TR/ST performing their first two records is absolutely insane. ADULT. and Xeno and Oaklander are always amazing. Getting to see Martin Dupont live in the states is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it is literally all happening in our city!
Tickets for Substance Fest can be purchased here
