We couldn’t tell how pleased we are to welcome Julius "the Mad Thinker" here on IDMW.Com. Not only because we’ve ended up reaching each other at the very last call (those who know the problems we’ve had with our Internet links will understand…), but first and foremost because he’s one of the smartest guys and best DJ’s I’ve ever come to meet… An dit pretty much looks like I’m not the only one, judging by all the buzz currently made in his Chicago hometown around his weekly 3° Global Sessions at Zentra Nightclub alongside Monna & FLX…

Would you mind having a few words as an introduction who you are.
First, I'd like to say thank you for having me. My name is Julius. I'm a resident DJ, co-founder, and partner of 3degrees Global out of Chicago.  I've been playing records for the past 10 years, but was first introduced to house music in sixth grade. 1988 was the first time I was litterally intrigued by the music, but through the art of dance. I was a sophomore in high school when one day I walked by the auditorium and saw these two guys (Orphy Dejournette and Randy Outlaw) practicing dance moves on stage for an upcoming school talent show. I remember walking down the long isle totally drawn to the way their feet were moving. I sat down in a chair and watched them for the rest of the period. I'd seen similar dance steps, like what Michael Jackson was doing, but the music was totally different. I asked them what kind of music it was, and they replied with this prideful half smile, "deep house." I was like damn !  

In 1994, I got to a point where I was disagreeing with the selections of most DJ's.  I'd played around with the turntables enough to where my friends were telling me that I was successfully matching the beats when trying to mix.  That summer, I would bug my then roomate(DJ Beauty) to let me mix while he was at work.  One day he got sick of me asking and just said "if you really want to be a DJ, get your own shit".  I was crushed, nevertheless, I mentioned this conversation to my friend (Eric aka DJ Emmaculate of Aid to the SouLLess). Eric graciously lent me a second set of his turntables. I've been DJing since August of 1994

Where to find you.and your current environment in terms of local
scene/nightlife ?
Chicagoans can find me at 3degrees Ultra Lounge(@ Zentra nightclub / zentranightclub.com) every Wednesday in Chicago. 3degrees Ultra Lounge is a weekly event that is inspired by the concept of six degrees of separation ; the idea is that everyone in the world is connected by at most six different people. It is our belief that like-minded individuals are actually separated by three people. 3degrees Ultra Lounge was founded in October 1999, and now is known as the longest running "deep house" night in Chicago.

San Franciscans can find me at the 3degrees Foundation party at Pink nightclub (pinksf.com).  3degrees is coming up on the 3degrees San Fransico 5 year anniversary on May 20th.

Global heads can find my mixes at 3degreesglobal.com,

themadthinker.com, deephousepage.com, chicagogroove.com,

grooveparlor.com, undagroundarchives.com, and

chicagosoundsource.com.

Your heroes ?

All of my supporters, the members of 3degrees, Boo Williams, Paul Johnson, Frankie Knuckles, Joe Claussell, Louie Vega, John Davis, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Janes Addiction, and of course the man upstairs.

The ones you feel the closest to

My  family, my 3degrees Partners, Priti Gandhi, Monna Samuka, Felix Cuevas, Alex Gray, Ed Dunn, my fellow residents, Noah Raford, doubleo7, jojoflores, Chang, Chicago & San Francisco…

The way you work and your source of inspiration

I pretty much create a vision in my mind and then complete it as close to the picture in my head as possible. My source of inspiration comes from the idea and challenge of what's possible.

Your definition of a good piece of music…

Authentic music. Any piece of music that strikes a nerve or brings out emotion. My preference is any music that possesses soul!

Of a good nite…

As a DJ, a good night is when I am at one with the music. It's like a transformation from playing the music to being the music.

The way you'd like to be looked at

As a DJ, the passionate guy who plays the beautiful music. As a person, a visionary

Your current projects.

Just co-mixed the Some Call It House...We Call It Home 05 CD along with 3degrees Ultra resident DJ’s FLX & Monna.  The CD will be available April 1st @ 3degreesglobal.com and March 26th @ the opening party of the Some Call It House...We Call It Home 05 @ the Marlin Hotel, South Beach Miami, FL.

12' ‘Sunshine In The Pouring Rain’ will be released on West End Records (Summer/Fall 2005).

Beautiful Ones mixed CD compilation will be released on Ramp Recordings (UK) Fall/Winter 2005. I have another 3degrees CD that will be released  later 2005.

I'm also working with the independent hip hop record label Conglomerate. I play the role of  A&R, and work very close with MC phenomenon J.U.I.C.E & producer DJ Emmaculate.

There are too many 3degrees projects to mention. The biggest one would be helping create an interactive global web community for the members of 3degrees.  Second would be solidifying 2005 European dates for the Some Call It House...We Call It Home tour, continuing to develope 3degrees Foundation  events in NYC, Minneapolis, & Detroit.  Lastly, working on the very first 3degrees Global House Project in Puerto Rico (Tenative location) next year.

The way you see Miami and what you expect from it…

Miami is point blank, the extreme of the nightlife.  It's awsome for networking, promoting, vacationing, performing etc...  I expect to create mad publicity for 3degreesglobal.com, and to create demand for my DJ career.  Along the way, I get a chance to visit with my friends and supporters from all across the world.

Your perception of the current situation and the things which need to evolve

I believe with the recent emergence of the M3 Summit, WMC will look to improve every aspect of its existing structure. Having to similar conferences keeps each program honest and attentive. Overall, I believe having both conferences run simulteneously will generate more attendees.

Your best/worst souvenir

Best - memory of  the 2004 Some Call It House...We Call It Home tour opening party. Worst - in 2003, a memory of being dragged out of Goddess after someone stuck something in my drink.

Your aim

To become one of the most in demand entertainers (In any genere) in the world.

Your 3 favourite all time songs…

The first 3 that come to my mind : Believe - Lenny Kravitz, Jazzman - Lil Louis & Three Days - Jane's addiction

Catch Julius behind the decks today as a part of the 3 Degrees Opening Party  for… Some Call It House We Call It Home Tour @ the Marlin Hotel

More details on our diary section

I remember the very first time, I met Julius. It was exactly 2 years ago at the Miami 2003 Large Music party where I’d been invited to spin at sort of like the very last minute by label CEO Jeff Craven.

If you close your eyes, open your ears, open your mind, and let your body flow you will find yourself in a new plane previously unexplored. Seamlessly blended tracks vibrate your spine while soothing your soul. Julius builds you up gradually through loops of energy bursts and just when you reach your climax he drops you back to a lounge state awaiting the next climb to the peak.

Many people call the music house; "the Mad Thinker" makes it home. In these modern times of separation among house music,  "the Mad Thinker" seems to take the contemporary underground tracks to a level that even satisfies the old school purist. At the same time, he lures the fanatic deeper into the vibe. After all, a DJ's job is to lead the listener into a different zone by allowing him to escape from anything rigid to the point that the listener goes home the next morning 100% cleansed of anxiety.  "the Mad Thinker" will take this job on and complete it.

Through his 10 years of blessing the turntables,  "tMT" has played along side dj's such as, Frankie Knuckles, Joe Claussell, Ron Trent, Marques Wyatt, jojoflores,  Miguel Migs, Roy Davis jr., Derrick Carter, Diz, Alexi Delano, Mark Grant, Derrick May, Gemini, DJ Rasoul, and Stacy Kid to name a few.  For those who frequent the Internet,  "tMT" can be heard on web sites such as deephousepage.com, Undagroundarchives.com, chicagogroove.com, 246.com, sunday-sessions.com, grooveparlor.com and www.gottahavehouse.com.  

In addition to providing the entertainment, Julius is also a co-founder and Partner of 3° Global.  If you're not familiar, 3° Global is the organization known for creating Chicago's infamous 3° Ultra Lounge, the members-only, weekly event based upon the commonalities of mutual friends. As of recent,  "the Mad Thinker" has been relentless in developing his newest creation, production team, 'aid to the souLLess'.  'aid to the souLLess', food for the soulful(silent), is made up of the trio DJ Emmaculate, whom  "tMT" refers to as  "kid genius",  DJ FLX, fellow 3°Ultra resident dj, and  "the Mad Thinker" himself.  The theory behind the production team is that everyone possesses soul, some possess more than others, nevertheless; the music provided by 'aid to the soulless" will reach the soul, and once the soul is reached, music previously listened to just doesn't sound the same.  As for people who possess much soul, or  "the soulful", the music provided by 'aid to the souLLes' will take them wherever they would like it to! Overall,  "the Mad Thinker" approaches every endeavor strictly from his heart.  

He patiently waits for the day that he is able to play records in all seven continents ensuring that house music with soul is a universal language.

"tMT's" residencies:

Wednesdays - Chicago - 3° Global's 3° Ultra Lounge @ Zentra

3rd Fridays - San Francisco - 3º Foundation Party @ Pink

Look out for future 'aid to the souLLess' releases:

"Words of 3° anthem" Featuring Amanda & Reality - Unreleased - written
by Reality &  "the Mad Thinker"

"Sunshine in the Pouring Rain" featuring Latrice Barnett - Unreleased -
written by DJ Emmaculate & Latrice Barnett

"Patience" - Unreleased - written by  "the Mad Thinker"

"Our Dreams" featuring Erro - Unreleased - written by DJ Emmaculate

"Broken Beats for Broken Hearts" - Unreleased - written by DJ
Emmaculate &  "the Mad Thinker"

Monna grew up with house music. His DJ sets and production work reflect both his progressive thought and his coming of age while House music was evolving from Chicago's disco scene. His sets resonate with the same feelings he felt while listening to pioneering DJ such as Ron Hardy, The Hot Mix 5, and Frankie Knuckles. However, Monna has taken his sets a step further through his record selection. His style of house music fuses old school energy with futuristic ideals creating intoxicating sound scapes grounded by rugged, melodies that grab your heart. In the early 90's Monna began his career with such DJ's as Sneak, Derrick Carter, Mark Farina, Diz, and Ron Trent. His skills soon earned him residencies at every major spot in Chicago. By the mid-nineties he was making regular trips to Winnipeg, Manitoba while maintaining his place in Chicago's underground scene. As the 90's came to a close, Monna joined with Chicago's DJs "the Mad Thinker" and Jeremiah Seraphine to form 3°, a Chicago member-based organization dedicated to house music and its culture. As a 3° resident DJ Monna gained a weekly spot at the 3° Ultra Lounge in Chicago and a monthly residency at the 3° Foundation Party in San Francisco.Currently, Monna plays every Wednesday in Chicago, once a month in San Francisco and a regular 88.1 WCRX in Chicago. Monna has a release coming out on Four Play Music (catalog number 006) in the winter of 2003, as well as a release on Big Popsicle recordings with long-time friend and accomplished DJ Russell Vargas from San Francisco. Look for more releases by these poised artists in the future. Monna is ready for the next step in his career, globalization. In his words, "I want the world to listen."