Focus OC | Kaskade | Josh Billings
All the rumors were laid to rest last Tuesday as Focus OC’s 10 year anniversary was finally underway. The 300 person venue was filled with lucky patrons anxious to see if all the hype would result in an unforgettable night or the biggest let down of the new decade…debatably, of course. With all the talk surrounding the possibility of Kaskade playing a ridiculously intimate show in Orange County, I thought it could only go so many ways. My worry was that the place was going to be uncomfortably packed with bandwagoners who overpaid on scalped tickets. Josh Billings, Focus OC’s head honcho, fortunately had the answer.
With each ticket being attained through an in-person purchase and individual assignment, every attendant earned their place. A feeling of achievement rushed through the crowd when everyone’s trust in Focus paid off with Kaskade taking the decks. There was almost too much room! That place heated up like a sauna from everyone keeping the energy high. Kaskade didn’t make it any easier to keep cool. He had us all grooving through his two hour set; packed with his decade old classics and some of the hottest deep house tracks of today. I have never been to a show of stadium selling caliber at such an intimate spot. The vibes were just as powerful. I had a chance to talk to Josh about his accomplishment on the monumental night. Check their 10 year anniversary mix and the interview after the jump!
Ticket holders! If you saved your ticket you can go for FREE to part 2 of their 10 year anniversary with an exclusive set from Focus’s own DJs (Josh Billings, Wobs, & Nonfiction) this Tuesday!
Focus DJ’s 10 Year Anniversary Live Opening Set (Right Click > Save As)
[audio:http://liveatfocus.com/mp3s/Focus-DJs-Live-At-Focus-6-4-13.mp3]
How did you keep such a tight lid on everything? From yourself to your coworkers to Kaskade? How did you choose the little hints?
Well only a few people knew about it…and those people knew that I would kill them if they spilled the beans :) We dropped a few hints like using similar colors from some of his album artwork, and we posted a picture of sandals (He wears sandals to his gigs a lot). The tickets were the biggest hint. We did the wood grain from the “It’s you it’s me” album on the front of the ticket. Ultimately, the cat was out of the bag once Kaskade started retweeting my stuff about the anniversary.
What was the hardest part about making it 10 years? Biggest triumph or best memory that comes to mind? Biggest mistake or failure that you learned from?
I guess making no money / losing money. Not that I’m looking to get rich, but it takes a lot of time to do what we do at Focus every week. From booking the events, flights, hotels and dinners to the promoting setup / tear down, etc. Just a lot to it more than showing up on Tuesday nights for a few hours. Biggest triumph…well I guess last Tuesday was pretty huge and something that I’ll look back on as one of the biggest things we’ve done. I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years, but I guess one lesson learned that I find valuable is that you don’t need to accept everything that comes your way. Wait for the right opportunities, and ultimately you’ll thank yourself.
What are some of the major changes you’ve noticed in the scene since you started?
I guess that the genre we’ve been doing for 10 years is finally becoming popular in the main stream. I mean 3 years ago the rave scene was blowing up, and I think now those people need something with a bit more substance than fist pumping screechy noises.
What made you want to start throwing parties as opposed to djing and making music exclusively?
I wanted to create something that I wanted to experience personally. So in that respect Focus is kind of a selfish thing. Though I’ve found a lot of people share the same visions that I do and enjoy what I enjoy. It’s definitely different than the norm since we don’t do bottle service, let girls in for free or do any kind of VIP treatment for anybody. As far as making music, that came a little after starting Focus and learning a few things. I’m trying to create things I want to hear and play that don’t exist yet.
Through this whole run, you’ve pretty much made Tapas your second home. What about it made you want to stick with them for so long and not move to LA or SD which is better known for their club events than OC?
Tapas has a charm to it that I really like. The drink prices are fair, it’s a little dusty and it’s not quite perfect…but that’s what I love about the place. The staff is really great and have stuck with us through thick and thin. We’re looking to do more events outside of Orange County, but for now we’re sticking with our little (or not so little anymore) Tuesday home.
What goals do you have set for growing and getting better the next 10 years?
We’re looking to expand to more areas along the West Coast; bringing the Focus sound to people outside of Orange County. I’d like to spend some time on myself as an artist and embrace the production side of things a bit more (I have a few releases in the pipeline that I’m excited about). Focus as a whole though will keep doing what it’s been doing and will embrace opportunities that fit us appropriately.
