Photo by Amy I. Hill
“Believe it or not, I’m walking on air” soars the theme from vintage TV series “Greatest American Hero” and DJ Flounder’s Uncle Sam Jam opening set is launched. Into the night he spins and scratches, the sea of revelers churning to a dazzling spectrum of dancefloor hits and Flounder’s own magical signature cross-genre mash ups.
Mash ups — exotic fusions where nu metal rap band Linkin Park might mix it up with Colombian pop star Shakira, or American Idol Kelly Clarkson might wail with classic rockers Led Zeppelin — are Flounder’s specialty whether mixing on the fly or on his Saturday night shows on DC101.
Genial and humble, Flounder aka Bryan Schlossberg is a Montgomery County native whose passions for music and radio forged a unique career trajectory.
“I grew up listening to Top 40 and oldies on Q107 and WAVA. I just loved radio. When I was six I’d do the fake radio thing in my bedroom. Around 4th grade, my neighbor taught me how to use a mixer and I started making mixtapes.
“My first deejay gig, a friend’s party in 8th grade, I used CD players and a tapedeck. I borrowed my dad’s stereo speakers. It was a disaster,” he laughs, “but I made 75 bucks. I was really happy.”
From age 14 he deejayed school events and parties, teaching himself to beatmatch, but “pretty shy” in high school, he’d bring a friend to talk on the mic.
“I always called radio stations and tried to get in. They said you have to be in college, but I scanned the dial and studied every radio station. I knew every deejay and what their production sounded like on the air. Geeky stuff, but it helped get my career in radio going.”
He did a stint at Thomas S. Wootton High School but, “I never really got the school thing so I just started working and deejaying and eventually got my GED.” He planned to study radio at community college but in the summer of 1999, “I read about a Z100 (New York) deejay coming to DC101, a station I grew up on. I clicked on a link on their Web site to apply for an internship. That’s how I got my interview to intern for Elliot in the Morning.”
“From the day Flounder started,” says the infamous radio deejay Elliot (Segal) who nicknamed Flounder after an Animal House movie character, “he’s been a very loyal and dedicated employee. He’s really found his niche in production.”
Now as DC101 creative services director, Flounder uses his audio production skills creating station promos and mash ups of artists who visit the station. “When Timbaland came through he said ‘nice collage.’ Duran Duran gave me an autographed photo that said ‘This guy’s the best’ — not true, but cool.”
Fusing songs by different artists is an intuitive process. “Sometimes it’s a trainwreck, but when it works it’s the best feeling.” His first mash up wedded Eminem with Korn -– “a fluke.” But his second, Wang Chung with Vanilla Ice, “was the first I was really proud of.”
“I was always a fan of white label remixes, bootleg blends, samples. About six years ago as these started bubbling out more into clubs, DC101’s then program director said ‘Hey, this is becoming a thing and it’s totally up your alley.’ With Elliot’s blessing, that’s how I got the show.”
“It’s done well since it started,” says Elliot, whom Flounder regards as a mentor.
Flounder pays forward Elliot’s support with newer interns including Raquel Rexach, who works for Flounder’s FM Entertainment Group. Rexach says, “I admire Flounder’s proficiency with music programs. Personally I’m inspired by Flounder’s perseverance and determination to be the best deejay and businessman he can be.”
Flounder added “DJ” to his moniker last year after the death of DJ AM whose career had a profound impact. “Studying AM and listening to his mixtapes — he was a party-rocking mash up deejay, exactly what I wanted to be. I loved the way he scratched and mixed.” Other producers/deejays Flounder has been influenced by include Z-Trip, Qbert, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Fatboy Slim, and DJ Enferno.
Memorable gigs include an Inauguration party for President Obama at the 9:30 Club, an MTV concert at Merriweather Post Pavillion, and DC101 special events.
“I’m very lucky to get to do what I love. My parents — very supportive when I was struggling through high school — are thrilled.
“When the crowd is moving to your beat, totally into it, and you could cut the sound off and they’ll be singing along – it’s the greatest feeling in the world. There’s no way to describe it.”
Listen to Flounder’s Mash Ups on Saturday nights from 10 p.m. to midnight, and Elliot in the Morning (Monday to Friday, 5:48 to 10 a.m.) on DC101 (WWDC-FM and www.dc101.com). www.djflounder.com
Although I live in texas, Flounder is the best! Of course, what do you expect his Aunt to say. Proud of you Bryan!
I started listening to Flounder’s Mashups on DC101 just after it started. I would just drive around listening every Sat. night and then I started to bring friends along too. I still listen every week but now I listen online. Keep it up.