Meet Byron Marquez | DJ & Nurse

We had the good fortune of connecting with Byron Marquez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Byron, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Being in love. My art has always been motivated by the way my heart feels. Some of the artwork in my releases share feminine imagery and that would absolutely be inspired by feelings, experiences, good and bad with lovers. Balancing creating art and cultivating a loving environment. Life has so much going on, If I’m not creating, I feel unhappy but also its important to “grow flowers”. I believe it’s important to be able to learn the patience it takes to nurture your surroundings. It could be in the form of your social network to the actual flowers/animals that live around your house. Harmonizing with my surroundings makes me happy in conjunction with being able to have time to freely create art. I know some people really get used to being able to function under pressure. That is definitely a great survival skill, I do believe its important to make home a peaceful place so you can find yourself. My home makes me happy, and making music with my friends. Nothing beats that for me at the moment.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I kind of have a lengthy backstory that progresses through a spectrum of musical endeavors. It all starts in 2005 with me joining a Death-metalcore band called The Nauseating Stab as the Lead guitarist. I would be circle headbanging and doing sweep picking solos on stage. This would be where I found my charisma for being on stage with how much energy and power death metal concerts can conjure. One occasion we were moved to a main stage where Suicide Silence, Walls of Jericho, and A Life Once lost were also playing that day at the Galaxy Theater (Now the Observatory). We played just about every venue there was at the time from the Knitting Factory(Murderfest 2008 with Napalm Death, Ghoul, and Cattle Decapitation), to the Showcase theater, Chain Reaction, The Whiskey, and various underground or pop up locations. Since then, I didn’t fit in with my band mates because I was the only one in school at the time and our motivations were different. People always told me that I was capable of breaking off and making something more focused. Unfortunately those days ended as the band broke around 2010-2011
(This was all a different time of the internet, some photos are lost and some found in old photobucket accounts. The band has an entry in Encyclopedia Metallium and from time to time I actually get a message from an old metalhead wondering if we are gonna ever do the band again. Hopefully some day.) I learned from this experience that you have to strike while the iron is hot, and you have to surround yourself with people that have a healthier mindset. There was a lot of self destructive thinking in those early years, I wish we would have held it together and practiced my guitar playing a lot more.

I would discover raving and became a promoter for Motive events, based around the Hudson and the Pharaohs lost kingdom. There I discovered the motivation behind creating dance music that really moved me. At that time acts like Justice and The bloody beetroots were huge for me as it was Rock adjacent. this is where my production lessons at home really began. I’d join a Hip Hop band called The Rebellion through my friend David Palmer who worked with Motive events. It would be an 8 piece band and id fulfill lead duties again. We were in the “I don’t know where to put this” category of Nu-metal/hiphop and were very divisive amongst my friends as it would be a mix of Hip hop beats, Metal guitars, 2 rappers and 1 screamer vocalist. We put out a full length Album called The Gate 11:11 having very loose themes of enlightenment, conspiracy, Magick, and silly hip hop tropes. We even were being represented by Joe Jackson at one point oddly enough. This band challenged me to try an open minded take to my talents. I learned a lot more about my musicality with the guitar in this project and how playing an instrument alongside such a large ensemble can open up interesting techniques. For instance guitar pedals and playing guitar along a backing track properly. I started feeling more like my identity as a “rocker” was realized even if the music wasn’t the same as before.

Years would go on and the band shrunk, into another band called H.I.T.M. doing simlar music and recently featured on a Catatonic youths post as a parody. We were very DIY but always were recording. We would manage to play some bigger venues including the Viper room and various wrestling events with bands. It would be in this period that I would break my left arm horsing around with my friends. Unknowingly ending my live guitar days. Id learn to DJ from DJ Seanchez in my band H.I.T.M. playing hip hop and party music at bars, pop ups, even a few clothing stores.

2013 i finally start to take DJing seriously for clubs and raves starting from throwing our own parties under Enter The Void events (with Dylan Coss), to being a part of the roots for Space Taco House Tuesdays in Pomona. (This is where I would eventually meet my very talented wife Sam Sapphire). Space Taco really is amazing because in Pomona, we had the club to get dressed up and go dancing to. Seeing photos every week. Making memories and meeting new people. It was so great to see the community get together to DANCE and seeing the Bboys get down in the dance cirlces. I would go on to Dj residentially in Pomona as well as sell tickets playing at The Avalon Hollywood, Union/Catch One, Exchange LA (alongside acts like Paul Van Dyk, Junkie Kid, Sweettooth, Osyris, Techno Tupac, Jeremih, Lupe Fuentes, Brandon Elliot, DJ Irene, Swedish Egil, Disco Fries, The Cool Cats, JayR, Leisan, Nightcrawler, etc), as well as other underground spots in LA though to the inland empire with collectives like Retrospekt and Off The Grid in the desert as well as other various desert parties. Self publishing music for now with beats that are of more Trance, electro, and minimal progressive house elements available on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. Now more recently playing mainstage at the Fox Theater with Space Taco for our 10 year anniversary party(Mikey Lion and Sacha Robotti headlining). I alongside Sam Sapphire used to host DNB events called Dark events at The Neon Bear brewery in Pomona, we would showcase underground artists and genres from alternative to LGBTQ representation. We also would mostly highlight having dancing performers with fire and vendors. In 2020 I would begin to pivot my musical focus to more melodic and aggressive genres like DNB and Color Bass with my “Byronic” project. Music inspired by anime, and video game music. Also self published, “Equilibrium”, “Big Mood” and more are now up on Spotify, Youtube music, amazon, etc and have support buy acts like RYSE above all, Huski, Vial, KAALI, and the Bassrealm collective. Biggest achievement of the project would be playing the Off The Grid festival in the desert. Now my focus has gone to a new event we are starting called Common Love with my buddy Jon Rocha where I would handle and run the stage lighting for the production. The intention is to create a safe space for Pomona and the LGBTQ+ crowd as an extension of the Space Taco family, an outlet for House, techno and Disco in our community hosted by us.

Learning to be active as a DJ is mentally exhausting sometimes and it begins at such an irresponsible part of your life, your early 20s! Algorithms change, waves of people change, they have families, friends die. I lost my father in 2017 and that really knocked me off my stride to say the least. I remember playing mainstage at We Love Kandy the week after he passed and just trying to hold it together was very taxing. Now about 13 Years I’ve been a DJ in LA playing music from my friends and my own self produced music. I’ve learned that there is really no right answer to fix your problems. Sometimes your problems are your lessons you are currently learning and you will have to do it scared to break through. I had to learn how to love myself and it takes so long some times to really get what that means. You cant please everyone, make sure you are taking care of yourself first. When it comes to writing music, KISS, Keep It Simple Stupid! I try to remember a David Bowie quote about “never play to the gallery”, because when they book you, they want you to be YOU. Be undeniable in your presentation. I still deal with that one when I play certain parties. Sell yourself first, as an artist, and then you will gravitate towards a network that appreciates you for being you!

In order to maintain any of this, i have been a Licensed Vocational Nurse since 2009. Graduated from Summit Career College. I maintain about 40-48 hours a week in this job to help pay the bills and pay for gear. Caregiving really is my whole day, which makes the music a great split world of escape for me. It is a lot, which is why it is really so important to have a heathy life, healthy circle, lead with love and learn to love yourself.

My brand, my story, I am about activation. We can tend to walk around like ants every day. If you put out positivity, energy with positive intent, it ripples back. If you are smiling, dancing in line for a drink, then the people behind you remember they can smile and dance too. I love conjuring the feeling of letting go to the music. My music is all about energy and deep feelings. My trademark really is love and smiles if I had to say I had one. There’s something about seeing a long haired dude having a really good time that makes others want to do the same. For example, Steve Aoki, Andrew WK, etc.

You should cherish the present, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. In hindsight, you could always think about how you could have made something easier, or done something better. Be more honest with yourself and live authentically. Your path, your own path will really lead you forward when you are genuine to your self. This could be in your art, your presentation, your relations. Its best to learn how to be a good communicator. It could be the glue that holds your house, family, or even band together
I want the world to know that love wins in the end. The world could use more dancing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would be so excited to go to Little Corona Del Mar early morning when the tide is low to see all of the creatures in the water. I live in Pomona so I would make sure to go to every one of our favorite spots like The Rookery for beers and gastropub food like wings/mac. The Hen & Heffer for a burger thatll put anyone to sleep. The V lounge for their cocktail happy hour. Downtown Pomona itself is a really great time especially during artwalk with all of the galleries and performances in the street. Maybe take a look at Zoinks for some records.

Definitely have to catch a drag show at The Precinct at any party hosted by Felony Dodger as well as any other of the earlier hour shows during the week. The after hours scene in the area is so constant yet unpredictable, there would always be something happening as long as you look. Parties by FRAMED, LA Raver, Lick n Dip, Warehouse99, or even Insomniac.
Shout out Hamburger Mary’s in Ontario, best staff ever. On Tuesday we would hit Space Taco House Tuesdays for their unmatched vibe and shuffle around with some tacos n friends. The club is a fixture in Pomona and is “the place where everybody knows your name” for us. Hit the Knucklehead in LA for a metal/wrestling show and tip Linda the bartender extra because she is the homie for life. You should do the same. I would be on the lookout for LAs multiple variety shows like LAs #1 show Scot Nery’s Boobytrap. Also the same for The Secret Circus as they have quite an awesome variety of themed shows with cirque to burlesque talent. The Sassafras saloon is such an awesome place to hang out. We could head over to any of the many parties thrown by these amazing collectives out here like Thicc Freaqness, Space yacht, Bass n Babes, System Error, B side, Secret Service, Casa Sucia, Vibe Junkies, THERES LITERALLY ALWAYS someone throwing something somewhere and we would be welcome there. The goal is to do something so silly, and outlandish that you genuinely couldn’t find that same experience somewhere else. Its very special knowing so many creative minds here in Southern California that have lead me to be around so many fun events.

Diamond bar, my hometown would be the best for hikes as it would be the least crowded in the morning. There’s a spot I know of that when you get to the top, you can see the water at Long Beach, the buildings at LA, the mountains north of you, and the flat lands of the inland empire. then you look south and see the gorgeous rolling green hills of Chino. It is crazy to see that we live where you can see that many types of geography yet on the ground it doesn’t even feel like it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Id like to thank my parents for teaching me to be diligent as a caregiver/nurse. I must thank my peers from all of my musical endeavors and all of their supporters. I have been very lucky to be surrounded by like minds wherever I have been. Thank you Myspace for getting my first band started which led me to play alongside some very big acts. Thank you to my friends from my Hip Hop band days who always also believed in me. If it wasn’t for the DJ of the band, DJ Seanchez, I wouldn’t have started off the same way. Thankful for friends like Dylan Coss and Daryl (Seek-One) for really getting my feet on the ground with my local area as a DJ and staying motivated to stay competitive growing the Space Taco family in Pomona. Thank you to Marvin Street with Mayhem events for getting my mentality right and putting me on some of the biggest stages in LA I’ve ever been on that early in the game. Really taught me how to earn it. Thank you to Space Taco House Tuesdays for being my house music home in Pomona, we’ve been keeping the scene alive there now for 10 years and still going. Thank you to my beautiful wife Sam Sapphire for introducing me into the Insomniac family and believing in me, as well as being my partner in production for our series of “Dark Events”. Thank you to Scott and Mary of Camp Lip Bomb for showing me the burn and having me play the craziest once in a life time B2B set with Gabriel & Dresden. Thank you Ms. EZ and staff of Insomniac for believing in me, taking me to places i never dreamed of going and walking tall as a leader in management. Most of all thank you to every single person who checks in, listens to my music, goes to my shows, watches my posts, and interacts with me these last almost 18+ years of music online.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byronicscott

Twitter: https://x.com/djbyronscott

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/byron_scott

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byron.s.marquez

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@byronicmusic?si=JtfJ3OjTiWTEHny8

Other: https://byronscott.bandcamp.com/ a bit outdated

Image Credits
Ishmail “Namik” Bryan Matthew Ishfauxtogrophy Spawnzone