DJ Medi4

Preferring to think of himself as a selector or even a programmer, DJ MEDI4 is unsure about the term "DJ." MEDI4 takes the often-sterile notion of the DJ and gives you something else entirely: an uplifting journey through 30-plus years of great music, free from the constraints of monotonous beats and tired sounds. Boundaries and rules aren't what he's about.

"Most clubs are set up so that only one kind of music is played. I think after a while, people get bored hearing the same kind of music over and over again," says MEDI4. "It's not showing much respect for your crowds. People are more receptive to different music, now more than ever. My goal is to be a positive influence on the event I'm playing at ­ regardless of what's on MTV and any given moment."

Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, MEDI4 began his lifelong obsession with music at a very early age. With the help of supportive and understanding parents, Medi4 asked for music rather than toys or candy for birthdays and holidays. "Mom decided records would cause less cavities than candy. Easter mornings, she would hide records from artists as diverse as the Average White Band, Barry White, the Eagles and Alice Cooper." The traditional Easter egg hunt now meant new tunes.

Faking his way into his first DJ gig at the age of 21 - a questionable biker bar in downtown Canton - Medi4 quickly learned the art of Djing, all the while, trying to work out new ways of incorporating his childhood influences. A move to Los Angeles in the late '90s started a whole new chapter and coincided with his switch to compact disc. Using the state of the art equipment and a music library of over 2,500 CD's, he began forging new path, at the same time honoring the music he loved as a child.

"There is no reason why you can't take a Folk Implosion record, a David Bowie record, a James Brown record and a Jurassic 5 record and put them all into the same 15-minute set," says Medi4 of his own eclectic approach. It's such a thrill when it works - like taking two points in time and bringing them together to create a brand new moment, a sound that no-one's ever thought of before."

Through his appearances at high profile A-list industry events for clients such as GQ, Polo, Miramax, Fred Segal, Bloomingdales, Disney and Paramount, he's honed his Djing skills to a point where DJ MEDI4 is making a name for himself on his own terms. He promotes under the umbrella of Moodswing Intertainment, a name that encapsulates his singular musical approach, applying his "30 years worth of music" mantra to events all over Los Angeles. With tunes that run the gamut from Aretha Franklin to Jazzanova, Issac Hayes to MJ Cole, MEDI4 likes to infuse his sets with a heavy emphasis on jazz, funk, deep house and just lately, darker progressive house. "The goal is to try and take the crowd on a round-the-world voyage - from the sweaty percussive vibe of Sao Paolo to New York's soulful dives, to the glitzy West End of London and back again," says MEDI4. "I try to make my sets as musically diverse as Los Angeles is culturally diverse."

Looking to the future, MEDI4 gets excited. "I'm anxious to apply my unique tastes to all areas, be it advertising, music supervision for film and television, publishing and of course, playing great tunes out for open minded crowds."

When asked for a musical role model, MEDI4's answer comes easily. "Being a DJ and watching Fatboy Slim work - I've never seen anyone have that much fun at work. He just looks so happy. And that's all we can ever ask, to revel in the pure joy of the music."