Mr. Numberonederful, aka Leonard Croskey, currently has residencies at Mimosa Mix at the Mar Vista, Venice Beats at James’ Beach, Canal Club, and the Mar Vista Farmers Market on Sundays. He’s clearly in-demand, and that’s because the likeable EDM DJ has the gift of being able to spin for any crowd who simply want to party. He also has a “onederful” DJ name, so we had a chat about what he has coming up
BLUE PACIFIC NEWS: WHEN DID YOU START CREATING MUSIC, DJING, AND WHEN DID YOU START TAKING IT SERIOUSLY?
Mr. Numberonederful: I started DJing and producing in 1983. And have been taking it seriously ever since. I started producing for local talent and DJing and rapping at neighborhood house parties, which led to a record deal on Profile Records, the same label as RUN DMC. Later on I produced a hip-hopera project called Ill:ogical SRL. That was my final production project, and I continued as a DJ.
WHO ARE YOUR MAIN INFLUENCES?
My main influences were Grand Master Flash, because he had such a cool style of DJing. Afrika Bambata, because he understood a good record, no matter the genre. My new school influence is DJ Z Trip. He is the inventor of the mash-up. And his live sets are unique in how he combines hip-hop with any genre of music.
DESCRIBE YOUR OWN STYLE…
I consider myself a jump-up DJ. Back east, a jump-up DJ was someone who selected music to make you want to dance. Whether it be in the park, a block party or house party. Because of my influences, I’ve learned how to put together a set of music of old and new songs that work well together to get the party cracking. I love mash-ups, remixes, and covers of pop music.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LOCAL SCENE?
Right now, I live in Mar Vista. A lot of my gigs are there and in Venice. Not much of a scene, because there aren’t many places to dance out here. Lots of DJ’s and no dance floors.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST GIG TO DATE? AND WORST?
Best gig – I rocked a party in Istanbul, Turkey with only 12 records for an hour. My band, Bitter:sweet was performing in Istanbul, the DJ that was supposed to go on after us was being a prima donna, and they asked me if I wanted to DJ. I only brought performance records, but I happened to have 12 compilation records. Unprepared I rocked the party for an hour with these 12 records.
Worst gig – I DJ’d at World on Wheels, a skating rink. The skaters were old school, and were used to original soul music, so I brought remixes of soul music to change it up, and they hated it. The gig was so bad, I didn’t want to accept the money for it. But the promoter paid me anyway and said it was worth a try because he was tired of the music they played there. So I guess I was a guinea-pig.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ALBUMS / MIXTAPE AVAILABLE?
With my opera project, Ill:ogical SRL, “The Outermost” is available on Spotify and on CD. I also have DJ mixes on Soundcloud.
HOW DID YOU GET HOOKED UP WITH THE MAR VISTA GIG?
My friend Demetrios Mavromichalis, owner of the Grind coffee shop and the Wood restaurant in Mar Vista, asked me to DJ his new restaurant, the Mar Vista.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE SETS?
I’m a big fan of KCRW, so like KCRW I try to create mixes that are different but always interesting with some pop thrown in.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED GOING FORWARD? WHERE ELSE DO YOU SPIN?
My old band Bitter:sweet is getting back together and I hope that project will take off and I’ll be starting a residency at Canal Club once their dancing permits are in order.
