Rising Stars: Meet Dylan Gormey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Gormey.

Hi Dylan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since picking up a tuba in 6th grade, music (especially the lower end of the spectrum) has been a passion. Raised on classic rock, but quickly expanding my tastes into heavy metal and rap/hip hop, my early adolescent years were influenced by a lot of intense music and mosh pits. First started attending local AZ raves in the mid/late 90s and fell in love with the environment, the people, and most importantly… the MUSIC!!! Purchased my first set of turntables in 2000 and started a lifelong journey with the love of mixing and the art of turntablism. Threw my first successful event in 2005 and have been continually involved with the music/arts community since. My most recent projects include putting the final touches on my own home recording studio and prepping to start building a new custom Paraflex sound system! I’m still mixing 20+ years later and now a resident DJ with Fraktured Phoenix and Creator/Co-Founder of Fx3 Productions LLC.

Exploring new avenues into the production of art, music, events, and stagecraft consumes most of my attention but my goal is now and will always be the same moving forward…… to help others however I am able, to be a light in the darkness of this world, to be a catalyst for positive change, and of course….to make you shake your booty on the dance floor!! Fx3 Productions’ mission is to make you feel like you’ve come to a place you know you belong, supported by like-minded hearts who wish to uplift you. We offer our experience and selves and always strive to create a magical environment where you can dance, sing, celebrate, express yourself, and live your best version of life as you are meant to. We work with harm reduction to offer safe spaces where one can journey with the community to transcend the dimensions of time & space with an out-of-this-world, unique, radical, audio, and visual experience.

Our purpose is the celebration, support, and advancement of Music, Arts, the R.A.V.E. & Festival Communities as well as the P.L.U.R. Culture

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Fantastic question and I appreciate you allowing me a platform to take some accountability… Unfortunately, in my 20’s I allowed my life to be sidetracked by meth addiction and it took me down a path that led to me making a series of horrible decisions that got me incarcerated in 2010. At that point, having nothing but time to sober up and reflect on how I had completely lost my way, it didn’t take long to recognize what was actually important to me… my FAMILY…my FRIENDS…and my FREEDOM. I spent roughly the next 6 years dedicated to taking every college class and certification I could through the prison system and reading any book I could get my hands on that had anything to do with music. I maintained a position as a clerk/tutor for the college and I also was sought out and recruited by COIII Tony DeLaTorre of ADC Douglas Complex to help facilitate and teach a cultural diversity course. I really felt like I was checking all the boxes. I convinced myself that my newfound sobriety and higher education were the only things I needed to be successful. Little did I know… I was released to parole in 2015 and only a few weeks later my grandmother passed away on Christmas Eve.

This event tore me up inside because I believe in my heart that she had been suffering for a long time and had only been “holding on” in order to see me back in the free world once again. Several days after her passing I found myself in a situation where I was face to face with someone who literally had sent my mother a text message several hours after my grandmother’s passed saying her death was “karma” and “that’s what she deserved”. I was beyond distraught and definitely had not mentally prepared for something like that, and in the crucial moment, I allowed my anger to get the best of me, putting me back in prison again. Shamefully, what I had failed to recognize before coming back into civil society, was the complex work I needed to do within myself to determine what was driving my inner turmoil. Once again finding myself in a cage pushed me to reassess my life and forced the realization that I needed to find emotional/spiritual maturity so I began to turn inward and read every religious, spiritual, philosophical, self-help text I could obtain and contemplate the type of changes I really needed to make for the success of my soul and not just my life.

The rest of my time incarcerated was dedicated to working through past traumas and digging into the causes of my toxic behaviors. Finding an outlet through poetry and songwriting in this time allowed me to process those unresolved issues and reach what I feel a much healthier and humble outlook. I’ve finally come to an understanding that we all are here to learn from each other, love one another, and that it is our responsibility to grow collectively and as individuals. Released in 2019 with this much better viewpoint about my place in this world and my purpose in it, I have now dedicated myself to making a positive difference and doing everything I can to offset the negative choices of my past. I believe the best way I can do this is through my passion for music, arts, and involvement in those surrounding communities. Coming up on 13 years (April 27) meth free, my main goal these days is to encourage, uplift, and support those around me to the best of my ability, also to hopefully inspire, or at the very least, to be a cautionary tale. My dream is to be able to enable and help as many others achieve their dreams as I possibly can before my time is up.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have many artistic passions including deejaying, emceeing, poetry, graffiti art, music, event, and stage production, but would have to say I’m most proficient behind a DJ controller or set of turntables. I do my very best to move my listeners both physically as well as emotionally when I step up to play a set. I love to share the music that has in some way moved me and always endeavor to introduce younger generations to all the amazing music that paved the way to where we are now. If you can catch me out playing, don’t be surprised to hear a song or two that will bring you back to a time in your life when things were probably much less complicated!

I specialize in Drum and Bass, Breakbeats, and Hip Hop but am capable of mixing all genres, I’m probably most known for my quick mixing style and ability to cut, slice, juggle, and blend my tracks together with meticulous precision. What I feel sets me apart as a DJ is that I get more fulfillment in having listeners tell me they were positively moved by the overall message of my set than impressed by the skill with which I mixed the songs together. Bringing joy to the hearts of others will always be more desirable to me than fame. Flat out, I’m most proud of the amazingly talented group of people I’ve managed to gather around me who I consider to be the blood and soul of Fx3 Productions, and feel honored to consider family. (Check us all out at Fx3ProductionsLLC.com) Without their love, support, guidance, help, and understanding my dream couldn’t be achieved. As a united front, these are the codes of conduct we as a collective have adopted and strive to maintain.

P.assion. A passion gives you a reason to keep learning and to work toward mastery. It gives you something in common with other people, and so fosters social bonds. It gives you purpose.

~Whatever you do, do it with passion. Halfway effort gets halfway results.~

L.oyalty. Faithfulness to commitments or obligations. faithful adherence to a cause.

~Resolve yourself to making a positive change in this world, then hold yourself accountable to this goal. Be honest and stay true to your word. This is being loyal to THE cause.~

U.nderstanding. Sympathetically aware of other people’s feelings; tolerant and forgiving. Having insight or good judgment.

~Be aware of how your actions affect others. Realize you reflect the Fx3 brand so seek to find solutions before conflict but don’t disregard your intuition and understand that some may only seek conflict. Avoid being drawn into toxic entanglements. Do your best to help others gain healthier perspectives of their behavior by setting a positive example.~

R.espect Due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others. Respect, also called esteem, is a positive feeling or action shown towards someone or something considered important or held in high esteem or regard. It conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities.

~Treat people with courtesy, politeness, and consideration. Respect yourselves and each other by being accountable and honest. Carry yourself in a manner that deserves respect.~

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
The personal library I managed to collect while having “time” to reflect on my mistakes is literally what became my foundation. While many books contain great information, I feel it’s important to be discerning in how said knowledge is integrated into your psyche.

Always apply reflection and introspection of any new knowledge to your personal experience so you might find understanding within and in turn, gain wisdom. Seek wisdom, not just information. Here are the books that started my search for wisdom. The Master Key System by Charles Haanel. The 4 Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

I also recommend the After Skool YT channel.

Pricing:

• DJ Bookings ~ $100 and up
• Sound/Light Packages ~ $200 and up
• Event Consult/Planning ~ Negotiable
• Custom Graff Art ~ $50 and up
• Mix/Master/Studio ~ Negotiable

Contact Info:

• Website: Fx3ProductionsLLC.com