“My first introduction to records happened when I was around 13.”
“My family had just moved to Germany for the second time. My father worked during the week, but on the weekends he would open up the windows and crank his analog hi-fi, playing records by The Stones, Zeppelin, and Bowie. I didn’t realize it at the time but that had such a profound impact and would forever shape my musical development.
From there the next biggest influence would occur when I was in middle school. It was the middle of eighth grade and my best friend had an older sister who was just the coolest. She was my first exposure to alternative culture. Through her, she would expose us to The Pixies, R.E.M., Ramones, NIN, B-52’s, The Cure, The Smiths, Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Dead Milkmen, The Chili Peppers etc. Basically anything that was indie, punk, goth, or alternative at the time.
Living in Hollywood I’m literally just minutes away from the world’s greatest record store—Amoeba Music. This place is utterly massive and I’m so fortunate to live in such close proximity. It’s basically an entire record store the size of a Target. With a second level even.
I’ve spent countless hours—and dollars—browsing through their endless collection of every conceivable genre. For those rare, out of print or hard to find records, there are smaller, specialty shops in LA that usually do the trick such as Cosmic Vinyl, Freakbeat, or Pacific Beach Vinyl.”
—William Reed
William Reed was voted “Best DJ” in a poll of LA Weekly’s readers for 2017 with residencies at The Standard, Ace Hotel, W Hotel Los Angeles, and Skybar at the Mondrian Hotel. He also hosts the global online music show Balcony TV, as well as Beat Connection, a radio show on Dash Radio, alongside Snoop Dogg.
