Published in the October 2009 Issue of DJ Times Magazine
Volume 22 - Number 9
By Jim Tremayne

Atlantic City, N.J.— In late Summer 2009, a slew of DJs reacted to the death of Michael Jackson with a flurry of tributes. Mobiles, bar jocks and global DJs like Danny Tenaglia chimed in with their various takes on The King of Pop’s lasting musical legacy. It was predictable, if only because it was so heartfelt.

Back up a year to the DJ Expo’s Promo Only/Pioneer party in Atlantic City and Brett Belcastro (aka DJ 2nd Nature) honored a rather different muse: actor/comic Bernie Mac, who had passed three days prior.

The difference? It’s the effort put into such an endeavor. Sure, you can make your MJ mashups and mixes, and dazzle with taste and studio chops. But Belcastro’s task was taller. On relatively short notice, he found, cut and remixed (for sound and vision) engaging Bernie Mac bits and re-imagined them in an entertaining, coherent and beat-friendly package. Wistful, sweet and immediate, it was a this-is-now, pop-culture moment that only video can truly deliver. The tribute lasted just a couple minutes, but for the professional DJs in House of Blues that night, the effort did not go unnoticed.

But 2nd Nature’s career has always been like that. Even as a teenager, he was snaring attention by winning DJ battles and mix-offs. I remember seeing him in Atlanta in the early ’90s, competing in the Dixie Dance Kings’ spin-offs, doing dazzling work on turntables against top Southeastern spinners 10 to 15 years his senior. I recall thinking, “Who is this kid?”

Now 33, 2nd Nature has consolidated his old-school DJ skills with his passion for all things visual to make himself one of America’s great video mixers and artists. After another blazing effort at the International DJ Expo this past August, we caught up with the Atlanta-based Brett Belcastro—DJ 2nd Nature—to talk video, music and his career path.

DJ Times: How long have you been DJing?

2nd Nature: Since 1991. My pops was a DJ back in the day, and gave me all his wax, bought me a mixer and some 1200s, and that was my start.

DJ Times: When you got started DJing, what DJs impressed or inspired you to do it? What music did your dad play?

2nd Nature: DJ Magic Mike was my idol. I practiced all his cuts, bit by bit trying to learn them. I used to love doing that. My dad approached Mike at a show and said, “You are going to teach my son how to DJ.” The next thing I know, I’m doing a show with Mike at 17-years old. I’ve always looked up to Mike, and what’s great is we have become very close friends since those early days. Pops was spinning back in the ’70 and ’80s, so he was funked out with some Ohio Players, The Jets, and, of course, Parliament. 

DJ Times: Did you watch turntablists? If so, who impressed you and why?

2nd Nature: Yes. I was definitely into turntablism. I loved QBert like everyone, but I’ve never aspired to be a turntablist or compete in DMC competitions. I have always been more focused on production, and playing what I produced for crowds.

DJ Times: I remember you, as a teenager, competing in various DJ battles with the Dixie Dance Kings record pool in Atlanta. What did you take from that period?

2nd Nature: I remember them, too, very well—great memories! I remember competing at 15 years old when all the other DJs where mid-20s and up, and being super intimidated. The great part about those years was creating relationships with so many great people and DJs, they took me under their wings and helped to propel me forward. Those where learning-experience years, for sure. To this day, I use the turntable techniques and creative set skills I learned back then for current club sets and corporate performances.  

DJ Times: How did you get the name 2nd Nature?

2nd Nature: I was having a chat with my buddy Ian and was talking about needing a new name. I mentioned that DJing was like “second nature to me,” and it stuck.

DJ Times: How long have you been using video?

2nd Nature: I’ve been editing video since 1994. I graduated from SCAD/Savannah College of Art and Design with a film degree in 1999, and DJing with video since 2004.

DJ Times: What’s your day like?

2nd Nature: My day consists of overseeing the daily operations of Second Nature Collective, which include several divisions of development such as event production and media content design, new music and remix work and, of course, my DJ gigs. Second Nature Collective involves a team of individuals that I collaborate with on a daily basis via video teleconferencing and real-time access to the team’s computer systems. I spend my evenings working on audio and video remixes and edits and whatever client projects that are pending for Second Nature Collective, which may also include sound designing, song mixing and video editing.

DJ Times: You’ve been coming to our DJ Expo for a long time. What do you get out of it?

2nd Nature: My first Expo was 1997, I think. I love actually being around people and DJs, face-to-face—that’s the best part about the Expo. So much business is done now over the computer and phone, just transferring files and stuff like that. So getting to reconnect with old colleagues, and meet the DJs I’ve been in touch with over email or Twitter, is always great.

DJ Times: I always enjoy your sets at the Promo Only parties. What went into it this year?

2nd Nature: Thanks so much, I love putting them together. This year’s set I was focused on showing off my video editing skills more than my DJ skills. I always try to dig up some movie or funny clips to use. I try not to over-do the funny movie clip thing, and frankly I’m kind tired of it. At the moment, I’m more focused on cool visuals cut finely to the beat—anything to push the envelope.

DJ Times: What’s your favorite song to play when you’re DJing?

2nd Nature: Oh man, that’s a hard one. I really can’t think of a favorite, but I love sneaking in some ’80s R&B whenever I can. 

DJ Times: What gigs are you currently doing?

2nd Nature: I have two partners that book my corporate and club shows. I’m booked pretty much every weekend for the rest of the year throughout the U.S. Also a two-week tour of Canada is in the works. I just finished working with the Mountain Dew Tour and am working with Under Armour this fall. I have shows coming up for the Hennessey Tour, and I am really looking forward to working with Common and The Roots, as well as Fantasy Fest with Diageo.
DJ Times: How has video impacted your career?

2nd Nature: Video is everything to me. It’s mostly what I’m known for. I love doing my own remixes still, to include exclusively in my sets, and re-cutting a new video to them. Do I make more money? Yes. I’m doing more studio work, I’m getting better at it. I’m training myself and learning new software everyday. It takes a lot of time. All of this work leads to more jobs, whether it’s DJing or editing. I’m just so blessed to do what I do, and I love it.

DJ Times: What content do you use for your shows?

2nd Nature: A variety of music videos, some of which are the original video, and some I have re-edited. I use movie clips, TV shows, youtube videos, self-produced videos and even filmed videos of my own. Lately, I’ve been really into ambient videos, collecting VJ DVDs, and using plug-ins and other visual effects libraries I’ve purchased over the years. I take all of these elements to create one uniform and unique performance.

DJ Times: How do you create your own video content?

2nd Nature: It’s all a combination of the videos I mentioned above. I really like digging deep into plug-ins, automating them, or key-framing to the beat. I like chopping videos up and moving them around with Final Cut. A ton of experimentation goes into creating good visuals for me. I have 4 terabytes of visual effects that I pull from, plus a ton of tricks up my sleeves!

DJ Times: Which genres do you like to play?

2nd Nature: House, classic hip-hop, electro, funk, ’80s—you know the deal, everything. I love playing what I love and enjoy, but I also don’t neglect my crowd/client/audience. All in all, I aim to please.

DJ Times: Which artists are big for you now?

2nd Nature: It really varies gig to gig. I’ve grown to love electro over the past couple years, so I like incorporating it into my sets. I might go from Missy to DJ Kool to Phil Collins to Lil Wayne to Kings of Leon to AC/DC to Wolfgang Gartner. Actually, that’s part of my set from DJ Expo, but it’s a great representation of where my head is. Honestly, it changes every year for me.

DJ Times: How does your background as a vinyl DJ impact what you do now with video?

2nd Nature: I think being a DJ in general and having rhythm, growing up listening to good music, and having a “visual mind” is what helps me the most. The comments I get the most from people are how they dig my rhythmic editing, and I think that is key with what DJs do in the club. It all comes back to what a DJ’s job is—to move the crowd. Video is an addition that has to move the crowd as well, just in a different way. I guess what I’m saying is, yes, being a DJ has helped me immensely with my video skills. A DJ is a DJ when you get down to it.  You just have to add that visual layer.  

DJ Times: Which gear do you use?

2nd Nature: I started on the Pioneer DVJs. They really helped push my career and creativity. Pioneer really was a “pioneer,” and the DVJ was my tool. I now use Serato for the music videos, and I’m learning Modul8 [VJ software]. Basically, my setup is two Technics 1200s, a Pioneer DJM-800 or a Rane TTM-57SL mixer, two MacBook Pros running Serato and Modul8, an Edirol V8 video mixer, and an Akai MPD24 to control Serato. And I’m changing and tweaking the rig every day. I switched back to turntables to really get a feel for playing on vinyl again. Really, to be compatible with every club you have to be able to play on any kind of gear, so it’s good to be flexible.  

DJ Times: Why do you think video is the future for DJs? How do audiences accept it?

2nd Nature: Music will always come first for the DJ—period. Every set I create or plan for, music is my first go to. But, video gives me another level. It gives me something that sets me apart. And most importantly, it gives the audience a whole new way to experience music, in a club or just view it on the web. To see a dancefloor surrounded by video and the crowd feeling the music and visually experiencing the screens is amazing.

DJ Times: Are there do’s and don’t for a VJ playing to a crowd?

2nd Nature: Again, music comes first, video second. Don’t get me wrong, video can be very important, but the music selection is always going to be the first thing people feel. The video is icing on the cake. People come to a club to dance, they to a theater to watch movies all night. So it’s a fine line, and the line is still being figured out.

DJ Times: Which DJ/VJs impress you now and why?

2nd Nature: Eclectic Method, Magic Mike, Monk, DJ Spider, Mr. Best, Steve1der, and Don Lynch. I might be biased, but these guys are close friends and I’m lucky to work with them. They all are pushing video forward in completely different ways. Google them right now.

DJ Times: What’s next for you?

2nd Nature: I just finished producing the video and visuals for Big Boi, of Outkast, on the “Rock The Bells” tour. Music production is going great. DL Jones and I are recording and co-producing with Ben Sollee for his next album. He’s a singer/songwriter from Kentucky that plays the cello like no one else. So we are doing some funky Detroit Tribe-Called-Quest folk remix thing and it’s amazing. Not to mention, I’m still playing clubs, remixing, editing, running the company and getting a handle on all our projects. Really, I’m just grinding like all the other DJs out there in this economy, trying to elevate to that “next level” creatively. I’m enjoying every day of it.