Long before he earned mixshow positions at the old and new versions of New York’s WKTU-FM, Mike Merola says a DJ saved his life and helped start a career in music. Going to old-school clubs like Queens’ Enchanted Gardens and Brooklyn’s Camelot Inn, Merola, then a ’70s disco kid, caught the beat, bought a mobile DJ starter set and worked on his skills. Sure enough, before long Merola was "discovered" spinning in a club and asked to do mixshows for the old 92-KTU.

Since his radio initiation, the Staten Island-based DJ Mike’y D has played clubs, gotten heavily involved in studio editing, and served as a multi-purpose mixshow jock at the new KTU. Aside from other duties, Merola works on the WKTU "Friday Mix Show at 6" and does old-school, classic mixes for Joe Causi’s Sunday "Studio 54 Clubhouse Show."

Recently, DJ Mike’y D’s studio prowess has grown. After adding his production talents to Giuseppe D’s progressive banger "Amadeus 2000," Mike’y D released his CD-mix compilation Y2K Underground Progressive Mix on his own Full Blast imprint. Just before leaving for his Winter Music Conference gig in Miami, 42-year-old Mike’y D. Merola connected with DJ Times to impart a little radio knowledge.

DJ Times: What’s the focus of the mix shows?

Mike’y D: My focus is to make the mix as different and exciting as possible for the KTU listeners – a cut above from the norm, I guess. The material on my mixshows is Top-40 mainstream dance and club music. I add some effects and remix some tracks from time to time to grab the KTU listeners’ ear. Most of the material is from the KTU playlist and the "Top 8 at 8" requested songs. Then I mix in some of the hottest older dance songs and newer material when it’s appropriate.

DJ Times: How do you break new songs?

Mike’y D: First, I really have to "feel" the song, meaning it really has to get my attention like a great hook, vocal, synth, keyboard, or percussion sound. Maybe I’ll give just a taste, like a minute or two of it, during one of my mixes and see what the listeners feel as well. Also my program managers Frankie Blue, Jeff Z, and Geronimo – KTU’s new Music Director – have major input, of course.

DJ Times: How long have you been a DJ?

Mike’y D: I started about in 1974 or so, when I was 17. I was a drummer since the age of 8, and played some guitar and other instruments. Music definitely was part of my soul. I studied jazz, and played the drums at dances at schools and closed-circuit TV. My cousin was into dance music and R&B, like James Brown, Harold Melvin, Sly and the Family Stone, The Spinners. I loved the sound and feeling of the rhythm. After seeing some DJs do their thing back in the day at clubs like Enchanted Gardens and The Camelot Inn, that was it for me.

DJ Times: How do your club sets differ from your mixshow sets?

Mike’y D: The club set is a whole different approach. First it’s according to the time of my set. Peak hour is between 3 and 5 a.m., so I spin a lot of house, import music, progressive, and trance music, which I love. If my set is earlier during the night I will start off with remixed versions of the top mainstream club music and then gradually go to the next level.

DJ Times: On what equipment did you record and program your mix CD?

Mike’y D: Technics 1200s, Rane and Numark mixers, Denon 2500 CD player, Amek Big mixing board, Genelec and Urei monitors, Akai S3000 samplers, Alesis ADAT recorders, Digidesign Pro Tools, Sonic Foundry Acid 2.0, Sonic Foundry Soundforge, Cakewalk and Logic Audio computer software.

DJ Times: What are you working on currently?

Mike’y D: I just produced, along with my producer/partner Vinny Venom, "Forgetabout It " by Joe Causi, a commercial dance track, plus two new trance remixes. I just signed with a new vocal artist Ronnie Taylor. Vinny and I are working out of Laughing Dog Studios in Staten Island working on new tracks and I’m doing another underground compilation.

DJ Times: How should young DJs approach a mixshow? What will get them noticed?

Mike’y D: Do what you feel. That is my best advice. But at the same token, keep the mix fresh and tight.

– Jim Tremayne