from the Mecca of hip-hop, The Martinez Brothers (TMB), Stevie Jr. and Christian, have taken the national and international club scene by storm. Seamlessly fusing American house music with techno beats this DJ duo is putting a youthful spin on the music of generations passed.

With resumes boasting gigs in Paris, Berlin, Japan and Spain one may find it hard to believe that Stevie Jr. is only 20-years-old and Christian is just shy of 18. Being so young in an industry that is traditionally comprised of 30-40 year olds pushed the brothers to let their talent be the focus instead of their age.

“Some people may see two kids and think that we are gimmicks,” Stevie Jr. said. “But when they see us play people realize that we are serious.”
Influenced by their father’s passion for house and disco music, the brothers found themselves drawn to the sound that live instruments brought to those musical genres. As they began studying music, they became interested in house music while still recognizing the influence of hip-hop stemming from their old Bronx, NY neighborhood.

After traveling internationally the brothers, who currently live in upstate NY, say that there is nothing like playing at home. However, they remarked that the international club scene is very different from that of the United States.

“Over seas the crowd is younger and they are more into the music like me and my brother,” Christian said. “But we like playing in New York because that’s our home base.”

The brothers also enjoy playing in Japan and Paris. According to Stevie Jr., the music, fashion and the crowd make Japan stand out. “It’s banana’s over there” Stevie Jr. said.

As the brothers find themselves booked for gigs every weekend, traveling has become part of their normal routine. Their upcoming schedule for 2009 includes the Winter Music Conference in Miami, REBEL in New York City, Electric Daisy Carnival in Los Angeles, and a number of other events in Detroit, London, Berlin and Paris.

Even with a busy schedule the brothers are able to devote time to making mix-tapes and practicing on their own. They note that no one taught them how to make music; instead they learned by hearing live mixes, and listening to other DJ’s. They were able to combine those influences and develop their own technique.

Stevie Jr. describes their overall DJ style as, “very driving and keeping the crowd on a highpoint yet it’s soulful, not forgetting the roots.”

Using a Urei 1620 Rotary Mixer, TMB incorporate tricks into their live sets, Christian said. According to Stevie Jr., the brothers enjoy playing the music that they love and sharing that experience with the crowd.

In 2007 TMB released their first single “My Rendition” on Dennis Ferrer’s record label Objektivity. Founded two years ago, Objektivity has been an outlet for the brothers to release their own music and work with Ferrer, who has become their mentor. In January 2009, they released their first EP, which features the single “Debbie Downer.”

Looking toward the future, the DJ duo plans on releasing more records and focusing on production. As brothers that always perform together, they do not foresee working on solo projects any time soon.

“This knuckle head is my best friend. We just have that vibe as brothers,” Stevie Jr. said. “For right now we will continue to work together. Maybe in the future we will work separately, but not anytime soon.”

TMB is aware that house music isn’t characteristic of their generation. However, the brothers advise potential listeners to keep their ears open.

“We represent a type of music and sound that are soulful,” Stevie Jr. said. “House isn’t always recognized but it’s good music for the young.”

For more information and music from the Martinez brothers, take the time to checkout their myspace page.

By Dyani Vanderhorst