Z-Trip

Z-Trip

Whether it’s in Vegas, Kuwait or your XBox, Zach Sciacca is serious about rocking the party. Better known as DJ Z-Trip, this early progenitor of mashup mixes has been rated as one of the best living DJs: a fact that becomes even more interesting after a quick glance at his career trajectory.

Once the resident DJ at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, Z-trip creates tracks for the DJ Hero video game series in his spare time between sold-out tours across the globe. He wears his politics on his sleeve, as well, playing for the US troops in Kuwait and making “Victory Lap,” a pro-Obama party mix where he partnered with Sheperd Fairey of Obey the Giant fame.

Called the “Godfather of the Mashup,” his sets are a baroque pastiche of beats and pop effluvia. What’s he sound like? Judge for yourself, but with mashup maestros like Sciacca it’s hard not to hear at least something you like. If this year’s Coachella performance is any indication, there will be a few nuggets of nostalgia to gnaw on this July at the Red Marquee.

This Blender video interview has some good material and a great clip from a previous Coachella performance.