Mike Diamond

United State DJ DiamondMonsterrr and promoter of A Big Party

What do you do, musically?

Basically, I’m just a DJ, and I started off more doing hip-hop and house and stuff like that, but when I hit like 2005, I kind of moved over into the indie scene, in particular indie-electro, and then, you know, really got to know what was going on over in San Francisco and L.A. and started spinning it up here to see if I could do something with it.

Why do you call yourself DiamondMonsterrr?

I was on Etsy.com, you know the little [indie] shop where people put their different products, and I saw this little purse that this girl made and it was called Diamondmonsterrr. I’ve always had a thing for diamonds.

Why are there three R’s at the end of Monsterrr?

It’s just irritating, you know?

Do you feel competitive with other deejays?

I think what we’re doing is something different, but I just want people to remember that we bring some originality to what was going on. A lot of times we get compared to people doing things in like San Francisco and stuff like that. Even though we’ve taken bits and parts, I don’t want people to think we’re some sort of imitation. I just want people to know that we strive to bring something different, you know?

What does the loss of the Townhouse mean for Sacramento night life?

A lot of people need to really step it up instead of complain about it. That’s just what it is. Maybe it’ll open back up, maybe it won’t. Now it’s time for my generation to step it up and get it together and find new places and make new venues.

Do you think all-ages events are important to Sacramento?

It gives youths something to do and keeps them out of trouble. It keeps people feeling like they have a place somewhere. I hear it all the time. People are bored. I remember that feeling growing up here. I wish I had something that came along with like-minded people with similar styles who listen to the same type of music.

And you’re going to spin at United State on Second Saturday?

It’s gonna be live art [by OneSevenNine and Illyanna Maisonet]. Me and another friend, we’re going to be spinning electro and indie rock.

What do you do when you’re not deejaying?

I’m in here. Practicing, you know.

Why do you like being a deejay?

I don’t know, I think definitely generation-wide, a lot of us are really trying to live our dreams more than just having that typical nine-to-five. I’ve seen it done—some of my friends did it, some of my peers—you can make a living throwing parties. It’s possible. And if you can live comfortably doing that, you should give it a shot.