BIORecognized by the circuit industry with awards, listened to by supporters, and respected by DJ peers and producers, Joe Gauthreaux (pronounced GO TROW) has performed at clubs and parties over the last 25 years, headlining major events and circuit weekends.
Gauthreaux comes from humbled beginnings in the mid 90s, DJing happy hour sets at Oz Nightclub in New Orleans. Whether it’s 5 or 5,000 people, his drive to create and excel in the DJ booth remains constant. He puts his heart and soul into every performance, production, & podcast. It’s paid off in dividends: URGE Festival, WE Party Madrid, White Party - Palm Springs, & Zurich, Atlantis Cruises, along with club residencies in Atlanta (currently home), Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, & Los Angeles, Gauthreaux succeeds by staying true to the only thing that’s always been there for him : MUSIC. In 2008, Gauthreaux began his studio production journey with the help of Peter Barona, a DJ, producer, and sound engineer of records by Grammy Award-winning artists. One of their first high-profile projects was for drag legend and singer RuPaul. ‘CoverGirl’ was an album cut from his new album getting rotation on his brand new reality show, 'Drag Race.' And off to the races was Joe, shifting the next phase of his career into gear. A career that separates him today from the players. Gauthreaux built his house on 25 years of hard work and solid performances, connecting with fans through music, and earning respect from peers for his integrity & production work. “I try to make records I want to play in my set. Music the crowd will hopefully respond to positively." Collaborating or working solo, on remixes or originals, or replying to messages and posting on social media, to ultimately playing for 500 or 5,000 people, "music is the motivation behind every step of my job. It's what wakes me up in the morning, and gives my life purpose. And now that I understand melodic sense and technical details about music in general, I’m having more fun now than ever!"
Gauthreaux isn't dancing on his own. His official remixes of Rita Ora, Janet Jackson, Ariana Grande, Cher, Madonna, Blondie, Keala Settle, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul - to name a few. Gauthreaux's progressive-melodic remixes with uber Brazilian producer DJ Leanh are the productions he's the most proud of, and the ones lodged in the hearts and minds of their listeners. On a recent visit to The Abby in Los Angeles, Diana Ross chose Joe & Leanh's official remix of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough," when asked her favorite new remix of the timeless song. The duo share a drive for perfection in their musical sensibilities. Gauthreaux says it's a key to their success. “We push each other when we're about to give up. It's the only way to get to the magic,” says Gauthreaux.
"Magic" is one way to describe Joe & Leanh's epic remix of “This Is Me,” by Keala Settle for the Greatest Showman. It was the musical peak of every pride parade & event during World Pride 2019 in New York - 16 months after its January 2018 release. The ongoing response to the remix is a testament to the duo's translation of the song, from the big screen to the big room. "We were fired from 3 days before we turned in our mix!" Gauthreaux reveals. "We were running late, as usual, but also realizing how special what we were making could be." The record label gave Joe & Leanh time to finish upon hearing a sample of their mix, and the rest is history. In 2014, Gauthreaux applied his music and circuit ability to the creation of his own house music label “Prop D Recordings.” The home of his self penned original Billboard hits, starting with “Bye Felicia,” the label's debut single featuring Mitch Amtrak. It reached number 5 on the Billboard Dance Chart, making Gauthreaux an official Billboard Recording Artist. Follow up singles “February (Our Last Kiss)” featuring Abigail, and “The Urge In Me” featuring Inaya Day, rose even higher, peaking at numbers 4 & 3. The heartfelt anthem “You Are My Family,” written by Gauthreaux, also featuring Day on vocals, continues to unite crowds across the world with its message of chosen family and brotherhood.
On most of his original productions, Gauthreaux is both a music producer and a writer or co-writer. As for where he goes next, he says, “The way for me to keep growing is to challenge myself. I like to explore fresh sounds, keep moving forward." So, how does Gauthreaux envision this ending someday? "I don't know when I'll leave the party. When I am ready, I hope to do it on my own terms. I want my work to be played, and remembered. My biggest fear is that something bigger than me out of my control will somehow overshadow the work. It's why I try to avoid drama - that will get you uninvited from the party. At the moment, I'm still holding an invitation, having fun, and dancing as fast as I can.”
revised 03/23 |
