Mark Zabala - DJ Biography

Listen to some mixes at http://www.markzabala.com

Mark Zabala plays a wide variety of styles, but he tends towards dirty, driving, techy and psychedelic sounds mixed in with a good dose of percussive, glitched-out funk.

It seems like Mark Zabala was destined to love electronic. His earliest musical memories involved listening to Kraftwerk, Nintendo, The legendary Los Angeles Electronic Music Station MARS FM, and synthesizer demos. It's no wonder so many electronic noises worked their way into his subconscious. He acquired turntables in 1999 and his DJ career officially began.

After spending several years perfecting his skills in the underground electronic music scene, Mark Zabala was recruited alongside some of Southern California's leading talent to form the Ninja Skillz collective in 2005. He has risen to the forefront of the Underground Community with successful appearances at major LA nightclubs like Spundae @ Circus, Giant @ Vanguard, four sold out festivals in Mexico, Catalina Island, The Hollywood Palladium, and several outdoor events all over the West Coast.

Musical Influences

Dance Music

Zimbardo, MSTRKRFT, John Dahlback, Bassnectar, Simian Mobile Disco, Surgeon, Autobots, Tiga, Trentemoller, Peaches, Green Velvet, Digitalism, Vitalic, Justice, Alter Ego, Ego Express, Detroit Grand Pubahs, Kissy Sell Out, D. Ramirez, Aquasky, Breakfastaz, Adam Beyer, Benny Benassi, Joel Mull, Concord Dawn, Raiden, Klute, Stakka & Skynet, Sta & Paul B, John B, Lamb, Nobukazu Takemura, Infected Mushroom, Sharkey, Astral Projection, Wizzy Noise, Richie Hawtin, Glenn Wilson, Woody McBride, Mauro Picotto, Deviant Electronics, Koxbox, Alien Project, Spirallianz, Timo Maas, Growling Mad Scientists, Future Prophecy, Lab 4, OD404, Dj Mishka, BK, Underworld, The Crystal Method, Orbital, The Prodigy and way too many more...

Experimental/Chill

Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Boards of Canada, Plaid, Jega, Aoineko, Diagram of Suburban Chaos, Build, Chiral, Lexaunculpt, Prefuse 73, Nautilis, L'usine ICL, Deru, Mucrof, Cex, Manorexia, Caural, Machine Drum, Hrvatski, Bogdan Raczynski, Venetian Snares, Hellfish, Doormouse, Manorexia, Funkstorung, Autechre, Dntel, Fridge, Portishead, Massive Attack, Hooverphonic, mu-ziq, Alec Empire, Shpongle, Air, Theivery Corporation, Gotan Project, Solvent, Banco De Gaia

Rockish Stuff

Regina Spektor, Soulwax, Wolfmother, Muse, The Killers, The Knife, DFA, Frou Frou, Schneider Tm, Lali Puna, The Notwist, Mum, Sigur Ros, Broadcast, Le Tigre, Yo La Tengo, The Decemberists, Belle and Sebastian, Broken Social Scene, Four Tet, The Album Leaf, Manitoba, Fridge, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Juana Molina, DNTEL, Postal Service, My Bloody Valentine, Skinny Puppy, A Silver Mt. Zion, Le Tigre, Mindless Self Indulgence, Ministry, The White Stripes, Muse, Jet, Hot Hot Heat, The Mars Volta, Tori Amos, Radiohead, Nirvana, Hole, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Natalie Merchant, Sarah Maclaclan, VNV Nation, Haujobb, Converter, Wumpscut, Bjork, Nine Inch Nails, Tool

Hip Hop

Prefuse 73, Lady Sovereign, M.I.A., Jahcoozi, Machine Drum, Boombip, Kool Keith, Dr. Octagon, Dr Dooom, Sage Francis, Boom Bip, Doseone, cLOUDDEAD, Them, Anticon (all those guys), Outkast, Dead Prez, Beastie Boys, eDIT, daedelus