The 312 Mix Vol 7 presents DJ Lito

DJ Lito spins a set for Volume #7 of The 312, 5 Magazine’s Chicago House Music mix and interview series with the DJs that keep the Chicago House scene on top.

Carlos Colliness Morris (aka DJ Lito) has been a jack of all trades, but he’s most notable for burning up Chicago’s dancefloors with his unmistakeable footwork and charismatic dance style. He’s fairly new to DJing, but he’s already picked up the skill with his clean blends and smooth programming.

The interview picks up below the mix:

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What part of Chicago are you from?

I was born and raised on the south and west sides of Chicago.

Where do you derive your musical influences from?

’60s Motown groups(Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, etc.)
Beatles
Disco from the 70’s and early 80’s
Ole School House from the 80’s
Golden Age House of the 90’s
Ole School Hip-Hop(Tribe Call Quest, EPMD, Roots, De La Soul, etc.)
Ghetto House
Acid House
Jazz
Salsa, Samba, Merengue, and Bachata.

You just started DJing out fairly recently. How has that experience been for you and what have you learned in that period of time?

You have to study and research music!!! Also when you are playing a set, play as if you are in a stadium full of people that has never heard you play before. Promote yourself and always fine tune your sound. Never shrink away from new ideas, it is great to play hits, but even better when you play new music that will help define you and your voice as a DJ! Never compare nor compete yourself with veteran DJs. instead, strive to be at their level and along the way reaffirm your love for the craft of being a DJ!

Being a dancer, we see how different it is in what music we pick and when we play it. What do you think you learn as a dancer that helps you program your sets better?

A dancer learns how to express themselves through movements and gestures accompanied by rhythms of sounds. That point alone will help a dancer transition to a DJ. You want that same effect in people on the dance floor/In a crowd/Listening to the radio. Plus, since you are dealing with counts as a dancer, your blends between songs are more on point lol.

Where do you like to find your music usually?

I go to Gramaphone Records and Traxsource. I also create my own tracks and edits.

What do you have coming up in the future?

Grandbar August 7th 7p-11p
SFR Logan Square August 8th 10p-2a
SFR Logan Square August 29th 10p-2a