Why are you here?
To discover great music
Algorithm-free music discovery
Just one human recommending music to other humans
Around the world, countless artists await unheard and unseen
Audio Chamber intends to shine a light on good shit
“I listen to a lot of music. If I hear a song I like, I sleep with it, I live with it, and I wake up with it. It doesn’t matter whose [song] it is.” - Johnny Cash
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Do you wanna read a long-winded bio of the guy who writes this digital zine?
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My name is Scottie Diablo. I grew up 12 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles in the suburb of Whittier, California. I can recall, as early as 7 years old, that music played a pivotal role in my household - and eventually my life. My parents divorced when I was 7, that year was tough and confusing, yet important because I began to take notice of my Mom’s music selections each morning before school. She pressed play on the 8-track machine and my young ears were enveloped in the sounds of Wes Montgomery and George Benson. This was the beginning for me. Those dirty and jazz-laden chords got me hooked. I never had an older brother that handed down vinyl albums or educated me on music. I was self-taught. I was curious. I knew what moved me. I thank my Mom for this. I became a music addict.
Wes and Benson became my building blocks. My ears and taste started to grow….and fast. After my parents split, my brother and I had to spend weekends with my Dad. I didn’t know it at the time, but my Dad played a role in my love for music as well. I found his vinyl collection and immediately spent countless weekends dropping the needle on his turntable. Mind you, this was 1978. I discovered his stash of The Stones “Let It Bleed”, Dick Dale and his Del-Tones, Chicago, Boz Scaggs “Silk Degrees”, and Steely Dan’s “Aja”. I wore these albums out, as well as the needle.
As the 80’s hit, my tastes expanded. Most kids hit the streets to play soccer or throw the football. I spent my time skateboarding to my local record store. My addiction drew me to those rows and rows of vinyl albums and cassette tapes. I would spend hours and hours rifling through the records. Studying the artwork, reading the liner notes, and most importantly reading who these artists thanked on their albums. For some reason that was intriguing to me. It was an education. In the early 80’s I discovered Rap. This was another turning point for me. At the time I didn’t realize this was a cultural turn. It was new. It was fresh. It was for me. The same way Punk Rock rattled the world in ‘77, Rap did the same in the 80’s. I remember skipping school to go see the film ‘Beat Street’. My Mom was cool enough to allow this. She knew it was important to me. Also, the advent of MTV was a godsend. My eyes and ears now got to see artists in full moving color. Ironically, I worked at MTV from 2006 - 2014.
As the 90’s began, I left home for college and my continued love for Rap. I must have spent thousands of dollars on music up to this point. I’m sure my Mom wasn’t happy about that. But, I felt ok with feeding my music addiction. It was essential for me. During the 90’s, I was digging deeper and deeper. I instantly fell in love with 60’s inspired Garage Punk. I started with The Nuggets box set and the Crypt Records series “Back From The Grave”. It was dirty and dangerous. It was new to me even though it had existed for decades. That’s the beauty of music. The discovery is never-ending. During the 90’s, I would drive to Los Angeles and frequent the tiny club Jabberjaw on Pico Blvd. Jabberjaw was a ragtag bar/artspace that launched the likes of Beck, Helios Creed, Fu Manchu, Unwound, and Hole. As the 90’s came to a close, I put Rap on the backburner and dove deeper into Garage Punk records and eventually stepped into the Silverlake club (Spaceland) one night in 1998. I witnessed a band calling themselves Queens of the Stone Age. They felt dangerous and melodic at the same time. Their songs were undeniable. I knew the instant I saw them they’d be huge. Music is that powerful. It moves you. It makes you think. It makes you fall in love over and over again.
I spent the early 2000’s tour managing artists and working for a pioneer music distributor. I then spent my mid-2000’s managing bands like White Denim, Die!Die!Die!, The Explorers Club, and working at MTV. Another piece of my music journey.
The 2000’s has produced great music and artists. I still dig deep to this day. I can’t help it. It’s burned into my DNA. It’s my lifelong addiction. From Wes Montgomery to The NY Dolls to Eric B. and Rakim to The Cramps to The Cheater Slicks to Grandaddy to whoever is around the next corner.
Music speaks volumes to me.
Music never lets me down.
Music is always within reach.
Music lifts me through tough times.
Music isn’t taught in a textbook.
Music continues to educate me.
Music made me the person I am today.
Music is everything to me.
Music is the Soundtrack of my Life.
Maybe you’ll discover something new here on Audio Chamber.
I'm always searching.
I would be stoked if you chose to sign up.
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