The DJ/remixer opens for country star Jason Aldean at The Dunk.

Dee Jay Silver grew up listening to his father singing country and gospel music and he is firmlyentrenched in the country music scene, but he doesnt like limitations.

I feel sorry for anyone who only listens to one kind of music, says Silver in a phone call fromhis Nashville home, where he was relaxing with his infant son on a break from touring withcountry star Jason Aldean. If you tune in on Spotify or whatever, I dont think youd find oneperson who only has the same type of music in their lists.

Variety, he stresses, is the key to musical enjoyment. As a DJ/remixer for more than 15 years, hehas etched a reputation for joining some of the most unlikely pieces of music together.

When I hear a song, I hear two or three different things, he says. I look for things that willmatch and then try mixing and blending one piece into another.

An example is his blend of Locashs Ring on Every Finger and Justin TimberlakesSenorita, which he found connected because of drum segments that roll together nicely.

He eschews the term mashing, preferring terms like blending when talking about thecombinations he creates, which he also showcases on a weekly syndicated radio show,The Country Club with Dee Jay Silver. Popular combinations have included Walk This Wayby Run-D.M.C. and Alabamas If Youre Gonna Play in Texas, and Tipsy by rapper J-Kwonand Dust on the Bottle by David Lee Murphy. The latter, which he calls the oddest blend hescreated, Works every night.

By working, Silver means the songs get the audience on their feet, dancing and having a goodtime. Its his job to entertain and warm up the crowd for Aldean, but he also sees himself assomewhat of an ambassador for country music.

This opens up the circle of peoples music. Music of all genres have a stereotype and countrymusic is no different, he says, remembering how a middle-aged man approached him after ashow to thank him for getting him to experience new music. He said hed never heard of any ofthe songs on my Spotify list, but that his whole world had opened up as a result. Thats the bestcompliment!

It hasnt always been easy, though. While he started DJ-ing in college, Silver says people wereconfused as to what he wanted to do when he went to work in the industry.

They said, You want to do what? I told them this opens the country genre up to more peopleand makes the fan base younger, he says. The best piece of advice I got was when someoneasked me, How are you different from the other guy? The answer is I play music in ways noone had ever heard before.

Silvers latest venture, the compilation called Made to Do is a Top 40-style group of songs, buthes already looking ahead to the next project in which he says every song will represent adifferent musical genre.

I play everything every genre of music I can possibly put down! he says, addingthoughtfully, well, not mumble rap, and I cant get into the screamo stuff!

Susan McDonald is a regular contributor to The Providence Journal. She can be reached at Sewsoo1@verizon.net.

If you go...

What: Dee Jay Silver opens for Jason Aldeans They DontKnow tour. The show also features Chris Young and Kane Brown

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18

Where:Dunkin' Donuts Center, 1 LaSalle Square, Providence

Tickets: $33.25-$73.25

Information: dunkindonutscenter.com

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Dee Jay Silver spins new take on country - The Providence Journal