Q+A: Danny Sigelman

Vinyl junkie worked as a radio DJ in China.

January 3, 2013 at 6:06PM
Danny Sigelman is a DJ, an artist, a musician and part of Secret Stash Records. He was photographed, sitting between two of his paintings (soon to be hung on the walls), at Secret Stash Records in the basement of the Calhoun Building.
Danny Sigelman is a DJ, an artist, a musician and part of Secret Stash Records. (Dml -/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Age: 38. Lives in: Lyn-Lake. Occupation: Propaganda minister at Secret Stash Records, musician, painter, DJ.

Q: How did Secret Stash get its start?

A: Eric Foss found the need to release often bizarre and always funky old-school vinyl records that now the world can't get enough of.

Q: What are the most beloved pieces of vinyl in your collection?

A: Probably my Kiss records and autographed Blowfly records. But my tastes are all over the place-- I love soundtracks, modern classical, East Indian and jazz.

Q: You worked as a radio DJ in China (and wrote about the experience in a 2010 Vita.mn cover story). What was that like?

A: It was very surreal knowing millions of people who probably don't know what I'm saying or playing were tuning in. Bridging language barriers with music was incredibly rewarding. No listeners in the States ever e-mailed me cartoon pictures of bunnies and cute little kitty cats like they did in China.

Q: What are some of the main influences in your art?

A: I've always found inspiration from Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lee Krasner, Max Beckmann and multimedia musicians like Frank Zappa, Laurie Anderson and Sonic Youth.

Q: What are the Twin Cities' best-kept secrets?

A: Szechuan Spice, Tuesday Night Music Club at the Uptown VFW and the $2 bin at Roadrunner Records.

about the writer

about the writer

Jahna Peloquin

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