Eric Jao, spinning as DJ Enferno, will manipulate the crowd at Pangaea Feb. 27. The D.C.-bred spinner, 33, recently finished playing a key role in Madonna’s “Sticky & Sweet Tour.” (He was discovered at an Orlando club by her music director, Kevin Antunes.) During his debut with the hard-driving pop star, Jao didn’t just show off his turntable tricks, he was asked to help remix some of Madonna’s classic songs. Pretty cool by any standard.

We talked to Jao by phone. He sounded more like a serious, conservatory-trained composer or performer than your average DJ. Personally, I’m awed by what these guys can do when they get it right. You can bet I’ll drop by Pangaea that night.

Out & About: Let’s not bury the lead: So working with Madonna … sticky or sweet?

Eric Jao: It was definitely sweet. Actually, it was an epic experience. It spanned a period of eight months, four months longer than the actual tour, including rehearsals and promotional tour.

Big change in your life?

Before that, I was doing all right with my own solo work. It’s a big change playing in a club environment for a couple thousand people, then being on stage — with the band the entire time — and with the biggest star in the world, performing for 75,000 people. It’s a different type of animal. At the beginning, there was the shock factor. I couldn’t believe I was there. Once I was there, I realized I’m working among the best at whatever it is they do — drummer, keyboard player, staff member, accounting … On one hand, it made me feel comfortable, but since it was my first experience of this type, I thought ‘I hope I can live up to what everyone else is doing.’ Eventually, I started to really realize I belonged here. Until you actually do that, you never know.

But you did more than that…

After the promo tour, another part of me was tested. Madonna’s manager, Guy Oseary, was on phone saying: ‘We want to keep getting your input on the creative process.’

What do you think Madonna was listening for?

She never said exactly what she wanted. She just said: ‘Keep talking, we want your input. Work directly with Kevin (Atunes).” I went from doing something performance-based, then I had this added responsibility of doing something creative, something vital to the flow of the show. I don’t do that for a living, so for her to see me in that role, it was a big deal. You can’t help but learn more about what you are capable of doing in such circumstances. That was another emotional boost.

Source: Austin360