- San Antonio, TX
- Wedding DJ
- Contact for rates
Cyndi B. said
“Everything went smoothly, set up on time and great songs. Only issue was there was no way to look over the songs since there were no lists. Made it hard to come up with songs. ”
Southbound Tracks
Overview
From backyard barbecues to weddings to birthday bashes, we work with you to craft the playlist and ambience your celebration requires. We also provide audio production and voice artist services. San Antonio proud!
Reviews
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Write a reviewBooking information
Price range: $799 and up.
Languages: English
Gig length: 240 - 360 minutes
What to expect
First and foremost, I like to arrive early, get in touch with you, and prepare for our event. I bring my own sound system and lights, so I like to set up as soon as possible, do a sound test, and make any further preparations. By the time guests arrive, I've been practicing in my headphones, and I'm ready to rock.
I observe the crowd before I begin, so I have an idea of what to play throughout the evening. Weddings usually have a dinner or cocktail hour, so I warm the crowd up with slower to mid-tempo music, depending on your taste. Like the rest of the playlist, these selections are worked out with you in advance. I've played a lot of big band, oldies, and classic country during this time, but I'm up for anything.
When it's time to shift gears, I've already taken requests in advance, so I know what a few guests would like to hear. I start the dance proper with some bangers, usually current pop hits, unless you prefer another genre. From there, I try to cater to who's already dancing, but I don't like to stick with a single genre for too long. You'll hear a variety of new hits, classics, and remixes, with all styles represented at some point. I keep tabs on new pop, hip-hop, country, Latin and dance, but I have tons of old school tunes, as well. I've done my research, and I know what folks like to hear.
The most important ingredient, of course, is your input. By the time we're cooking, you and I have already worked out a solid playlist aimed at who you know will be there, from the bride and groom, to the nieces and nephews, to the grandparents. The same goes for school dances, corporate events, bars, and restaurants. If we know your guests' tastes, we can keep that dance floor packed. I like to have a short list of songs, chosen by you, and fill in the gaps with similar music, mostly dance floor favorites. So even if you forgot to mention "Don't Stop Believing" in the meeting, I've got that one, and a whole lot more.
Having a do not play list is essential, as well. My default setting is to keep everything clean, but some clients have even more specific tastes. There might be a song or artist you're just tired of hearing, which I respect. Even if a guest comes up to the booth and requests it, if you have specified that I not play a certain track, I won't play it. I'll break it to the guest gently and offer an alternative.
Although I'm great on the mic, I personally don't enjoy DJs who talk too much, so I keep my announcements short and sweet. My voice ranges from bass to baritone, a bit like a radio DJ's, with a smile you can hear. It helps if I have a schedule handy, or even a short list of announcements, so I can prepare what I need to say. I was a teacher for years, so extemporaneous speaking is doable, but I prefer to write my announcements in advance. I'm usually ready with a quip or joke at the right moment. I can even do character voices, if you like: Pee-wee Herman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Jack Nicholson, etc.
Wedding receptions, quinces and proms have segments throughout the evening, such as introducing the wedding party or prom queen and king, the father-daughter dance, the shoe game, etc. I like to work these out in advance, as well. No two celebrations are alike, so the more we've prepared, the smoother things will be.
Throughout the event, I play a variety of songs, something for everyone. I like to maintain a fun vibe on the dance floor, so if one genre is keeping folks out there, I stick with it for a little while, subtly changing style and tempo from song to song. You might hear Daft Punk, Megan Thee Stallion, Kendrick, the Beatles, Taylor, Janet, Debbie Deb. Then I slow things down a bit with something pretty, a "Tennessee Whiskey" or "Wonderwall," and build back up from there. I may throw a curve ball and switch genres, if necessary. Some folks want more hip-hop, others want more country, still more want the songs of their youth. It all depends on the crowd.
By the end of the night, I've played your essential selections and dropped a few surprises, all with the client and crowd in mind. I usually end with a few big favorites, radio hits that most people can dance to -- "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," "Dancing Queen," "Livin' On A Prayer," etc. -- culminating in the last song of the night, usually a singalong like "Sweet Caroline" or "Bohemian Rhapsody." The idea, above all, is to bring everyone together, and to make your event unforgettable.
About
The more you do, the more you can do.
My name is Forrest Gabitsch, owner of Southbound Tracks: The Party Time Professionals. I’m a DJ, music producer, and voice artist from San Antonio, Texas. I’ve been at it for a few decades, from DJing weddings, bars, and special events, to producing my own techno and hip-hop tracks, to narrating audiobooks.
For as long as I’ve been conscious, I’ve been using music and audio to bring people together. I grew up making mixtapes for friends, using cassettes, records and CDs from my collection, as well as songs recorded directly off the radio. I always liked an eclectic format, so if you got one of my tapes, you’d hear pop, rock, hip-hop, comedy, and even snippets of movies and TV shows. The approach was simple: keep them listening.
By my sophomore year of high school, I was manager of the first ever student radio station at Highlands High. By my junior year, I was writing professional movie reviews for the San Antonio Express-News. In college, I worked in student news, radio, theater, television, and campus activities. I got to host a midnight metal radio show, start a student film festival, do color commentary for Extreme Texas Wrestling, and play Eddie in a live production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I also sang for White Rabbit punk regulars the X-Greats, and began to make my first electronic music tracks. In 2002, I received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, Electronic Media Emphasis, from Texas State University.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to work as a DJ in a variety of settings, mostly wedding receptions, bars, and restaurants. I got to play such lovely locales as the Hoffman Ranch in Castroville, San Antonio’s historic Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, and the Hard Rock Cafe by the Riverwalk. Whether I was spinning “Tennessee Whiskey” for a wedding party, “Take On Me” for a bar full of howling college students, or “The Wobble” for a ballroom of line dancing school nutrition workers, I always approached the gig with the same philosophy: tonight comes only once. Every beautiful individual on that dancefloor is living their own movie. It’s my job to provide the soundtrack. I have to be John Williams. I have to be the best. I have to notice everything and react accordingly.
DJing is always an adventure, but it’s not my only interest. I’ve been recording my own music for over twenty years, as well as the occasional spot of production work for friends and family. I play what I love and love what I play. That means pop, hip-hop, Latin, country, rock, metal, punk, goth, jazz, blues. I can make you a beat, record your band, mix, master, whatever you need. I use analog and digital tools, and I’m always learning more. I’ll even narrate your audiobook. And I’m good.
I hope you'll consider me for your next function. Southbound Tracks is a labor of love for me, the culmination of my life's work. I look forward to hearing from you.
Additional booking notes
My standard setup is two 15-Inch PA speakers with stands, a pair of Mini Par Bars and two Wash FX 2s for lighting, and my DJ rig: a Traktor Kontrol S3 with case, laptop, and a couple of other small controllers for effects. It all fits on a table of about four to six feet. I take care of the setup and taping down all cables for safety.
I'll need access to a power source, of course. If it's an outdoor gig, I'll need to work in a covered area. A table will need to be provided by the venue, as I haul my gear in a small car.
Set list
This is a sample playlist. If you have a special request, just ask!
CONTEMPORARY POP
5 Seconds Of Summer - Telephone Busy
Ariana Grande - Twilight Zone
Benson Boone - Mystical Magical
Bruno Mars - I Just Might, Bonde de Brunao, Treasure
Carly Rae Jepsen - Guardian Angel
Chappell Roan - Pink Pony Club, The Giver
Charlie Puth - Changes
DJ Cardi ft. April Raquel - Free 99
Demi Lovato - Kiss, Here All Night, Joshua Tree
Dev ft. The Cataracs - Bass Down Low
Doechii - Anxiety, girl get up
Dua Lipa - New Rules
Ed Sheeran - Camera
Fantomel & KATIE LINN - Dame Un Grr
GIRLSET & Missy Elliott - Little Miss (Misdemeanor)
Hilary Duff - Mature
HUNTRX, K Pop Demon Hunters Cast - Golden
Joji - Love You Less
Jonas Brothers - No Time To Talk, Tantrum
Justin Bieber - Daisies, Things You Do, Yukon
Katseye - Internet Girl
Kevin Powers & Shaboozey - Move On
Kings of Leon - To Space
Lady Gaga - Abracadabra, Garden Of Eden
Maroon5 - Priceless (feat. LISA)
Marshmello - Better Than Me (feat. Hudson Westbrook), Slow Motion (feat. Jonas Brothers)
Olivia Dean - Man I Need
One Republic - Give Me Something, Invincible
Rose & Bruno Mars - APT.
Sabrina Carpenter - My Man On Willpower, Such A Funny Way, Tears, When Did You Get Hot?
Sean Paul - Faith We A Keep, Ginger, Nah Follow Dem
Selena Gomez - In The Dark, Call Me When You Break Up (feat. bennie blanco & Gracie Adams)
Soja Boys, et al - Soda Pop
Tate McRae - Just Keep Watching
Taylor Swift - Opalite, The Fate Of Ophelia, The Life Of A Showgirl (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
The Juniperos - If You Wanna Be My Lover, Opalite
Tyla - Everything Goes With Blue
Willy Wiliam - Elastico
WEDDING RECEPTION MIX
50 Cent - In Da Club
a-ha - Take On Me
ABBA - Dancing Queen, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, Mamma Mia
AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long, Thunderstruck
Avicii - Levels
Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back), I Want It That Way
Bee Gees - Stayin Alive
Ben E. King - Stand By Me
Benson Boone - Beautiful Things
Beyonce - Love On Top, Single Ladies, Crazy In Love (feat. JAY Z)
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - (I've Had) The Time Of My Life
Billy Joel - Piano Man, Uptown Girl
Blink-182 - All The Small Things
Bob Seger - Old Time Rock N Roll
Bon Jovi - Livin On A Prayer
Bruno Mars - Marry You, 24K Magic, Just The Way You Are
Bryan Adams - Summer Of 69
Calvin Harris - Feel So Close
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Chainsmokers - Closer
Chappell Roan - Hot To Go!
Cher - Believe
Christina Perri - A Thousand Years
Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want To Have Fun
Daddy Yankee - Gasolina
Daft Punk - One More Time
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
Daryl Hall & John Oates - You Make My Dreams Come True
Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me
Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
DJ Casper - Cha Cha Slide
DNCE - Cake By The Ocean
Dua Lipa - Dance The Night, Levitating
Earth, Wind & Fire - September, Let's Groove
Ed Sheeran - Perfect, Thinking Out Loud
Elvis Crespo - Suavemente
Elvis Presley - Can't Help Falling In Love
Etta James - At Last
Fetty Wap - Trap Queen
Flo Rida - Club Can't Handle Me, Low
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
Garth Brooks - Friends In Low Places
Ginuwine - Pony
Guns N Roses - Sweet Child O Mine
Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl
Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar
House Of Pain - Jump Around
Jack Harlow - Lovin On Me
James Taylor - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads
John Legend - All Of Me
Jonas Brothers - Burnin Up
Journey - Don't Stop Believin
Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling, Sexyback
Kenny Loggins - Footloose
Kesha - Tik Tok
Kool & The Gang - Celebration
Kyogo & Whitney Houston - Higher Love
Lady Gaga - Just Dance
LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
Lonestar - Amazed
Lou Bega - Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit Of)
Luke Bryan - Country Girl (Shake It For Me)
Luke Combs - Beautiful Crazy, Better Together, Forever After All
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
Mark Morrison - Return Of The Mack
Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk
Maroon 5 - Sugar
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean, PYT, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough
Miley Cyrus - Party In The USA
Natalie Cole - This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)
Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Outkast - Hey Ya
Pharrell Williams - Happy
Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance
Pink - Raise Your Glass
Pitbull - Fireball, Time Of Our Lives, Give Me Everything, Timber (feat. Kesha)
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Fat Bottomed Girls
Rednex - Cotton Eyed Joe
Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up
Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl
Rihanna - Don't Stop The Music, We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris)
RUN-DMC - It's Tricky
Sabrina Carpenter - Espresso
Sean Paul - Temperature
Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Shania Twain - Man! I Feel Like A Woman!, Any Man Of Mine, You're Still The One
Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back
Sister Sledge - We Are Family
Smash Mouth - All Star
Sophie Ellis-Baxter - Murder On The Dancefloor
Spice Girls - Wannabe
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)
Taio Cruz - Dynamite
Taylor Swift - Love Story, Cruel Summer
The B-52's - Love Shack
The Beatles - Twist And Shout
The Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling
The Commdores - Brick House
The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
The Isley Brothers - Shout
The Killers - Mr. Brightside
The Temptations - My Girl
The Weeknd - Blinding Lights
TLC - No Scrubs
Toto - Africa
Usher - Yeah! (Feat. Lil Jon and Ludacris)
Van Morrison - Brown-Eyed Girl
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
Whitney Houston - I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music
CLASSIC LATIN, TEJANO, CUMBIA
David Lee Garza & Los Musicales - Contaras Conmigo, Y Ahora Aqui, Cuando Llegas Tu
Emilio Navaira - Donde Andara, Ya, Y Se Pasan Los Anos, Ya No Me Pones Atencion, Suficiente Amor
Fandango USA - La Charanga
Flaco Jimenez - En El Cielo No Hay Cerveza, Tan Solo
Grupo Bryndis - Amor Prohibido
Guardianes Del Amor - El Perro, Y Gato, Y Yo
Kumbia Kings - Fuego, Azucar, Boom Boom
La Tropa F - Juan Sabor, Si Tus Besos Se Van
Los Grey's - De Repente El Amor
Los Tigres Del Norte - La Liebre, Jefe De Jefes
Los Tucanes De Tijuana - Desde Que Te Amo, Espejenado
Massore - El Baile Del Gorila, Muevelo Muevelo, Negro Yo Soy
Olga Tanon - Mi Eterno Amor Secreto, En Ti
Ram Herrera - Ingrata, Si Tu Amor Es Mi Prision
Selena - Si Una Vez, Techno Cumbia, Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, Como La Flor
CONTEMPORARY LATIN
Bad Bunny - DtMF, EoO
Chavita Borja & Chaski - Carita Inocente
De La Ghetto - Solo
De La Rose - Yo te conozco
El Alfa, Noriel & Trueno - LOS APARATOS
Fariana - Barbie
Guaynaa - Pari El Ano Nuevo
Hamilton - Contacto Zero
J Balvin, Benny Jamz & Gilli - Reposado
Joe Arroyo - El Trato
Kali Uchis - Muevelo
Natanael Cano, et al - Perlas Negras
Rawayana & Manuel Turizo - Ingels En Miami
Rawayana & Servando & Florentino - El Amor Se Ve
Tito El Bambino ft. Daddy Yankee - Mia
Yandel & J Balvin - Sin Verguenza
Zion & Lennox ft. Daddy Yankee - Yo Voy
THE VAULT
A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It
ABBA - Honey, Honey, Take A Chance On Me
Ace Of Base - Cruel Summer, The Sign
Adam Ant - Goody Two Shoes
Amy Winehouse - Rehab, You Know I'm No Good
AJR - Bang!
Art Of Noise - Moments In Love
Beastie Boys - Intergalactic, Fight For Your Right, Paul Revere, Sabotage
Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing, Jive Talkin, Tragedy, Night Fever, More Than A Woman, If I Can't Have You
Bel Biv Devoe - Poison
Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth
Billie Eilish - Bad Guy, Bury A Friend, No Time To Die, Your Power
Blondie - Atomic
Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry, Be Happy
BTS - Butter, Dynamite
C&C Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now), Here We Go, Let's Rock & Roll
Chubby Checker - The Twist
Conan Gray - Heather
Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over
Culture Club - Karma Chameleon
Daft Punk - Da Funk, Around the World, Doin' It Right
David Bowie & Mick Jagger - Dancin' In The Street
Dead Or Alive - You Spin Me Round
Debbie Deb - Lookout Weekend
Debbie Gibson - Electric Youth
Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus
Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance
Dion - Runaround Sue, The Wanderer
Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Stevie Wonder - That's What Friends Are For
DJ Snake ft. J Balvin & Tyga - Loco Contigo
Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart, Power Of Love
Donna Summer - Hot Stuff, She Works Hard For The Money
Dr Dre ft. Snoop Dog - Dre Day
Duran Duran - The Reflex
Eazy-E - We Want Eazy
Echo & The Bunnymen - Lips Like Sugar
Eminem - Encore
En Vogue - Free Your Mind
Enigma - Sadness
Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos, I Like It (ft. Pitbull)
Erasure - A Little Respect, Chains Of Love
Falco - Der Kommissar
Fergie - Clumsy
Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Sherry, Walk Like A Man, Working My Way Back To You
Frankie Valli - Grease
Fugees - No Woman, No Cry
Genesis - No Reply At All, That's All, Land of Confusion
George Michael - Faith, Monkey, Freedom 90
Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks On Me
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood, Feel Good, Inc.
Hall & Oates - Maneater
Hanson - MMMbop
Heavy D & The Boyz - Now That We've Found Love
Huey Lewis & The News - Do You Believe In Love, Heart & Soul, If This Is It
Human League - Don't You Want Me
Ice-T - New Jack Hustler
Jackson 5 - ABC, Dancing Machine, I Want You Back
Janet Jackson - All For You, Alright, Black Cat, Control, Nasty, Rhythm Nation, Rock With U
Jennifer Lopez - In The Morning, On The Floor
KC & The Sunshine Band - That's The Way (I Like It)
Kim Wilde - You Keep Me Hangin On
Kraftwerk - Radioactivity
Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head, Spinning Around
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
LMFAO - Sexy And I Know It, Party Rock Anthem, Shots (ft. Lil Jon)
Lady Gaga - Alejandro, Born This Way, Just Dance, Telephone (ft. Beyonce)
Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness
Lionel Richie - All Night Long
Lil Jon - Get Low
Lizzo - Good As Hell, Truth Hurts
Lorde - Royals
Los Del Rio - Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix)
Madonna - Borderline, Burning Up, Causing A Commotion, Cherish, Dress You Up, Express Yourself, Holiday, La Isla Bonita, Like a Prayer, Lucky Star, Material Girl, Music, Open Your Heart, Papa Don't Preach, True Blue, Vogue, etc.
MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This, Pumps & A Bump
Michael Buble - All I Want For Christmas Is You, Everything
Michael Jackson - Baby Be Mine, Beat It, Human Nature, Rockin Robin, Thriller, Wanna Be Startin Somethin
Michael Sembello - Maniac
Milli Vanilli - Girl You Know It's True
New Kids On The Block - You Got It (The Right Stuff)
Nicki French - Total Eclipse Of The Heart
No Doubt - Hella Good
OMC - How Bizarre
Poison - Nothing But A Good Time, Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Prince - Let's Go Crazy, 1999, Kiss, When Doves Cry
Public Enemy - Fight The Power
Roxette - The Look, It Must Have Been Love
Salt N Pepa - Push It, What A Man
Shannon - Let The Music Play
Simple Minds - Don't You Forget About Me
Skid Row - I Remember You
Taylor Dayne - Tell It To My Heart
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
Warrant - Heaven
Whitesnake - Here I Go Again, Is This Love
Setup requirements
One table, about six feet. Tablecloth optional.
Access to power outlets, preferably enough for several lights, two speaker cabinets, and DJ Controller.
If the event is outdoors, the work area must have a covered patio.
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