Finding His Groove

Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where dance music has yet to establish much of a presence, today’s editorial will highlight the talents and the story of Puff Scarborough (a.k.a. Puffie). Puff moved to Los Angeles at 19, and as many of you know the City of Angels can be anything but. With countless clubs and warehouses, the city hosts talented artists from around the world ranging from disco to deep house to techno and more. It is here that he would discover his sound, and ultimately his calling to become a DJ. 

Tulsa has a vibrant scene outside of electronic music, allowing Puff to surround himself with other genres at a young age. Oklahoma folk and rock legend Leon Russell’s homecoming tour was the first concert he ever attended. While “A Song for You” is far from what Puff would end up gravitating to, his ability to recognize Leon’s talents as a songwriter shows his versatility as an artist. Similar to many influential figures in dance music today, Puff first gained exposure and drew inspiration from Daft Punk's live performances on YouTube. Said perfectly in his own words, “Two French robots opened up my mind when I was 13, and my life hasn’t been the same since.” Puff’s obsession expanded to Swedish House Mafia and Basshunter, providing endless content of world tours for young dreamers like himself.

“Two French robots opened up my mind when I was 13, and my life hasn’t been the same since.”

Puff first began producing music at the age of 17 while still living in Tulsa. As an intern at Creative Audio Lab, he would take techniques he observed in their studio and experiment with creating Dream Pop tracks with friends. Characterized by its ethereal sound, frequent use of effects, and funky melodies achieved through keyboards and synthesizers, one can understand how Puff’s sound today originated in this genre. It wasn’t until he moved his life across the country that he would find a world of music waiting to be discovered.

As a DJ, it is important to remember your time as a fan and on the dancefloor, because often these are the experiences that shape a career before it has begun. When asked about moments like these, Puff had two performances in mind: Virgil Abloh at a warehouse in Downtown LA, and DJ Harvey at Catch One. To see the legendary fashion designer expressing himself in music before his passing is something many of us can only dream of. Puff rightfully described the experience as an awakening. When discussing DJ Harvey’s set, Puff had this to say:

“He just oozed this disco sleaze that was and is the absolute coolest to me… He played songs I will never hear again, they just haunt my memory.” 

Once-in-a-lifetime performances like these are the most transformative for an artist. Their style and technique cannot be replicated, only drawn from. Puff has done just that, describing his sound by breaking it into two. The first is “Balearic”, referencing the Spanish islands and the energy of a mid-day Ibiza set. The other is “deep, dark, obscure disco tracks with a heavy mood… music you could rob a bank to.” It is these two styles and subgenres where Puff has found what he loves most: “thick basslines that shake your soul, tasteful percussion, and hypnotic melodies.” Other artists that inspire him are disco house heavyweights Mike Dunn, Motor City Drum Ensemble, and LTJ Xperience. Digging deeper into his crate, you will also find artists like Damon Jee and Curses who toe the line between punk and electro.

“I love deep, dark, obscure disco tracks with a heavy mood… music you could rob a bank to.”

As Puff continued to develop his taste and narrow down his sound, he earned his first gig at Blind Barber in Highland Park, LA. At the time, the city was dominated mostly by hip-hop and the crowd was expecting him to play as such. He remembers thinking, “Man, these people do not like what I’m playing,” but it taught him a valuable skill that all DJs must possess: how to read your room and how to respond to it. As his career progresses, Puff has found dancefloors far more receptive, describing his favorites simply as a feeling: “I love a sexy spot because people feel that energy of the room, and paired with the music I play, it’s the perfect storm. Everybody wants to feel sexy, so wherever we feel sexy, let’s spin there.” Puff aspires to find and play at international venues that provide this environment, such as DJ Harvey’s club Klymax Discotheque in Bali, ZERO in Tokyo, and Bar Americas in Guadalajara.

“I love a sexy spot because people feel that energy of the room, and paired with the music I play, it’s the perfect storm. Everybody wants to feel sexy, so wherever we feel sexy, let’s spin there.”

One of Puff’s current projects includes his party series, Club Teal, which he started in 2021. Like his own music style, Club Teal features artists with a diverse range of genres including house, electro, disco, and techno. With a monthly residency every third Saturday at Club Tee Gee (LA), each party showcases different sounds that keep the crowd engaged and coming back each month for more. Their mantra, “Don’t Think, Just Dance”, addresses the importance of simplicity and authenticity that underground dance music is founded upon. At its core, the purpose of a good party is to foster a community of dancers looking for a safe space to express themselves, and Puff has done just that with Club Teal.

“Don’t Think, Just Dance”

Puff has also just released his first single, Make Your Transition, which is available to stream on all platforms! Featuring a distinctive bassline, trancey disco-inspired melody, and classic house vocals, the song calls the listener to action and to make the transition into the person they are meant to be. This is the first installment of Puff’s upcoming album that he hopes to release this year.

To close, we asked Puff his thoughts on the current scene, and what he hopes to see in the future. With his signature positive attitude and light-heartedness, his answer reflects something many of us have felt with the recent influx of attention on electronic music: “Everybody wants to be a DJ. I say that with all the sarcasm in the world… I really like where LA is at. New electronic-focused clubs are opening and people are more accepting of electronic music lately… My hope is that LA becomes a home for dance music again the way it was in the 90’s.” The team at Coat Check shares similar aspirations, and we can’t wait to both see and assist Puff in making that dream come to fruition. 

Closing remarks:

“I will be putting out more music as time goes on, but for now blast ‘Make Your Transition’ and come to Club Teal!

Love,

P”