As a crowd of neon covered bodies moved on the forest floor B次元官网网址� that for five days became one of electronic musicB次元官网网址檚 most popular venues B次元官网网址� the DJ in the booth was experiencing what can best be described as life coming full circle.

At 25, Steve Robertson, better known as Neon Steve, has shared the stage with some of the best names in the genre, but last year as he took the stage at Shambhala Music FestivalB次元官网网址檚 Fractal Forest in Salmo, B.C. for the first time, he was back where his journey as a DJ started.

B次元官网网址淚t was crazy,B次元官网网址� said Robertson. B次元官网网址淚t was this weird feeling of coming back around. If you had told me five years ago that I would be there, I would have just laughed.B次元官网网址�

Robertson had never touched a set of turntables until he went to Shambhala B次元官网网址� which focuses on electronic music B次元官网网址� after he graduated from high school.

Not only had he never DJd before that point, he also hadnB次元官网网址檛 really been exposed to the genre at all.

B次元官网网址淚 grew up listening to rock and classic rock mostly,B次元官网网址� said the Victoria-based DJ. B次元官网网址淢y dad was in a band, and is a rock and roller. I tried to play instruments but IB次元官网网址檓 the only one in the entire family of cousins and everybody that doesnB次元官网网址檛 play an instrument.B次元官网网址�

Within a few months of returning from Shambhala, Robertson bought turntables and secured himself a residency at a club in Courtenay, where he grew up.

As demand was building for RobertsonB次元官网网址檚 music in Victoria and after driving back and forth to Courtenay after too many shows, he decided to relocate.

B次元官网网址淚 was working construction and just hating it,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 finally took the leap of faith two years ago and quit my job,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 saved up enough money so I could just coast and I thought that I was only going to last about three months without working, but I havenB次元官网网址檛 been back since.B次元官网网址�

Instead, Robertson has been building a career which includes supporting DJs like U.K.B次元官网网址檚 Nero, who won a 2012 Grammy for a collaborative remix with Skrillex, and A Skillz, who was named Best DJ in 2012 by the Breakspoll International Breakbeat Awards.

He toured across Canada and last May toured the U.K. and Europe.

B次元官网网址淓verytime I head out on the road the crowds get a bit bigger,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just like any job, you have to put your time in. IB次元官网网址檝e been to a lot of the cities before, which helps, and Shambhala helps too. As soon as they put that on the flyer people are interested, which is a lucky break.B次元官网网址�

In addition to the increasing recognition of his music, Robertson also believes the change in the electronic music genre, which is seeing more DJs working in mainstream music, is creating more fans.

B次元官网网址淓lectronic music and DJing wasnB次元官网网址檛 very accepted before, but now the general public doesnB次元官网网址檛 really frown on it anymore,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 know back in the day, parents thought kids were crazy going to raves, now itB次元官网网址檚 becoming the norm.

B次元官网网址淓ven though itB次元官网网址檚 cool, the market is getting flooded too. Everybody and their dog is a DJ now which makes it harder to stand out.B次元官网网址�

As crowds continue to flock to venues in Victoria and across the country to hear RobertsonB次元官网网址檚 distinct blend of B次元官网网址�80s, B次元官网网址�90s and current tracks, itB次元官网网址檚 clear he is doing something to stand out.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 just trying to stay true,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if I do stand out, I hope I do. If I do itB次元官网网址檚 just luck,B次元官网网址� he said.

Though Robertson is on a Canada-wide tour for March and April, heB次元官网网址檒l be in Victoria on March 31 opening for Subvert at Club 9one9.