Mike Husted trying to create his own musical legacy in Newton

Music runs in Mike “Scratch Dub” Husted’s blood.

His father is Ron Husted, better known as “Bagpiper Ron,” one of the most famous and utilized bagpipe players in Iowa. Now Mike is trying to create his own legacy as a DJ in the burgeoning electronic dance music scene.

“Oh wow, that’s a tough answer to put into words and actually funny because no matter how many times I get asked this, I still struggle,” Mike said when asked to describe his musical style. “I would tell somebody new to the electronic scene, my current style is electro-soul/funk but I still variate past those boundaries throughout my performances.”

While his father is no stranger to public performance — he piped in Newton alone more than a dozen times last year — Mike didn’t really put himself out there until recently.

“I’m going on nine years (scratching), with a couple years missing in between. Last year, I decided to come out of my shell and play publicly,” Mike said. “I was initially drawn into the ‘turntablism’ aspect of DJing, which is to create rhythms through the scratching of records. I always saw something musical in it and loved the unorthodox idea of using a turntable as an instrument.”

So why did Mike chose the tables over the bagpipes?

“It just felt like a good fit at the time,” he said jokingly.

Although they play different instruments, Mike said his father played a huge role in shaping who he is a musician.

“I’ve had the pleasure of growing up with many unique memories of him playing in weddings, funerals, parades, as well as many military and political gatherings,” Mike said. “All of which have contributed to my musical perspective.”

Another thing his father passed down to him was a sense of community.

“I’m actively looking for opportunities within the community to bring people together. Newton has great potential; it is up to us to, as a community, hear the music,” Mike said.

To help people hear the music, Mike and his friend rapper Brandon “Kiss Da” Cook are having a show this Thursday at The Manhattan, which is located at 113 First Ave. E. The show is free of charge and starts at 9 p.m.

“You can expect lasers, bass, quality music in many categories, and of course scratching,” Mike said of the show.” In return, I expect dancing, respect for one another, an open mind and a great time.”

Cook will also be selling tickets to his show on March 28, where he will be one of the opening acts for the Academy Award-wining rap group “Da Mafia Six.”

Newton and Jasper County has a growing base of diverse young musical acts and Mike is proud to be a part of this group. He also wants his fellow musicians not to let fear of public performance hinder them and encourages local businesses to give them a shot.

“The next step is to find venues suitable for live performances and to utilize our local talent,” Mike said. “I’ve met many local musicians throughout my life here in Newton, touching about every genre I can imagine, most of whom have still never played a show in their life. I can see the desire in every one of their eyes and I can feel the fear too.”

Mike also believes that music plays a deeper role in community building than just providing basic entertainment.

“As a community, we bring out the best in one another and we need to hold our brothers and sisters accountable to shared values that not only reflect our home-life, but work-life as well,” Mike said. “Enabling a person to be a more capable parent and a highly engaged employee/employer, this goes further than just music.”

Senior staff writer Ty Rushing may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 426, or at trushing@newtondailynews.com.