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Trevor McFedries

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Trevor McFedries
McFedries in September 2022
McFedries in September 2022
Background information
Also known asYung Skeeter
BornNovember 27, 1985
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • DJ
  • music producer
  • director
  • A&R
  • manager
  • Brud co-founder
Years active2006–present
LabelsDim Mak
Websitewww.eatskeet.com

Trevor McFedries[1][2] (born November 27, 1985), (formerly known as Yung Skeeter) is a musician who worked as a DJ, producer, and director for acts including Ke$ha, Azealia Banks, Katy Perry, Chris Brown, Steve Aoki, and others.[3] He toured alongside Katy Perry on her 2011 California Dreams Tour.[4] McFedries has also performed at music festivals Lollapalooza and Coachella, served as an entrepreneur-in-residence at Bad Robot, and was an early employee at Spotify.[4] He is the co-founder and CEO of technology startup Brud and the creator of virtual pop star Lil Miquela.

He currently sits on the boards of the Southern California Institute of Architecture “SCI-Arc” and Rhizome, the Digital Artwork arm of The New Museum.[5][6]

Early life

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McFedries grew up in Davenport, Iowa.[7][8] In high school, he was a "football star"[9] and enjoyed playing basketball.[10] He moved with his family to Los Angeles when he was 16.[11] He earned a college scholarship to play football at San Jose State but dropped out of college and moved back to LA.[12] Los Angeles has been his "home base" since that time. He started DJing at the age of 19.[11]

Music career

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McFedries took the stage name DJ Skeet Skeet, and in 2007 he was introduced to Shwayze and Cisco Adler.[13] The three created a partnership that would culminate in the 2008 release of a self-titled album. The album made it to the top 10 on the Billboard charts with two songs ("Buzzin'" and "Corona and Lime") that charted on the Billboard Hot 100 list.[14] The popularity of the trio led to the creation of a short-lived reality television series on MTV called Buzzin'.[15] Also in 2008, DJ Skeet Skeet was given the "People's Choice Award for Best DJ" by Paper Magazine.[16] He also became the first DJ to perform at the entire slate of shows on the Warped Tour in 2008.[9]

By 2011, he had worked with acts like Chris Brown, Ke$ha, 3OH!3, Bonde do Rolê, and Sky Ferreira, creating remixes of their tracks and producing various songs.[11] In 2011, he also opened for Katy Perry on her California Dreams arena tour,[7] sharing a stage with both Perry and Robyn.[17] McFedries and Perry had been friends long before the tour.[11] During this time, he worked and as a A&R at Photo Finish Records.[18][19]

In 2012, he decided to change his stage name to "Yung Skeeter," He produced and provided beats for various songs for other artists. McFedries made his directorial debut in 2012, directing the music videos for Steve Aoki's "Control Freak" and NERVO's "We're All No One."[20]

Starting in 2012, McFedries has been an Artist Advocate at Spotify alongside D.A. Wallach of Chester French.[7][21] His relationship with Steve Aoki (who runs Dim Mak Records) vaulted Skeeter into a position hosting a radio show on iHeartRadio for Dim Mak Records. In 2013, he became a spokesman for VitaminWater alongside acts like B.o.B., Matt and Kim, and Santigold. He performed with these three acts in Boring, Oregon as part of VitaminWater's "Make Boring Brilliant" campaign. He has also appeared in ads for the company.[22]

BANKS' debut album, Goddess, was executive produced by Yung Skeeter.[23] He also produced "Wallace" on Azealia Banks' 2014 album, Broke with Expensive Taste.[24]

Brud

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In addition to his musical career, McFedries worked for Bad Robot, the production company of J.J. Abrams.[25] In 2016, McFedries co-founded the tech company Brud[26] which is as a “transmedia company” that produces digital personas utilized to create digital story-driven worlds. McFedries is the company’s CEO.[27]

Of their creations has been Miquela, a CGI character and model that uses social media in order to detail her life, which includes a mixtures of fictional and non-fictional environments.[28] They initially created Miquela anonymously,[29] only later revealing themselves as her creator. They have also created other characters to interact with Miquela as well as other parts of social media,[30] including Bermuda—whom McFedries created under an in-story faux rival company before revealing Brud had also created her.

In 2018 McFedries and Brud received $6 million in funding from Sequoia Capital,[31] and that year their creation became one of Time magazine’s “Most Influential People on the Internet”.[32] In 2019, investments raised by his company had totaled $25.5 million, with a valuation of $144.5 million.[27] Through his fundraising, McFedries and his cofounders have stated that they would only accept funding from investment firms where either a woman or a person of color was in a position of authority.[25]

On October 4, 2021 “Brud Inc” was acquired by Dapper Labs for an undisclosed amount.[33] The acquisition sees Trevor become the CEO of “Dapper Collectives” a new org that will be “Mainstreaming DAOs.” The first DAO that Dapper Collectives will bring to life is “Brud DAO” the decentralization of Brud Inc. that will allow for the community of fans and creators to own the project and guide it alongside the Brud team. In the acquisition McFedries stated “Really, what we're going to be doing is building tools for DAOs, storytellers, and creators to come and build out the future in web3 with us on the Flow blockchain.” [34]

Friends with Benefits

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Friends With Benefits is an Ethereum based DAO created by McFedries in September 2020 and is considered to be the first Social DAO.[35][36]

Art & A.I.

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McFedries was featured in Rhizome’s 7x7[37] program as a leader at the intersection of art and technology, as well as NYC Media Lab[38] where he discussed the future of storytelling, art, and A.I. with artist Aria Dean. McFedries spoke with Berkeley Art + Design[39] about how narrative and attitude make an avatar relatable and authentic.

Politics

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McFedries was a campaign surrogate for Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign and fundraised for George Gascón[40] in his run to become District Attorney of Los Angeles County.

Discography

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Singles and remixes

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Solo artist

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Year Single/Remix Album
2013 "Next to Me" feat. Nevaeh (with Wax Motif)[41] —
2013 "Hush Hush" (with Wax Motif)[41] —
2013 "It's Alright" by Matt and Kim (remix as Yung Skeeter)[12] —
2012 "Stand Again"[20][12] Stand Again[41]
2012 "I Like It Loud"[17] —
2012 "#1 In Heaven" by MNDR (remix as DJ Skeet Skeet)[42] —
2011 "Push It" feat. Yelawolf by Jessie and the Toy Boys (remix as DJ Skeet Skeet)[43] Push It (feat. Yelawolf) - The Remixes
2011 "A Dream Within a Dream" by The Glitch Mob (remix as DJ Skeet Skeet)[44] Drink The Sea: The Remixes Vol 1
2011 "Hold On" by The Chain Gang of 1974 (remix as Skeet with Seaton)[45] Wayward Fire (Deluxe Edition)
2011 "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People (remix as DJ Skeet Skeet)[46] —
2011 "Blah Blah Blah" by Ke$ha (remix as DJ Skeet Skeet)[47] I Am the Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album
2010 "Bizarro Funk" feat. Skeet Skeet by DZ[48] Bizarro Funk EP

Member of Shwayze

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Year Title Chart Positions Album
US AUT CAN GER SUI
2008 "Buzzin'" 46 45 80 31 63 Shwayze
"Corona and Lime" 23 — — — —
2009 "Get U Home" — — — — — Let It Beat
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Albums

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Member of Shwayze

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Year Information Chart positions[14] Certifications
U.S. U.S. R&B U.S. Rap CAN
2008 Shwayze
  • First studio album
  • Released: August 19, 2008
 10 5 3 92 Sales: 135,262+
2009 Let It Beat
  • Second studio album
  • Released: November 3, 2009
 55 — 3 — Sales: 10,764+

References

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  1. ^ Rodbard, Matt (4 December 2012). "Yung Skeeter Sends In His 5 Favorite Music Videos Featuring Food [NSFW]". Food Republic. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  2. ^ "10 New Artists You Need to Know: August 2014". Rolling Stone. August 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  3. ^ "30 Under 30 - Rising Stars in Los Angeles". Refinery29.com.
  4. ^ a b "INTERVIEW: Yung Skeeter". Listenlookandlive.blogspot.com.
  5. ^ "Transmedia Innovator and Cultural Worldbuilder Trevor McFedries Joins SCI-Arc Board - SCI-Arc". Sciarc.edu. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  6. ^ "We're also growing our Board of Directors! We're thrilled to have these four newly involved with Rhiz (though they are all longtime friends and colleagues)". Twitter.com. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b c R, Leanne (8 February 2013). "INTERVIEW: Yung Skeeter". Listen, Look and Live. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  8. ^ Culley, Liz (18 September 2013). "ARTIST OF THE DAY: Yung Skeeter Dreams Big". MySpace. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  9. ^ a b Niccum, Jon (1 October 2013). Worst Gig: From Psycho Fans to Stage Riots, Famous Musicians Tell All. Sourcebooks. ISBN 978-1402284953.
  10. ^ Keyes, Sarah (24 July 2013). "30 Under 30: L.A.'s Bright Young Things". Refinery29. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d Mann, Paul (26 August 2011). "Paul Mann: Hot New DJ Skeet Skeet Blazing a Trail". Noozhawk. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  12. ^ a b c "Yung Skeeter". Beatport.com. Beatport. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  13. ^ Carletto, Tina (21 November 2012). "Inside The Mind of Yung Skeeter". Joonbug. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  14. ^ a b Cohen, Jonathan (27 August 2008). "Jonas Brothers Begin Second Week At No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  15. ^ "It's the "Best Summer Ever!!!!!" For Cisco Adler and Skeet Skeet of Shwayze". Paper Magazine. 23 July 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  16. ^ Craig, Carolina Torem; Alexis Swerdloff (17 November 2008). "About Last Night... PAPER's Fourth Annual Nightlife Awards Presented by Diesel". Paper Magazine. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  17. ^ a b "Go backstage on the California Dreams tour with DJ Skeet Skeet!". Teen Vogue. August 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  18. ^ Meyrick, Richard (11 August 2011). "DJ Skeet Skeet joins Photo Finish Records to help spearhead A&R operations!". AltSounds. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  19. ^ "Yung Skeeter to Spin at Bazaar: Under The Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas June 30". Vegas News. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Yung Skeeter". Bang Tidy Music. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  21. ^ Dredge, Stuart (29 October 2013). "How Spotify and its digital music rivals can win over artists: 'Just include us'". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  22. ^ "Brilliance Accomplished: B.o.B, Matt & Kim, Santigold and Yung Skeeter Help Make Boring Brilliant". Fuse. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  23. ^ Hutchinson, Kate (30 August 2014). "Banks: 'I'm being as honest as I can'". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  24. ^ Stern, Bradley (10 November 2014). "'Broke With Expensive Taste': Azealia Banks Puts Her Money Where Her Mouth Is (Album Review)". MuuMuse.com. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  25. ^ a b "Lil Miquela's Body Con Job". Thecut.com. 11 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Trevor McFedries & Sara Decou is part of the BoF 500". The Business of Fashion. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  27. ^ a b "Virtual Influencer Maker Raises Nearly $20M | Los Angeles Business Journal". Labusinessjournal.com. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  28. ^ Hsu, Tiffany (17 June 2019). "These Influencers Aren't Flesh and Blood, Yet Millions Follow Them". The New York Times.
  29. ^ "Virtual influencers have got to be a fad — right?". Vox.com. 3 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Meet Bermuda, the Most Controversial CGI Influencer on Instagram". Refinery29.com.
  31. ^ "The makers of the virtual influencer, Lil Miquela, snag real money from Silicon Valley". Techcrunch.com. 24 April 2018.
  32. ^ "Meet This Year's 25 Most Influential People on the Internet". Time.com. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  33. ^ [1] [dead link]
  34. ^ "Dapper Collectives". Avc.com. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  35. ^ "An exclusive type of club called 'Dao' is popping up online. What's it all about? | Geoff Mak". The Guardian. 14 November 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  36. ^ "Businesses I Should've Started". Economicmotivation.blog. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  37. ^ "Seven on Seven 2019". Rhizome.org. 26 March 2019.
  38. ^ Oct 9: Fireside Chat With Trevor McFedries and Aria Dean. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
  39. ^ "Trevor McFedries: In Conversation with Aria Dean". Artsdesign.berkeley.edu.
  40. ^ "Thurston Moore, Jeff Tweedy, and 70 other musicians sign their support for Bernie Sanders". consequence.net. 19 September 2015.
  41. ^ a b c "Yung Skeeter". Spotify.com. Spotify. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  42. ^ "#1 In Heaven DJ Skeet Skeet Remix". Beatport.com. Beatport. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  43. ^ "Push It (feat. Yelawolf) - The Remixes". Itunes.apple.com. iTunes. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  44. ^ "Drink The Sea: The Remixes Vol 1". Theglitchmob.com. The Glitch Mob. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  45. ^ "Wayward Fire (Deluxe Edition)". Itunes.apple.com. iTunes. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  46. ^ "Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks (Skeet Skeet Remix) : Very Sick New Summer Indie / House Remix". This Song is Sick. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  47. ^ Sciarretto, Amy (24 February 2011). "Kesha to Release First-Ever Remix Album". PopCrush.com. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  48. ^ "Bizarro Funk". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
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