Corey Tut On Libelous Tell-All Songs, 'Pokerface' Burnout, and Everything

Corey Tut has been on the New York party scene for well over a decade as a DJ, performing everywhere from dirty dive bars to fancy hotels. But he's more than just a blond, strapping hunk of record-spinning sexy, he's also a talented musician and singer. Aside from his 2008 album Everything (available as a free download!), he's also been seen singing his soulful acoustic set at various downtown venues, and has even tickled crowds with his instantly popular mash-ups, built around a song you know all too well.

So tell us about Everything. Is that your first album?
I came out with a few recordings with my old band two years ago but they were not nearly as well produced. I worked with some great producers for this and they gave me the big sound I really wanted.

Who's playing the instruments?
It's just me and my producer Super Buddha -- their credits include Debbie Harry, Scissor Sisters and Rufus Wainwright. We sorta played everything and played it together, and then I did put together a live band but that is really expensive. That's why I do these live acoustic shows: Because I don't have to pay anybody.
Listening to your album, it's a bit surprising because it's so rock-oriented. I hear bits of punk influence, but also Pearl Jam. That's not normally what you spin at parties! There's a definite punk influence. When I first picked up the guitar I was really into punk rock and that stuck with me. But with my voice, I definitely consider myself a soul singer, with rock influences. My favorite singers are, y'know, Ray Charles, Tina Turner. The gritty, soulful in-your-face singers. But I love rock 'n' roll and I love the guitar. Eddie Vedder is another one of my favorite singers. He's so raw, his voice conveys so much emotion.

I really enjoyed the track called "Wayside."
That's probably my fave song I've written...

Really? You're not just saying that because I said it!
No, I mean, it's definitely in the top three. It has a lot of meaning to me: family, people who died. Lyrically it means a lot to me -- it's about people I love and breaking up, to a certain degree. Oh! Tell people they can download the record for free from my website.

Why is that?
I went through all this drama with the label I was on, Astute Brutes. They ended up pulling it off of iTunes and prevented it from being sold. They were just going to shelve the record, to be dicks. The company was going under -- hey we're crazy and it was bad management -- it's really a whole other interview we don't really have to get into. So, you know, my only strike back that is if I can't get rid of it, I want people to hear it, you know. I worked really hard on it so I want everyone to at least have access to it.

That's a true artist! I also heard that you had a song signed to a movie recently?
The song is called "My Favorite Memory." The movie is Violent Tendencies. I dunno when it's coming out, and I honestly don't know anything about it! It's directed by this guy Casper Andreas. They approached me and asked me, they liked the song -- one of the actors, Jesse Archer, referred me to the directors. I had another song, "So What," in Another Gay Movie. It's great to have your stuff out in that medium.

How about that "Pokerface"mashup song? It seems to be blowing up!
Oh yes, that song [sighs]. Are you not happy about it?
No no, it's great! I mean, it's really fun but it's taken on a life of its own and now people are screaming out in the middle of my set, 'Pokerface!' I'd rather have them scream out the titles of my own song, but it's great.

How did it come about?
Well, Jonny McGovern asked me to sing at his birthday show at Ars Nova [over the summer], so I was like, 'I need to do something to get these gays going. Everyone knows that song and loves that song; if I can pull it off I'll bring the house down.' It's a staple of my show now, it was supposed to be a one-off and now it's at every show.

So you never thought it would get to that level?
I was going to retire it after that night at Folk Yeah! [a weekly acoustic show at Luca Lounge] but I got a request from another friend of mine and I'm singing it at a friend's birthday tonight -- Lee Chappel's last Foreign Affairs cabaret. It's good because it's easily mutate-able which is good cause I can fit it into any occasion.

You're also DJ Corey Tut, aren't you?
Yeah it's me, but I like to keep it completely separate -- so many people see me DJing and only know me as a DJ -- and I tell them I'm also a musician and when they go check out my music and see big rock and roll and guitars they get confused and I think it's not really what they're expecting. I don't want to confuse them. It's tricky, because making my own music is definitely my passion, that's my baby -- DJing I consider more of a job.

A lot of musicians I have worked with over the years have little respect for DJs or dance music in general. I am not sure if it's a jealousy thing or a narrow-mindedness, but in my experience a lot of them see DJs as glorified iPods and electronic music as soulless. And most of the people I DJ for could probably care less about the kind of music I make. So I try and keep them somewhat separate.

So you're not playing rock music when you DJ?
No! At certain parties I can get away with it and have a blast -- but a lot of the places I play the kids would just storm off the dance floor.

But don't you like dance music?
Personally, I like most all types of music. A good song is a good song, and I have been branching out recently and working with different artists in different genres. I have a track coming out on The Ones' new record. I also worked on a few tracks with Ultra Naté  this year, and wrote and produced a song on Peppermint's new CD. Also, I have recently started writing with country artist Jenna Torres, so I am really trying to branch out and explore different genres. For me it's all about the song and growing as a songwriter.

What's going on in the future?
Well I am working a new record, it's in pre-production. I do as much as I can in my home studio -- recording-wise and arrangement-wise, and I'll probably go back with Super Buddah, the same producers of my last record. But because I'm doing so many acoustic shows, it's going to be much more representative of that. Another problem I run into is that people will hear the record and then they'll come to a show and hear that it's more acoustic and they get confused. And I'm really enjoying bringing out the soulful side -- a little more softness and more dynamic. It'll be a much more bare, stripped-down record. My writing has also become more emotional and more intricate.

What do you like to write about?
Love. I write about personal relationship stuff and you know, a lot about myself -- and how I see myself in others. I've written songs about friends of mine which are not the most flattering, but it's all stuff that I see in myself so it could just as easily be about me -- putting all my ugliness out there for everybody to see.

That's a good cover for those libel cases! This mean shit, it's really about you but it's also about me.
Yeah! Then my friends are like 'yeah I can see that,' but then also 'yeah, you're an asshole.'

No names are ever mentioned! So you've been in NYC a long time?
A very long time -- coming up on 20 years!

Really?
Yeah man, I moved here when I was four. No, I'm kidding...

I understand about ten years ago you used to do parties with Harriet Halloway when she was underage?
I corrupted her early, yeah!

Ever written a song about her?
She's one of the people that I get some of my most unflattering material from! No names are mentioned! Off the record! [laughs].

Corey Tut is playing an acoustic show on December 17 at Uncle Mike's, 57 Murray St., (212) 791-9676. 8 p.m. $5.