Native Detroiter Joshua ‘Zeke’ Thomas Brings the Music

hen your father is former Detroit Piston Isiah Thomas, every day is like basketball camp, says Joshua "Zeke" Thomas-who grew up in the Motor City shooting hoops regularly against the legendary point guard. But even with lessons in b-ball fit for a champ, Zeke was more focused on his courtside playlist.

"I remember playing with my dad and shooting around with him in our gym, and I was always more concerned with what we were listening to," he says. "I feel I just gravitated more toward music."

Zeke, 26, now plays DJ full-time as a New York-based producer. And he already has three synth-infused club bangers under his belt, including the soon to be released catchy track "Bye Felicia" on Sept. 5, 2014.

This month, Zeke kicks off the Zeke Thomas Invasion tour on Sept. 18,2014 in Tallahassee that will send summer off with a bang. But before the music cues, we caught up with the DJ to talk about being the point guard of getting the party started.

Who was your favorite basketball player growing up?

My dad! I can't say anyone else. That's blasphemy. But what's funny is I was actually a big Michael Jordan fan, so that did not go over very well in the house. The Pistons and the Chicago Bulls obviously had their battles. And then in the '90s after my dad retired and Jordan kind of controlled the league and the world, I had a big Jordan poster in my room. And my dad was working for NBC at the time and they had the rights to the interview nights and (Michael) gave me his pair of shoes I believe from Game 5 before he made his famous shot against the (Utah) Jazz.

Did you ever consider a basketball career?

I played basketball growing up, and I loved it. I actually played on a national championship-winning Amateur Athletic Union team. And we had a gym in the house in Detroit, so I would shoot around.

What kind of music did you grow up listening to?

Definitely Michael Jackson. I was a big Motown fan. I loved Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and soul music.

What do you do when you come back to Detroit?

My uncle still lives there. Sometimes I play a club, but mostly just come back to relax.

What always reminds you most of Detroit when you are in other cities? Coney dogs?

They're not real Coney dogs though! I would say I miss good Greek food. There is still something about (hearing) someone order a Greek salad. My mom used to always order a Greek salad with extra beets, peppers, light on the feta, from Leo's Coney Island.

This Zeke Thomas Invasion tour sounds like one big party circuit with your music as the playlist.

It seems to just be coming together very quickly. We're just going to go from town to town, city to city driving. And try to hit as many cities as we can. I'm very excited.

There is a video circulating of DJ David Guetta tripping out during his set. Are you one of those DJs who party just as hard with the crowd?

Um … people have been partying and performing forever. When it comes to me, I don't like to partake when I am performing. I think it would jeopardize my art. Doesn't let me showcase my abilities the best. I would say, I just want to encourage everybody to be safe and know what they're doing to their bodies.