“It's always nice to control the crowd with music. It's like a spell. ”
- bodega party

 

Do you have anyone that inspires you right now? We were talking about DJ Swisha earlier..

Yeah, all those big boys, they’re doing their thing… but really my friends because they are the people I'm actually djing with, and they are the people who are about making me (and each other) better. I love B2Bing. I’m always learning something. Most of my dj friends are influencing me, whether I realize it or not. I don’t mind admitting it. Like Purp? Yeah, that’s that bitch. I have a friend, Juan, who’s doing hotel residencies now. My friends are talented, and their talent is speaking for themselves.

It’s easy to play with people who want the best for you because you want the best for them. They’re not trying to make things difficult. This is how we become better. One thing I enjoy about my closer friends is that it’s not about the clout or the money or being the dj for the sake of it… No, you have to be good. They care about being good. They’re like, I’m talented and I have value and worth and something to bring to the table. I admire that about them because you really can’t say anything about them, they’re good. They also care about people. A lot of them care about people. And I do too. I might not always take a request, but I like talking, and I don't mind giving advice. That’s why I did DJ link up… here’s some free tea, some free advice. Sort of breaking the barrier of being online. People online only know you from your sets, and they might have preconceived notions, but they don’t really hear you. It breaks that down. I’m a person. I don’t know everything. This is where I’m at in my career. Here is how I can help you.

What’s DJ link up?

I hosted two panels last summer where I brought my homies on just to talk. I interviewed them, I moderated, I asked them questions, passed the mic, and people spoke about their experience. I felt like there weren't really conversations or public conversations happening a lot in the community. The industry is tough, especially if you’re not from the scene, and you’re new to everything. It could be discouraging. I love being like, everyone’s a dj!

Is djing your main gig?

I am definitely not putting 40 hours in. I would just say I'm a part time dj because the way the market is, it fluctuates. The gigs come, they go. You know, sometimes you have just a really good month, and sometimes you have a really slow one. So I'm a part time DJ. I'm blessed to be that because I have a day job.

What's your day job?

I work at photodom. It’s a Black owned camera store in Brooklyn.



Growing up, did you feel like there was a point in time or a shift that got you more into dance music?

There was never a shift. I was always surrounded by music. You know, Saturday morning, my mom was blasting Gospel... sometimes RnB. It was just something I got used to hearing. I dreaded hearing it though because it meant I had to clean. But my dad, he played everything. He definitely opened up different parts of my brain to different genres. He’s really into house music. He played a lot of house and freestyle. He put me onto older rappers too.

When I started exploring music on my own in middle school, the first electronic music that I listened to was dubstep. I was obsessed with Skrillex. I got into UK shows… jungle, drum and bass. In high school, I got more into techno, alternative rock, indie. I was really emo. I feel like everything that I listened to then and so forth has been really important--they were soundtracks to my life, basically. They were important moments in my thinking. Important in trying to figure out who I was and how I resonated with certain songs and lyrics... I got into Death Grips too, but I was never into screamo. 

Where did you grow up by the way?

I'm from East New York.



Do you have any passions outside of music?

I am passionate about connecting people. I'm really big on, it takes a village to make it all happen. I'm passionate about food. I love eating. I'm just passionate about life, in general. I like living and traveling and having experiences and making good connections.



Is there something you wish to see here in the nightlife community?

One thing that I would do when I first become Mayor of Nightlife, I would have the venue set aside real budgets for talent. A lot of the time they're just like, here's these trash bar percentages, and they make it mad difficult for the talent who's bringing people in. Practical budgets for djs should be normalized, especially since we’re not as protected at night. We’re freelancing and choosing to be out at 4 in the morning. They’re like, good luck, get home safe… just sending us home. Cover transportation, cover food…

What do you like about djing?

It feels good. I like playing fun music for people. And, well, maybe it's a control thing as well. It's always nice to control the crowd with music. It's like a spell. But, low-key, I feel like it's just enjoying music. I’m really into the fact that we're able to chop something up and change things around and loop something and change the pitch. I could have three tracks going, and now it sounds like a new song. I love mixing, and I love being able to elevate a song in my own way. I feel like the solid next step is definitely producing... making the stuff I hear in my head and making it come to life on my own.

Do you have any of your own tracks you want to share?



If you could B2B with anyone in the world, who would it be?

DJ Pauly D from Jersey Shore… he needs to see me at the decks.