We are here to live, love, and be creative. With these three concepts you will be able to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Creativity is a way to tap into your inner self and express ideas that can inspire you and those that are connected and influenced by those ideas.
Music and DJing is the art of being creative. The year of 1998, when I was seeking and forging my way through life, I started asking myself what is the purpose of my being? I was feeling ordinary by going to work Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm with two weeks off. And although I was working in my chosen profession which was radio broadcasting at the time, I was not able to rise above the grim reality that there must be more to life then just going to work everyday. Then, a dear friend suggested that I start teaching DJ lessons. I was encourage by the suggestion yet challenged because of the task ahead of me. I said to myself, wow, I can teach someone the gift of spinning music? I could inspire someone to learn with this vinyl and CD library that I have amassed over the years? The exciting part for me was sharing my experience, music, and passion for DJ culture. The challenge was sharing my experience, music and passion with others. The task ahead meant, I had to sit myself down and create. I would have to create a course of instruction. I would have to think and write something down on paper. Again, I was wowed by the idea of teaching and fearful to move forward. 18 months after the conversation I had with my companion, the creativity hit me and the fear and challenge was put to the side and the pen, paper and I begin to talk. The creative thoughts flowed through me just as a salmon swimming up stream. I locked myself in my studio for weeks, writing down every ounce of experience that I knew about being a DJ. And if I could not put my own ideas and experience into an intelligible sentence, I started asking questions from those that expressed passion for the DJ profession or have been spinning music as long as I have. I read physics text books and learned about relative motion and how it relates to turntables and DJ equipment. I would thoroughly read each instruction booklet that was accompanied with DJ equipment. I even took the time to read music theory books and going to live music shows to study musicians and bands. The knowledge that I knew and learned surprised me; I never assumed I knew much until the creative streak struck me. Today, I have taught hundreds of children, youths, young adults, and adults the art of DJ culture in my home music studio and community centers and schools throughout northern California. The source of these great opporunties was fueled by my own personal creativity. I never considered myself to be a creative person until I begin the journey of teaching others. Being creative is a powerful force that cannot be under estimated or toyed with. When in doubt about your life’s direction, just take a look around you. Everything that we have as a people, as a society, was forged by creativity…nothing into something. Challenge yourself. Be the creative being that you are.
5 Comments
Spinning outside on the streets of San Francisco provides me the distinct opportunity to create a weekly house music mix coined “The San Francisco Street Inspired House Mix” which airs on KPOO 89.5FM or KPOO.COM: Wednesdays 12midnight to 3:00am.
As the leaves were falling during the autumn season of 2011, I mixed over 16 live sessions on the Embarcadero and Valencia Street in the Mission. Vulnerability is one of the key engines that drive me to create music mixes on the street because I have no idea what can happen next. The SFPD rides by and as they give me a slight glance as they take on matters of great urgency. What I do know is programming music as transits are making there way allows me to connect with the people, humanity. The feelings that I am tossing around while I a selecting songs are wildly incredible. I shake. I tremble. I think. I encourage you to plant yourself on a street corner and create and express yourself for the greater good of your community. Sharing my passion for music with the general public is a great way of being part of something bigger then I. Share your passion with your world and you will realize how generous, loving and engaging people can be. Normally, when I step away from mixing a music set, I am left with an overwhelming state of contemplation and wonderment. Being a personal witness to humanity as I stand still, in a creative state, shakes me to my core with the reality that life is a force, a force that cannot be played with, and a force that thrives on its own no matter what I may think or feel about it. I have relearned that we are all the same on the inside now matter how we make up and dress ourselves on the outside or the body we were born in. I realized that my opinions are important but not necessary to the force of life because now one is living for me or the force of life depends on me. I had no idea that taking on the streets of San Francisco as a DJ will inspire deep thoughts and a reappreication for who we are. I am just doing my thing, playing music, getting myself out of the house and sharing something that I have great passion for with my community. Vulnerability is the essence of having an exciting life. Take the risk and give what you got. Take that one special thing that you have and share it with humanity… the gifts that you will receive will be beyond the words on this page. |
|