They are the unsung heroes of the local music scene. They get the party started. They keep the party going. They aren’t just filling the dance floor at last weekend’s wedding or providing some safe background music for a community event.
They introduce you to new tunes and even whole new genres of music. True to south Louisiana’s unique musical heritage, they’ve got their ears pressed firmly against the doors of the best dancehalls to show off what’s happening locally, too—from bounce to trap to every mashup in between.
Where you can hear him: Regular shows at the End Zone Daiquiri and Bar and The Library at Northgate. House DJ for Marcel P. Black’s hip hop shows at the Spanish Moon and Luke St. John’s “Build a Fire” art shows. Online:soundcloud.com/djautomatik
What’s your favorite music to spin?
I prefer to play hip hop and R&B, but I’ve really been getting into Baltimore club music.
What attracted you to being a DJ? What’s your favorite thing about it?
I first got into DJing when I was 14 years old with a friend of mine. I used to watch DMC Championship videos, and that’s what inspired me to get better with scratch techniques. I think the best thing about DJing is seeing the reaction from people when they hear me mix and scratch. I always get the same response: “Wow, I didn’t know they still had real’ DJs.” I just laugh and say thanks for appreciating the craft.
Common misconceptions about being a DJ?
That it doesn’t take any skill to be one. To me, first and foremost, to call yourself a DJ you should be able to mix. If you can’t grasp that skill, you are not a DJ.
How do you handle working later hours?
It’s hard at times, but I always try to get some rest on my off time.
How would you describe the area’s current crop of talent to an outsider?
I would have to say there are plenty of people calling themselves DJs nowadays—some with the skill to say so and others that still need to practice. Those with skill, you will definitely enjoy!
Where you can hear him: Recent shows at Radio Bar, Mud and Water and Spanish Moon. Performs an original score for the silent film The Man Who Laughs June 28 at Baton Rouge Gallery’s Movies & Music on the Lawn series. Online:Facebook.com/matsystuff
What attracted you to being a DJ? What’s your favorite thing about it?
Honestly, nothing was “attractive” about being a DJ to me at first. I grew up playing guitar, singing and doing a lot of original compositions for bands or just for myself, so the idea of playing other people’s music all night seemed cheesy to me. I was dating a girl who sat me down and said, “You love to dance and you love to hijack the playlists at every party we go to; just try DJing out.” I ended up loving it and still do.
What’s your favorite music to spin?
All things funky/disco-influenced. But there’s also something special about surprising the hell out of people. If I can sneak in Fleetwood Mac or Cameo or some other left-field kind of jams, I’ll do it.
How do you handle working later hours?
The late hours can be quite daunting. If I only worked weekends then it would be no big deal, but I find myself gigging on weekdays quite a bit. When I play [at New Orleans bar] The Saint Saturday nights, I start at midnight and walk out the doors to sunlight at 7 a.m. The strangest thing about those nights is every single timethere is still a crowd of people who look like they are just getting started, and they let you know they aren’t happy about you stopping the tunes.
How would you describe the area’s current crop of talent to an outsider?
I’d say we’ve got a pretty seriously skilled group of people doing the DJ thing. I think most of us have very different styles and play to radically different markets. I don’t want Baton Rouge to necessarily emulate what’s happening in New Orleans, but I just wish more people would realize that we have a singular style around here, and they can easily contribute to it.
aka Sarah Alem and Leonela Guzman Where you can hear them: Regular shows at Red Star and events tied to the Spanish Moon Fine Arts Foundation. Online: Find them on Facebook.
What attracted you to being a DJ? What’s your favorite thing about it?
Guzman: The lack of a female presence in the local music scene, mostly. The desire to give the community yet another dimension to explore aside from the typical bar experience. Our favorite thing so far has to be the energy actualized on the dance floor. We’re usually nonstop dancing behind the table, and it’s incredibly satisfying when that energy transfers.
What’s your favorite music to spin?
We pepper in our dose of international and throwback music. Essentially, we’re just steering away from things people expect to hear in order to give the dance life a youthful boost.
Common misconceptions?
[That] all it takes is a Spotify playlist. We’re not settling for that.
How would you describe the area’s current crop of talent to an outsider?
Ever-growing.
How do you handle working later hours?
At our age, it’s not too big of a hassle to stay up. Better to play music than to cram for exams.
Where you can hear him: Occasional shows locally at places like Mud and Water, weekly at My Place American Pub in Lake Charles (he’s the owner and managing director of the bar).
What attracted you to being a DJ? What’s your favorite thing about it?
I was asked by a buddy of mine, Jeremy Woolsey, to DJ one of his one-off nights at Star 80, and it became one of Baton Rouge’s longest, most successful weekly dance nights from 2000 to 2010. My favorite thing about DJing is watching the crowd’s reaction to a song you play. A DJ’s job is to evoke a reaction and a feeling, and the crowd will definitely let you know if you picked the wrong song. When the song is right, though, it’s the best feeling knowing that you’ve made someone happy.
What’s your favorite music to spin?
It depends on the party I’m throwing. I’ve DJed everything from ’80s music to New Orleans bounce—even seventh-grade parties where I have had to play Top 40 stuff. As long as the people are having a good time, that’s all that matters to me.
Common misconceptions about being a DJ?
Well, when you tell people nowadays that you’re a DJ, their usual reaction is, “Oh, like Pauly D?”
How do you handle working later hours?
I’ve never been a morning person, so late hours are pretty normal for me.
Where you can hear him: Recent sets at Club Ampersand, Republic and The Hangar in New Orleans.
What attracted you to being a DJ? What’s your favorite thing about it?
Well, I’ve been performing music live since I was really young, but just guitar and piano. I had been in many bands throughout high school, but those all fell out because of egos. So what really drew me to becoming a producer and a DJ was that I was a one-man thing—I could take care of creating the music and performing all on my own without having to worry about anyone else. And my favorite thing about it is the connection with the audience and being able to make people smile. Everyone loves music, and everyone loves having a good time, and I love being able to facilitate that. It’s awesome being able to look out and see everyone having an amazing experience.
What’s your favorite music to spin?
I can barely stick to one genre when I’m listening to music myself, so it’s hard to do the same while DJing. But at the moment, trap has become a genre on the rise that makes people go nuts. Dubstep is quite alive and is there when you need a heavy-hitter, and house is the universal music that everyone can dance along to. So it really all depends on where I’m playing and the mood I’m in.
Common misconceptions about being a DJ?
The best one is that we make a lot of money. That’s not always the truth. We don’t get paid as much as many people think, but we love the music and we love the people, so it’s all worth it. Another one is that it’s so easy. It’s a lot more difficult to really fine-tune your craft, your transitions, your song selection and reading the crowd.
How do you handle working later hours?
Late hours aren’t that bad—we’re young enough for our bodies to handle it. Multiple nights in a row can definitely take a toll on you. Lots of 5-hour Energy and Red Bull gets the job done. I just remind myself that I have a job to do while I’m there and try not to party too hard.
How would you describe the area’s current crop of DJ talents to an outsider?
We definitely have our own style of EDM down here. [In New Orleans], we come from a city that has its own rich music culture that’s unique to it, and we try to emulate that as well as our own flow of trap and bounce music. But we really do have everything under the sun here.
