Nightlife

DJ Tatiana

DJ Tatiana

Miss January 2009 is DJ Tatiana! She’s the real deal! Find out about her take on DJing and the music industry, the wild parties, her crazy experiences, and more in this fantastic interview! Citynet Magazine proudly presents DJ Tatiana!

Citynet Magazine:  Where are you from?

DJ Tatiana: I live in Santa Monica.

How did you get into DJ’ing?

I grew up as a raver and loved all types of electronic music. My best friends were all DJ’s so it surrounded me. I knew I wanted to be a DJ and did it for fun until one day I was approached for gigs and the rest is history.

What was your first big break?

I was dj’ing at a party and some people loved my style and started offering me work.

Where does your musical inspiration come from?

In the beginning it was pioneers of electronica like Underworld and Massive Attack. Though I never played those styles as a DJ, they inspired me as an artist and producer. As I grew with each genre and experience many people inspired me. My friendship with Timo Maas inspired me in many ways, also long talks with Loco Dice. Being around DJ’s I admired and learning from them inspired me.

What was the biggest crowd you’ve ever DJed in front of?

A rave in canada where there were 20,000 people.

How do you feel about being promoted as a “Female DJ” rather than “DJ”?

Well I am a female but they do not say “Male DJ” when speaking of a guy so I think it is a mute point. I am a bad ass DJ, period.

Do you think it has gotten easier for women to get into the DJ scene?

Everyone is a DJ these days. Guys and girls just jack playlists and use their Serrato and have zero experience and call themselves DJ’s. Whatever. In the end and the way things are going those will be flashes in the pan. You need history and knowledge that spans over hours, days and years of rummaging through great tunes. Before Serrato it was spent combing through crates at record stores. There are a lot of women who think “t” and “a” are enough. Well, good luck to them being taken seriously in the future.

Describe your wildest experiences.

There are SO many wild experiences and I don’t want to incriminate myself. My favorite was in Mexico. After I played there was an afterparty and on the way there was a car chase involving the police. We made it to the afterparty and raged until the afternoon hours. I play and am serious and focused, when I am done I always stay and celebrate and go onto whatever is next because the music and the whole experience of it is in my soul. Also, I want to spend time with people in all different places. I am not there to collect a paycheck and leave. It is so much more than that to me which is what defines a real DJ to me.

How has the rave scene changed since you began?

Wow. This will take so long to answer. I started raving at 15 years old. The crackhouse law (which is the biggest BS law out there) killed the scene. It is coming back. From what I see the American scene went all commercial and all about money. I have no respect for that. I respect the underground which keeps it real. We have started to take it back to the underground throwing parties. My label, Jook Music, has some sick DJ’s on it. Recently DJ Rin The Chemist, Olly Sneaks and I went to Iowa and threw the best party. It all started in the midwest and we are trying to be part of the new movement bringing the soul back into it and giving crowds great musical experiences that move them. Once more crowds know the truth of what the music is really about, they will demand better quality and bring it back around like it used be.

Does being hot get in the way of being taken seriously?

Hot? aww, thanks. Well before people get to know me they have their own opinions and they are usually not good. Once I play somewhere people are usually amazed. The last party I challenged the other DJ’s to a DJ battle. All of them guys. We did it, dove in and the crowd loved it. There was myself and four guys. I came in second. I throw down harder than most guys and when people meet me in person the hot thing is not an issue.

What has been the best experience DJing?

The best experience has been the letters and e-mails from people telling me that I have made their night or inspired them. Some even have gone on to become successful DJ’s and that is the best thing ever, to inspire another human being!

Worst experience?

Negative freaks. Only twice have I dealt with it. Once I was playing music and this guy came to the decks and yelled that he wanted hip hop. He kept getting in my face and I told him to jump off or else. Well he pushed it and as much as I wanted to kick him in the face I did not, I just had him kicked out! Ha!

Favorite place to vacation?

Bali or Cuba. My family is from Cuba so I have history there.

What do you do in your downtime?

Produce music. My whole life IS music. I am tight with the guys on my label and we do everything together. the other night DJ Rin The Chemist and I tried to take a break by creating art with vinyl. Yeah, we are obsessed.

Give us a fun fact about you.

Fun, um, I don’t like to sleep very much. I love life so much and am always getting into something.

What’s the most common question that people ask you?

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

What’s the coolest thing a fan has done for you?

Made me a painting.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re just relaxing?

Promo tracks sent to me, other artists new tracks, myspace music… I love Radiohead as well.

Name someone (dead or alive) you would want to meet.

I have always wanted to meet Mother Teresa. A big part of who I am is humanitarian. To me she has the heart and soul that I aspire to have.

What do you want the world to know about you?

My label and the music is the most important thing and I stand behind that. I want the world to know about Jook Music and the artists on the label because we represent the future.

Favorite upcoming projects?

DJ Rin The Chemist and I are producing new tracks, We are throwing a party in Iowa in February and will be throwing Jook Music parties in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. We will be performing at NAMM in Anaheim and the Winter music Conference in miami. Rin and I will be playing at Pacha in ibiza this summer. Those are the big ones and there are plenty of club dates between now and then.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Doing the exact same thing but with more artists on the label and taking it worldwide!

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Nightlife

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