A question I’m asked on a daily basis. In order for me to properly answer, I would have to go back in time. Since I can remember I had my parents to thank for never censoring what music I listened to. Even if they wanted to it would have been very difficult considering the fact that our home was Apple Music personified. The walls in the living room of our Inglewood apartment were lined from floor to ceiling with CD’s & vinyl. Not to mention, anything that couldn’t fit on the shelves was conveniently filed away in suitcases underneath my parents’ bed. Needless to say, music was easily accessible to me. In the early 2000s my father worked for Def Jam Records while my mom worked for a hospital by day and moonlighted as the brains behind a family owned record label by night. As a result of this, I used to spend a lot of time after school hiding behind desks in offices I had no business being in because my parents didn’t have a babysitter. One particular day as I sat in the corner at Def Jam quietly doing my math homework, a man walked up to me and offered his help. “My name is Luda,” he said. Shortly after my dad walks over with a photo for him to sign and as I lived and breathed that day, recording artist Ludacris offered to help eight-year-old me with my homework on the week of his third studio album release, “ Word Of Mouf“. That was my earliest hip-hop memory; a moment that I owe a lot to. I knew from then on that no matter what life path I chose, music would be involved. I refused to have it any other way. From that day forward I carried my silver Sony Discman accompanied by a double-sided CD binder and spare batteries as if they were vital organs. On my person. At all times. Point, blank, period.
Fast forward to October 2017 - not too long ago, right? Around this time there was a saturation of women DJ’s buzzing in the Los Angeles area and beyond. Before I continue, let me just say that I’d be remiss not to debunk the notion that this is a new thing. Quite frankly before there were any of us there was Jazzy Joyce, Spinderella, Vashtie Kola to name a few. However, this resurgence of the female DJ was something unseen. Thanks to the internet, the way women were claiming their titles as soundscapers with authority and access was never done before. But I digress - In October 2017 I bought a Pioneer DDJ SB2 beginner controller as a birthday present to myself. Shortly after I became the most poppin DJ ever… SIKE. Actually, the truth is I did not touch my equipment for months. Between life’s happenings, moving into a new apartment, coupled with the fact that I was hung up on not wanting to be just another girl out here DJ’ing because it was the cool thing to do, I couldn’t find the head space to start. To further add to the pessimism, I was waiting for someone to teach me what I could easily teach myself. Seeking mentorship when all I needed to do was use the resources that were right in front of me. In hindsight, my thoughts were a hindrance to myself. We can be our own worst enemies. I don’t recall the exact moment everything clicked but somewhere between an anxiety attack and stagnancy I made the decision to stop making excuses for things that I could control. I quickly enrolled in YouTube University and became a student of the craft. After a few months of practice there I was…
April 15, 2018 - First time DJ’ing for A Beautiful Life x Comfort LA Brunch
May 18, 2018 - 001: Muse Mix released on Soundcloud - 8,359 plays to date
June 2, 2018 - First time DJ’ing as “Nameless” for Washed & Restless day party
July 31, 2018 - Ace Hotel for Pakkard Studio
August 11, 2018 - Washed & Restless Pt. 2 sold out
August 25, 2018 - Principalities for Actrite LA
September 23, 2018 - Worldwide Pride for Subvrt Mag
October 28, 2018 - Clumsy Japan x Pakkard Studio Pop-up
November 5, 2018 - Complexcon for Champion x Timberland booth
November 17, 2018 - First time DJ’ing in New York for Felt Zine x Superchief Gallery
December 9, 2018 - Opened for Larry June and co. in concert
And today is January 4, 2019. In just nine months, a timeline of events transpired that I never saw coming within the year - or ever. At one point in 2018, I remember being ready to chalk up the year as a loss because things weren’t going the way I wanted. Looking back I am in awe of what has become, but looking forward I’m ready for what has yet to become.
I’ve said all of this just to highlight the fact that each individual has the ability to shift their mentality, which will, in turn, shift their entire situation. Divorce your debilitating thoughts, adopt a self-starter mentality and be your whole self on a punk bitch.
New year. New money.
- Nameless