We sat down with Yazmine, a DJ from West Palm Beach to talk about music and her ultimate goals with DJ'ing.
(Erika)
When did you first start experimenting with music, consciously or subconsciously?
(Yazmine)
I first started experimenting with music, consciously, at thirteen years old. I always knew every word to songs and I loved music so much but I knew I couldn't sing, nor write proper lyrics to a song, so I decided to use my music knowledge and start mixing. From there I made shitty little mixes at 13/14yrs old and started releasing them on Soundcloud. It was so crazy because people actually liked them and at that point I was like "alright, let me keep going with this", and from there I gained a really big passion for it and I've loved it ever since.
(Erika)
What is your ultimate goal, like big picture goal with music?
(Yazmine)
I want to own my own female agency. Like all female producer, DJ, etc. I want to be on some worldwide shit, like I want to be DJing in Berlin, and Toyko. That's my major goal, I feel like it's hard but I have an idea on how to get there so I'm just going to continue to work and hope for the best.
(Erika)
For sure, if we believe we can do it, map it out, and work hard, we can manifest it. We just have to work really hard and keep going. Even if we feel like we've taken 10 steps forward then 20 steps back at times, we just have to keep going.
(Yazmine)
Yeah, I feel like the biggest thing that holds people back is comparing their work to others. There's so many DJ's out there like, who am I.. you know? But it's believing in myself and knowing I can amount to something. So, who knows, I'm only from West Palm Beach, so let's see where this goes!
(Erika)
Yess! As long as we know we can do it, we will. We don't need to know how, we just gotta know that we will....
What is your favorite part about DJing?
(Yamine)
The energy, and just influencing people to listen to other genres of music. South Florida is very... I'd say close minded, when it comes to music. It's always rap, or r&b but to influence someone to actually like house or electronic, or just different shit in general, I just feel like that's most important. And just mixing alone makes me so happy!
(Erika)
What would you say your favorite genre of music is?
(Yazmine)
Hmm....deep house, trap, disco.
(Erika)
Disco? haha
(Yazmine)
Yeah, haha, I love disco music. In seventh grade I'd search disco songs and force myself to love it and eventually it was just like, wow, no one can make music this vibrant. It just makes you happy and makes you want to dance.
(Erika)
Did anyone lead you to liking music or do you feel like you've found it on your own?
(Yazmine)
I feel like I found it on my own, and I thank the internet for that. If it wasn't for the internet, or I was really big on Tumblr since I was 12yrs old, so if it wasn't for Tumblr, it wouldn't have opened me up as much to the art world and to the music world. If not, I'd honestly be one of those people still listening to the radio. I'm blessed that DJing has opened me up to other forms of music, and I feel like every couple of months I'm learning a new genre.
(Erika)
So what is your favorite song or artist at the moment? I know that's always a hard question... haha
(Yazmine)
Ahh, haha, hmm... my favorite deep house, I have two right now, are Marquis Hawkes and Calle Lebraun. And hmm, my boyfriend's my favorite rapper, wifisfuneral, and I think that's really it right now, that's who I'm fucking with right now.
You can check out some of Yazmine's mixes here! Make sure to give her a follow!