Introducing...DJ mOma

DJ Stats: 2002

Current Residencies: Mondays at 105 Riv in the LES for The Good Spot, a weekly affair I started in early 2008 with my friends Stimulus (co-resident DJ) and Sinclair Bolden. A monthly edition of The Good Spot at Bar Marmont in LA & several places throughout NYC, including APT (2nd Fridays) and Retreat every Saturday.

Crème Magazine: What inspired you to DJ?

DJ mOma: It was more by accident than anything else, really. I used to download a lot of music from Napster/Audiogalaxy and when they were shut down by the RIAA in 2002 I had no choice but to go out and purchase a lot of vinyl to satisfy my craving for rare tunes that were otherwise unavailable on CD...so my vinyl collection grew exponentially that year. By 2003 most of my people were asking to spin their parties and it kinda took off from there.

Crème Magazine: What is your regimen when getting ready for a party?

DJ mOma: I try to be home at least 3 hours before the party starts so I can just sit back, clear my mind, sort through new music or review old music that I feel might be ripe for rebirth. Then I'll grab a quick disco nap, shower, gear up and head on out.

Crème Magazine: What was the hottest party you ever spun?

DJ mOma: I just spun at the Do-Over in LA. It's a unique outdoor daytime Sunday party, the energy level is insane and they don't announce the DJs to anyone, not even to the other DJs. So when I walked in I had no clue I would be spinning after Rich Medina and A-Trak(!)--definitely one of my most memorable DJ experiences.  The crowd was responding to just about everything I did.  I'm still buzzing from the experience actually.

Crème Magazine: Do you have any pet peeves when DJ-ing?

DJ mOma: Bad requests are annoying enough obviously. I say “bad” because there are some good requests every now and then that make you say "huh! not bad, not bad at all" [but] when people come up to me while I'm playing Eric B & Rakim or Camp Lo and request "hip hop" it awakens my ulcer.

Crème Magazine: DJ’s are famous for breaking records, what’s the last record you premiered in the club that had everyone going crazy?

DJ mOma: The day I got the Major Lazer album, I played “Pon De Floor” at The Good Spot. Nobody knew the record but it didn't matter, I had crowds rushing to the booth to find out what it was. Last time I got that reaction was when I played Kenna's “Say Goodbye To Love” at The Good Spot when we first started the party 18 months ago.

Crème Magazine: Do you think that the CD revolution has enhanced or spoiled the DJ art form?

DJ mOma: I think we're somewhat past the CD revolution at this point and fully into the downloadable digital media platform with Serato, Traktor and all the other DJ software. I think it has both enhanced and spoiled the art; enhanced in the sense that DJ’s have so many more tools at their disposal to rock a party without the limitations of vinyl but it's also spoiled it by making DJ’ing too accessible to people who should have no business doing it  in the first place--like celebs, models, club owners etc.

Every now and then you might have ONE good "model" DJ or ONE good "Hollywood actor celebrity" DJ [but] for the most part they're all pretty awful to listen to, so yeah it kinda spoiled it in that sense.

Crème Magazine: What are 3 key business attributes to being a successful DJ?

DJ mOma:

Professionalism: Approach DJ’ing like a real job.  Apply yourself, be punctual, reliable and people will rehire you.

Market Research: Understand your market and try to find that happy medium between what the people want to hear and what you want to play; if you can blend the two successfully this will create your niche sound and your following will grow.

Marketing & Promotion: Establish a strong image by marketing your better gigs to the masses so people can see you excel in your comfort zone. People have to hear you spin first in order for you to become a successful DJ.  Online marketing is definitely where it's at (twitter / facebook / myspace etc)

Crème Magazine: At the end of the day what’s your definition of a Hot Shot?

DJ mOma: A hot shot is someone who shakes up the status quo by adding something fresh and new, thereby blazing a trail for others to follow.