Positive vibes at the Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club.
LU: How do you instill culture in the household today, and are your kids embracing it?
DJDS: I have a 15-year-old and a two-year old. The two-year-old dances and jumps to everything. When I’m in the house, it will be soca, calypso, he jams to it and says, “Hey dad, I like this song.” But I know that when he is with his friends, they’re listening to Yung Lean or whoever is out now. At home, I definitely try to have my iPod on or stream music.
For my podcasts, I try to listen to stations from the Caribbean before their Carnival is coming up so I know what is relevant in those countries. A lot of times, we’re here, and a song may sound good. But are people feeling the song in St. Vincent or Barbados? The Internet bill at home is a little high, but it’s one of those things where I feel it’s a part of the job. You have to do it.
LU: You host parties and events, promote them, produce the podcasts, spin live every week, on the air, at venues, travel, have a family, organize the mas camp. What keeps you going?
DJDS: I really [have] a passion for the music, and want to leave a legacy. I feel that if I don’t do it, somebody else will. So why not be the guy? I don’t want to ever look back and think, “I should of.” I am always looking for different ways to reinvent myself or a particular event.
We have this event called Re-Jouvert-Nate. We created a supersoaker-shaped flyer… I was thinking of different ways to get the vibe out there, to get the crowd excited. I always have people asking, “So you’re a DJ. But what do you do during the day?” Well, this is 24/7. I can’t punch a clock and say that I’m done. At night, I am promoting something and have to put a flyer somewhere or have to be at a nightclub. If I stop and take a night or two weeks off, I might miss opportunities that I have to put into motion now, for events that won’t happen until November or December, but I have to start now. A lot of times, when people are rushing events, you can tell. There’s no real theme, no vibe. It’s not about naming a party after a song. Nah, put more into it. Patrons need something that deserves [their] hard-earned money. I have seen young people come to the door, literally pulling change out of their pocket for [a] 10 or 15-dollar cover charge. And they’re just drinking water. I find that it’s more about no dress code, no pretense, but just about fun. It’s not about going to pop bottles just to say you were there.