10 Questions with ... DJ Erockalypze

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Proud Dad, Lover of Hip Hop, Turntablism, Food and Radio. I joined U92 as a mixer almost 13 years ago, to now being the Brand Manager.

1. What got you into radio?

As an 80s baby growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I fell in love with the radio that was happening there. My pops worked in accounting for a radio station in the market and seeing the studios in person as a kid, I was hooked. The DJ culture is also extremely influential there, and being Filipino you pretty much know another DJ has a setup, lol. So between creative radio and unique mix shows that I used to record on cassette, the love started there.

2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

Were most kids that goal oriented? Apparently I wasn't. I guess I did have aspirations of being a pro skateboarder at one time. I always loved music but like most thought it was one of those jobs that was impossible to get in to. I'm kind of the original teen dad so I went from getting my GED at 17 and working any hourly jobs I could get in to, where music became just a passion and hobby due to life. Never thought back then I'd be in the seat I am today, and I'm grateful every day for it.

3. Salt Lake City has been your home for several years now. What may have taken you a while to warm up to about SLC?

Honestly I loved it here from day one before radio professionally was a thing in my life. You could nitpick all the hilarious local regulations and laws pertaining to alcohol for instance...but if you know me, I'm not really a big drinker anyways. It did take me 13 years to actually start embracing the outdoors here and how incredible our "backyard" can be.

4. What have you come to love about living and working in Salt Lake City?

Lower cost of living?! LOL. It's a different speed and way of day to day life here and most who come here love it. It's becoming more and more of a melting pot of all walks of life, the food culture gets better every day and I've really had most major life-changing events happen here. I haven't had a reason to leave yet.

5. Do you know other PDs that started out as mixers in radio?

Did E-Man start as a mixer? As much as I've gotten to develop a relationship with him, I have never asked him that lol. Yes, I've met some incredibly smart and talented mixers-turned programmers (yes DJs are programmers, too) and others who have gone in all different directions in the business. We're good with our hands right?

6. What may be the most important thing mixing did to prepare you for programming a radio station?

I think being connected that closely to the product is a huge plus in this job. The DJ is the cornerstone of hip hop, it was delivered that way first and continues to today in so many different forms. One of the guys who actually started the conversation of me moving in to programming had me do a mix with him for the first time, and after that he asked me why I wasn't running it after all these years. That was a huge shock and compliment to me but I got what he meant. As DJs we program for crowds we can usually see. In programming, we don't see them, but a lot of the same techniques of moving an audience go hand in hand.

7. What's your favorite song on the station right now?

Well it's the weekend starting today as I write this, and the Blocboy JB and Drake "Look Alive" is still a crowd slayer.

8. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?

Before this I was working retail so anything besides that...lol. Hopefully something within a creative/media space. I've been with this brand for 13 years so I'm jaded at this point.

9. What do you do with your free time? Have you picked up any new hobbies since moving from the Bay Area to Salt Lake City?

Pretty much as mentioned before, enjoying what Utah really has to offer. I'm not an athletic person, but the hikes here to clear your mind and get away from the noise has quickly become a weekend thing.

10. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?

I see Jeopardy incorporating more hip hop categories and I think I'd do alright.

If you had to eat one type of meal every day for a month, what would it be?

My comfort food.. Filipino food. Especially because that's the one thing that's lacking here!

Your "go to" romantic spot in Salt Lake Cit?

My favorite local spot...Communal in Provo. It's intimate and fire.