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10 Questions with ... DJ Automatic
June 15, 2021
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1. What got you into radio?
I had no intentions of ever getting into radio, I had panic attacks in school when I had to speak in front of the class. Thank God Pete Manriquez saw me DJing a Nas concert and told me, "You're going to be on the radio, homie."
2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?
A major league baseball pitcher or Kid Capri.
3. You're now the official DJ of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. How much does that differ from spinning at a club or on the radio?
Way different and way more intense than radio. I'm essentially scoring a live event. I've always wanted to score films but I have a feeling this is more fun. Having only lived in the Valley for a little over a year, this was such a great opportunity for me and the Dana Cortez Show. The energy I feel while controlling that Suns crowd is different and almost as intense as DJing a big festival. I will say that without radio and clubs I would have never been ready for this stage that I'm on now.
4. Any special instructions given by the Suns or the league?
A ton of instruction. The entertainment director for the Suns is a former NBA DJ (DJ Tribal Touch) so he's always screaming at me to play something. As we've moved forward through the season he's given me way more creative freedom. My years in radio and touring gave me a great foundation on what to play for such a diverse audience.
5. You get to spend a lot of time with your wife, Dana. Is there a downside to that?
Now that's a loaded question. Pass!
6. You're an experienced mixer both in clubs and on the radio. Any sage advice for youngsters trying to lock down work?
Practice! Get those basic mixing skills down. Learn how to mix and talk on the mic at the same time and network, network, network a lot of this game comes down to who you know. No matter what, you have to be ready and without a ton of practice you won't be able to take advantage of those situations when they present themselves. So PRACTICE! I still do it every day.
7. If you weren't in radio and music, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?
I never had a plan B -- I was killing bugs and cutting down trees before my DJing career took off so I knew I couldn't fail. I did get a degree that I've never used and had to pay for. Not that I'm bitter or anything. (I just paid student loans off!)
8. Pick up any new hobbies or interests during the pandemic?
Eating Ice Cream. I’m working on taking those extra pounds off now.
9. How does doing a morning show mix with a mixer's lifestyle? Has it been an adjustment?
It’s been a huge adjustment. I gave up weekday gigs a long time ago. Before the pandemic, I was on a weekend tour for seven years so I just made sure I was home before 7pm on Sundays and spent the next three days catching up on sleep.
10. What would you like to do better both personally and professionally in the second half of 2021?
Communicate. I get caught up in my own little world and forget to reach out to people, personally and professionally. After the isolation of 2020, I realized that we all need to do a better job of reaching out just to see how people are doing.
Bonus Questions
WWKX/Providence morning co-host Bekah Berger and her husband Tony were on Beat Shazam a few years ago. What TV game show could you see you and Dana appearing on?
Survivor! Dana and I always bump heads but I promise you we would win!
Is there a song that ALWAYS grabs your attention when you hear those first few notes?
Father Stretch My Hands - Kanye West. I played it the other night at a Suns game the moment Devin Booker hit a 3 to take the lead over the Lakers. It was magical.
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