Get to Know
DJs Cool Hand's and GCue's love of the turntables keeps the crowds dancing
Angie Hernandez
Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: Music and Entertainment
| |
|
While most kids danced at their high school dances, Luke Joachim, also known as DJ Cool Hand, was spinning everything from meringue to hip-hop in his hometown of Oakland, Ca.
Joachim, economics freshman, began learning how to DJ when he was in high school from his mentor, DJ Daze. The first set of turntables he bought was worn out, but with time, he was able to make enough money to put towards a new set. His father, Evan Joachim, also began taking note of his skills and was willing to invest his money as well.
A firm believer in the power of music, Joachim says his role as a DJ is not only to provide music, but to change the world through the joy of music.
"The DJ's job is to make sure everyone gets on the dance floor and dances no matter how tough their day was," Joachim says.
Many things have influenced the young DJ, but one of the greatest challenges that has shaped him into the musician he is today was when he began spinning at parties for a high school in east Oakland. He had to face the challenge of pleasing both the Black and Latino communities. He began researching different Latino artists and combined their music with hip-hop.
"Getting that balance down, where I could please everyone on the dance floor, was a life changing experience," Joachim says.
Joachim has come a long way since his days of spinning in a school gym. He recently went on Lil Wayne's farewell tour with fellow student G-Eazy. They toured only three days and he and G-Eazy received no compensation, yet, he claims that "it was one of his best experiences."
As for the future, Joachim says he likes to live in the moment; yet this doesn't mean he doesn't want to further his career as a DJ.
" I'm doing it for the love, not for the money. I'd like to be financially stable so I can do this, but if I have to work at Kinkos, then I'll just do it for the love."
DJ GQUE ( J PAZ)
Soft-spoken music industry studies sophomore, Mikey Paz, also referred to as DJ GCue, lets his hands do all the talking.
From dusk till dawn Paz keeps the crowds dancing. At 12 years old, Paz thought of becoming a DJ because he wanted to be the cool guy at the party. Two years later, his father bought him his first set of turntables. Well into his high school years, Paz threw his first house party that he describes as "hotter than Hell."
Like most DJs, Paz taught himself how to use the music software, Serato. He also learned by observing other DJs around the city.
Aside from hip-hop, Paz cites other DJ's as his influences, from DJ Jazzy Jeff to local DJ Lemonhead who put him at his first club gig.
Despite his love for hip-hop, Paz says that he plays anything.
"If the crowd asks for it, I'll play it, but, I'll mix some of my own style into it."
The business side of music is also familiar territory for Paz. He created House Party Entertainment, a local DJ service with DJ X (Alvaro Rivera) last year. However, a call to Paz's cell at 5 a.m. from another DJ who owns the rights to the name "House Party Entertainment" has caused him to think of a new name.
Paz, who DJ's four to eight parties a month, says he is not concerned because it was "bound to happen."
In another change, fans will have to say goodbye to GCue because Paz recently changed his DJ name to DJ J Paz.
"I'm changing it because I would like to be more individualistic on Google. With GCue, I come up with more than five results under that name."
As far as the future, Paz says he would love to make a career out of being a DJ. He would do this not only because of the financial stability but because it has become part of his life, he says.
"Simply, it's important to me because it's what I like to do, and I find joy and tranquility in it, as well as success."
Be the first to comment on this story