Interview with DJ Mizhap |
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Hey Mizhap thanks for your time for this interview. For Rappfox readers who aren’t familiar with you, tell us a bit about yourself.
Ah, well… I’m a DJ… mainly. I started when I was 17 and it’s been a huge part of my life since then. I bought my Technics 1200s and 2-channel mixer about a year or so into it and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’ve always just wanted to do something I love, that’s been the goal… I’m extremely lucky and thankful to be able to do what I do for a living - I've been extremely blessed to get a lot of help along the way. I’m just a kid trying to live out my dreams. If you’ve ever seen me around town its probably been bopping on the 1’s and 2’s laying out all types of stuff, from funk, to hip hop, to cool house tracks I’ve found.. or it’s outside the kebab shop at 5am.
How long have you been DJing and how did you get into DJing?
I’ve been DJing for almost about 5 or 6 years now. I was only really doing it on weekends or occasionally back then, in the summertime and whatnot. I took the leap last year and quit my full-time job to fully commit to music and everything I want to do, and just have more time for expanding and for myself, which has been really fundamental for my growth.
I got into it through a family friend who was looking for an experienced DJ for their Mobile DJ Company…. It’s kinda weird actually, because I’d never really considered being a DJ.. the only time I ever wanted to do it was when I was younger. It sounds lame, I used to watch this show, CJ the DJ - and I’d think - ‘Oh man. That looks so cool. I wish my life looked like that, I wish I could do that!’. I always wanted to be a singer - or a rapper, if I could actually rap (I still do). Anyway, my Step-Mum hit them up and said that I wasn’t a DJ but I’d be a quick learner… and that was that really. Matt taught me the basics of DJing - how to beat match… using the mixer… different types of equipment and how to set up systems.. even provided me with a broader musical education as I had only really known my parent’s CD’s up until that time, along with the copious amounts of Hip Hop that was on an iPod Classic my friend gave me and the early morning Rage consumption with my Dad. That’s how I got into it. My first gig was a nightclub residency at Players Bar when I was 17 and I played there every weekend for about a year or so after that… along with doing corporate gigs/functions on the side. I started hitting up venues and other management companies to contract to after that.. that’s kind of where I’m at now.
What is it about DJing that you enjoy, whether that is technically or musically?
I definitely love being technical… even just being able to manipulate a piece of musical work or even sounds to do what you want it to do, to sound how you want to sound.. to flip it.. there’s just a sort of magic about it. I remember when I got my first records and I couldn’t even slow down a track properly or control the pitch..or even find a cue. Now I’m trying to get juggles on the ones, double time, learning body tricks… It’s just a whole load of fun, really. Especially with where the culture is at now and how much more you can do with it. The crew will come round for a jam and we’ll just vibe with each other and trade techniques and ideas, have a laugh and enjoy ourselves, I love that side of it. It’s like a family, and it’s all found through the love of music, of turntablism and Hip Hop. Musically, the fact that you’ve got the job, or the power should I say, to educate and inspire people and control the vibe of a room… there’s very little to none with what I don’t enjoy about it. There’s so much happening nowadays in the music industry and so many boundaries that can be pushed, so, it’s a great time to be a part of it all.
Ah, well… I’m a DJ… mainly. I started when I was 17 and it’s been a huge part of my life since then. I bought my Technics 1200s and 2-channel mixer about a year or so into it and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’ve always just wanted to do something I love, that’s been the goal… I’m extremely lucky and thankful to be able to do what I do for a living - I've been extremely blessed to get a lot of help along the way. I’m just a kid trying to live out my dreams. If you’ve ever seen me around town its probably been bopping on the 1’s and 2’s laying out all types of stuff, from funk, to hip hop, to cool house tracks I’ve found.. or it’s outside the kebab shop at 5am.
How long have you been DJing and how did you get into DJing?
I’ve been DJing for almost about 5 or 6 years now. I was only really doing it on weekends or occasionally back then, in the summertime and whatnot. I took the leap last year and quit my full-time job to fully commit to music and everything I want to do, and just have more time for expanding and for myself, which has been really fundamental for my growth.
I got into it through a family friend who was looking for an experienced DJ for their Mobile DJ Company…. It’s kinda weird actually, because I’d never really considered being a DJ.. the only time I ever wanted to do it was when I was younger. It sounds lame, I used to watch this show, CJ the DJ - and I’d think - ‘Oh man. That looks so cool. I wish my life looked like that, I wish I could do that!’. I always wanted to be a singer - or a rapper, if I could actually rap (I still do). Anyway, my Step-Mum hit them up and said that I wasn’t a DJ but I’d be a quick learner… and that was that really. Matt taught me the basics of DJing - how to beat match… using the mixer… different types of equipment and how to set up systems.. even provided me with a broader musical education as I had only really known my parent’s CD’s up until that time, along with the copious amounts of Hip Hop that was on an iPod Classic my friend gave me and the early morning Rage consumption with my Dad. That’s how I got into it. My first gig was a nightclub residency at Players Bar when I was 17 and I played there every weekend for about a year or so after that… along with doing corporate gigs/functions on the side. I started hitting up venues and other management companies to contract to after that.. that’s kind of where I’m at now.
What is it about DJing that you enjoy, whether that is technically or musically?
I definitely love being technical… even just being able to manipulate a piece of musical work or even sounds to do what you want it to do, to sound how you want to sound.. to flip it.. there’s just a sort of magic about it. I remember when I got my first records and I couldn’t even slow down a track properly or control the pitch..or even find a cue. Now I’m trying to get juggles on the ones, double time, learning body tricks… It’s just a whole load of fun, really. Especially with where the culture is at now and how much more you can do with it. The crew will come round for a jam and we’ll just vibe with each other and trade techniques and ideas, have a laugh and enjoy ourselves, I love that side of it. It’s like a family, and it’s all found through the love of music, of turntablism and Hip Hop. Musically, the fact that you’ve got the job, or the power should I say, to educate and inspire people and control the vibe of a room… there’s very little to none with what I don’t enjoy about it. There’s so much happening nowadays in the music industry and so many boundaries that can be pushed, so, it’s a great time to be a part of it all.
You’ve just entered the 2019 WA DMC DJ Championships and you’re the first female to do so in awhile, what inspired you to enter?
I’d been getting asked if I’d be entering for the last 6 months or so, I just kept pushing it to the side and said I’d enter next year, mainly because I was scared, unprepared… nervous… all the feelings anyone would get before this sort of comp. More than anything I just didn’t believe in myself, and I get pretty anxious under the spotlight (even though I do it every week). So I did want to avoid it. But a good friend of mine convinced me I’d be able to do it so, I entered. I guess there’s no better time to do something than now… and since entering I’ve grown so much already. So I definitely think it’s a good thing to just do it sometimes.
Tell me about your practicing for the heat.
Well…I started practicing and getting the routine together pretty much right on deciding to enter, which was only about 5 weeks ago or so now. The lack of processing time has actually been a blessing because I’m pretty good at procrastinating. I haven’t had any time to think about it or second guess if I should really be jumping into it - It’s just getting done. Which is good - really good. I’ve been spending a lot of time on the routine, up skilling and just learning new tricks in general which has been cool. I’ve been focusing a lot more on my weak spots and trying to tighten up in those areas… like my cuts - I love juggling, because I’m good at it. But I need to work on my cuts (and I don’t do it as much because I’m not as good at it). It’s hard, because how I see it, there’s always so much more room for improvement.. so you’re never going to be happy with it. Even when you get it to the best you’ve had it - because it could be better. I’m just trying to put as much work into it as I can, and make it better than it was yesterday.
What can punters expect from your set?
Expect the unexpected.
What else does Mizhap have lined up in 2019?
I generally play a lot by ear, apart from where I need to be proactive, obviously… but you can never really know what’s to come, especially in the music industry. So.. I have plans, but I try to keep prepared for change. I started studying full-time this year (Sound Production), and I do about 4-6 gigs every week, so I really just want to stay focused on that for now, alongside obviously up-skilling and music. I’m heading back to Melbourne for a month between October & November so hopefully I should be able to expand on my horizons a bit more over there and fill that time with doing some cool shows and performing at venues that I really want to do, along with all the other stuff there is to do in that city of course. There’s a whole heap of venues I’ve had my eye on for a while over East, so I might even do a road trip. It should be good fun. All in all, I’d be lying if I said I have massive plans - I just want to expand and work on my craft as much as I can.
Thanks again for your time and all the best for the WA Heat on the 25th August.
Anytime - thank you!
The 2019 WA DMC DJ Championships are on Sunday 25th August at Universal Bar, event page here.
Follow Mizhap:
Facebook
Instagram
I’d been getting asked if I’d be entering for the last 6 months or so, I just kept pushing it to the side and said I’d enter next year, mainly because I was scared, unprepared… nervous… all the feelings anyone would get before this sort of comp. More than anything I just didn’t believe in myself, and I get pretty anxious under the spotlight (even though I do it every week). So I did want to avoid it. But a good friend of mine convinced me I’d be able to do it so, I entered. I guess there’s no better time to do something than now… and since entering I’ve grown so much already. So I definitely think it’s a good thing to just do it sometimes.
Tell me about your practicing for the heat.
Well…I started practicing and getting the routine together pretty much right on deciding to enter, which was only about 5 weeks ago or so now. The lack of processing time has actually been a blessing because I’m pretty good at procrastinating. I haven’t had any time to think about it or second guess if I should really be jumping into it - It’s just getting done. Which is good - really good. I’ve been spending a lot of time on the routine, up skilling and just learning new tricks in general which has been cool. I’ve been focusing a lot more on my weak spots and trying to tighten up in those areas… like my cuts - I love juggling, because I’m good at it. But I need to work on my cuts (and I don’t do it as much because I’m not as good at it). It’s hard, because how I see it, there’s always so much more room for improvement.. so you’re never going to be happy with it. Even when you get it to the best you’ve had it - because it could be better. I’m just trying to put as much work into it as I can, and make it better than it was yesterday.
What can punters expect from your set?
Expect the unexpected.
What else does Mizhap have lined up in 2019?
I generally play a lot by ear, apart from where I need to be proactive, obviously… but you can never really know what’s to come, especially in the music industry. So.. I have plans, but I try to keep prepared for change. I started studying full-time this year (Sound Production), and I do about 4-6 gigs every week, so I really just want to stay focused on that for now, alongside obviously up-skilling and music. I’m heading back to Melbourne for a month between October & November so hopefully I should be able to expand on my horizons a bit more over there and fill that time with doing some cool shows and performing at venues that I really want to do, along with all the other stuff there is to do in that city of course. There’s a whole heap of venues I’ve had my eye on for a while over East, so I might even do a road trip. It should be good fun. All in all, I’d be lying if I said I have massive plans - I just want to expand and work on my craft as much as I can.
Thanks again for your time and all the best for the WA Heat on the 25th August.
Anytime - thank you!
The 2019 WA DMC DJ Championships are on Sunday 25th August at Universal Bar, event page here.
Follow Mizhap: