Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chris Aing. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Chris thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

It was challenging in the beginning. I did not know where to start. There was no YouTube and very few internet resources at the time. All I knew was I wanted to learn how to scratch. I got most of my inspiration from watching DJ battle videos like the DMC World Championship. Knowing what I know now, I should have learned about the different types of DJs and found a mentor to learn the craft. It turns out that not only did I want to become a DJ who scratches and rocks crowds, but I also wanted to become a music producer.

As a DJ, the essential skills are beatmatching, knowledge of different music genres and their song structures, emotional intelligence to read the crowd, basic music theory, and even being savvy in technology. It was all about the musicality and manipulation of vinyl on turntables back then. There are so many new advances with DJ equipment that knowledge in music and tech is a prerequisite to advanced DJ skills.

The obstacle that stood in my way to learning my craft was mainly my discipline to practice. If there is anything you get out of this, it is that I stress the importance of training. I do not regret the path I have taken; however, I probably would have achieved higher levels of success earlier in my career if I had stayed consistent with my practice when I was younger. I learned that the hard way, and it’s not too late as I did learn from my mistakes, and the rate of my improvement has grown exponentially.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I would say that DJing just fell on me. I never thought I would become one or make it this far in my career. I have always loved music and the way it makes me feel. When my best friend, Raniel Sta Ana, introduced the idea of DJing, that’s when I knew this was going to be the vehicle to share my feelings with the world. He and I started working on this craft and still practice to this day.

My stage name is DJ Ninja Noize, and I perform at local clubs and bars in Houston, Texas. I am also a member of the Invisible Friends DJs. I love bringing good vibes to the dance floor and helping everyone escape into another world with music away from the stress of the daily grind. My mission is to share the positive feelings about dance music that everyone did not know they loved. I want to see our city evolve musically, spiritually, and consciously through the tunes, I share with the people.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I would say it is crucial to support your local artists and creatives. A thriving creative ecosystem starts at home, and there is so much untapped talent all around us. We should be aware that people with incredible skills live among us and include them at every level of society.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is watching my work unfold to inspire people to pursue what they love to do. I want to prove that if I can do what I love, they can also do what they love. When anyone is genuine in performing or creating art, it is contagious, and it motivates others to go for something they have always wanted to do. Maybe they had no idea what their purpose was? Perhaps sharing my purpose with the world will help others find their purpose.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djninjanoize
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-aing/

Image Credits
Professional Headshot Photos: Khoa Tien Đinh (Khoadratic) and Isac “Cookie Cutter” Diaz