We were lucky to catch up with Anthony McLean recently and have shared our conversation below.
Anthony, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Around my early 20s, I was traveling around the country on my first nationwide tour. This tour was for five months, where we visited over 40 cities. We had a week of shows in Los Angeles during the music tour. I remember stepping off the tour bus and seeing the clear blue sky, feeling the perfect 75-degree weather on my skin, and noticing the swaying of the palm trees. This was my first time in LA, and I thought, “I think I could live here.” As the week progressed, I had the chance to visit the different bars and night spots. My tour manager lived in the city then, so he introduced me to other DJs and entertainers. By the week’s end, I knew I had to become an Angelino. After the end of the 5-month tour, I returned to my hometown of Washington, DC. I was doing small gigs and figuring out where I would live. I remember I was conflicted between New York and LA. I loved LA, but New York was closer to home. After six months of living in DC, I received a call for work in NY. I then decided to pack my bags and move. Living in New York was a different ballgame. I remember experiencing so much culture shock to the style of djing and the massive amounts of different cultures that lived in the city. It wasn’t my first time in NY because half of my family was there. New York always seemed like home; however, in the back of my mind, I always wondered if I should be in LA. After six years of living in New York, I was feeling stagnant. I was getting more gigs outside of NY via touring or other lounges and clubs in my hometown of DC. I was missing out on growth as a person and in my career. I was staying with family members at a house in Brooklyn when I received a notice that I was selected for a housing lottery for some new apartments in Manhattan. I was optimistic because I had all the paperwork in order from previous apartment applications. Granted, I was selected before for housing lotteries but have yet to reach the final round. I went in the week for my interview, and after reviewing my paperwork, the lady in the office said it wasn’t my lucky day. I asked why, and she said I made $500 over the required yearly amount. After hearing that news, I figured it was time to move on from New York. I yelled out loud, I’m ready to move to Los Angeles. It just so happened later that week. One of my old tourmates called and asked if I was still interested in moving to LA. I said hell yeah! Many things transpired between my moving from NY to LA. My roommate in LA found an apartment two weeks after we talked and told me that I had to sign the lease and mail it back in 24 hours. I thought a piece of cake; there was a notary around the corner from me. After I received the lease, I walked to the notary. When I handed him the papers, he looked at me and said he wouldn’t sign it. When I asked why, he said the office needed to sign it first, and it’s a legal document and blah blah blah. I remember feeling stressed the f out. After a mild panic, I remembered that UPS had a notary. I took an Uber to the nearest UPS near my house. When I arrived, I asked the lady if she could notorize the paper. She said sure thing. She didn’t even look at what she was signing. She also said if the package arrived after 10 a.m. the next day, I would get all my money back. Well, I ended up getting that lease shipped for free, lol. When I landed in LA, I knew that was the most significant risk I’ve taken in recent years. I had to figure things out for myself. The first thing was getting gigs.
When getting gigs, I learned to rely on my intuition. If I felt like I needed to stop in a bar to talk to a manager, I would. If I suddenly woke up at 5 a.m. and got the urge to check Craigslist, I did. Following my intuition led me to land a contract with LA Parks & Recs as a DJ and be booked at three different spots during my first month in LA. When my old tours would contact me to DJ, that was the icing on the cake. Needless to say. The biggest lesson I learned in taking risks is to listen to your inner voice. Know that nothing happens before it’s time. You have to have faith in yourself and God. God will build the bridge as you walk on it. Just don’t look down, only forward.
Anthony, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Some DJs play music, and others create memories that last forever.
DJ Clean began his career performing at 17 for private parties in Washington, D.C. Since then, he has lived in Florida, New York City, and most recently, Los Angeles. With over 12 years of experience, DJ Clean has spun at high-end venues nationwide. He has also shared the stage with Biz Markie, Rev Run, T-Pain, Rick Ross, and many more.
Santos Party House, Green House, Thompson Hotel, The Mondrian Hotel, The Hudson Hotel, Tammany Hall, Williamsburg Music Hall, Pranna Lounge, The Attic, West 3d Common, Free Candy, No.8 NYC, The 40/40 Club, Los Globos, Mint Lounge, Library Bar DTLA, The Reserve and Baja Beach Club are some of the many places he’s played. In 2014, he won the Sprite Spinoff Battle in New York City.
Twice a year, he travels around the country performing at music festivals. In the past, he has toured over 52 cities with Vans Warped Tour, High School Nation, Truth Live College Tour, Mountain Dew Festival, the Honda Civic Tour, Tony Hawk Boom Boom Huck Jam, and Caye College Tour. He has also performed at Afropunk Atlanta, Afropunk NYC, the 2018 Tennessee Gay Pride Fest, the 2015 New York Puerto Rican Day Parade, Vidcon, Vans Surf Competition, the 2018 Washington DC Folk Life Festival, and much more. He was featured recently on BBC radio performing a live set in London. His client base ranges from high-end event planners and clubs/lounges to major corporations. DJ Clean specializes in Open Format DJing, which means he can provide an eclectic mix within a single night. His extraordinary talent for playing for diverse crowds is why he is considered “The Sound of The People.”
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part about being an artist is sharing a piece of me with the world. When I’m creating music, I’m tapping into the deepest parts of myself. Elements that I wouldn’t typically discuss or things I wouldn’t usually talk about openly. Releasing music and DJing is leaving my imprint on the spirit and memories of people that can impact their moods, thoughts, and how they see the world. It’s one of the most rewarding feelings in the world.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
When it comes to staying motivated, reading is essential. If a person does not like to read, they are missing out on tons of knowledge that could help them reach their goals faster. One book that changed my life is Project 369. Project 369 is a manifestation journal that helps with creating positive habits. It also condenses several hours of manifestation techniques into short, digestible paragraphs. Reading this book is one reason I can maintain a positive outlook and create positive habits. The next book is Don’t Feed the Monkey Mind by Jennifer Shannon. As a creative, I would have flare-ups of anxiety from time to time. This book considers what anxiety is and what techniques you can use to manage it. By reading this book, I’ve learned that some things we do that relieve us from anxiousness add to it. Another book I recommend is something spiritual. It can be the bible, it can be the Quran, the alchemist, or whatever it is you practice. Tapping into spirituality is essential for staying grounded. When you’re creative, you exert a lot of spiritual energy. Reading a spiritual book is a must for recharging.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thesoundofthepeople.com
- Instagram: djclean
- Facebook: djcleanfanpage
- Twitter: djclean
- Youtube: djclean
Image Credits
All image credit is by Tavis Johnson. Instagram: @stayinyourframe