We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dani Wilson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Dani thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I’m not entirely sure that we get to choose the creative path. It feels more like a deep rooted calling that is always there wanting to be expressed. When I don’t follow that instinctual call, I feel a sense of hollowness.
From a young age, my passion for creative performing arts was clear. Initially aspiring to be an actress, I even wrote a note on my typewriter, pledging to become an “actrise” by 19, or else I’d never “laff” again. Engaging in musical theatre and sporadic acting gigs, my interests extended to crafting, fashion, music, dancing, hula hooping, and beyond. However, sports entered my life, offering a fulfilling outlet for my creative performer spirit. Intrigued by performance psychology, I recognized the impact of internal dialogue on my efforts, motivation, and overall well-being. This realization led me to pursue semi-professional and university-level sports (soccer and basketball) and earn a Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology from UBC. Today, I run my own business as a Mental Performance Consultant.
While I have a deep passion for my career in sport psychology, there was always a sense of something missing, a yearning for more in life, an unignited fire within me. It wasn’t until I crossed paths with my partner, Josh, that I even contemplated a career beyond the realm of sport psychology. Our meeting at Coachella in 2012 marked a turning point. Having immersed myself in electronic music shows and festivals, finding joy in the atmosphere, fashion, music, and community, I shared my latent desire to become a DJ. Initially dismissing it with a “next lifetime” comment, Josh challenged my hesitation, insisting that I didn’t need to wait for another life to pursue my passion. He became my mentor, teaching me the art of DJing over a decade ago. As our love blossomed, we formed a DJ duo, delving into music production together. This venture has proven to be the most fulfilling pursuit I’ve ever undertaken.
To be honest, it took me until very recently, within the past year, to fully come to terms with pursuing this career. I had convinced myself that it was more of a hobby. My identity had always been tied to being an athlete, a mental performance consultant, and a student. I hesitated to disappoint my parents, who funded my education. Society often pressures us to conform and fit neatly into predefined boxes, suppressing our individuality. It requires a great deal of courage to resist the limited perceptions of others and truly follow what resonates with you.
So, in response to your question, I always knew, but it took me a while to summon the courage to pursue it, and that realization only came about very recently.
Dani, 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?
I’m a DJ, music producer, event co-ordinator/promoter, Mental Performance Consultant, and published author.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology and run my own mental skills consulting business. I played many sports growing up including both soccer and basketball on scholarship through university. I understood the importance of mentality in sport from a young age and always had an interest in performance psychology.
I DJ and produce music under the alias Average Citizens with my partner Josh Allen, who taught me how to DJ after we met at Coachella over a decade ago. We play and produce mainly bass house music and get to spend most weekends traveling and playing shows together. We are completely obsessed with music, the creative process, and performing together. It’s a beautiful part of our relationship; a shared pursuit that is always pushing us and challenging us to grow. It’s exciting. It’s also a constant hustle.
Our main focus is on cultivating joy. We set intentions before pretty much everything we do, and our leading intention is to have fun. While we are incredibly ambitious, and dedicated to our work, we recognize that it holds true value only when accompanied by a positive sense of well-being. Our aim is to uplift those around us, consistently bringing the best of our energy to each situation, especially the dance floor!
Another aspect we prioritize is our health and well-being. We place a strong emphasis on nutrition, fitness and self-care, enabling us to endure late nights, early mornings, hectic travel schedules, and energetic performances with plenty of sweat and high kicks. Despite the apparent dichotomy between my role in sport psychology and the music industry, they synergize effectively. I have the opportunity to apply the skills I teach in high-performance settings, including techniques like self-talk, mindfulness, goal setting, and imagery.
Lastly, our commitment extends to giving back to the community. Through our music event company, we allocate 100% of the proceeds to sponsor underserved children’s attendance at RISExSHINE youth development/leadership camps. In these camps, I lead mental skills training, and collaboratively with Josh, we provide DJ lessons, nurturing both personal growth and artistic development. Presently, we are organizing a tour named “Citizens of the Rave,” with a vision centered on community and collective spirit. As we journey through different cities, we actively engage in various aspects of the local vibe, spanning health and physical activities, food, fashion, and philanthropy. This approach has proven to be an incredible way to establish meaningful connections and avoid a sense of mindless transience as we move in and out of cities.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
There’s a particular juncture where all the elements align, the vision crystallizes, and a profound sense of harmony and peace envelops everything. This moment might unfold in the studio, as a song begins to take form after hours of experimentation. However, it predominantly occurs during live performances. It’s that instance when we relinquish control, fully surrender to the present, share our creations, and experience elevated emotions collectively with the dance floor. Those are the moments I live for! Of course there are highly rewarding moments of signing a record to big label or getting booked at a bucket list festival, like Shambhala – but these moments are fleeting. The real reward is more of a quiet, peaceful, internal charge of energy and knowingness.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I highly recommend “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin. Reading this book felt like rediscovering long-held truths in my heart. It liberated me, redirecting my focus towards simply being and creating for me, honoring my unique taste and away from the distractions of unnecessary noise. It’s very easy to get caught up in mere productivity or success metrics in this industry. But if I create with those aims, my work tends to fall flat. Instead, true creation involves tuning into my unique experiences in the world and channeling those moments into art, enabling a form of expression that communicates on a deeper level. I can never tell how it will land, that’s not my job. My job is to pour my heart into my work, create things I’m proud of and ensure I’m having fun while I’m doing it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://averagecitizens.komi.io/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averagecitizens/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averagcitizens
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKkRj7C2u3TxgAkKULdSgUw?view_as=subscriber
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sN9PgGYPrFI5OcEHF7VR9 https://soundcloud.com/averagecitizens https://www.beatport.com/artist/average-citizens/909082
Image Credits
Charles Zuckermann, Zenna Wong, Shaun Stander, Banana Cam Photo, Jay June, Cocoa