We caught up with the brilliant and insightful DJ 3rd Degree a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

DJ, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Growing up I was always listening to music. Whether it was my Mom’s music or my Dad’s (divorced parents living in separate places), music has always been in my universe. When I was around 9 and had moved to Los Angeles from Philadelphia, PA, I started finding music I liked. Kiss was like the first band I graviated to. Not sure why. Maybe it was the heaviness of their music or the craziness of their look and vibe. Rock n Roll was the first genre of music I was pulled towards. My first concert was Fleetwood Mac with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. But, when I was 12, around 1981, MTV got launched and Pop music started coming into my world. As did New Wave. My sister, who was 2 years older, was really into Depeche Mode. I started liking them. At this time my Dad had a stereo system that was one turntable, a receiver, and two casette tape decks. I sat in front of the system one day and, not sure what prompted this but, I taught myself how to edit music. I really started liking this process and music was just always around me. About a year or so later I talked my Dad into buying a second turntable and a mixer from Radio Shack. That is when my DJ life began.
Learning about music has helped me in many ways. It has put me into a world that has alotted me the ability to meet and connect with icons of the music industry. I feel blessed because of it.
The only thing I would change about my journey is that I would have stuck with it after high school and, when I worked at Tower Records, stayed active working in the music business.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in Philadelphia, PA, lost my mom when I was 8, and moved to Los Angeles after. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and had a crazy and reckless childhood filled with drugs and parties. There are both good and bad memories from my teen years. When I was 17 and fresh out of high school, I got a job at Tower Records. The store I worked at had employees who mainly were rock n roll people. I was the only one who knew about urban and dance music. Within a year of starting there as a clerk, I became the singles buyer for the store. That took me down a path of connecting with industry people and gaining access to shows and backstages and it was amazing. The stories I have! You will have to read it in my book I am working on.
I have been in bands, a radio show host, a show promoter, and music promoter most of my life.

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

I think for me, the most rewarding aspect has been being able to have a platform for me to not only be creative but, also to share a part of who I am. Most of my lyrics were really heartfelt and had come from the journey I have been on.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Maybe non-creatives would look at my life and go, why did you keep exploring music when you weren’t making money. And my answer to that is, I am passionate about music so any way I can participate I would.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dj3rddegree.com
• Instagram: @DJ3rdDegree
• Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/therealdj3rddegree/