We caught up with the brilliant and insightful DJ MIXAURINA a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, DJ thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?
From a full time perspective, I’ve had the pleasure of working in Staffing & Recruiting as a Technical Recruiter. No matter what industry you’re working in or if you own a business, customer service is key! It is imperative that you’re able to connect with your clients on an interpersonal level. This requires excellent communication, problem solving, and overall people skills.
A huge part of recruiting is being able to properly network and build positive relationships. I ask open ended questions to gain a better understanding of who the candidate is and what they are looking for in a new opportunity. I do the same with my clients; I consider what music genres or specific songs they want to hear, who will be in the audience, if there is a specific dress code or theme to follow, etc. How well you’re able to best serve your clients is tied to your personal brand as an entrepreneur; make sure it’s a positive one!
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?
New Year’s Day officially marked five years since I started my DJ journey, but I would say I started taking my craft more seriously towards the end of 2021. After a few months into my career as a Technical Recruiter, I decided to tap back into a creative outlet to balance the corporate lifestyle. This decision ignited an entire rebrand for me. I went from using a Numark Mixtrack Pro 3 my parents got me for Christmas to investing in a Pioneer DDJ-SB3. I went from the basic “DJ NAE” to the marvelous “MIXAURINA!” Invested in, a logo, a website, DJ tags, you name it. I embrace every change I made and every risk I took because it got me to this point!
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to DJ birthday parties, wedding anniversaries, baby showers, open mic nights, non-profit events, as well as restaurants and lounges. While I consider myself to be an open format DJ, my favorite genres to play include hip-hop/rap, R&B, reggae/dancehall, and afrobeats/amapiano.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
My favorite love language is all of them, but when it comes to DJing, words of affirmation is the one! It’s such an amazing feeling when people come over to the booth to compliment me on my taste in music, how well I transitioned certain songs, or even request my information for future events. Another rewarding aspect would be the beautiful memories I have the opportunity to create with others. I specialize in DJing mostly celebratory events such as birthday parties and baby showers. It’s something about being a part of intimate moments such as those where I get to really connect with and pour into my audience more that fuels me.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I love listening to podcasts in my free time, especially ones that are hosted and produced by black women. My top three favorite podcasts are Blessed and Bossed Up by Tatum Temia, Girl CEO by Ronne Brown, and Slay Girl Slay by Ashley Leggs. Out of the three, I’ve been listening to Blessed and Bossed Up for the longest, about 4 years now. I’ve also purchased the Blessed and Bossed Up book, which is just as helpful and resourceful as the podcast. Through her various media outlets, Tatum discusses the importance of consulting with God when it comes to not only success in your business, but total life success.
I also love reading the word of God. There are so many gems in the Bible that you can refer to for encouragement in your ideas, plans, and overall life. My favorite verse in particular is Phillippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” My favorite book in the Bible is Proverbs, aka the book of wisdom. I’m sure we’re all familiar with the common phrase, “Knowledge is power.” According to Proverbs, true power actually comes from wisdom. The difference between the two? Knowledge is understanding the facts, while wisdom is the application of the facts. Faith without works is dead; it is important that we meet God halfway in what it is that we are asking and/or praying for.
Contact Info:
- Website: mixaurina.com
- Instagram: @mixaurina
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mixaurina
Image Credits
@azariahmichelle_