We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nathan Edwards Jr. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nathan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.
The Art Of Being An DJ : Transitions, Song Selection, BPM (Beat Per Minute) and gaining an audience are some of the skills was required of being an DJ. If you think being an DJ is easy it’s not, it takes a lot of hard work dedication practice effort making music. Back in the day to find a perfect cue point on a record you had to use a sticky dot, the way technology is now cueing a song just take a button to press on a computer and boom you got the right spot studying other DJs and taking notes could help also well as I took a lot of my notes from a Legendary DC who’s happen to be an mentor and a brother figure and I feel safe learning the knowledge from him because he was an DJ that I looked at as how NBA players looked at Michael Jordan someone who is one of the best to ever do it. It’s times I’ll get a few hours of sleep just to learn the art of being a DJ I’ve been wanting to do this my whole life and now I’m finally doing it, it’s a lot of bumps and bruises that I’ve endured in this journey so far but that’s part of the grind I’m also rolling with the punches. If any skill I can say being the most essential is learning other people taste in music. If it was up to me I’ll play whatever I want because I love music any kind of music get me in the groove but it’s not that easy. Being able to play all genre of music is a gift and it kept me in the loop with an audience that’s an automatic win for me. Any obstacles that came my way of learning more about my profession I have none just got to go all in and just get the crowd going there’s no time limit or speed rate of my knowledge of the game I’m still learning no matter how long your in the game it’s still a learning process no matter what it is I get a thrill because I’m always excited to learn and wanting to learn more things “THIS IS FOR LIFE”. It was an old saying I was once told coming up “The Game is to be sold not to be told” I thank god for people like the “The Funk Regulata Celo” because out of all the Djs in the game him teaching me the game not one time he was ever selfish to me and I couldn’t have it no other way I’m still learning as we speak but he didn’t let me drown and also DJ BRI Mafia a young woman in the DJ game but she can roll with the big dawgs and out of the other DJS she’s been very supportive of me also and I’m grateful for that. If anything that I’ve learned so far is Take chances and be supportive of other DJS every DJ is not your friend but someday we all can unite one day like an union because DJs are under appreciated without DJs you don’t have crowd rocking parties!!!!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Coming up from Landover Maryland/Brightseat Road, (PG County/Washington DC area) Go-Go is our culture, Some people rap and some people sing and some people join GoGo Bands but being an DJ was always something I’ve wanted to do because I love Music, I’m also gifted in other arts of entertainment but DJing is something that I’ve always wanted to do just the love of music it was an life long dream for me. Music meditate the mind set the mood and send messages that can impact your lifestyle and as me being the DJ you got to give the people what they want no matter where it can be either at a party function or doing an mix of different music and being able generate an audience where I’m able to mix everything from Old School to Present music and still keep GoGo music alive plus understanding the culture of dance hall Latin and house music and be able to play everything at any given moment while finding talent too and being able to put on people from PG County and expand our horizon and put us on the map someday and we be global. If anything I’m proud of is being able to finally live my dream especially how my upbringing was and everything that I’ve had to endure in life and overcome everything that came my way to get to this situation, I Thank God for that and I want to give back not just playing great music but doing other things that I’m great at and some day running my own entertainment company and being able showcase my GOD GIVEN Talents and making it an family empire and passing it down to my nephews and my niece and someday my kids when the time is right and making my parents siblings and the the ones I know who love me deeply that’s proud of me and support me and want me to succeed and someday put them in situations where they’re successful right along with me!!! Anything is possible if you set your mind to it!!! I came a long way I can only go up from here.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
The way the support system is set up and how much time work and dedication that I got to put in for me to reach my highest potential. Me as a DJ and trying to build my brand gaining support ain’t what I expected from when I first started wanting to do this full time until now because I was always an fan of cutting and scratching and hearing it when DJS do it on the radio, It was exciting coming up but times have changed and also music too and trying to gravitate to different audiences and how music is now and the way artists put out music it’s a challenge trying to gain a fan base from all ages from 16-70 year old I always want to get others insight on what they like and what they prefer. But through years and years of studying, learning going to parties etc. this game ain’t for the weak you really haft to be dedicated if you want to succeed. The moral of this don’t worry about support it’s going to come when you least expect feeling uncomfortable about doing certain parties or getting constructive criticism embrace it that’s part of the game do what’s best for you it’ll all work out in your favor and stay dedicated and passionate about your passion KEEP GRINDING!!!!!! Everything worked out fine for me in the long run just got to stay focused and consistent and NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Being able to enjoy what I love and do it for a very long period of time, putting on a platform where I can inspire others to live their dreams by playing artists that’s hungry just like me and expanding fan base as well, putting people in the position to win and giving back in ways you can’t imagine and someday working my way up to a point someday my brand could be an family empire where I can pass it down to my nephew niece and kids someday and being a mentor to those who want to learn how to DJ by teaching them and guiding them to the right path in life I just want to see everyone win and winning in the highest form of life and living their dreams the same way I’m living my dream and using my other gifts and talents that I have other than DJ’ing and not looking back SKY IS THE LIMIT 2023 and beyond.
Contact Info:
- Website: Under Construction
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/djnateda_great
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DjRuggaNate
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/DjNateDaGreat85
- Youtube: Dj Nate Da Great
- Other: Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-63934814?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/DJNateDaGr8t/ Email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Voyage Baltimore City of GlenArden Wkys 93.9 SoundCloud