We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Quentin Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Quentin , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.

I’n the DJ industry there are so many pipelines you can go through. Like you can you be a wedding DJ , corporate DJ, private gig DJ , and most popular club/bar DJ. In such a popular career there are at least 100 new Djs popping up a year with the new age technology it makes it’s easier to catch up to speed. The one thing that can set most apart is the musical knowledge and as well as reading your crowd. I have been blessed to be able to hold down several different club residencies for over 10 years, but not without some growing pains. One of the biggest moments that helped mold me into who I am today far mental strength happen back in 2017. A venue I worked at for about 3 years had switched ownership and I was very successful playing there on the weekends, I’m talking lines down the street at both entrances. Well funny enough that new ownership wasn’t a fan of the high energy vibe. I quote I was told one night “to play something slow pace because too many people are dancing and not buying drinks” . I refused to do that because to me that seems ridiculous to stop the flow because you don’t think enough people aren’t standing around and drinking. Well low and behold after that encounter I had a target on my back and against the staff and even on site manager loving me I was let go, and I’m the worst way possible. It was after a successful Saturday night I get my check from the GM at the time and with tears in her eyes tell me “ this will be your last night because we are going in a different direction with our music”. Well you know like anyone else that would really mess with your psyche to be let go for being too successful. Which then feeds into those demons of “am I really even good ?” Or “ is this really worth it “. That was a rough year for the music career I did a few fill ins and battled that if I really want to keep djing. Luckily fate had it that I reconnect with an old friend who recently became a GM at another bar who knew my capable skill set and the rest is history. I rediscovered my love for music and making folks have a good time, so though I hit that low point and was able to overcome and have a continuing great career.

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?

I am vibe curator and lover of music aka Dj Smoov Q. I’m born and raised from Houston , but have spent most of my adult hood in Austin. I first got into djing when I was in college after I decided to hang up the football cleats. One of the i things that really made me pursue the art was when I studied at Texas State University, my buddies and I would party hop to dirty house parties ( because we were broke college kids) and I would walk carrying my broken screen iPod. If the party was dead I would ask the host if I could plug up my iPod next thing you know it’s jumping ! Fast forward 12 years later here I am.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

One thing that keeps me motivated is once I make a goal I like to set a new one. My goal is 2020 before Covid was to travel and dj in another city outside of my austin market. 2021 was a recovery year from the quarantine shut down. A lot of clubs if even opened back up weren’t booking out of town talent. 2022 I was able to land my first out of market gig and it was in Houston, so box checked. My next goal will be to Dj outside of my state!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Wel since I have an extension back ground from a kid from simply loving music and to entertain. The same passion fires in me today and nothing more I love to see is people having a good time and me being the reason. You never know who having a back day or week or whose out celebrating, but when you can bring them all together to have fun it’s very rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://djsmoovq.bandcamp.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/djsmoovq?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU=
• Other: Press kit aka Resume https://d1fdloi71mui9q.cloudfront.net/x4oY6mdSMGuWtySC1CwG_Smoov%20Press.pdf