Today we’d like to introduce you to V K

Hi V K, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

Hello, I’m V K.

My initial foray into DJing and music was back in high school, DJing for parties. I didn’t know the theory behind mixing at all, but I quickly picked up skills like beat matching, matching BPMs, and setting up loops to sample. Eventually, I lost interest in being a DJ because of my dislike of private parties and lost confidence due to constant self-comparison. So, I focused on producing instead and got booked at 17 years old as a senior at Studio 7 in Seattle, which has now become a nightclub called Supernova.

If you’ve read my past magazine features, you’ll know that I DJed for one night before attending Washington State University, where the group KB4L was initially formed. If you haven’t read the past features, I’d recommend reading those because they tie into each other.

Two years later, in 2020, I was at Washington State University when COVID struck Pullman. During that summer, I spent a lot of time with Reece Anderson, Xean Tañala, and many other great men who were part of the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Reece and Xean made mixing look so fun during that summer. They always tried to get me to mix Hip-Hop/Rap, which was my go-to genre and what I was more knowledgeable about before I stopped. I’d watch these guys mix house music like it was a walk in the park. I always liked house music but would never play it by myself. Ultimately, I didn’t know what I was supposed to be counting, so I was both confused and amazed.

As time progressed at WSU, I hung out with these guys pretty often. When school was in person, I couldn’t help but want that feeling of playing in front of people again. It’s a certain feeling you get in your body that you can’t help – like being nervous, with trembling hands and an elevated heartbeat, which eventually goes away or comes back depending on the event. At the time, I was dating someone very encouraging, so I caved in and asked Reece for his DDJ controller. I started practicing rap and house music like it was part of my day-to-day routine.

I spent so much time on that thing, honing my mixing skills for rap and other genres besides house music. Encouraged to play at these parties, I hopped on, and it was liked. Eventually, I became interested in playing at Valhalla, a bar that’s popular on Thursdays through Saturdays. Reece and Xean were already playing there, so I was told to network with the manager of the bar. He took a liking to me and booked me to play for some social event for people under 21. When I tell you that this event was the weirdest thing ever, it was the weirdest thing ever. I texted my ex and told her, “This shit needs to end!” and it finally did. She saw me and said, “Soooooo, how’d it go?” I told her it was annoying. You could play all the right music, and these people would look at you as an iPhone. They’d ask me to play the most childish songs ever, as if they were in elementary school, and chuckle. But hey, I got paid $300, so she said, “HELL YEAH!”

Months went by, and I gained even more confidence in mixing rap, so I asked the club named Lumberyard if I could play. I saw it as a great opportunity to really show my skills in mixing rap, and I was more than ready. I started networking with the owner, and since his other DJ wasn’t playing at the time, I got the owner’s number. He asked me to send him a mix, so I sent him two or three different mixes. He said he’d listen to them. A week went by, and I asked if he’d listened to them, and he said, “Listened to what?” I said, “The mixes you told me to send to you,” and he said, “Oh damn man, I’m sorry I forgot. I’ll listen to them tomorrow.” I said, “Alright, that’s fine,” but the funny thing was I kept getting the same “I forgot, man” after that day.

I eventually said, “Forget it,” and kept moving with kindness when I saw him. Time flew by, things happen, and tough lessons were learned. Music became a safe haven, and my drive to play became even more important now that I’d learned to mix house music & many other genre’s.

Months went by, and I got even better because of the journey I was on. I’d never heard someone mix house and rap originals together, so that became my sound. It became an audible play for me to switch the energy up for one or two songs and back into the grooves. I eventually got booked at Vue Nightclub, playing there often. Then my boy Vybz vouched for me for Trinity Nightclub with resident DJ FameSounds. I became closer to him, and my work ethic showed. FameSounds started booking me and giving me chances, recommending me to other people, as well as DJ/producer pityparty, Levels Nightlife, and SiiD. Tony H has also actually been helpful, and a guidance, everytime I reach a goal I start my next one asking him for hints, and tips. I am am forever grateful for all these guys and many more that have given me a chance, it’s really all I needed. Those who believe in me, and have encouraged me, I don’t ever plan to let them down.

Now, I’m currently in Fontana, California, working, gaining knowledge, and expanding my business, “Leap of Faith.” It’s a social event to connect, dance, and inspire those to leap toward their endeavors. You’ll never know the outcome of something until you try it, so why keep procrastinating?

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

My road has not been smooth; there have been significant bumps along the way. These are the same challenges that make some people fold, but I took them on the chin and doubled my efforts. Trust me, this hustle ain’t easy, and I get lazy. You’re going to face storms in everyday life, and personally, I prefer to disappear, handle things under the radar, and pop back up like nothing ever happened. By everyday life, I mean life outside of DJing. We all have different situations and lifestyles. At the end of the day, you have to sacrifice things to make certain gears move.

Patience is also crucial. You can be the big boss all you want, but patience will forever be a virtue, and you’ll always reap the rewards of it too.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

In my work, I specialize in DJing and music production, with a focus on blending genres like house music and rap to create dynamic and engaging experiences. I’m known for my ability to craft seamless transitions that keep audiences energized and entertained.

One of my proudest achievements is overcoming challenges throughout my career, from navigating setbacks to refining my skills to stand out in a competitive industry. What sets me apart is my dedication to innovation and versatility. I strive to curate unique musical experiences that resonate deeply with diverse audiences, blending different styles to create something fresh and exciting. Most importantly having fun, it’s all about the fun, and the joy it brings me!

Above all, I take pride in the connections I’ve built and the impact I’ve made through my performances. My journey has taught me resilience and the importance of authenticity in every aspect of my work. When sought after for guidance I give it, because when I needed a chance, or even guidance I barely got it until I met the right people.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?

One surprising fact that most people who know my work might not realize is that I initially lost interest in DJing due to my discomfort with private parties and self-comparison. It took a significant personal journey and the encouragement of peers to reignite my passion and dive back into the DJ scene. This experience taught me the value of perseverance and staying true to my artistic vision despite setbacks.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vxkesh_?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://linktr.ee/v_kay?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=7c30a912-8bc5-45ac-9d78-ab38c5d08cdc

Image Credits

Hassib Ashouri
Isaiah Scott
Emerald City Met gala
Patrick Holmes Hollywood