Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Amezquita.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Born and semi-raised in California, I grew up listening to all types of music, thanks to my dad who enjoyed all types of music himself. Throughout my elementary school days, I would make mixtapes using mixes from the Fri/Sat radio djs and my favorite songs that were popular at the time. On Monday, I would play the tapes I made for show and tell & give them away to all my friends.
In 2005 I lost my dad, and my family made the choice to sell our house the following year and move to Houston. I stayed behind with my sister and her husband to finish middle school. During this time, my brother-in-law showed me how to use LimeWire and burn my own CDs with my favorite songs. That’s when everything pretty much started.
I moved to the “H” to start high school and taught myself how to mix by looking up videos and using a free deejay software. Soon, I found myself doing house parties and other small events. Once I could afford my own equipment, I took on more events and met other Deejays who helped me get my experience with bars, clubs, private and public events. I’ve been lucky enough to deejay very unique and different gigs, which have helped shape my personal style of deejaying.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not, especially when I didn’t have reliable equipment, transportation, or understand basic business principles. The free software I used only worked 15 minutes, so I had to use iTunes and match up the song that was playing so I could just exit out of the software and turn it back on. I used this from 2007-2010 for all my gigs! My equipment constantly has to be fixed and upgraded, and I have lost my music collections due to computer glitches. It can also be a hassle to get paid what you know you deserve. Another major challenge is the difference between practicing at home versus playing in the moment in front of a large crowd. Making this a career is tough and unstable at times, but I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.
Alright – so let’s talk your music. Tell us about your work – what should we know?
I’m glad to have the opportunity to have worked and keep working with very ambitious artists, primarily the infamous artist Besomeone. In the recent years, we’ve collaborated more and more to bring a comfortable and positive energy using our own passions – art, music, fashion, etc. You can catch us together alongside BesomeoneAce at Hip Hop Vintage Flea Market in East Downtown the first Sunday of every month.
Since deejaying, I’ve been exposed to so many different cultures, races, religion, and forms of music. These experiences have shaped the way I think music can be played. You can’t just limit yourself to what is already known when there is so much waiting for you to discover. I’ve tried to stand out but still adhere to what the customer wants. I enjoy any gig that has a wide variety of individuals with different backgrounds and ages.
I’m proud to be able to do what I love and make money while doing it. I don’t feel that I’ve gotten to where I would like to be or have a clear vision on where exactly I will want to be, but I can tell you I am proud of what I do and how far I’ve come. I think I’ve been deejaying for a very long time now and only until recently have I started to believe I’m a dj. What I mean is I finally feel comfortable enough being who I am and knowing what I am capable of doing when I’m behind and around music! Producing, expanding, and changing some habits are all things I am anticipating to work on for this year and the years to come. The growth never stops.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think the ability to communicate and work in a team is one of the most important characteristics for my success. There are so many moving pieces that must be accounted for during events. Without communication and coordination with the team (i.e. clients, coordinators, hosts, emcee, media and AV techs, promoters, managers, bartenders, door guys, etc.), your event/gig can really be a bang or bust. Working with others and feeling a part of something bigger than myself will always satisfy my ambition to keep doing what I like to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: BesomeoneCo.com
- Phone: 8325295982
- Email: djzema22@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/besomeonedjzema/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BesomeoneDjZema/
- Other: https://soundcloud.com/besomeonedjzema
Image Credit:
@ Createdby.jmc
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
