Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Nguyen.
Paul, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always loved music. I grew up listening to anything and everything really. My mom loved Motown records and disco. My siblings loved hip hop and what was at the time, underground electronic music. I even went through a metal and punk rock phase! So I guess you could say I had a pretty eclectic musical upbringing.
As for DJing, I started sometime during my junior year at UH. I saw a fraternity brother of mine Dj and asked him if it was easy since I was SUPER intrigued by it. He basically said that I wouldn’t be able to grasp it like he did and I got shot down pretty quickly. So naturally, my love of proving people wrong kicked in and led me to blow most of my grant money on a little dj controller. (Sorry FAFSA.) Pretty much after that, I started doing Greek parties around campus; the nonplate smashing kind! I played whatever gigs I could to be honest and eventually fell into playing at Stereo live. It was after playing a big gig there, about 750 people, that I knew I couldn’t possibly pursue any other career. The rush for me was just too much to walk away from.
So I graduate college and did everything I could to get gigs. I went out pretty much every night to shake hands with other DJ’s, passed out mixes on USB’s, ubered at night to meet people, etc. Funny story, there was this club called F Bar. They were looking for a Latin dj on Sundays and I just totally said I could spin Latin music knowing full well I only knew Selena tracks and Gasolina. I prepared so much for that gig during the days counting up to it that I ended up doing well enough to lock in the gig and got my first residency ever.
From there, I pretty much just took whatever gig I was offered, tried my best to rock every gig no matter what it was, and luckily met a bunch of people along the way that helped put me to where I am today!
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not! I sort of just jumped into this career with no backup plan and like a thousand bucks, I had saved up from college jobs. At one point, I balanced four side hustles to pay rent and buy whatever new gear I needed. It got especially difficult when I ended up in the hospital with a bad case of osteomyelitis (bone infection) in my left femur. I was in and out of the hospital for like six months, had five surgeries on my leg, and didn’t really know how it would all turn out. I pretty much lost a most of my gigs that I had worked really hard for and felt like I started back at day 1.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dj Phon – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
So I’m what you call an open-format DJ. It basically means I play a variety of gigs that vary in genre and detail. I particularly fell in love with playing club gigs and festivals though. For the most part, that’s what people know me for and generally expect to see me at!
I’m most proud of the amount of work I’ve put in. If I stopped DJing today, I could turn back and just be incredibly happy with what I’ve accomplished. I’ve met so many people along the way and have done some great parties. I couldn’t really expect anything else.
To be honest, I’m not too sure what sets me apart. I just work hard like many do and take risks on the dance floor. Sometimes I get a bunch of groans but sometimes I get those explosive reactions. It’s what I live for and it’s what makes me tick.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I absolutely LOVE that the city of Houston is a city of culture. I’d say I’m pretty well-traveled and I just haven’t found a city like ours. So many ethnic groups have immigrated to Houston and have managed to maintain their own culture while sharing it with the rest of us. You could grab some authentic African food for lunch, jet over to a Vietnamese supermarket to snag some groceries, and end up shopping at a Japanese store all within walking distance! And the food, I would stand by my words that Houston is a food mecca.
As for what I like least about Houston, I’ll answer that when the construction on our freeways stop.
Contact Info:
- Email: ContactDjPhon@Gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djphon
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/deejayphon
Image Credit:
Evan Hammerman, Mike Victorick
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.
