Are you ready to discover the next rising star in the music world? Look no further than our exclusive SHEDJ of the Week Weekly Feature! Each week, we handpick an incredible talent from the world of underground and independent music and showcase their exceptional skills, unique style, and captivating sounds.
What can you expect from SHEDJ of the Week? Prepare to be blown away by the electrifying beats, soul-stirring melodies, and boundary-pushing creativity that these emerging SHEDJs bring to the table.
Whether you're a dedicated music enthusiast, an aspiring artist, or simply someone who loves uncovering fresh, innovative sounds, our weekly feature promises to deliver a captivating audio experience like no other. Join us in celebrating diversity, originality, and the raw passion that fuels the underground music scene. Ready to embark on a sonic adventure unlike any other?
SHEDJS: What initially sparked your passion for DJing, and how did you get started in the music scene?
It was the late 80s. I was a tiny human. I had just moved with my parents and brother to Toronto from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our excursions consisted of going to Yonge Street a lot. We hung out by the CHUM City TV Station; the heart of Electric Circus (EC), and as I watched the vinyl DJs scratch and spin records at the local record shops, I fell in love! This woke up my inner child’s dream to DJ but at the time I didn’t imagine myself DJng. I was just in awe watching the OGs spin ol’ school hip hop and it felt like a dream.
Growing up in Toronto in high school, a friend of mine was becoming a salsa DJ and this is when I started to watch more closely and spend more time with DJs in general.
As a young kid in Argentina, I was exposed to some incredible sounds from artists from all over the world. We could listen to B sides of the records on the radio from artists so my ear was trained very early on as a young kid. My dad would play a lot of synth and Pink Floyd, so I was immersed in a musical world that influences my life today! As a musician, as a sonic student of really really good music, my passion for music is to educate the world of stories and meaning behind the lyrical genius. It was then that I started to get glimpses of me as a DJ & living my radio dreams!
When the opportunity came to train in MDQ; a renowned DJ “factory” & music hub during covid, my life finally made sense! I was destined to be in the music industry! :D What a turn of events eh?! In MDQ I was healing a broken spine I suffered in a violent gender-based attack. It’s then that I also embarked on vocal lessons because I figured moving fascia in my diaphragm might actually help realign my lil back & neck into place. It was during one of my healing sessions that I vocalized my dreams with my trusted healer; and the rest is H.E.R.Story .. true story ;)
(the H.E.R. campaign is a medical tourism healing campaign I launched to fundraise to help heal my spine in Latin America after I was attacked and violently injured by large men in Vancouver. The purpose behind the campaign is to bridge the Healers, Educators & Researchers of Earth Medicine. Music is Medicine. It has been helping me heal. This is a big part of MY MUSICAL WHY)
SHEDJS: Can you share a memorable experience from one of your performances or events that stands out in your mind?
My most memorable experience as a DJ thus far, and I feel I have ample space for more was spinning at Expo Cannabis in MDQ. I wasn’t the best or most experienced at the time, and it was my very first real paid DJ gig that the school had hooked me up with. I played 2 sets; my first was hip hop and my second was an afro & organic house set. I felt free!
The feeling of the ocean breeze. The smell of the yummiest terps from the vendors and burn. The community and the most incredible feeling of friendship that I have yet to repeat because it was THAT special. That day I felt I met most of my soul family. I wish to repeat it 1000 times more before my days on this plane end! I wish to make more memories like these in the very near future, and hope to tell you about them ;)
SHEDJS: How do you approach creating a setlist or choosing tracks for a particular event or venue?
I didn’t realize I was a music collector aka a DJ until I became a DJ! Hahaha! I have been creating like-sounds, or in other words, matching songs that sound like they may go well together, for eonns! I did it with my ear as a kid all of the time. I would then produce my own songs in my head. My mom says that I sang a lot in the car so that’s probably studying my “productions”. When napster & all of the music sharing started, I was on it! Downloading the newest and latest! I was always studying lyrics and songs for their meaning. I dreamt of vinyl a lot so I created an instagram account called @djanddisco to serve as a dedicated discs & lyrics outlet, much like a vinyl sleeve so that was one way that I curated music. When Spotify launched I became a subscriber early on and started to create playlists, which then became the base of my professional DJ sets. At Factory in MDQ, I was taught about how to incorporate my inspiration into my DJ sets in a cohesive and professional way which is why I feel today I operate at the level that I do.
SHEDJS: Are there specific genres or artists that have had a significant influence on your style?
Yes! I originally wanted to play hip hop with vinyl. From the get go. Which is very difficult. So my profs at Factory DJ School in MDQ brought me back to earth and taught me on a variety of DJ decks & consoles to practice with. We focused on EDM. During this process, I was discovering Rufus du Sol and their message during covid. I am really into melodic house & techno, and really wanted to mix Indie Rock with Melodic, and found edits by Foals! One of my fave indie bands! Phantogram; another one. As a kid, Chris Sheppard was my radio DJ muse!! During my training in MDQ, I was being influenced to branch into something more unique so in time I developed into Afro & Organic House for my opener, Indie Dance as my headliner, and more of melodic/progressive for a closer. I will also create custom sets of Latino/Cachengue/Reggae/Reggaeton, as well as Hip Hop/Urban upon request. My ultimate dream is to play 80s on vinyl at festivals.
SHEDJS: In a constantly evolving industry, how do you stay updated on new music trends and technologies?
Good question! It helps that my algorithm has been following me and my conscious musical consumption habits since early childhood 😛It also helps now more than ever being connected to such an array and variety of DJs & musical artists. It really helps to be an emerging Radio Show Producer & Host with CVOX Radio where I intentionally hunt & seek for emerging artists that I can then showcase on my show. Stay tuned for that ;)
It also helps a lil that I am a human Shazam machine!! In fact, I can outwin the real-life Shazam game because I can catch (not just guess) the song before Shazam does! It’s one of my gifts LOL!
I’ll probably continue to practice my ear and intentionally work on capturing great new musical talent. I really like where this path is taking me. I think it will make me a better DJ in the end. :)
SHEDJS: Do you have any advice for aspiring DJs looking to break into the scene or enhance their skills?
Yes! I would train under a great DJ who can hook you up with landing gigs. It’s a really really tough world right now. It’s sexy to be a DJ but don’t do what Grimes did at Coachella. DJng is not a micky mouse game of pushing buttons. It’s using the ears (not the eyes) to create harmony in a musical experience. The machine can’t just do that for you. My best advice is to train your ear and learn to love the collection of USB drives; you will have collections of them. If you love vinyl prepare to go broke, just kidding; borrow from friends.. Or prepare to go broke. Vinyl is special but it’s a craft and it can be expensive.
If you really want to make a career out of DJng, consider a music school that will hook you up with gigs. The more dates you have, the more experience you will get.
SHEDJS: What's next for you in terms of projects, collaborations, or upcoming gigs?
I’m still on Vancouver Island, which I didn’t plan to do this year. I was hoping to move to Tulum, Mexico in 2023 but life forced me to stay in Canada for another winter and summer season in my tiny house. My tiny house is a musical creative space for artists called H.E.R.Studio so I’m looking to nurture the space. I’m hoping to turn it into a musical cafe that hosts DJs and different musical festivals and events. Summer on the Island is approaching and I am very excited to be DJng at the Nanaimo Night Market as of June 20th for 6 dates. I am happy to share more deets on that soon. I am launching a new radio show with CVOX Community Radio (cvox.ca) called The Psilli Micelli Show where I will be playing live DJ sets, along with themes and Q&As with emerging artists. The big one is my Regenerative Tourism project called Speakeasies in partnership with Destinos, our family tourism co. The radio and my DJ opportunities will travel with me as H.E.R. campaign continues to get traction and serves as the catalytic story of triumph behind the Speakeasies; essentially so that we can regenerate our best life! Stay Tuned!! 😀 Follow my linktree/micelli.sami or my instagram @micelli.sami for updates!