HTX DJ Fresh

How I started and how my journey has been so far:

I was immersed in music at a very young age. Having a big family that is filled with musically inclined ministers played a huge role in my ultimate destiny. I started off setting up musical and sound equipment for my family’s music group, “Praise Groove”.

Moving from venue to venue and working with all types of equipment enabled me to learn the technical side of things while falling in love with the overall production of music. Shortly after, I noticed my cousins take to an instrument or a specific role in the family business. Since I naturally didn’t want to be the one carrying all the bags it was time for me to find my lane and elevate as well. I chose the drums because it’s always the first and main thing I listen to in a song. Even if I dislike a song, I can find something in the beat that I can vibe with.

I started my musical journey in the church, helping with percussion and filling in when the main drummer couldn’t show. Eventually, I started playing around with the piano. It wasn’t until I headed off to college where a good friend of mine would introduce me to Image Line FL Studio (a producer software). I immediately fell in love. I had the creative control to produce whatever I wanted and didn’t necessarily need to know how to play all the instruments. After a few months of learning and experimenting, I was ready to share my sound with the world. I hit the pavement at Lamar University ready! There were rappers left and right handing out mixtapes so I figured it would be no time before I had the whole campus buying my beats. My hopes and assumptions were completely off but in my awakening, I realized how many artists walked the same campus but didn’t know or work with each other. I had to make a difference but knew it I had to come from a higher place of influence. I did a lot of thinking and found my answer when I attended a cake cutting during Kappa Week. The DJ had my focus the whole time. I noticed how everyone gravitated towards him. There was a certain type of validation that came with personally knowing the DJ. Once I saw how this one person had control over the entire situation, I knew that was going to be me.

There were already 5 DJs on campus so my first task was to figure out how to set myself apart from the competition. I decided to put together an event that I would host and DJ, “Rock the Mic”. This event would be used to bring our talent as a school under one roof. An entertaining environment that encouraged collaboration between serious and recreational artist s alike was created. Ultimately “Rock the Mic” consistently placed me in front of 300-500 students at a time as DJ Fresh. Myself and the event had immediate success and I haven’t looked back since. By the next year, I surpassed 4 of the 5 DJs being coined as the go to DJ for all university sponsored events as well as a new vendor for the surrounding Independent School Districts. By year two, it was official, it was my time. As Lamar University’s official DJ, I did everything from Greek events to televised sports games. My MC Hollywood and I curated events and birthed promotion groups at the university. My footprint in the city and surrounding areas was solidified and it was time to come home to Houston and duplicate my success.

As I returned home, I decided to shift the needle just a little and focus more on the urban club/bar scene. A close relationship with some promoters brought me to Therapy (a bar on Washington St.), where I still hold my residency on Saturday nights. Now that I was back in the city, I quickly linked with college friend Camm B, CEO of the Urban Glimpse PR firm. Once Camm became my PR rep, I started receiving radio/magazine interviews, festival gigs and out of state bookings. After a little time, it was evident that we shared the same goals and ambition so we agreed to name me Urban Glimpse CFO and Official DJ. Currently, we are growing our roster of artists and preparing for our upcoming events. Urban Glimpse has also partnered with me in the first phase of “Mixtape Mondays”, which is a playlist curated by myself and promoted on all social platforms. The weekly playlist contains new mainstream music as well as local talent that we believe is next to blow. The next installment of “Mixtape Mondays” will include a podcast where we dig a little deeper with our highlighted artist of the week.

Here are some challenges that I've had to overcome.

There have definitely been some struggles. When I decided to be a DJ I had to decide if I wanted to jump off the porch immediately or take the time to save up money for all the equipment. I have zero patience so I began my career with an external hard drive! I installed DJ software on all my friend’s laptop so I could use whichever was available. I formed a strong relationship with the administrator over Lamar University’s Baptist Student Ministries. He allowed me to borrow their sound system as long as it didn’t conflict with any of their events. Being this was my only resource for sound, I was constantly asked if I had enough sound to handle the events.

Once I got my equipment together and continued to elevate I learned that music only accounts for so much of the business. I went through a period of time where I had to learn the art of communication and how to be a better people person. I had to realize that the only people that see things from a DJ’s perspective are DJs!

What am I currently working on?

I DJ, Mix, and edit music for dance/cheer instructors, Greek shows and recording artists, provide sound equipment for events. Curate playlists. Host a Podcast.

I’m known to be a laid back individual but I specialize in providing high energy through my music, mixes, effects and overall content.

I’m proud of my determination and longevity. What sets me apart is my wisdom of the industry and my ability to reinvent myself.

A characteristic or quality that is essential to success?
I’m stubborn, sometimes to a fault. That and being goal-oriented has brought me through many hardships along my path.