Rebirth 2023

It’s been a week since I dropped my Rebirth set and I still can’t stop thinking about it.

The feeling of being up there and ripping through 50 tracks that my friends loved and danced to, the other DJs being blown away by the progress from the last time I played, and most importantly, playing the set that I wanted, that was 100% me and having the time of my life revealing it.

What a journey from first seeing my friend Adrian play some tunes at a barbecue during covid lockdown to my first live set that I barely survived (seriously), to this moment of euphoria. My head was so far in space I couldn’t speak after I was done. I’ve never felt anything like that before. The only thing I can compare it to is when I presented at a conference in front of a huge crowd, but this was way more fun.

I said to myself, “I think this is what people mean when they talk about something that makes them feel alive.”

Thank you to Adrian, who showed me the craft and keeps putting top-level DJ tips in my head.

When I was pulling this together, I kept experimenting and mixing with those thoughts in my mind and I couldn’t be happier with what came out of the speakers. I also have to thank him for getting my 30 mins for my first live set, it’s just something you have to get over the fear of and do. It helped a ton to have your support getting up there.

Thank you to Brock, who pulled me aside after that first challenging set and said, “You’re an artist, don’t stop playing.”

That meant so much to me to hear, it was hard enough getting up there let alone reflecting later knowing I wasn’t any good. The alone hours in my studio practicing can get tough and when you’re not getting what you want out of the music, unfriendly voices rise up and I repeated what you said to me to make them go away.

Thanks Biff Cooper at Power Plant Records for the guitar lessons and enthusiasm for music. It’s your passion and I learned so much from you. The downbeats and one-ey-two-eys made even more sense to me when I saw them on a computer screen! 1,2,3,4 - 2,2,3,4 - 3,2,3,4 - 4,2,3,4

Thanks to Mike and Stacy for always inviting me out on these desert trips and letting me play on your stage and killer speaker setup. 1,000% more fun when you can feel the bass rattling your body (and with a music-hungry crowd that makes you feel at home). You guys are the best! Desert Fam!

People come into your life for a reason and I believe it.

Playing music has been on and off in my life since my dad bought me my Fender Strat when I was a sophomore in high school. We did music lessons, I learned a lot, and kept practicing and learning.

I have to thank myself for not giving up on music. It’s been a journey. Exploring this creatively, 100s of hours feeling like nothing is happening, giving myself space to experiment, it all came together to become the most fun I’ve ever had.