This is day 3 of me & @Imodelbooth 30 day challenge we are highlighting one person a day and their business. Today we are highlighting @trestonirbyhifive we got a chance to interview him and learn more about his journey. Also got his book that tells about his life.
A. I really got my start in college. I was the co-host to a radio mixer and personality named Y. Dot. He had a drive time show on our college station, WANM 90.5 on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. I would just watch him mix on a software program called Virtual DJ. I would sit in the studio and think to myself “I can do that”! So, one day I downloaded the program, asked him for some music and I began practicing.
Q. What differentiate you from the rest of the DJ’s?
A. I PRACTICE. Even after I mastered the skill. I still practice and take the time to sharpen my skills. I’m also HUGE on my blends and transitions. For a long time, that’s all I worked on creating different ways to transition from song to song so that it never sounds like a train wreck. Of course, I’m human! Sometimes I do mess up (lol) or can just be moving too fast, but I genuinely love my craft and I think it shows. You can really tell who’s having fun and who’s just there to be there.
Q. How would you define your “Style” or approach to providing DJ Entertainment?
A. I study the crowd, I am always thinking about how I want to set the vibe and what’s going to be my first song. I’m also from Florida… I talk on the microphone! Also, one thing I’ve learned from being in ATL is that they don’t give the DJ a chance to rock the mic. They hire a host and a DJ and then they want us to work together when really, I’m my own show.
Q. Who or what Influenced you to be a DJ?
A. Radio…. Being just a personality is actually very boring.
Q. What are your goals in the next 5 years?
A. Syndicated radio or just radio full-time, more traveling—I really want my craft to allow me to see the world while doing what I love. I want to learn more of the business side as well. I’ll also possibly produce a record and learn how to make beats.
A. That feeling of being in control of the party crowd. It’s a great free feeling. I live for the party.
Q. What is one of your special moments you had being a DJ?
A. Winning my 1st DJ battle. The person I was against was much more experienced. We were neck and neck the whole night. At the end of the night, they announced me the winner. Awesome feeling.
Q. What differentiate you from the rest of the DJ’s?
A. The customer service I provided to the people.
Q. Who would you consider to be a DJ Legend?
A. DJ Jazzy Jeff. Pretty sure many will say this. But just watching him coming up and the talent he has, it’s motivating.
Q. Can you give any advice to upcoming DJ’s?
A. Practice Practice Practice and stick to your price!!
A. I got the name She She while I was interning at the time. The promotion director at the time couldn’t remember my real name so she called She She. It was a name that stuck with me throughout my professional career. So, when I decided to DJ, I just used the name.
Q. What made you want to be a DJ?
A. I always wanted to be a DJ. I grew up watching Spinderella, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kid Capri, DJ Premier etc. and said I want to do that.
Q. What differentiate you from the rest of the DJ’s?
A. I hate to be cliché’ but the music I play. I have such an eclectic sound that I play everything from EDM, house, hip-hop, soul, funk, pop, top 40, R&B, inspirational…If you name it I can play it and have no problem with blending all genres.
Q. Who or what influenced you to be a DJ?
A. The different genre of music is what influenced me, but Spinderella inspired me to become a DJ.
Q. Can you give any advice to upcoming DJ’s?
A. Learn the business side of the industry and practice your butt off. Any DJ will tell you that practice is the key when it comes to rocking a party.
For better or worse, life will not always go as planned. When you’re experiencing a challenge, rather than assuming the worst possible scenario, ask yourself what you could learn from it. What in this challenge could make you stronger, more loving, or more empathetic? Sit with what comes up, and have a notebook nearby to record your thoughts. You won’t always find the answer you want to hear but you’ll begin to recognize that things are not always as negative as they may seem initially.
Q. Do you think that it is hard for women DJs to get gigs?
A. In some ways yes. I often see events that are catered to women that have a male DJ involved. There is a lot of work that should be done by the organizers to ensure a female DJ is there.
Q. What made you want to be a DJ?
A. I was always involved in music since I was 4 years old. My uncle was a DJ and I always put together mixtapes for my friends. It turned into me creating playlists for events. I decided to find a mentor to show me the technical aspects of being a DJ.
Q. Who is your favorite DJ of all time?
A. DJ Jazzy Jeff of course. He is from my hometown Philadelphia, PA. I was able to see him live recently. My style is similar to his.
Q. What or who inspired you to be a DJ?
A. My uncle inspired me. I used to watch him or steal his tapes secretly because I was a music fanatic.
Q. Can you give any advice to upcoming DJ
A. Practice as much as you can. Watch instructional videos. Seek mentorship with someone that is established and has the time for you. There are DJ schools out there.
A. Actually, I was 15 years old and was a member of my uncle’s promotional street team/setup crew. The DJ that was booked for the party was “Running Late”. At first, we thought he was just on some “Wanting the party to be crowded when he arrived” type of ego trip. Little did he know that we always had a line of people waiting to get in before the doors opened. So, my uncle gave me records to play as “Door Opening Music”. The DJ never showed up, so I was the DJ for the whole night. Evidently, I did pretty good because I was the DJ from that point on. So honestly to answer your question. I was forced to DJ to save the family’s business is how I like to put it.
Q. What are some of the challenges you have being a DJ?
A. I’m at a place in my life where being a DJ is not challenging to me. It’s actually more fun now than in my past. It was strictly business to make extra money, but now it’s more of a fun-loving hobby than I get paid to do.
Q. Can you give any advice to an upcoming DJ?
A. Remain humble and always remember, there will be someone coming after you so please pass the knowledge.
Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
A. In the next 5 years, I see myself behind the scenes involved in T.V. shows, and movies.
So I decided to write a letter to my daughter. Its to long to aend but let me shorten it.
Dear Daughter
I love you and always have. I just want you to do better and make better judgments. You dont like to be told what to do but I am trying to help sometimes you need a positive person around. You got to have someone to talk too. We can come up with game plans together.
Life has its up and downs its a cold world out here. If you want better you got to do a game plan and you dont have to do it alone.
Not going make this long just wanted to say I am here and I love you and here if you need me.
A. Working, Grinding, working on real housewives of Atlanta.
Q. You styled Anita Baker for the B.E.T. Awards: how was it working with her?
A. It was amazing they found me on Instagram, and they wanted me to design a custom look for her.
Q. What made you get into fashion?
A. It’s always been in me. I have been doing fashion since 4th grade. I came to Atlanta after high school and went to AIU to get my B.A. in marketing. I own Kontrol Magazine, and it’s a national fashion beauty lifestyle publication based out of Atlanta and sold nationally through Barnes and Nobles. I am also creating a show called blended love which basically talks about different people that come to love; rather they black or white showing the different love couples. It showcases love in a different light; it shows love in a different matter.
Q. Who was your biggest influence far as designing fashion. The person that made you say I want to do this.
A. The people that inspired me would be Kimora Simmons and Tyra Banks. Kimora has always been fabulous and fashionable. That really sparked home with me what she gave wasn’t a typical fashion she gave me everything I wanted and to see in fashion.
Q. What made you launch Kontrol Magazine?
A. I wanted to showcase my work as a Designer and showcase my friends’ work who have a hard time getting put on. I decided to create the magazine as a platform for us.
Q. Who was your biggest influence far as designing fashion design? The person that made you say I want to do this.
A. The people that inspired me would be Kimora Simmons and Tyra Banks. Kimora has always been fabulous and fashionable. That really sparked home with me what she gave wasn’t typical fashion she gave me everything I wanted and to see in fashion.
Q. Do you think fashion in New York is more advanced than here in the south?
A. Yes, fashion everywhere is more advanced than here. We don’t have fashion here in Atlanta. Fashion here is like a clone everyone wants to do the same thing everyone wants to look alike. No one wants to be different.