Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Liu.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Christy. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
My story began seven years ago when I moved to Los Angeles from Taipei, Taiwan. The original plan was to obtain a bachelor’s degree and move back home.
While pursuing a degree at UCLA, I stumbled upon Scratch DJ Academy, a DJ school founded by Run DMC’s late Jam Master Jay. I was instantly intrigued by the place’s energy, so I decided to take a chance and enroll myself into the program. It didn’t take long before I fell in love with the art and culture of DJing.
Being part of the academy didn’t only help me discover my passion for DJing, it also helped break the culture barriers I was constantly struggling with. It was then when I knew I had to stay in the US and pursue a DJing career.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. The language barrier was one of the biggest challenges since English is not my first language. Learning the technicalities of DJing was difficult enough, but not being able to fully speak and understand the language made it even more of a struggle. I thought about giving up so many times.
Thankfully, with the encouragement of the academy’s instructors and other students, I was able to graduate with the second highest score in the class. However, once I finished the program, I realized my biggest challenge was still ahead of me. Growing up listening to mostly Taiwanese pop, my knowledge for Western music and culture was nearly non-existent. My first year DJing was the toughest time of my career.
Not only did I have to get familiar with current tracks, but I also had to dig deep into the music of the past decades. I spent most of that year sitting in front of my laptop studying and researching artists and records. I also made sure to go out as much as I could to check out other DJs performances and see what they are playing.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I’m a full-time DJ based in Los Angeles. I spin for nightclubs, bars, corporate events, private events, weddings, and more. My favorite part about DJing is feeling the crowd’s energy and rocking the dance floor until the last minute. I am most proud of being able to walk into any room and have the confidence that I am able to craft a great, fitting set on the spot.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe being flexible and adaptable to change are essential characters for success. The ability to adapt is the ability to evolve with the world around you. Being adaptable means being resilient. And being resilient will get you far in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://djlytmusic.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djlytmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djlytmusic/
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
