We connected with New York’s own DJ Gatica for an Exclusive Q&A interview on her career. We talked about her DJ career, he biggest moments, her being a mother, and how she continues to create success with her unique style. Check out her interview below and let us know what you think by leaving a comment.
Q: We’ve been following each other on social media for a while, and it’s clear you’re incredibly active and passionate. What fuels your drive to create content, and was this always the path you dreamed of?
A: I want to say the passion for the legacy I’m going to leave behind to the people. I know that’s like mad extra, but I’m so serious. I want to just be able to say when I’m 80 years old, all of the beautiful collaborations I’ve made and all the experiences that we got through as a people. I know that’s dramatic, but that’s how I feel.
Q: New York can either lift you up or chew you up. How have you managed to build and thrive in your DJ career while living in such a high-energy city?
A: I would definitely have to say my community. Like, if it wasn’t for them… you know, being there supporting me through this process, I call one of my people and they get me through it. And they remind me of my why. And you just have to have a team of people who support you through this fucked up city.
Q: Was there a moment, person or experience that first sparked your passion for becoming a DJ?
A: Wow, I never thought of that, honestly.
I always thought it was so cool. I remember for my Sweet 16, looking at the DJ and being like, that’s so dope. Like, I don’t know. It was just like, wow, he was so cool. So maybe around my Sweet 16 time. I think I’ve always wanted to be in entertainment and in production because my dad had concerts and I do remember seeing him directing his band and my mom selling cds and putting up signs and it’s definitely in my blood so I can’t name an exact moment but I feel like it’s always kind of been there
Q: You’ve spun tracks in so many different cities and venues — is there one place that holds a special spot in your heart as your favorite to DJ?
A: I really love Watermark. It’s right there on the water. I would say Watermark.
Q: The music industry can be full of highs and lows. How do you stay grounded, protect your energy, and keep moving forward when challenges come your way?
A: I stay grounded with disconnecting. There’s definitely times that I just gotta be like, “All right, this shit will be here when I come back.” And while I’m away, I’ll take some nice pictures and people will be reminded that I’m just breathing because I’m a human being. to be totally real with you.
Looking back on your journey so far, what accomplishment in your DJ career are you most proud of?
A: I’m proud of a lot of them.
I don’t feel like I’ve had my most proud moment yet. I feel like there’s still so much to conquer. I will say that something I’m very proud of is like when I’m DJing when people come up to me and they just get there’s like a certain head nod that they do that like they just like you know they squint their eye a little bit like yo you’re killing it right now and like in those moments like if it’s a little kid or like an older person it is a really beautiful moment to have sparked a little bit of joy in somebody’s life I don’t know it’s kind of corny but its how I feel !
Q: Being a mom and a DJ must be a juggling act. How do you balance both roles without losing momentum in either one?
A: I would say I’m not balancing. I’m definitely juggling like hot fire potatoes. I know that that’s going to come with a lot of highs and lows, it’s going to be shitty sometimes. Like it’s really be shitty sometimes. Im just doing my best though and remembering the ultimate goal.
Q: The music industry can be full of highs and lows. How do you stay grounded, protect your energy, and keep moving forward when challenges come your way?
A: Disconnecting. Again, I think disconnecting and really evaluating and having measures of progress just because you’re doing something, was that something headed in a successful direction? I don’t want to be just so busy and just everywhere on a hamster wheel. So I disconnect and reevaluate and really like sit down with it and ask, is this in the direction of what I want to be doing?
Q: For anyone dreaming of a career in Deejaying, what’s one piece of real-world advice you wish someone had told you when you were starting out?
A: For anyone dreaming of a career in DJing, what’s one piece of real word advice you wish someone had told you when you were starting out? You’re going to need a lot of money! And if you don’t,m it you got to know how to barter. Are you a barterer? learn how to barter and be good at other stuff that’s going to get you in the door of doing that too.
Q: Are there any exciting new projects or collaborations you’re working on that you can give us a sneak peek into?
A: 4 the record series, check it out on YouTube. Got a whole bunch of previews up there.. If you subscribe and you pay the little monthly service fee, you’ll get access to even more amazing content. Cause you know what I’m saying? This shit for the productions cost, bro. Give me the $7!
Q: Every journey comes with lessons — what was one of the hardest lessons you had to learn as you built your DJ career?
A: I don’t feel like I’ve learned my hardest lessons either yet. Just be ready to sacrifice a lot if this is really what you want. Because there’s 80 billion people in the world and there’s like four spots. Like if you really want to be a DJ that’s like making a lot of money and like on a million dollar level youve got to think real different. You got to be real different and you got to hear no a million times. So that’s my little two cents.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice someone you look up to shared with you — and how has it shaped the way you approach your career today?
A: Hmm. I’m so blessed that I’ve had so many really dope people like share knowledge with me, honestly. The best piece of advice, maximizing your time, knowing your value, understanding your value and, delivering. Like if you’re going to put a price to something, provide a service, rinse and repeat. It’s not that serious. get fucking to it. That’s really it. Just get to it.
Q: If you weren’t a DJ, what do you think you would be doing right now?
A: I don’t know. I guess if I wasn’t a DJ. I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer because I talk shit. And I like to talk shit when I got receipts.
So it’s like, if I could talk shit on receipts and get paid for it and bring justice to the people, I think that would be dope, yo, if I wasn’t a DJ. But again, another career. You need a lot of money. You need a lot of money.
Q: When you first started out, was there a moment you almost gave up? What kept you going?
A: Of course. Yeah, it’s… early on i mean where do we begin like i was a mother i was a wife i was a daughter to like born again christian freaking parents who were like you’re gonna be a dj in a club okay well we’re not gonna do this is this because they were my support system with the kids like what i’m gonna pay for babysitting to go to to go to work? and get paid in hookah? no but that was my reality in that time so you know i almost gave up but then again it’s the legacy i’m gonna leave behind like all the people that we read about in history books like they just moved different they broke their reality and they were like no this is i going to be my life this is how i’m gonna walk it…like i talk it and i too want to walk it like i talk it!
Q: What’s your pre-show ritual — any lucky charms or must-play hype songs?
A: Okay. So pre-shows could be either be for my podcast. I do my last minute little researchers from, I had already researched them, but then like my last little, like, you know, what’s trending news from that day that it would be something that if the edit takes a week, it’ll still be some great content.
And then for my DJing, I’m going to be really corny. I’m going to really let you guys in. Pause. And I would say I there’s a song by Nina Simone, Feeling Good. I play that song when I’m like about to go to a gig or if I’m if it’s like the first time that I’m going somewhere and it looks and I’m like a little nervous or whatever because I’ve never been there. That’s the song that kind of just gets me back in my mood.
Q: If you could open for any artist in the world right now, who would it be and why?
A: If I could open for any artist in the world right now, damn, that’s a tough one.
I gotta do it one time for Las Colombianas, you know? Karol G of course
Q: What’s a myth about the DJ world that you wish more people would stop believing?
A: That we just party and that we don’t take life serious because you don’t even know what I’ve been through guys. I’m hustling out here man!
But yeah, no, we’re not all just like getting drunk and high off pills and like waking up at four o’clock in the afternoon, you know, and living in our parents’ basements. We’re not all like that. I mean, there was a time that I did, but hey anyway, that’s a lot of information. But whatever. This is my story, man.
This is my story.
Q: How do you personally define “success” in an industry that’s always chasing the next big thing?
A: Integrity, man. Do I have integrity? Do people respect? Like, are they paying and are they respecting? I’m not going to be paying to show up to be around a whole bunch of bozos and weirdos. Im not exchanging energy and currency with no weird shit. Like, if I’m balling, but I’m with some weird ass people, that’s not success to me. That’s a sellout.
I just really want to take a moment to thank you for this interview. And I really appreciate the opportunity to tell my story on your platform. And it’s only up from here.
I’ll see you at the top, baby.
