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Interview by Anitah Imani
A: I wanted to have you reflect on what your introduction to music has been in general in terms of forming your music taste. What’s the influence behind that?
T4yana: Growing up, my music taste came a lot from my parents. I grew up listening to a lot of hip hop and r&b from the 90s, 80s, 70s, and so on. A lot of alternative artists my dad put me on to, like Basement Jaxx and the Gorillas, and they are what got me into music. When I was in middle school, my interest in music really took off because I was on Tumblr and I was on the internet, so I spent a lot of time searching and going down YouTube rabbit holes.
I think Tumblr definitely introduced me to a lot of alternative cultures. I had a huge Daft Punk phase where I was obsessed with them. They were definitely the artists that I was like, wow, I would love to be a DJ and DJ like them on that huge stage. So that era of music, and then also the whole indie sleaze appealed to me too.
I was really into that whole culture when I was a teenager, but I didn't really have a lot of friends that were into that, so I kind of felt like my alternative music taste was closeted in a way. I didn't really have a community, or know people who had the same taste in music and same interests, but some had similar interests as me. So after high school, I started to venture out into the smaller DIY scene and the queer DIY scene too. Then I feel like I found my people, and my DJ career, and also just coming out of the closet and that part of my journey. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's kind of synced up in a way. Just being a part of the queer scene and finding my people, and finding people that also have the same taste in music as me was definitely really important.
A: No, that totally makes sense, being able to come more into your identity through shaping a musical identity and musical taste, then finding that community out here in Phoenix as your intro.
I know you mentioned stepping into more queer spaces out here, but when did you get to the point of DJing at a club?
T4yana: So my best friend Jocelyn, at the time, was also learning how to DJ. We both kind of went to the same kind of parties and were part of that DIY scene, too. Through our friendship, she taught me how to DJ on her equipment. Beforehand, I was practicing and experimenting on a computer system, but I didn't have actual DJ equipment to do real gigs. That's when it really popped off. I started doing parties, and then there was an event that Jocelyn and I both opened for, a music festival in Tucson called Hoco. That was 2019, and I want to say that was like my third gig. My very first gig was some tiny warehouse party. That was the first time I did it on an actual stage at an actual venue. From there, I did other events and parties. And then I want to say, down the line, I started DJing at Gracie’s, and now we have Club Contact, and so on.
A:You definitely have experience in DJing in Tucson and Phoenix, both of which are creative and music hubs for Arizona. What has been your favorite space to DJ at?
T4yana: I do have a lot. I do have a soft spot for Gracie’s always, just because I feel like that was when I really started to get into DJing, taking it seriously. I do feel like there's always an energetic crowd there. So I'm always inspired by that energy. But I would say probably the most notable or most memorable venue that I played was at The Van Buren.
That was crazy. It was the first time I played for that size of a crowd. I've never been on a stage that played that capacity. It was insane. After doing it, I was like I want to do it again, as nerve-wracking as it was. It was so much fun.
A:No, you like, made history.
T4yana: I was like, Holy shit. When I think back to it, I kind of shake a little bit because I'm forever shook at that moment.
A:That was such a fun night too, loved you and Robertitix’s energy together. I know that y'all have DJ’ed multiple events together, before that point as well. What was that like? DJing, next to somebody who you’ve sort of come up in the scene with, and what has it been working with her, even opening it up to even the other women and other DJs that you've worked with out here.
T4yana:
It's so cool. I think being at the moment of being able to DJ with someone I've DJ’ed with and worked with in the past, it kind of felt like we're growing together, and so that was really cool. It was almost kind of like all of my years of DJing kind of paid off in that moment. It was a really cool moment, honestly surreal, but also such a special moment for both of us.
A: Going off of that in terms of the other DJs you've also been able to collaborate with and pioneer new spaces for different sounds that I feel aren't as popular in Arizona. Like the ghetto tech and house music I know is a big thing that you DJ as well. If you just want to reflect on some of your favorite events that you've DJ'd, like Red Light District, Club Tix, Codename.
T4yana: All the ones that you named are definitely on my list of my favorite events that I've done before. I think they're all special in their own way. They all bring a different energy and a different crowd. So being part of it is super inspiring because I want to do my own events one day. And so I'm really grateful for being a part of it and collaborating with different people. “Work” was also really cool, too. And then we also had a more ballroom-style event. And the person was MCing, Leo, we actually worked together at another office job before, so I know it was kind of funny how small of a world it is.
A:In terms of all the different sounds and all the different music genres that you DJ, what would you say your palette is? Do you have a favorite genre to spin?
T4yana: I love to just DJ stuff that has a really danceable energy. I don't like to stay within one vibe or one big jam. I don't want to only do house music, only do techno music, or Baltimore club edits, but I do like to provide a variety of energies to my sets. They're definitely more like that kind of energetic club vibe, but like a variety of tempos and sounds and whatnot. My favorite genres are definitely juke and footwork. I feel like you can't not just dance to juke and footwork. So I think it's definitely one of my top faves. And I love some ballroom. Miami bass and definitely, ghetto tech. But those are my picks.
A: I love the range of different black music genres specifically that you spin. It's always fun coming to your sets and not knowing exactly what I'm gonna hear, but it's definitely going to contain something relevant to a black music genre, which I love, which we
definitely need more of in Phoenix. In terms of the Phoenix music scene as a whole, and with your experience DJing at different events over the past couple years, how would you define the sound of Phoenix? A: I love the range of different black music genres specifically that you spin. It's always fun coming to your sets and not knowing exactly what I'm gonna hear, but it's definitely going to contain something relevant to a black music genre, which I love, which we
T4yana: I feel like I've noticed a boom of just more afrobeats and amapiano and dance hall. Seeing that is so refreshing, because I feel like it hasn't always been like that. I mean, I'm not always at the club, but I've been in my 20s and been able to go to clubs and bars and parties. I haven't really heard much of that. It's really cool seeing this kind of explosion, along with Brazilian funk has been on the come up too. So I feel like that's something that's been kind of taken over the valley lately. I haven't been able to go to an Afropiano party yet, but it's definitely on my list.
A: If you could choose one sound or genre you want to hear more of out here, or to see that space develop further, what would it be and why?
T4yana: I’m definitely interested in hearing more experimental stuff. When I first started DJing, the DIY scenes I went to, a lot of the DJs would play more experimental club. I think the people at the DIY scenes, they went for the more experimental vibe. And when I play for crowds that kind of just want to go to dance, it's hard to play different music that I wouldn't normally play, so it'd be nice to see more events for more experimental things.
A: Well I have one final question for you. What would be your favorite song to play to reset the dance floor?
T4yana: Lowkey, I would say “Freakum Dress” by Beyonce. I think that one is just like you can't stand still for that song, like you have to get out. It’s like you have no choice. I think I have a whole playlist of songs that are kind of like that same energy, like that bad bitch, I'm feeling myself type of energy, so that's a song that gets me in that mood. So definitely one of her songs off B’Day.
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