DJ Yazmine

DJ Yazmine, shares her experience in the profession of DJing, shows, and her views on women in the music industry. Her work ethic at a young age leaves no doubt of her goals of entrepreneurship, modeling and producing. Looking forward to her upcoming work.

Urban Time: Let's start with your name, age, where you're from and what you do.

Yazmine: I'm DJ Yazmine, I'm 17, from West Palm Beach, Florida. I am a DJ/Model/Upcoming Music Producer.

Urban Time: What got you into music?

Yazmine: Growing up driving around in my dad's all burgundy Lincoln Town Car while he trapped with TV’s inside of it playing all the music video hits. Ever since music was something I took knowledge of and wanted to know all about.

Urban Time: What made you want to start DJing?

Yazmine: I always wanted to put myself into the music industry in some way, I'm too shy nor do I know how to sing. So at 13 I believed the best way was to start DJing.

Urban Time: How did you start?

Yazmine: I started using an app on my iPhone and I would transfer the files to my old laptop (RIP). I thought it was the coolest shit ever. Crazy to think about then and now.

Urban Time: How have you grown since then?

Yazmine: It came all very natural to me, though of course like everyone else it took time to perfect it. I'm still learning. Since then i've been more in tune with the music I really enjoy, as to when I started off I focused too much on what people would like. I believe my sets are better now since I base them off my own tastes and in hopes with my audience enjoying it just as much. And finding the software that was perfect for my own taste.

Urban Time: What would you consider your taste to be now?

Yazmine: I'm more so underground based, within all genres really. I don't like to label myself as a certain DJ that plays certain things because every set I do has a different sound and expression towards the way i'm feeling. Or in other cases when doing live sets, how I want others to feel.

I just want people to realize I don't have to play Future, or Travis Scott just to get shit going. (Nothing against their artistry) It's just difficult now to play some shit nobody knows and to still have them love it.

Urban Time: Definitely understandable, I bet it's hard to put together sets and have yourself debating whether to please the audience or have something you really like. Is there a general style you go for or multiple artists you lean towards?

Yazmine: It is a huge challenge but I'm always up for it. I wouldn't say I lean towards multiple artists but some that have really aimed my interest have been artists like Majid Jordan, N.E.R.D., Three Six Mafia, and Daft Punk to say the least; I could go on forever.

Urban Time: What brought you to release your first mix? Did you have any you didn't release prior?

Yazmine: I did but my god were they horrible haha. My first proud mix I've posted is still up (Stay Sapped Up). I was at a very unhealthy/unstable place in my life where I was still trying to figure myself out while going through immense personal issues, that mix kept me away from the chaos and began my love for DJing, I won't ever delete it.

Urban Time: Was it inspired by these personal issues?

Yazmine: All of my mixes are to be completely honest. I've expressed my own emotions through these mixes. Such as “Por Mi Amor”, and “Is This Love” also. Sometimes I avoid listening to my own sounds just because I go back to how I felt then and it's overwhelming.

Urban Time: There’s always that connection with the artist and their work. Do you do shows?

Yazmine: I do, since last summer, but things have been going pretty good lately. I just did two shows this week.

Urban Time: That’s great, do you like performing?

Yazmine: I don't think I'll love anything as much as I love this. To see my dreams come to reality is pretty insane. I didn't expect any of it, this feels nothing like a 9-5, I'm not waiting on a higher job position. I'm just putting in the work and receiving all this credit off of my own goals. Feels unreal.

Urban Time: Do you have a team or is it just you?

Yazmine: It’s just me right now, although my friends (AKA family) support me the best way they can and I do the same. It's all love, either way we are always a unit.

Urban Time: Has there been a show you particularly liked the most?

Yazmine: I always have issues with shows rather it be sexism, technical difficulties, or just plain unprofessionalism. I'd have to say my favorite so far would be “Its Sunday BIH”, just because I felt so in tune with my audience and they showed me they really enjoyed their time listening.

Urban Time: Sexism is always a huge obstacle for us girls in the music industry, how you deal with that prejudice?

Yazmine: A body guard grabbing me by the shoulder questioning me while putting away my things behind the DJ booth because he thought I was stealing, after I showed him the flyer he felt bad and got my friend & I a glass of wine. No way to say it other than STUNT ON EM.

Urban Time: Are you working on anything currently?

Yazmine: Working on a lot other than improving what I do, I have a few unreleased model things I can't announce waiting to be released, lots of music things, and some entrepreneur things I can't announce either.

Urban Time: Where do you see yourself as an artist in five years?

Yazmine: In 5 Years I see myself in LA DJing sold out shows, hopefully making music of my own.Traveling the world and doing a lot of freelance music journalism/styling.

Urban Time: I see you getting there, you’re already on the way. What is your dream project?

Yazmine: Thank you! My dream project is to have a female music tour worldwide. Inspiring as much as possible. And a production EP sold on vinyl.

Urban Time: You seem to have a lot of input for women in the industry, what is your stance on feminism or the equal rights movement?

Yazmine: There should be more women in this industry. In festivals, shows, and collectives. We shouldn't be looked at as a "great female artist" we should be known as just that. GREAT. I hope within the years this light on us can be shed and not a surprise to see anymore.

Urban Time: I hope so as well, there is so much us women bring to the plate it shouldn't be seen as rare. Is there anything you'd like the readers to know about you?

Yazmine: I’m a normal teenage girl from the hood of West Palm Beach, anything is possible no matter where you are.

The DJ world will be mine one day.

DJ Yazmine on Twitter: @djyazmine

DJ Yazmine on Instagram: @yazmine.r

Interviewer’s Twitter: @b0nsang