Today we’d like to introduce you to Dja
Hi Dja , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started making music when I was 8 years old. I was born in Los Angeles and moved to San Diego with my mom when I was 4 years old. A lot of my family still lives in LA so I made a lot of trips growing up and still do. An activity I always enjoyed doing was singing with my cousin and aunt. We would sing a variety of R&B songs and that started my passion for singing. My dad listens to a lot of hip hop and rap so that was the main genre of music I grew up listening to. I enjoy listening to the stories artists tell and the flow they convey them with. This inspired me to write my first song at 8 years old (which was not my greatest work). I also found that music was a way to express myself and tell my own stories and lessons. I would always write and released some songs on soundcloud in high school but never really took it serious, especially growing up as a student athlete. I put a lot of my focus on getting good grades and football. After graduating high school in 2015, I went to community college for a little bit and ended up switching my major a few times. I started with biology in hopes of transferring to a university. I was still writing songs and during this time I started making my own beats. I fell in love with the process of making music and switched my major to music. As much as I enjoyed it, I realized that a career as a music major might not be in my best interest. As an artist, I want to make music not only to express myself but also inspire others to do what they love, which doesn’t necessarily require an education. I switched my major to business which ultimately led me to look into trade school. A few of my uncles in LA are electricians and pushed me to give it a shot but I denied because I wanted to go the college route. Once I realized that college wasn’t the best avenue for me I ended up joining the union and becoming an electrical apprentice. I didn’t mind the hard work aspect much because I spent a few years working at jobs like In-N-Out and Round Table while going to college. Although it can be laborious, I feel good about the work and feel like I’m giving back in a way, especially working on schools, hospitals as well as on Snapdragon stadium. In addition to making a decent living with a solid career, I’ve also been able to further invest in music and other passions. I was 22 years old when I put my first song on all streaming platforms which includes ITunes, Spotify and YouTube. Since then, I’ve released 5 full projects, numerous singles and a couple music videos with a lot more music still on the way. I’m constantly working to perfect my crafts and create art that will hopefully outlast me and instill a positive and strong legacy. I hope people can use my story as an example of not giving up and going after your dreams no matter what obstacles you may encounter or what others might say or think of you. I also hope to be somebody that my people can be proud of, have genuine faith in and love. Music has helped me get through a lot and one of my biggest aspirations is that my music will do the same for others.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Although it may seem like it’s been a smooth ride, especially growing up in San Diego, I’ve had my fair share of obstacles. I grew up striving to get the best grades I could and be a kind person, however I’ve had a couple run ins with the law. This definitely took a toll on me because I saw how much it hurt my parents and I felt like I had let them down. One of the instances got a bit expensive and I wasn’t able to go through with an academic scholarship I had received from the University of Oregon straight out of high school. I do believe that it happened for a reason because I ended up pursuing music more vigorously after that. I’ve also had confidence issues growing up but have learned to be comfortable in my own skin. This is especially true with making music because I feel like I can’t make the type of quality content I strive for without it coming from an authentic place. I do my best to make art from the heart. I’ve also had problems with distributing my music properly and have gone through a couple companies that have put some of my songs under another artist with a similar name. I have gotten it fixed since then and feel like the distribution company that I’m with is a good one.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an artist that specializes in making hip-hop, R&B and rap music. I do my best to keep the versatility while still creating a unique sound. Although I write my own lyrics, I think what sets me apart is the ability to also produce, mix and master. I don’t make all my beats but have made a large portion of them and have mixed and mastered a majority of them. There is always room for improvement and I’m constantly learning and perfecting my crafts. I thoroughly enjoy making individual tracks but I feel proud after making a full body of work that flows the way I intend it too.
Any big plans?
My plans for the future include releasing more music, specifically full projects (albums, EPs, mixtapes), as well as making more music videos. Visuals is a big part of music whether it be videos or album/song covers. It helps provide a certain aesthetic and I intend to further hone in on that skill. It’s also another way to convey stories and show the world another perspective. I’m also planning on establishing my own brand that I can not only make music under but also find other ways to be creative and generate revenue. I look forward to monetizing products that transcend the digital scope. I would also like to do more live shows. Although I have a couple under my belt, it’s not nearly as much as I’d like. I also plan to get in better shape and have better nutrition so I can deliver a good live performance and create the best music I can make.
Pricing:
- $14.99/album
- $1.29/single
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ffm.bio/djafromdaygo
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/djafromdaygo
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/djafromdaygo/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/djafromdaygo
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@djafromdaygo?si=PCXkThC4C3W-JOK1
- Soundcloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/djafromdaygo
Image Credits
Preston Parr
Bessy Cubias
