BEHIND THE BOOTH w/ DJ D SHARP
(What you won’t find on Facebook even if you are approved as a friend)
Hometown:
Oakland, CA. That’s where I’m from!!!
Alma Mater (HS or College):
University of Oakland
First Job:
Gardener for the City of Oakland.
Love to Trade Places for a Day with:
Obama.
What’s in your ipod:
Everything….. no literally everything from Hip Hop, Dubstep, Electro, Salsa, Classic Soul, Prog Rock, Jazz, House, Reggae/Dancehall…. EVERYTHING.
Bookmarks:
Too many to name but my favorite is www.therealdjdsharp.com.
What’s on TV:
Kill your television… Naw lol I LOVE HBO on Sundays, Entourage, Boardwalk Empire, Curb Your Enthusiasm. Lately though I’ve been watching Unsung. That is a great show!
Worst habit:
Checking Facebook.
Biggest Pet Peeve:
Chicks who request dumb ass songs.
Musical influences growing up:
Too many to name. I’m a lover of all music.
What’s your favorite city to spin in:
Sydney, Australia. The energy there is AMAZING! I like SF too because I spin somewhere there at least every other weekend.
Sip n Spin: If yes, what’s in your glass:
Cranberry & Soda. I don’t drink alcohol.
Guaranteed track that gets the crowd moving:
Anything from Michael Jackson.
Song you refuse to play no matter how often it’s requested:
Anything from Justin Bieber.
All-time favorite gig to date:
Festival Bar Italy 150,000 people.
Favorite Meal:
Salmon & Rice.
Favorite Vacation Spot:
Can’t remember the last time I took a Vacation.
Dream date:
My wife and I at a romantic dinner. I’m simple like that lol.
Bucket list:
Never really though about it. I do wake everyday with specific goals and dreams like anybody else. Right now it would be to live out my dream and make them come true.
My Hero:
Kool Herc. Without him doing what he did in the bronx, I probably wouldn’t be a DJ.
Motto:
Keep God 1st.
Website: www.therealdjdsharp.com
New Live Mix: www.dubset.com/djdsharp
twitter: @djdsharp
(What you won’t find on Facebook even if you are approved as a friend)
Any special meaning/interesting story behind DJ name:
I feel like my story isn’t nearly as cool as others.. Basically my mentor DV One entered me in a battle 6 months after I started DJing. Not only did I not think I was remotely close to ready to compete, I didn’t even have a name! I barely had 2 turntables at this point.. We were brainstorming names and he came up “Risk”. I was DJ Risk for a couple years and eventually add the ‘One’ to round it out. I wish there was an element of danger to the story but, that’s all I got.
Hometown:
Technically Denver, CO. But I grew up in Seattle so I call that home.
Alma Mater (HS or College):
University of Washington (Go Dawgs!)
First Job:
I had a paper route when I was 14. I wanted a $200 BMX bike and mom told me to get a job.. I wasn’t even old enough to legally work, and yard work wasn’t my steez, so I landed a paper route. Sucks to be in 8th grade waking up at 5am 7 days a week to deliver papers in the cold, but I made $400/mo which at 14 is POWERBALLIN. So at least I was stuntin’ on the other kids at school haha.
Love to Trade Places for a Day with:
Oooh never got that question before…
What’s in your ipod:
Well, I just upgraded to iOS5 so right now not much.. I have the new Kaskade album and Asap Rocky mixtape in there right now (polar opposites).
Bookmarks:
Well I have a bout 30 blogs bookmarked for music, but I can’t give up all those sources lol… Sites I check often tho: Facebook (duh), Hype Machine, Pitchfork, and a bunch of sites to pay my bills online.
What’s on TV:
Colbert Report (If you don’t enjoy this as much as I do , we won’t get along), John Stewart, Family Guy. Those are literally the only shows I watch, via HULU. Prob only watch 1hr of TV per week
Worst habit:
Apparently its snoring. I can’t confirm this but I have multiple sources saying so, so let’s roll with that. Also I’ve been known to bounce quite heavily when i’m reeeaaally into whatever i’m playing while DJing
Biggest Pet Peeve:
People who smoke cigarettes. That shit is gross to smell and look at.
Musical influences growing up:
Man it was all over the board.. I started playing piano at age 7 so i listened to alot of classical music from then all the way up til now. I lived in europe for 4 years as a kid which got me into Jungle and Drum & Bass. Middle school i was big into Bone Thugs, Twista, Crucial Conflict (who remembers them!?), etc. I think my first CD was Pete Rock and CL Smooth. I went through the backpacker hiphop phase in high school where it was all artists on Def Jux, Rawkus, and other underground labels. Also listened to alot of funk soul and breaks. I didn’t really get into dance music until several years into my DJ career. I could go on for days, but yeah kinda everything
What’s your favorite city to spin in:
I honestly really love to play at home in SF. We have a great nightlife party scene and the format is right up my alley. San Diego is equally fun and seems to ALWAYS be cracking.
Sip n Spin: If yes, what’s in your glass:
Jameson and ginger!
Guaranteed track that gets the crowd moving:
Well obviously any hot radio song will work.. but one of my favorite tracks that will work on almost ANY crowd is Junior Senior – Move Your Feet. Its one of those songs that people may have never heard before but still always gets a great response.
Song you refuse to play no matter how often it’s requested:
Shoot… I’m sure there’s a few. Only thing that comes to mind is anything Justin Bieber. I don’t even think I have any of his songs in my iTunes.
All-time favorite gig to date:
The Red Bull block party I did for the SF Giants victory parade was absolute bonkers. I actually made a video which you can peep here: http://djriskone.com/news/sf-giants-x-red-bull-block-party/
Favorite Meal:
Ribs, mac & cheese, corn bread. Mom makes this for me every year for my bday. For the win!
Favorite Vacation Spot:
I don’t really take vacations.. But anywhere away from electronics and nightclubs is a vacation to me!
Dream date:
Well Sade is a given. Pretty sure every man on the planet would marry her on the spot. I always had a thing for Halle Berry too, but then again who didn’t.
Bucket list:
Burning Man, Skydiving (maaaaaaybe), and a handful of countries i’d like to visit: Dubai, Singapore, Thailand, among others. If I can accomplish these while DJing thats a bonus too
My Hero:
Can Banksy be considered a hero? This man has managed to make millions of dollars off illegal street art, while keeping his real identity completely unknown. Hell he was nominated for an Oscar! That’s incredible. Just goes to show that if you stick to what you love, the money will follow. Also that there really are no limitations or rules to success
Motto:
I have many, so i’ll just pick one: “Someday” is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you.
Website: www.djriskone.com
twitter: @RiskOne