Throwback 90's with Reflecta

A quick flash from the past, Underworld Productions was one of the first promoters to book me at Kelly's Mission Rock when I started as a young DJ. Now at a later age, (I'm not revealing THAT lol) I was reconnected with them and was part of the line up for the UP Crew 90's night at Zen Lounge in Mountain View.

When I got the booking - I literally spent a good two weeks scrounging for 90's music with the help of my friend from Mix Show Tools. In the 90's - we were all on vinyl, at this point I wish I hadn't sold it all! My goodness, I had about 5 crates worth of 90's music growing up and times like these I wish I didn't let those go. Oh well, time evolved and of course I had to get with technology. We literally was going back and forth going, "Oh dude, you remember this track? Oh what about that one... Dance dance dance, clap your hands hands hands ... wait, is that 2000's or is that 90's?" Good gosh. By the time of the gig - I still had songs in my head I wish I had downloaded!

By 10pm, I was already at Zen. I wanted to check out the other two DJ's  and my, did they rock the crowd! A lot of Top 40 of today was played and a hint of 90's which was amazing, but I did realize they did more open format - so I thought cool! I'll bring on more 90's!

My set was at 12am and to close it out by 1:30, the DJ before me left with 2 Chains, "I'm Different." Immediately, I threw in DMX and took it down a notch to some hits from the 90's - I started to read my crowd and took my chances...  I brought the BPM up and ended up doing a House set. As soon as I did that - the crowd went bonkers! I got a bunch of high 5's and I met a ton of new people. I will have to do a video blog about how the night turned out - it was too funny getting requests and even more funnier when my friend that I came with was getting hit on by guys who asked, "OMG are you the DJ's friend? Are you here with her? Do you know her personally?" Haha, hearing what happened while I was spinning was so funny, we're going to be doing a skit on a video blog. Lol!

Wow, what a night! I didn't end the night as calm as I should have - but seeing everyone still in party mode, happy and bouncing around after the last song was played was so much fun! Some how, I felt like a celebrity this night, before and after my set ... a feeling that doesn't come by at all, but feels great when it comes around! 

Catch my next set for UP CREW on April 12th in San Jose at Motif! 

(click here for UP CREW Facebook page)

Reflecta spins for ... an 18 and over!

Prepping for an 18 and over night was a little stressful. I was constantly switching between FM and XM radio to make sure all the popular songs are downloaded, observing other DJ's that played for these events and even locked myself in my room to practice a bit before the gig at Fuz San Jose. In all honestly - I have not played for an 18 and over night in quite a long time and I was absolutely nervous, time has evolved since I was that age. What made me even more nervous - the owner of Knight Sounds was there! OMG! Many moons ago (when I was 15) my parents used to drop me off at Knight Sounds to go record shopping because they knew I would be digging through crates for three hours at a time ... When I saw him, I thought, "Ok Reflecta - Bring the PARRRTAYY!!" 

10pm hit and my four hour set was already in my head. Started with funky house, then took it up to the familiar Top 40 from 2010 until today. Through out the night, I played Electro House, Hip Hop, attempted to play Trap for a short set and then took it back up to all things EDM/ Top 40. I definitely kept my crowd! The most difficult part of the night was taking it Hip Hop - I haven't been playing it as much because I don't understand half the songs that are out there now... I don't even know what "rolled up to the scene with my ceiling missing," even means! Is it a car with no top? What scene are they going to? And WTF does it mean when "bands a make her dance?" Obviously, I don't get to play that as much anymore but when I do - goodness, I'm literally in my head thinking, "How does that song go? The one that goes err day err day yolo whats up and that one song ... we out here trying to function, function...." I will literally draw a blank - but I some how do a good job at covering it up by other song selections until I remember. Lol

By the end of the night, the biggest compliment I've heard was, "Wow, you ARE a real DJ... Just did a four hour gig straight!" And that was from the owner of Knight Sounds! PHEW! OMG. A compliment from him meant so much because he's seen me evolve as a DJ.

Well, for those of you that came to Fuz San Jose, I hope you had a great time!

 I'll be back to playing for the 21+ this Friday at the same club, Milano's, for Crave! (Click Here for FB Link)

My NYE gig for Pleasure Zone's "Midnight Delight!"

New Years Eve was coming around the corner, yet I thought to myself, "Who's coming with me? All my friends have boyfriends, someone they're dating and wait ... Who's gonna drive me to my gig?!" It was a rainy day and just weeks after my car accident. I had bought a brand new car (SO happy with my purchase!) but there's one thing I had not gotten over ... driving alone, in the rain ... AT NIGHT. Of all nights, it just had to be NYE ... the night I had decided to finally come back to the party scene after taking a month off to heal.

I get in the car ... scared as F!@%. Normally, before a gig, I set up a play list on my ipod and use it to review music, plan out in my head what I want to play ... Nope. I got in there, I put on some sexy R&B and tried to calm my nerves! It was just not happening! Gripping the wheel tightly, sweating without the heater on and going 65 mph on the right side of the freeway was nuts. I must have prayed and opened up to God about 100 times on the way to Le Meridien.

Pleasure Zone is one of my favorite promo's to spin for and I am so thankful they kept me this past year! I took "Midnight Delight" on NYE as my first gig back and I was determined to get there in one piece. After having to debate with valet for a good few minutes to let them take my car even though I wasn't sleeping over at the hotel and then calling the manager, explaining my situation, I was fortunate to let them take my car to park and ran right up to where the magic was happening! I JUST RAN INTO THE WRONG ROOMS!! Ha Ha Ha!

Finally reaching the right elevator, I get in and everyone is coupled up ... Then the looks began. Those eyes were saying, "What is this ... She's all dressed up, no date ... She's got a lap top bag, she's holding her heals, wearing flip flops, out of breath... What's wrong with this picture." I'm usually really friendly and start small talk, but I wanted to see how far this was going to go. Then all of a sudden, the conversation between couples....

Couple 1 "Where are you guys going?"
Couple 2 "Oh, we goin' to the Pleasure Zone partaaaay!"
Couple 1 "Neat! We're going there too!"
Me "Me too!"

Silence.

Me "I'm the DJ."

All "OH!!!!!!!"

Finally! Broke the awkwardness. Lol! I ran right into my set, pressed the big red button and TADAHH!!!! Happy 2013! It was so great to see my favorite PZ-ers come out. I actually came up on an interesting book while I was up on stage, I'll have to show you all on my next YouTube video!

I have a feeling this 2013 is going to be my year. It's going to be filled with lots of laughing and LOTS of dancing 8)

Click Below!

Catch me at my next gig for CRAVE in Downtown San Jose this January 12th feature Ru Paul's Drag Race All Star MANILLA LUZON!

Reflecta's 12 Days of Mixes

December is supposed to be the month we all end 2012 with a bang! Unfortunately, I had to wipe out my entire month because I wasn't sure when I was going to be feeling normal from a recent car accident. Although, I feel so blessed that they called me the "Lucky One" at the hospital. Released the next day ... with some crazy pain medicine... It gives me nightmares 8( 

So this month, I wanted to give my listeners 12 Days of Mixes! Although I can't be out spinning yet, at least you can take a piece of me with you ON THE WAY to your destination! Also, this is good for me too because ... When was the last time I actually recorded something?! Lol 

I hope you all enjoy my 12 days! Each day will be a different genre and a different feeling. I hope you all have fun with it as much as I will and promise to be 100% ready to hit the decks again in January 2013! ( Going to be doing a LOT of Yoga on my part - gotta stretch these muscles!)

Visit my website www.djreflecta.com for links to my mixes!  

Dear Santa ...

Ever So Dearest Santa,
Since I have been such a wonderful woman this year, I have an extensive list for you to consider ... Hehehehehehehehe 

1. A New Mac Book Pro (Come on! Mine is the first version!)
2. Twin 900's (But I'll never give up my 1210s)
3. An 800 (850's good too?)
4. Headphones (Whichever. I'm gonna end up breaking it 4 months down the line anyway)
5. The new Ipod Nano (Ermergerd! Loving the look! I'll gladly hand over my old one)


Ok, now for my non-musical side ... I need ...

A new car... who doesn't get sandwiched! Like EVER! An H3 sounds about right.




Kisses,
Reflecta 

Crave with Raja and the Rice Rockettes in San Jose!

Driving through downtown San Jose is like memory lane for me. I don't get to spin in my own city very much, but whenever I get to, it gets exciting! November 2nd was my return to Crave, a LGBT party that has been known to bring great acts from Ru Paul's drag race winners. Here's the "oh shit" moment ... It was going to be at Milano's this time!

If you all remember, Milano's was a venue that was called Palermo's. The booth used to be upstairs on its own with only a ladder to get up there! In 2003, we were all still on vinyl, so imagine climbing up that ladder with 50 pound crates... It was NOT a fun experience. I finally get to Milano's and WOW, my jaw dropped and I started to drool!

Wall to wall lighting, a beautiful open space for dancers and even a well lit bar with liquid screens that you can touch. Wow. As I got to the stage, I thought to myself, "This... is a production!"

I don't know too many people that are in the LGBT realm of the world, but as soon as those doors opened, the handful of friends that I knew was there! Without a text message, without a phone call, they just walked in and as soon as they looked at the stage... "MARE!? REFLECTTTTAAAA WORK IT GIRL!" What a sign of relief! I loved that they all came by and even dropped by the booth to say hello! I always love surprises! From that day forward, I have been out on the Castro and some clubs in SF to experience what it's like to listen to other DJ's and how they cater to this crowd. I finally have a solid idea.

The opening act for Raja, from Ru Paul's drag race, was the Rice Rockettes! Energetic bunch and definitely a fun routine! As soon as Raja came out, the crowd was so pumped already, his performance was the icing on the cake! Closing out was Chris Cole and he definitely brought the sexy!

I definitely can't wait until the next Crave party in the Bay Area! Maybe one day I'll get to play for Krave in Vegas some day if I get better at catering to this kind of crowd 8) Such a fun night!

"I Love Me" is Over-Rated

Recently discovering my annoyance with the whole, "Just Do You," speech- I have also came across the occasional Goddess who proclaims, "I Love My Life" and the "I Love Me" bullshit on the social network. How irritating. Yet there was one I came across, which made all of the sense in the world... "Be The Person You Would Like to Meet." Much better.

In the recent ten months of being single, I have learned to do things for myself. The small things, like finally learning how to hook up my own Serato box ( Ok, that is something I should have learned when we all went from vinyl to digital - I just always had someone do it FOR me). I have taught myself how to cook - I even crossed over to working with meat in the kitchen! Something I have dreaded for YEARS. The blood, the chopping, the seasoning... I actually enjoy it all! It's Chef a La DJ Reflecta, Holleration! Most importantly, I get to spend time with my own family and friends - without feeling the guilt of leaving a significant other behind.

A firm believer that, "Romance is achieved without the presence of another person," I now literally understand what it means. To me it means, taking myself out of situations I am not happy with. If I wasn't happy with my job, I would change it. If I wasn't happy with the friend's I surround myself with - they would definitely not hear from me again. If I didn't like how a date went - I would tell him. The hardest piece of advice I have even given in light of this quote is to someone I loved dearly. Yet, with relief, he had given me a time span to change things because someone else was coming into the picture... Made it easier for me to say, "There's the door! Go for it." Totally fine that (I'd like to believe) he learned to love himself enough not to let me drag him through the mud by the hair and left, it made me feel more empowered. I should have what I want and not have to "meet in the middle." I shouldn't have to feel like I'm in a competition or that I have to "lighten up" because the person on the other side is so sensitive. I'll compromise if deem it necessary - I respect myself enough to know what will work and what will awaken the beast inside of me. Most importantly, it's time I follow my rules.

Enough of my rant and rave, the main focus here is to be the person I would like to meet... And that's exactly it.