It's the first blog of the month, and that means it's time for a music blog. For this music blog we decided to interview someone local again. Someone we know personally and have been following as she has gone along her musical career. She started DJ'ing at the age of 15 and hasn't stopped since. She blesses any venue she's at with great mixes of Afro, Hip-Hop, Dancehall and R&B music.
It's Tyra Talisa!
We got the chance to get closer to her by asking her questions about herself. And we would love to share the answers with you guys. If you ever get the chance to see her play, we definitely recommend it. You'll probably only be on the dance floor, swinging from left to right. But now you'll know who's making you swing and what kind of person she is. She also spoke about an interesting factor of her career, the challenges that come with it.
Enjoy!
Why did you start DJ’ing?
Music always felt very natural for me. I danced throughout my childhood, sang in a gospel choir and I taught myself to play the piano. I never really excelled in those things, but I loved doing it. I always knew I wanted to extend my love for music into a career. Right in the middle of my journey to find my passion I got introduced to DJ’ing by my cousin Milano Angelo. He saw my musical potential and offered to give me DJ lessons.
What do you enjoy the most about DJ’ing?
The thing I enjoy the most about DJ’ing is the energy of the crowd. It’s an indescribable feeling when you see how music can bring so many different people together.
How long have you been DJ’ing?
I started DJ’ing when I was 15. So, I have been doing this for almost 6 years now. I also started teaching at a DJ school about a year ago.
What genres of music do you work with?
Some people would describe me as an all-round DJ because I love to level with different kind of crowds. The music genres that pop out (and that I’m mostly booked for) are Afro, Hip-hop, Dancehall & RnB.
Which genre is your personal favourite?
That a difficult question because I love to switch it up once in a while.
Which kind of party do you enjoy the most working and which one when you’re not working?
I think that it’s actually the same for both. I love to be in an open-minded, welcoming and inclusive environment.
What has been a personal highlight in your career?
There are a few highlights in my career. The biggest event I played at was Bevrijdingsfestival Zuid-Holland, where I got to perform for thousands of people. The gig that was the closest to my roots was at Kwaku Festival (a Surinamese festival in the Bijlmer, Amsterdam). All my opportunities in other countries are also highlights in my career that I’m very grateful for.
Is there a different vibe at Afro Parties?
Yes, there is a different vibe at afro parties. African influenced music has a special kind of groove to it. It’s hard not to dance to this groove. People from all ethnicities and backgrounds are drawn to these parties. The vibe at afro parties feels like coming home for me.
Have you played in different countries?
It really is a blessing when I get to combine work with travelling. I got to perform in different parts of Germany, Belgium, Spain and Luxembourg. The thing I love the most about playing in different countries is making friends with so many different backgrounds.
Do you face challenges for being a woman in the industry?
I do face some challenges in this industry as a woman. I started DJ’ing at a young age which made me even more vulnerable for people trying to take advantage of me or not taking me seriously. The event and music industry are male dominated, which also has its upsides for me. The female DJ market isn’t over saturated yet. I would love to say that I get booked so much because of my skills, but I think that being a woman in the industry is a big reason why.
Do you get inspired by Afro Music or any Afro DJ?
I think a lot of my inspiration comes from afro music. Afro music can touch a soul even without a deeper message. That is something I thrive to do with my DJ sets.
Who are your favourite Afro artists?
The afro artists I now listen to the most are; Tems, Wizkid, Burna Boy, DaVido, Sarkodie, Mr Eazi, Koffee, King Promise, Tekno & Cruel Santino.
Do you always have Afro Music in your set?
Yes I do, I think that afro music is the base of my set because it is very danceable and speaks to a lot of people.
What are your future goals?
The goals for the future are to travel more for DJ’ing and make a more solid living out of it. I am also in my final year to get my bachelor’s in Media and Entertainment Management with a minor in Music Business. With my education and experience in the music industry I would also love to start an artist management agency.
What can we expect from you soon? Anything new happening?
I will be doing some live sets soon! Check my Instagram (@TyraTalisa) for more information.
We loved having the chance to interview Tyra for this blog. And we hope you readers enjoyed it too. A big special thank you goes out to Tyra again. A big recommendation to check out her Instagram and giving her a follow at @TyraTalisa to stay updated to her journey.
Thanks again for reading, and we'll see you again for the next part of our journey.