We’re gonna get Sunny Angulo her own WordPress account any day now, we swear. Until then, here is her latest report, featuring gorgeous photography by Peggy Peralta:
Who said Myspace is just a crowded digital wasteland lurking with creepy stalkers, annoying flashing tattoo icons and insecure teens bullying each other?
In fact, it has the potential to connect you with that special someone who might just end up your spouse. Well, maybe not you, but certainly maybe someone.
Such is the case for DJs Zita and DMadness, middle school teachers by day and two of the Bay Area’s hottest DJs by night.
Read on:
DJ Zita: “We met on Myspace. The last place I thought I’d meet me my husband. He friend-requested me.” [laughing]
It’s Saturday night at Laszlo bar on Mission Street’s bustling “Miracle Mile”. DJ Zita and her husband, DMadness, are prepping the decks for the 4 Year Anniversary of Golden Soundscapes, their musical love child. Named after László Moholy-Nagy, the Hungarian photographer and constructivist, the bar has a decidedly Euro-industrial feel and a decent happy hour. The douchebag factor of Medjool next door is normally a deterrent, but the couple’s reputation precedes them and packs in a diverse crowd of vinyl lovers every third Saturday. DMadness is arranging the record crates next to the bar and laughing about Myspace.
DMadness: “I was on my boy Icewater’s page, and I see this picture of DJ Zita. It’s from her Mama Mix, where she’s laying on the bed with headphones? And I was like… hmm, who is DJ Zita?! So I went to her page and I was impressed because she had pictures of herself spinning with Q*bert and an URB Magazine write-up, and I thought, ‘Oh, wow!’ And it says that she’s a middle-school English teacher, too, and I was like no way! That’s exactly what I was! I had never met anyone who was a DJ and a middle-school teacher! I had to say something, so I sent her a message like, ‘What’s up, Teacher DJ? We’re a rare breed!’ We exchanged mix CD’s, and her stuff was quality. So I called her the next time I was in the City.”
That very night was their first date, behind-the-rope access at Club 6, compliments of Zita. I have stalked many a DJ online, and sadly it has never come to a marriage proposal. But for the co-founders of Golden Soundscapes, what started as a match made on Myspace has blossomed into a powerful creative collaboration.
An LA native, DJ Zita starting spinning in 1999. In 2001, she tightened her game in Hawaii, where she still has a loyal following. DMadness, a native of the Mission District whose grandma still lives 5 minutes away from Laszlo, started spinning in 1995. In April of 2006, they started promoting Golden Soundscapes at Laszlo. They were both inspired by other ways of communicating music, and wanted to brand the night with a feel-good vibe.
DMadness – “We were brainstorming names that were positive, bright and warm, and that’s how we came up with ‘Golden’. Golden Soundscapes made us think of sounds being visual, kind of like N.E.R.D.’s album, “Seeing Sounds”, you know, the whole thing is a visual-aural experience.”
Synaesthesia is the neurological disorder that causes people to experience sounds as colors or objects in their minds. That concept inspired N.E.R.D. to stretch the boundaries of their music production, and in some ways is reflective of what DJ Zita and DMadness have attempted to do in their musical careers, to give people an overall sensory experience and to feel the history, community and story behind each selection.
DMadness: “I wanted to be a DJ because I felt like I had a unique perspective on music. Nowadays it’s easy for anybody to be a DJ. Because of the software, you don’ t have to have a record collection. I come from a background of collecting music, reading the liner notes and the lyrics. I wanna be inspired.”
“We wanted Golden to be something special. We had both had our own crews before – she was with Sistah Sound, and I was with Knomadic DJ’s, and that was still a part of who we were. But we wanted to make our sound together official.”
At this point, Laszlo is packed. Special guest DJ Mpenzi has the crowd going off. I’m curious to know how a DJ marriage plays out in the crates. When you sign on the dotted line, it’s share and share-alike… right?
DJ Zita: [laughing] “No. We don’t share record collections, no no no. Like, if there’s an album that we both want, then we’ll buy two copies.”
Dang, so it’s like that?! I see how it is. Boys, you can look, but don’t be touchin’ my records!!
DJ Zita has also become somewhat of a mouthpiece for sisters who are doin’ it for themselves. It’s hard out there for the ladies in the business. Obama may be in the White House, but women are still consistently underpaid, under-promoted and under-appreciated in the historically male-dominated field. (Pay-pinchers beware: the Bay doesn’t get down like that!) Deciding to do something about a growing need she saw in the community, DJ Zita co-founded Bay Area Sistah Sound (B.A.S.S.) with Pam the Funkstress (the Coup) to bring together a premiere lady DJ crew with live lady performers and promoters, including local juggernaut (and tonight’s birthday girl) Fiyah Lilly.
The community vibe that runs thick through all of the DJ duo’s projects has paid off. In October of 2008, the couple’s home in the Oakland hills was burglarized and vandalized. It was devastating, and the thieves made off with all of their DJ/home studio equipment, laptops, jewelry and other valuables. In response, the hip-hop community staged a massive benefit and silent auction.
DJ Zita: “It was a moment when we felt so blessed and humbled to be surrounded by a community of DJs and music lovers who offered us support during that time. The solidarity from all over the Bay was extremely touching.”
The Mission is lucky to have a local act like Golden to spark up the decks once a month. Dancing may be a tall order in the tight space, but the music is consistently banging, and the bartenders pride themselves on a strong pour. At a time when most venues are charging $7 a head minimum for shows, it’s refreshing to see stellar DJs rocking a venue for free – and bringing great guest artists. I ask the duo if they have any parting advice for the aspiring DJs out there?
DMadness: “Get a Myspace account.”
DJ Zita: “That’s so 2005.”
DMadness: “No, go and listen to DJs that are incredible DJs. Go and watch Jay Rock spin. Go and see Z-Trip spin. Go and watch Sake-One spin. You can learn a lot just from watching great DJs. Then think about what you’re going to bring to DJing. What are you trying to create, what are you trying to bring? Then bring it.” Deep shit, but I’m still revisiting the Myspace tip.
GOLDEN SOUNDSCAPES goes down every third Saturday of the month at Laszlo Bar at 2526 Mission Street @ 21st. Admission is free. Happy 4 Years, Golden.
Click here for a look at DJ Zita’s other project, B.A.S.S. VidSF does an exclusive spot on what’s happening with the Bay Area’s premiere lady DJ crew.
Does anyone knows how to teach dj?