When the Coronavirus shut us down, clubs and festivals ceased, and everyone was essentially forced inside with no definitive end in sight, DJ Times wondered: How is our tribe coping? How are DJs getting by? So, we sent out our “Coronavirus Questionnaire” to DJ/producers from all musical genres to find out.
During the crisis, DJ Times will be presenting the questionnaire responses from talented music-makers from all over the world. Here’s our latest entry, this time from The Windy City, the Grammy-nominated house-music legend Ralphi Rosario, who will be hosting a DJ Times-sponsored stream (along with Pitch Control Marketing) on Thursday, June 4, at 2 p.m. EST, that will offer proceeds to MusiCares, a non-profit established by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to benefit music-makers in times of crisis.
What’s it like where you are? So far, it’s been fairly calm. But where I’m at right now, I’ve been for a while now. Prior to this, I was always inside/locked away recording, etc. So right now, all of this pandemic stuff
isn’t any different from my norm. I do spend lots of time researching technology now, and it’s been great focusing my time and sights on learning new things relating to my craft of DJing, recording and producing. I am a very productive person.
What income-producing work have you lost? My gigs for the rest of the year are wiped out completely. It all started at the end of January, with more and more gigs being canceled as the weeks started to roll out with the virus. Memorial Day weekend… and now all the Pride events are gone for 2020. It’s all just so bizarre…
Are you doing anything now that can or will produce music-related income? Right now, I’ve gotten to produce two streaming shows on Twitch TV. I’m doing them for free right now, as my love for the music and playing for people still very much exists. Eventually, I may or may not go the donations route yet. Meantime, I’m working on small remix work here and there.
What are you doing now that’s ultimately constructive to your music life/career? Still recording/producing/being creative and crossing into the live-stream territory. I love learning, so this is a step in the right direction.
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve realized during this period of social distancing? How there are some people who aren’t social distancing.
What are you done online recently? Have you seen anything by other DJs that impressed you? Right now, I’m producing the two streaming shows on Twitch TV. On Fridays at 7 p.m. CST, there’s one called “Classique,” which focuses on classic house & disco history. Then, on Sundays at 5 p.m. CST, there another called “The Classic T,” which focuses on the classic sounds and music of the large, outdoor T-Dances, which I’ve been doing the last five to seven years. The T-Dance has always been a fave event to do – it’s feel-good music with vocals. As for other DJ streams… I really haven’t watched much of them. I’ve been seriously concentrating on getting my streaming stuff down. Also, on Tuesday, keep a look out for our “Stay Home, Save Lives” stream, which will benefit MusiCares.
Any theme tunes recommended for the moment? Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”
Any advice on staying sane & relatively positive through this situation? Yes, it’s easy to get caught up on the downside of all of this. It took me two weeks to snap out of it. But once I started realizing all the things I didn’t have time to do – because of traveling/gigs, etc. – I started small and then things revved up. My mom always said, “If you spend too much time thinking about doing something, you’ll never do it. If you just start doing them, you’ll be glad you did.” Listen to your creative self and create! Learn! Challenge yourself! Take a chance and learn something new related to your craft. It’s very fulfilling and self-gratifying. Keep yourself busy! And when this has all moved on and is done, you’ll be steps ahead of the game.
To check out more Life in Lockdown interviews, click here.
