Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Yang.
Joseph, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
So, my story begins in Clarksville, Tennessee. Growing up in a small military town with no other Asians to relate with was very difficult as a first generation Korean-American. My peers around me all looked the same, as I looked different, thus led to an open target that solicited bullying and racism. Middle school was a lot of self-identity exploration because that’s when I knew I actually was superficially different from the rest of my peers. Nevertheless, high school was something I really enjoyed. Sophomore year is where I really explored a lot of my interest in the arts. It wasn’t until I was introduced to the theatre arts program at my high school. Every year, the theatre does a “Lip Sync Competition” and for all students who had theatre as their class elective, they had to do it for their class grade. You could be as creative as you want or you could just stand there and lip sync a song of your choice, either you do it solo, duo, or as a group. As long as you do it because if you didn’t, you would ultimately lose a letter grade.
I remember one night driving to a friend’s house and hearing a song called “One Time” on the Q108 radio station and being like, “Wow! This song is so catchy. Who is this girl? She sounds cool!” I remember looking the song up based upon the catchy lyrics as I got home and realized it was a boy singing, thus my discovery of Justin Bieber. This was 2010 when Bieber was discovered and rose to fame. As I was still trying to figure out what song to do for lip syncs just for a passing grade, this song kept coming up. I really wasn’t trying to do a whole lot, just enough to get a passing grade and move on with high school, but something exasperated me to really want to do this song, and to really go for it. I was curious what kind of possible choreography was implemented in this song so I would look up Justin Bieber performing this song live. There was, in fact, such great and energetic choreography, that this made me want to really give it everything I had. I constantly was pressing play/pause on YouTube trying to master the choreo to the core, and I taught it to my friend who was doing the lip sync with me. We both performed it in class at the thrust main stage. It wasn’t until the Director of Clarksville High Theatre, who winded up being my theatre teacher for the rest of my high school career, Barbara Wesner, approached me and wanted us to perform the night show for the Annual Clarksville High Lip Sync Competition.
Fast forward to the night of the Lip Sync Competition. I vividly remember being at stand-by backstage and just feeling so much exhilaration. I wasn’t nervous, nor was I anxious, however, I was ecstatic. The crowd was sold out and full to its maximum capacity. I heard my name and my lip sync partner’s name being introduced by the two emcees. Our song was cued. I came on stage right, and we did the thing. I remember my ears were constantly ringing to the point where my eardrums began vibrating sheer utter pain from all the screaming and support of the audience. There was so much kinetic energy in and through my bones from just stepping out. The end of the night, we received the People’s Choice Lip Sync Award. At that very moment, I knew that the stage is where I am most self-composed, most vulnerable, and forever stimulating. This was a euphoric phenomenon that I never wanted to let go of. Some people were afraid of the stage, yet what was interesting for me was that the stage is where I am imperturbable.
Throughout my high school career, I went on to do everything in theatre possible such as emceeing and performing for the Lip Sync Competition my junior and senior year. Won Best Single and Best Mix Lip Sync Awards. Became an Escort for the Miss Clarksville High Beauty Pageant. Worked and performed two major fall production plays, Dual Enrollment plays, and the annual spring One Act Festivals. Received Best Actor in 2012 in the Clarksville High Theatre Department, and became a graduating Thespian.
There was something about being an artistic creative pursuing the craft, and I never fully embraced it until a year after I graduated college. It took me five years to finally recognize myself in what talent I may have to showcase to the world. Presently, I have been in Atlanta for nearly two years pursuing everything in the performing arts. I’m part of two improv teams at the Village Theatre called Tapestry (a team comprised of zero and first-generation Americans) and The Sandbox Players (a team comprised of individuals from the Sandbox Jam at Orpheus Brewing who received second place at the 2019 Atlanta Improv Festival). I am a dance member and the director of public relations for Movement As One Dance Company, who received a first place at the 2019 Def Talent Jam as ATL FSA in Gainesville, Florida.
Since being in Atlanta, I haven’t stopped wanting to be on a stage, in front of a camera, or analyzing scripts with other artistic creatives.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It one hundred percent MOST certainly has not been smooth. I would say it has been more rough, on gravel, with quicksand and hyenas in it kind of road. I’ve been on this cathartic journey of self-discovery. What’s been riveting is that I’ve been doing so through the craft of entertainment. Since being introduced to the artistry of improvisation, which has been 93% of this self-discovery journey, I’ve been able to pinpoint a lot of things. A lot of emotional distress and depression has come from this journey, however in order to find yourself, you have to lose yourself. I’ve spent so much time on my physical health that I didn’t take into account my emotional health. I’ve had to audit a lot of where and what I do with my time. Being self-aware is huge when you begin to have this moment of who and what you want and how you want to contribute. The life I live and the other handful of working artists is a very unpredictable lifestyle. It really makes no sense for anyone to live this way, however, if you truly respect this craft, and WANT to be the best at it by honoring it, you will put your head down, stop talking, and go to work.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
Aside from working as an on-camera, stage, and voiceover talent, I am a disc jockey. This is my main source of revenue out of the many side hustles I have. I DJ weddings, corporate events, private events, public events, birthday parties, anniversary parties, themed parties, music festivals, race marathons, grand openings, baby showers, middle school snowballs, high school proms, bar mitzvahs, quinceaneras, your cool uncle’s barbecue who wears that alligator fedora, with the very loose slacks, and those brown leather Dockers strap sandals. If anything needs music frequency, I’m your guy.
I think what I specialize in, also mainly known for, is having knowledgeability within your music and your audience. Anyone can be the “DJ Press Play” person, but being able to actively detect your audience and what the vibe of the atmosphere feels like is the main quality and principal asset. Being able to beat-match within the BPM of each person’s heart rate to the rhythm of the music. Transitioning and fading between songs rather than having dry hard cuts and dead air. A big thing that some DJ’s don’t do is entertain the audience when needed. They simply just press the play, hang out, and grab their check. When you book me as your DJ, you are also booking an emcee as well. Public speaking within the audience is something I love to do if it is introductions, announcements, or anything that may be said over the microphone. I like to approach everything with a creative angle and purpose when speaking into the mic without the interruption of the music frequency.
Another thing I am known for well is having very affordable rates to my clients who choose to book me. Many DJ’s charge at a very expensive rate and I have an excessive amount of passion in this work that it has never been about the money; it’s been about the opportunity. The money is just a fraction of the reward that I receive.
What I’m most proud of about this freelance business is how far I’ve come. I perceptibly remember being at a wedding and during the reception, the DJ there was awful because he did not know what music to play because he did not know how to assess the audience. He played every song we didn’t want to hear and when the song we wanted was played, it wasn’t as effective at the moment, because it was too late and it was time for a different genre of a song. I just remember standing there being so agitated, because weddings are such a huge event for peers, family members, and the unity of the bride and the groom. What a special day to have to worry about how music should be played and not enjoy your own wedding. That’s when I took notice in serving justice in Djing. I implemented that along with my diverse generalized interest of music genres. I started out doing events for free. Once I started realizing that I can be good at this, I developed a rate for my services for all people based upon their budget, so that I can make it affordable for them.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Hustle.
That’s a word that I’ve always loved hearing, saying, and actively doing. I’m not saying hustle hard. I’m saying hustle smart. Don’t hustle where you are trying to “outwork” and compete. Hustle to where you are wanting to “work out” and collaborate. It’s a big difference. I’ve already tried the hustling hard method and I will say, I’m only where I am currently because I stopped doing that and began hustling intellectually.
Also… kindness and gratitude. It will cost you zero dollars and zero cents to just simply be kind. It helps them and it helps you. Speaking of gratitude, one of my closest Tennessee friends, Wade Evans, helped me jumpstart my DJ career. I asked him every question, and he gave back every answer. In the kindest way. It’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.josephyang.net
- Email: josephyang94@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejosephyang/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JYang007
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/J_Yang
Image Credit:
SebSmith Media, GoldenBrats Studio, Wonderlycreative
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