Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ ATL.
Hi DJ, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
First of I was born in Decatur, GA, and I started off not as a DJ but as a wanna-be promoter back in high school. I probably wouldn’t even say I wanted to be a promoter. One of my close friends, Jaylan Aaron, came up with the idea of wanting to throw a party, and we could provide the liquor and music. I was like cool. We would go to other kickbacks and teen parties and network with other schools. At the first party, we did okay, but the vibe wasn’t there because the music kept pausing or played too long. So, we tried to book a DJ, but of course, we were in high school and only charging $2 per head and giving out free liquor stupid stuff. So, I did research, downloaded a virtual DJ, practiced a lot, and tried it Halloween at a party called Haunted Hangovers, and then “DJ Oblivion” was born. Forward to college 2013-2016 I was at Albany State University trying to get my name out in a new city and met up with Deon & JD, founders of Dertywork Ent. They were the top college promo group in Albany at that time. They gave me opportunities to DJ some of the top college parties at that time while also pushing me in a direction that I never thought I would go in a million years. Imma get to that in a little bit. But as far as my name goes and how it changed when people started noticing me and following me on that time, Twitter, and YouTube, people asked me all the time how I pronounced it, and then they asked me where am I from because I didn’t have that Albany hard accent. I told them all after that, the country behinds just started calling me DJ ATL because I’m from the ATL and I bring that Atlanta DJ style down there, and they love it because it was different from most other styles around South Georgia. After college, I moved back to Atlanta and stayed with my mom in Covington, GA, where I met KingOfJokaz, Mr. Hitch, Rio Banes, Dwayne Taylor, and met so many other promoters who now I call my brothers who just so happened to be throw parties with some of Decatur’s great promoters who I already knew from networking trying to get my name out during college breaks and some I grew up with Jamari Jones, Bryan, Thrax, Duece, Trizzy, Malik, Meezy, & the legendary OG Shanod Johnson. Threw them I met the guy who done pissed me off more time than I can dream to count but ended up being one of my biggest influences in the game DJ Ant Durty. I started in OJ’s/Blue Room on Panola Road when I came back, and he kept opening for me; he talked so much shit, but he got me on my game to be able to do things like radio. I’ve done mixes for stations Hot 107.9, Streetz 93.5 down in Albany, and Foxie 105. All of this over the years gave me the experience, connections, and success that I have now. He showed me how to do a wedding, which is what I do full time now, outside of nightclubs. I have DJ’d on a weekly basis in the most predominant clubs in the city, from Gold Room, compound, Red Martini, Vision Lounge, and Opium, just to name a few.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nope, the thing is with me I never wanted to work for nobody, and I never kissed nobody behind. So, I had people give me a chance, but if I didn’t work how they wanted me to, they just went with another DJ. I’ve had brides on my wedding business leave bad reviews because their wedding went bad or couldn’t keep the dance floor packed all night but still got compliments from the guests. At the end of the day, my grandad and grandma told me something when I was a kid, and it stuck with me. “YOU CAN’T PLEASE EVERYBODY’. So, I still try, but I don’t get upset if I don’t succeed. I just try it again at the next event or with the next promoter/club owner. When it came down to buying equipment to meet the client’s expectations that I delivered, I have done the normal max out credit cards, get loans, mess up my credit all because I had dream after successful party and got paid $300 for 2 hours of work to be a full-time DJ whether that’s in the clubs, on radio, at somebody’s wedding I’m not going back to a regular job.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started my wedding entertainment business called Kori Kreations back in 2018. I have 4 other DJs who all specialize in different genres of music, and 2 are bi-lingual but can still rock, from old-school cookouts to Bollywood in India. We also specialize in being the one-stop shop for couples and their guest to be entertained with our vast array of enhancements. We offer everything from special lighting, photo-booth services, stage production, and everything in between. Between all of us we currently average around 180 weddings per year. I also am one the guys who most lounges around Atlanta call when they have audio or lighting issues. I have another side company called “ATL Installs.” Me and my brother, DJ Redd Live have done the speaker and light installs in some of the most popping clubs and lounges around the city.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I learned that your pricing does not matter in most circumstances. There are different clients for different people. My company has different DJs that do different things for different prices. Some people were affected by covid in negative others positive. Because of that we still can this day offer services for everything from trailer park backyard weddings to luxury venues. Overall, it’s important to be flexible within reason as long as you know you aren’t making more money anywhere else that day
Pricing:
- Basic wedding packages start at $600
- Basic stage production packages start $2000
- Sound & Light Installs Vary per contract
- Nightclub and lounge starting $300
Contact Info:
- Website: www.korikreations.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj.atl/. https://www.instagram.com/korikreationsga/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@korikreationsatl
- Other: https://www.bark.com/en/us/company/kori-kreations-dj-service/OEj1L/
