Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Sir Daniel.
Hi DJ Sir, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Ten years ago I followed a childhood dream to become a DJ by simply playing with new software created to mix music on a laptop. Playing with the software led to a full-on obsession leading to purchasing midi-controllers and eventually two turntables and a mixer. I owe my first experiences in front of a live crowd to Michael Slaughter a local purveyor of house parties and Clinton Jollifi the founder of Tha Big Dogs, a Black Gay men’s social group pioneering safe spaces and body positivity for large men of color. In that time, I immersed myself in Atlanta’s DJ culture by joining Wax Fundamentals, an all-vinyl performance DJ crew.
My journey has allowed me to meet many of my DJ idols, tons of amazing artists and a curated DJ career that I am very proud of.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The life of a DJ is a lonely and expensive one. Technology is changing by the hour and that means new hardware and software that some of us feel pressured to keep up with. Maintaining the equipment you already have can be costly as well. Personally, my biggest expense is my record collection and you can find me in several local record stores weekly. Vinyl collection might be an obsession for me, I fear.
As I mentioned earlier, the DJ profession can feel isolating at times. We are typically the first to arrive and solely responsible for transporting, unloading, assembling, disassembling and reloading our equipment. When I’m on the clock, I remain vigilant about the task at hand which is keeping that music flowing while everyone else gets to socialize.
I have noticed that the presence of DJ’s on social media has encouraged a growing crop of individuals to insert themselves in the culture without grasping the knowledge of the fundamentals of music, technique and audience habits. I also wish patrons would practice more decorum when approaching a DJ while they are at work. Society overall is losing good manners and DJ’s definitely experience it with unsolicited remarks and drunken requests for music. There is a human being behind those decks, so please treat us as such.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Presently, I am in a space of only committing to activities that fall in line with who I am as an artist. I stand firmly on the preservation of Black music and telling the stories of the heroes that often go unrecognized.
I am proud to call myself a DJ/Selector that specializes in honoring Black women in music. In March of 2022 in honor of Women’s History Month, I dedicated my platform on MixCloud to sets solely featuring music by Black women. SHUGA-HONEY On The ROCKS is an all-vinyl salute to the women of Hip-Hop, RnB, Dance, etc. I usually drop a new mix at least once a month where I broadcast via video and then you can revisit the audio at any time on my MixCloud page.
In 2021 I also teamed up with a long-time friend and collaborator Johnnie Ray Kornegay III to create the QUEUE POINTS music podcast. Queue Points is dedicated to meaningful discussions regarding Black music history and the creatives that contributed to the culture. Our topics range from the connection between Black men’s health and the early deaths of Hip-Hop legends to exploring the Black American origins of Country Music. In the nearly two years we have been podcasting QUEUE POINTS has been nominated for Best Black Music Podcast at the Black Podcasting Awards as well as partnering with Carnegie Hall to promote a concert series.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I’m lucky that I have so many childhood memories, but one that I will share is my mother surprising me on my 15th birthday with my very own stereo complete with a turntable, dual cassettes and radio. It was the beginning of me making mixtapes to share with my classmates. Mom had no idea she created a bonafide Hip-Hop junky and future DJ.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesirdaniel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djsirdaniel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queueshow
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DJSirDaniel
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@queuepoints
- Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/TheSirDaniel/
Image Credits
Kyle “Keez” Krice Kirklan Hawes
