Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Graham.
Hi Debbie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Influenced by my father’s love for music and the arts, I always had the desire to involve myself in music at some level. As a child growing up in Jamaica, I would try to mimic some of the deejays that I was familiar with and could always be found going through my father’s extensive music collection.
Both my parents were world travelers, and I would look forward to all the new music they would bring from their travels. It was because of this that I was exposed to such great music at an early time in my life. I loved reggae and calypso growing up but disco, funk and soul was really where my heart was.
Fast forward several years, and I had the opportunity to move to Atlanta to attend college. It was at this point I had the inclining to get behind the turntables and learn how to blend music. I surrounded myself with many creatives and studied the art of deejaying. Everything that I have learned has been mainly from just observing others that I have a huge amount of respect for.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Honestly, this has not been a smooth road.
We all know that this is a male-dominated industry, and some women have to work much harder to be heard. There have been times where others in the game disrespect you just because you may have connected with an audience better than they had, and you get snarky comments coming your way or they despise you just for being a dope soul.
There are also times when you will not get invited to have a seat at the table just because you are a woman. Even the disparity in pay is different for gigs.
You may also have instances of not getting booked because you don’t look a certain way. This industry tends to treat some people in higher regard even if the talent isn’t there.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been in the DJ game for almost 40 years and have had some great opportunities even though there have been obstacles. I have received the love and support of some of the movers and shakers not only in Atlanta but in other areas of the country and also internationally. Although I play all genres of music, my first love is House Music and this is what most people know me for. I am most proud of being able to share my passion all over the world not only from a performance viewpoint but also as a mentor to many new DJs that are interested in performing.
One of the things I believe sets me apart from others is, you can never put me in a box and predict what my sets will sound like. I will change my style of playing depending on the type of gig I play. From Soulful to Techno I will play to whatever the audience wants to hear.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have had great mentors along the way including The GodFather Ron Pullman, Dj Kemit, and from Detroit, DJ Minx. Each of these DJs has contributed in some way and has set me up to be successful in this game. Not only have they taught me some of the fundamentals, but they have also taught me how to run this as a “Real” business and not just a hobby.
Back in the day when vinyl was king, Ron Pullman would be my “vinyl pusher”, directing me to all the hot club bangers that I needed in my arsenal. DJ Kermit and Ron have booked me to play some very exclusive parties and given me the opportunity to share the decks with other top-notch DJs. Lastly, DJ Minx has spent countless hours teaching me about music production and has always pushed me to travel the world so I can be heard. She has shown me that with hard work and a drive to constantly improve, you will have many opportunities presented to you that you never would have thought was possible.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/djdebbiegrahamatl
- Facebook: Facebook.com/debbie.graham.146
- Other: mixcloud.com/djdebbiegraham
