Today we’d like to introduce you to Dj Tootz.
Hi Dj Tootz, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
So when we were in High school (sophomore year), our older brother dj’d our sweet sixteen. We had such a good turnout, he said “y’all should start djing, it would be so live” We were only worried about playing tennis back then so we kept it pushing. Fast forward to college, and we circle back around to the idea. I (Big Tootz) knew this was going to work. I knew we would be big. I knew the picture was bigger than us and that we would inspire so many people. I (Lil tootz) wasent so sure. I just knew I didn’t want to waste any money on buying the wrong equipment lol. So we searched for a mentor. DJ. Big Sue of K97 Memphis mentored us and steered us in the right direction as far as equipment. Took us about a year to save and get some. Once we had some basic equipment, we asked Sue to teach us how to DJ. She told us we had to do that on our own because babe can’t teach us how to bear music, and read a crowd, etc. And actually, that was the best advice anybody could have given us. She taught us then that we have to work hard for the things we want in the music industry if you really want it. So we hop on YouTube, purchase DJ books and just start teaching ourselves. Once we got the hang of it actually mixing two records together, we start going out to more clubs, but not party like we usually would, but to study the crowds and see what people like to listen to. We would go home and practice for hours and hours.
After our first couple of gigs, word started to travel around Memphis about these two twin girls that could DJ they asses off. It took a while to actually get out on the “turn up” part of a party, we usually opened up. So some people would miss us. We kept working and grinding and eventually started getting later times slots, then whole parties, then even more interesting events. We did events for U of M, Essence My City 4 Ways, Paris Chanel Balloon Brunches, a host of club and corporate events and events Arabian Weddings. In 2019, we decided to move to Atlanta, GA. And we have been loving it ever since. Atlanta is an amazing city and reminds a lot of Memphis. It’s a bigger and better version to us. But nothing about Atlanta is sweet. You have to hit the ground running in this city. Currently, we are resident DJs at Midtown Beach Club and Cascade Skating Rink. We are still on the reality show called “Djs of Atlanta” and we are still official/tour DJs for Q.C. Artist Duke Deuce. We’re also now EDM DJs. We decided to add another genre to our arsenal and we are taking it by the horns. We know tackling this side of the industry will not be an easy route. But we see so much for us as EDM DJs. We don’t see many people that look like us in this field, and we plan to change that. The EDM scene in Atlanta is relatively big. So we have been playing more EDM events. We plan to drop our first EDM single in October of this year. So be on the lookout for that.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has most definitely not been smooth. The challenge we are currently faces are breaking into the new genre of EDM that is relatively racially biased. We don’t see too many black and brown girls with EDM in the U.S. and we’re gonna kick the door down.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re open-format DJs. We specialize in EDM, Top 40, Hip Hop, Rap. R&B and a host of other genres. We do club events, festivals, tours, corporate events, Birthday parties, weddings, private events, and do much more. You can pretty much put us in any setting and we will turn you up. We’ve done Arabian weddings and swingers parties, we do it all and have fun while doing it.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Being social has worked for us. Always being in the mix and being seen helps you network so much. Meeting new people and having new experiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/djtootz?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=467c3564-2393-4217-b59b-a064b8a9e303
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djtootz901/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djtootz901
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCV0RlFSqzn-75a87ATfAvsA
Image Credits
@curtshotme @dewolfprod @homietony.tv
