Meet Cayla Elise of Cleotrvppv in Metro Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cayla Elise also known as “Cleotrvppv.

Cayla, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Music was my first love. It made up my world, and it was everywhere that I wanted to be. My father had a significant influence on what I listened to, and it’s still relevant to my song preference today. He had a massive cd and tape collection that I would hunt through in search of finding a gem. My father’s ear was very diverse, and he listened to all genre’s ranging from old school hip hop and R & B, pop, rock, country, and jazz. I believe that being exposed to those frequencies at such a young age is what makes my ear for DJing so unique.

My first introduction to modern hip hop and rap music was when I was around six or seven years old. I had a babysitter that let a few older kids, and I watch 106 & park when A.J. and Free were hosting followed by rap city with Big Tigger. Every day for an entire summer, we would watch both shows & I was severely intrigued. Something about how the artist took you away from reality and into their world through a moving image was just beautiful to me. I also was so appreciative of learning about an artist’s upbringing and hearing a raw freestyle for the first time was something that I will never forget.

From having multiple tapes and cd players, I received my first iPod in the 7th grade. The iPod played a significant factor in my music infatuation, and it quickly turned into an addiction. I couldn’t do anything without having music playing, and I would stay on LimeWire & YouTube for hours searching for something new to download or listen to.

In high school, I would make all my friends mixed CDs with songs that I thought they would enjoy. Around this time, the early Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y, Mac Miller, Rvidxr Klvn, Drake, and Dom Kennedy wave was one that resonated with me. I think that the impact was so relevant for me because they were hot on the underground scene while I was searching for my identity. I felt like I was growing up with the artists and every time I play that music today a sense of nostalgia comes back to me.

I attended Kennesaw State in 2014, and almost all of the friends that I made were involved in music, art, or they had a strong connection to both. I told my good friend, Jaye Newton, that I was considering trying to DJ and he motivated me to pull the trigger. I googled the cheapest and easiest setup, purchased it, and watched YouTube videos for a few weeks until I got the hang of it. Jaye was already an artist who was developing a buzz throughout Atlanta, and he made me his DJ. About three years ago, one of the first shows I played at was one that he was featured in. I was nervous as hell and didn’t know what I was doing, but my song selection was the only thing that saved me. Following that show, I started to get noticed from playing at other indie showcases, and I developed genuine connections with people. The underground music scene in Atlanta is tightknit, so once I popped up people just started recognizing me and then friendships were developed. From those friendships, I have been able to play at more shows, parties, and other events that they would recommend me for.

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?
The route to djing hasn’t always been smooth. I taught myself, and I never had a mentor, so I naturally developed a lot of bad habits that I have had to try to break. Trying to discover my sound was the hardest for me – listening to a wide range of music made it difficult for me to realize that I could infuse all of them into my sets. I also graduated from Kennesaw State in July of 2018 and learning to balance gigs, and school work was tough for me when I was starting to DJ.

Like many creatives, I have struggled with overthinking. More specifically, I tend to overthink when it comes to ideas that I want to execute. It often has taken me months to create mixes because I wanted them to be perfect on the first take and I would often get very discouraged.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Cleotrvppv – what should we know?
I came up with the name Cleotrvppv (pronounced Cleo-Trap-Uh), in high school and it just stuck. I am an open-format DJ, and I’m dedicated to creating an enjoyable experience for others. I believe that I’m set apart because my sound is a juxtaposition of hard and soft and that’s parallel with who I am as a person. I thoroughly enjoy playing for people who will dance to anything because I’m not limited to any genre. I like to create live mashups when I’m in a setting that will be receptive to it, and most people know me for doing so.

I’m most proud of my growth over the past year. I learned to believe in myself while doing my best and giving all my problems over to God. I have been playing at some of my favorite parties frequently, and I have been DJing next to many talented DJs that I admire.

I am also very appreciative of my team. I am a member of a collective called 8.O. Ape (pronounced 8 “Oh” Ape) & they all motivate me to do more and to be better than what I was. Everyone within our team is talented for many different reasons. I believe that our distinct sound and content is one of the best coming out in Atlanta because it is genuine and timeless. Members include @jayenewton, @bossmanright, @jaquebeatz, @uvlifestyle, @iamakilshaw, & @cjwallace_3.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel that keeping God first, being genuine, and spreading love to everyone that I come in contact with is most important for the success of my brand. When people think of Cleotrvppv, I want them to only have good thoughts that make them smile. I always try to bring positive energy everywhere I go and I think it is essential because you never know who you will cross or what kind of impact you may have on their life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://soundcloud.com/luxury_gvwd
• Email: bookcleotrvppv@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleotrvppv/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleotrvppv/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cleotrvppv

Image Credit:
@uvlifestyle, @the_kodakk, @1kmoments, @sarahvitelphoto

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.