Meet DJ Astro of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Astro.

Hi DJ Astro, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My path to DJing was non-traditional. I vividly remember wasting away in my apartment during COVID lockdowns in a foreign city so far away from home that it may as well have been Mars. With nothing else to do, I picked up the DDJ-400 controller that my girlfriend had gifted me the previous Christmas and started toying around with it every day. I was 25 and had never touched any DJ equipment before, although I did have a (very) basic affinity for music. I would spend hours surfing Youtube every day and slowly began to learn everything from the basic functions of a DJ controller to the philosophy of deejaying to art of turntablism. I absorbed it all and practiced relentlessly until I could string together what I considered decent mixes.

Eventually I realized that I needed to play in front of other people if I wanted to progress in my craft and began to DJ small events while upgrading my gear to expand my capabilities. Every gig, every open decks, and every event taught me a new lesson or skill. At the same time, I began collecting vinyl records as a hobby and while in graduate school purchased a set of Technic SL1200 Mk2 turntables, the gold standard of turntables for DJs. Learning to DJ vinyl felt like starting from square one again, but it forced me to build foundational skills as a DJ that supercharged my growth and made me the professional I am today.

These days, DJing has taken me much farther than I could have dreamt back in the COVID quarantine days. I’ve curated event soundscapes for Fortune 5 tech companies, brand activations, education institutions, and historic record shops. I run my brand, The Afronautz LLC, as a business centered on pushing the boundaries of musical expression across the Diaspora and beyond. I offer both digital and vinyl services across an Open Format style and am cultivating a community of DJs to amplify the brand’s reach. The Afronautz is pluralized because it is inclusive of anyone who pursues excellence in their field of endeavor despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, isolation, or setbacks they face.

Alright, 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?
For years, my greatest challenge was growing in this craft as a self-taught DJ. I learned to DJ during Covid quarantines and didn’t have the luxury of meeting other DJs in real life, asking questions, and networking. I essentially developed in a void for the first two years of my journey. Looking back though, this constraint forced me study DJ videos and find inspiration from OGs and newcomers across Youtube, Twitch, and one very special book that I’ll highlight below. It gave me a deep appreciation for many genres, styles, and eras of music that I would not have developed otherwise.

That said, self-taught individuals can only progress so far and so fast. My blind spots sometimes became handicaps and in some cases it took me months to learn aspects of DJing that I’ve taught others in minutes. Nowadays, I actively seek out mentorship, partnership, and peer feedback. Music is both a deeply personal and highly social experience and the best DJs embrace both facets of this paradigm.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
DJs fundamentally operate in the hospitality profession. Unless you are a festival headliner or similar, the DJ exists to cultivate a sonic experience to catalyze a social connection and spiritual enjoyment in event patrons. To the venue owner, the DJ exists to increase bar sales and maximize profit. I have an eclectic collection of vinyl records and digital tracks that I’ll play for anyone at any time, but when it comes to the business of DJing, my focus is to craft the best experience for my clients and guests based by controlling the Energy and Mood of the room. Genre is simply a lens through which to structure these two fundamental pillars.

The Afronautz LLC epitomizes this philosophy. You will find me playing the latest Hip Hop and R&B at a day party and House or Jazz records at a vinyl shop that evening. I am liable to mix in Afrobeats, Reggae, Dancehall, and Pop at any time. Lately I’ve been experimenting with DnB. These choices are driven by my interest, experience, and the needs of the crowd. I adapt in real time to curate the vibe of the hour.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Books
1) How to DJ Right: The Art and Science of Playing Records
2) The Power of Habit
3) The Warmth of Other Suns
4) Phantom Tollbooth
5) Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It
6) Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative

Pricing:

• Visit www.afronautz.com for rates

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.afronautz.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.afronautz/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@the.afronautz
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-afronautz