DJ Amathyst

Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] How's it going, Ready fam? It's BBOP here and I am with DJ Amethyst aka Val. >> Nice to meet you guys. Thank you for having me. >> So glad to be able to finally sit down and do this interview with you. It feels like a long time coming. Um, I got to see your after 12 sunup set, sunrise set. Um, you DJed two of my afterp parties. Uh, and so you're basically a ready VIP already. Um, and then >> and thank you for those opportunities, by the way. >> Of course. You guys slayed every uh chance I got to see you live. I was just blown away. You have a great feel for the music and for pumping up the crowd. Just exceptional energy. >> Thank you. Um, and this interview is kind of a a rain check, so to speak. So, we all hung out at Cookanino and um, Valerie and um, Notlad DJed our afters and the next morning I had done an interview with him and planned to do yours right after and then it rained. Oh, >> right when we started mine, too. >> Nothing like getting the nerves out. >> Nothing you could do. nothing we could do. Um, but we decided we're definitely going to make sure to sit down and do this interview. And so we have another afterparty, another candy party here at the classes. And um, so this is the same place I I film Ready VIP. So we're we're basically in the VIP lounge now, the our so to speak green room with Helga, >> our VIP. Um, and so Helga would like to know, >> how did you get into DJing? Like where was your start? >> So I started after 12 at the first location um as a bartender and like a few of my friends started DJing and I got interested and like I would stay behind them and like watch them do their thing like after we closed at night or in the morning I should say when we closed at 6. But yeah, um I got my own music and then for about 3 months straight after I closed the bar, I would go up to the DJ deck after everyone leaves and I would just practice for like >> couple hours or as long as like anyone's there. Yeah. >> And I really enjoyed it. Um, one of my friends heard me like after those like couple months of getting comfortable and like >> getting in my own skin and feeling out my sound. Um, they told me like, "Hey, we're putting you on the lineup for next week." >> Nice. >> Yeah. >> Just that tap on the shoulder like, "Hey, it's your turn." >> Yep. Yep. And yeah, that's how I got in. And then I probably had about like maybe five sets there already. >> I love that. What a Pokemon journey it is like to be like the trainer. You get your first chance at the decks and then you like work your way up and they're like now's your chance. >> Yep. >> So, you know, where did you go from there? You get your chance. You take your shot and like you just jump into DJing. downloading more music and then just figuring things out, you know, like just learning what the crowd wants, >> but also recognizing like things that like I like and what I want to play. And like the shows that have the most energy are the times where I play music that like I want to hear and I'm having a great time. And I guess like when people see that you're dancing and having a great time like like you like you are like the temple pretty much like people are looking up at you. >> People are feeling your energy and they'll start doing the same. If you like throw off good energy like people will throw that right back at you >> from what I've come to find out. So like I've been playing songs that I really like and that I really enjoy and I just I don't play for anyone else but myself. >> Definitely. What are some songs you really like? What's your style? What's your Where do you draw inspiration from? >> Throwbacks. >> Throwbacks. >> Throwbacks. Yeah. No, I love like >> Give me some throwbacks. What's your favorite? >> Yeah. Um, a Backstreet Boys. >> Oh, okay. Is a Backstreet Boy. Yeah. >> All right. >> And saying Kiri. >> Oh, nice. I love a good Britney Spears throwback. Like all day. >> Yeah, the Levity remix is my favorite, too. >> I was exactly I was I was thinking that. >> Same way, Blank. >> It's great. It's great. It is. So with that influence, how has that changed? Because you started out just playing whatever and then you like grew into your style. >> I think just realizing what the rape community is to me >> and like just building up from that and just like letting people know like I'm here for you. Like we've all like came together in this one spot to forget about the real world. Mhm. >> Um just no judgment period and >> I love that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just throwing out love like even though like I'm a very introverted person. >> Mhm. >> So it was very hard for me to get up on the stage for my first time. >> Wow. >> But oh like if if I'm able to do this like you could do it too. No matter like what journey you are, like whatever journey that you have in life, like you have a place to come back to and like you have people that you could you could trust and talk to. >> Definitely. I, you know, I love that you brought out what the RA community meant to you because I know as a safe space for a lot of people, it's an opportunity for them to connect to other people who also share that same, you know, desire for safe space, that same desire to, you know, have a community that is accepting of who they are regardless. And I think as a DJ, that's a great place to be because you're bearing your art. And it's, you know, talk about dealing with imposttor syndrome and all of the doubt that comes with like, am I actually good? Am I am I worth doing? Is this worth my time? >> And >> you can't let those thoughts >> definitely >> get to you. >> But the community, you know, is so supportive of that, right? They want to see you on that hero journey. They want to pull that out of you and and and let you blossom. And so I think it's a really unique art space because not all art spaces are like that. And even our community wasn't always like that. I think that's, you know, blossomed in a new era. >> Yeah. No, it's truly a blessing. like, oh, I feel like I didn't have a lot of friends growing up. Got bullied a lot, too. So, I've always had like a hard time like communicating with people and building trust. >> So, um I probably only been raving for about 4 years now, so still relatively new, but when I first got into it, it's nice to just finally recognize who I am. Better now than ever. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah. With that, um, is there any artist you would just love to collab with? If you could backtoback with anybody, or if some some person wanted to co-sign with you and put you on their song and produce with whatever you wanted and to your heart's content, who would that be? >> Level Up. >> Level Up. Let's go. I love >> I love her style. >> Um, everything she plays like bangers, throwback, she does it on a like on a whole another level and I love that. >> Yeah, definitely. literally like another level. Like she's she's awesome. Such an inspiration. >> Great music and she goes so hard. Um we saw her live at the Marquee Theater here. Um shout out to Input which was already VIP number three um opened up and then Sedona already VIP number nine uh who played direct support and that show was just incredible. Talk about the power coming off of that stage. Uh, and I think that's one of the interesting things about being a DJ is there is something so empowering about getting out there and connecting to the crowd and being able to share your art and your love and your music and express that and then have everybody celebrate it with you. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, it's it's such a great feeling. Like it's almost like putting together an essay >> and then you're performing that essay or like you're just >> giving it your all. I I would practice my sets like shoot like maybe five times the day before. I I would run through that whole hour just constantly just making sure I have everything done right because I want to execute it the way I want to. I want to feel good after it. >> Want to be in the zone for it. >> Yeah. And then mistakes. Yeah. Um, mistakes happen too and you just got to not take that to heart. >> Use that for next time. Know not to do it again. But if you do, it's okay. >> So for everybody who's not a DJ, what's a DJ mistake? What's something that you ran into you're like, "Dang it." >> That's what I learned from. >> Played the same song twice. >> Oh, >> yeah. By accident. >> Oh. >> Um, >> you're like, "It's good enough to play twice, guys." Trust me. >> Yeah. I don't know like the decks that they have at clubs or after 12 like they're intimidating. They're big. I just have a tiny FLX for so I'm able to see what I played recently. >> Okay. >> But with those like you have to go down twice, like go down two times for the next song. I I was so used to going down once and I'm like, "Oh, okay. I got my next song ready." >> But yeah, no, I was in the zone. Didn't realize I didn't had it set up. Started playing the same song again. Oh. So, >> have you ever had a opposite moment of that where you feeling you were just in the flow state like the music was just at your fingertips and everything you switched over was perfect? >> So, um at your afters like Yeah. Nothing planned. Just going with the flow. >> I love that. >> Yeah. No, it's great. Like I'm able to do that with house music so so easily. Um, that's actually what I started out with because like you could reloop at the end because and like it all just transitioned so smoothly, so easily that and techno. >> But dubstep was a whole another ball game and like dubstep is my favorite. >> Yeah, >> but it was the hardest for me. Yeah, >> definitely. >> But I feel like I got a good hand of it thanking Not Lad. He's taught me a lot. So, >> shout out. >> Yeah, let him go. I remember that set. It was also you exposed me to um the remix of Enzo's Overinker by Cloy, I think, right? And I was like, "Oh my gosh." Like, >> that's the best thing is to be listening to live music and know you listen to this all the time. I listen to an encyclopedia amount of music and still hear a song and just instantly connect to it and be like, "What is this? I need this ID. Give it to me now." Right? That excitement is so surreal. And as a DJ, you kind of you're like a a mainline like uh source for that. >> Yeah. You have the ox. You >> do. You have the ox. So if you were able we're going to get into the fun questions part now. I got a couple silly questions. You know, if you were past the ax right now and the audience listening were to go and listen to whatever song you were going to play for them on the ax, what would you tell them to go listen to right now? >> I know I asked a hard questions here already. VIP. >> Huba stink. The reason Oh, okay. Hey, >> always been a favorite song of mine. >> She did say throwbacks. >> Yep. Yep. What's new? >> Nailed it. Awesome. So, next fun question. Who's your favorite Pokemon? >> Merl. >> Merl. I love it. Like originally the Peekaboo. Like >> I'm sure you have been to a lot of shows yourself, right? You've seen a lot of different sets. You've seen a lot of different artists. Was there one that really captivated you where you as a DJ try to go back to want to emulate or could hope to one day achieve? >> Shoot. Um >> I loved Retro Vision set for the countdown. Um what year was it? >> Was it I think it was 2023's Decadance. >> Yeah. Nice. >> That was a party. >> It was a party. >> Yes, it was >> such a fun time. No, I've I've danced hard. Like it's between that and Kaiwatchi. >> Oh, nice. >> So, headbanger or party like >> definitely >> just Yeah. Bass House. >> Love that. Yeah. His new album too. Kai watching. That's my ox. I'm going to take that tell you to go check out the new Kai watch album. It's actually not new, but it's like new enough. If you haven't heard it, it's still called new. >> Yeah. >> Precious off that >> song. >> That was that was my tangent. Sorry about that, everybody. Um, so one thing I like to do is give uh the VIP the opportunity to um say whatever is important to them to give you a platform to speak to the audience or maybe uh future listeners to your music or people who go to your set. What is it that makes DJ Amethyst who you are? What is it that if a crowd person were to meet you, you would want them to take away about you? What I would want someone to take away from me is >> like know that I'm like I'm here for you. Like no matter where you come from, like you could go through some of like the hardest things in life and I'll hear you out and I'll do my best to put myself into your shoes. And um I hope you could feel that through like my music if you're not able to come up to me. Like just know that I'm here for you and I want you to have a great time. I want you to run away from life for a little bit, party together, and just make the most out of it. >> That's real. No, definitely. Giving people an escape and somewhere safe to just, you know, let go. >> People need it. >> Absolutely. >> I I feel >> No, now more than ever. For sure. Uh and I think it's important to have a safe space to both express those, you know, feelings and emotions when you feel like you need to talk to somebody and sit down and say, "Hey, like I'm not feeling okay." But also to just have a moment to just not have to deal with that, to just let go and dance the night away. >> And I wish that for everyone, too. >> I wish that for everybody, too. What a great wish. >> Yeah. >> Now, you had a genie and you could wish for something else other than everybody to have a good party night. What would you wish for? >> Don't say world peace or something like that. Like, Miss America out there. We get it, right? It's 2:30 in the morning. We all wish for world peace. We're in to feed the hungry and like no cage children and stuff. But like for you, selfish wish. Genie gives you a selfish wish. What? What's your wish? >> My wish. >> Classic rules, too. No wishing for more wishes. You can't wish for an extra genie. You can't wish to become a genie. >> Um, I wish for I wish to have the Bumblebee Camaro from the first Transformers movie. >> Let's go. What a great question. >> That's the car I want. >> Let's All right. And Bumblebee specifically, right? Bumblebee specifically. >> Nice. >> Does it matter if it transforms or not? >> Nope. Just want the car. >> I would want the transformer. Like not not in the shade of >> But it would be cool. Yeah. If it talked and did the whole >> Yeah. >> things in the movie. Oh, yeah. Great. >> Radio. >> Even if it's just the car, that's cool, too. Like, >> last question here before we say our goodbyes, so to speak. Um, turning the tables. As somebody who's seen several of your sets, has listened to um a lot of uh what you've put out there, what's a question you'd like to ask an audience member? >> Either what could I improve on or what would you like to hear? >> Cuz I will put that in my set. >> That's a good question. You know, I've seen a lot of different styles from you because I I've seen like the harder rhythm style where it's like just 4 am smashing people's heads open and like, you know, keeping people alive cuz it's you're you're running on adrenaline and caffeine at that point, right? And fumes, right? So that that set is different than like, you know, your after set even at my place where you're playing Enzo and Cloy and some of these other things where like you match the vibe. Um, and so my encouragement to you would be just to read the audience and like, you know, know what they're feeling because it's gonna be different every night. >> Oh, absolutely. >> And just play to that. And then I would say like, you know, your biggest strength is that you have a really good feel for your music. When you put down a track, you feel it, you know it, you express it, you bounce off the walls, and so does the audience, right? And so, uh, I think that's the thing you do the best. >> Um, I would say your area of improvement, continue to be unabashedly yourself. I know that there's times where that doubt creeps in where you're like, what am I doing right now with my hands? Am I like, should I? And you can see the second guessing. And that's just because it's like riding a bike. How many times have you DJed? If that were riding a bike, you'd only be in the first like 10 to 15 times of riding a bike. And that's a lot for anybody if you're riding for your first time. And so as you build that confidence, just be yourself >> because you have that like ability to run with it. >> Yeah, I do struggle with that and >> slowly slowly getting more comfortable. >> Definitely. >> But >> so I like to give everybody the opportunity u to say their last um you know goodbyes, shout outs, where to find you next. Um, so audience, this is where you can check out um, Amethyst on >> on the After 12 website or on the Instagram page. Stay stay tuned. They'll usually like post out the lineups like within five days in advance. >> So, >> and you go by DJ Amethyst on Instagram. >> Yep. On Instagram or Valbury is also it's my main account. That's what I use mostly. >> No, I totally get that. Um, awesome. And so after 12s, you're going to be playing soon. Definitely go check that out. DJN with this or Valvore on Instagram. Um, anybody you want to give a shout out to? Anybody want to say goodbye? Hello. Hi, Mom. It's 2 a.m. >> Shout out to Notad. >> Shout out to Notad. >> Help me out a lot. >> Yes. >> And Clefairy. >> Yes. >> Wonderful. >> Thank you guys. Appreciate it. Well, thank you um DJ Amethyst Val for uh sitting down, hanging out with me, uh playing some wonderful music and um I will be working on your music video soon. >> Thank you so much. No, you're awesome. I'm excited. >> I'm excited, too. Thanks everybody. >> Thank you. Take care. >> Boom. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause]