DJ Self Born – “There Was Always Music In My Ear”

Just when you thought the art of real djing was over… Go back to the days of carrying crates and mix-tapes. DJ SELF BORN, a music purist at heart has single handily resurrected the golden era of music in south Florida by way of Chicago. check out his exclusive Q&A with S&S below.

S&S: What’s your style of music? How do you describe it?
DJ Self Born: As a DJ I spin everything from Hip Hop to House to Rock to Salsa… but my preference
80’s & 90’s Hip Hop & R&B, 80’s Soul & House plus 90’s Reggae. A party with all those
elements is a guaranteed rocker! As a producer I make Hip Hop, R&B and Pop.

S&S: Who or what was most instrumental to you when it came to music?
DJ Self Born: James Brown, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder & Roy Ayers… I couldn’t believe there
was a black dude somewhere playing the xylophone… only to learn that it’s actually a
vibraphone. When it came to DJing Kid Capri, Red Alert & Twilite Tone were the dudes I
looked up to the most and got me to really wanna push myself to be better than average
and to bring a performance aspect to everything I do.

S&S: What drives you creatively?
DJ Self Born: The energy and satisfaction I get in my gut when I DJ or create music is almost
indescribable. The fact that I can play a song or make a song that could actually affect a
person’s life immediately is kinda crazy when you think about. Whether I change
someone’s mood from a bad day spinning their favorite song or if I produce a beat that
inspires artists or the average person, it’s a never ending gratification. There’s something
very powerful about the connection music creates among all humans, regardless of
language.

S&S: How much does your audience influence you and your music selection?
DJ Self Born: I would honestly have to save that my audience is actually influenced by me. I’ve been
strategic in how I created my brand as well as whoever or whatever other brands I
associate mine with. If I am spinning in front of a crowd of strangers it’s great because I
get to play music they don’t usually get to hear along with the popular hits. It’s all about
converting new believers… like an evangelist…lol

S&S: What artists or genres do you listen to when you’re not working?
SB: I pretty much listen to what I spin so everything from the 70’s through 2001… then there
are my favorites of today like Joey Badass, Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole.

S&S: Do you have any favorite memories of growing up with your family?
DJ Self Born: I remember most that our house was the party house. One room there would be Bid
Whist (Google it) and another room people talking, then another room people dancing
and the kitchen was like the busiest place in the house like all the time. Fun times
because there was always music playing. My father wired our house with speakers
throughout different rooms so there was always music in my ear, especially when I woke
up in the morning. The radio was our coffee to get the day going.

S&S: Is there anything you would like people to know about you?
DJ Self Born: I think about Chicago a lot and how to make my hometown better for those less fortunate
than I am. To be able to find my passion and make it into my career is a rare
accomplishment in itself, let alone to then be able to accomplish the goals I set using my
unique approach to my industry. I appreciate it every day.

S&S: Are there any charities you are working with or excited to tell us about?
DJ Self Born: I have worked with the Susan G. Komen for the cure and a few other organizations have
to raise money for various causes.

S&S: Are there any questions that you wish people would ask you?
DJ Self Born: What do I think we as human beings can do to make our lives better?

S&S: And on the flip side of that, are there any questions or references you wish people would stop asking or using?
DJ Self Born: Is your name Soft Porn…lol. When I say, Peace my name is Self Born as in anything you
do in life must come from within, whether education, enlightenment/spirituality or
success and the ambition that creates that success must be born within one’s self… It’s
kinda funny how it gets mistaken for something pretty much the opposite of what it
means.

S&S: What artist(s) have you been the most excited to work with?
DJ Self Born: Brand Nubian, Special Ed & Wu Tang Clan.

S&S: Are there any artists that you dream of working with on a collaboration?
SB: De La Soul, Erykah Badu, Jadakiss, J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye, Jay­Z Raekwon &
Ghostface, 50 Cent & G­Unit and round it off with Redman… It would be dope to do an
album and totally give Redman a whole new audience and make some classic records
that the older heads would connect with and the younger Joey Badass fans would be
entertained by his quick witted lines. Man… that would be dope.

S&S: What can we look forward to next from you?
DJ Self Born: Producing and arranging music is the focus. I want to produce artists in multiple
genres… Hip Hop, R&B, Dance & House… YES I said House. Don’t sleep, I’m from the
home of House music so I got joints. I am also very interested in getting into scoring
films, providing music for TV shows. Basically become the goto guy in the industry for
that dope production or arrangement or both.

S&S: What legacy would you like to leave?
DJ Self Born: I would want to leave the living evidence that I made the planet better than when I was
born. I want to create a standing organization that is focused on the betterment of
mankind and I want to have created something that influences the creativity in others.

Q&A By: Shannon “Skip” Syas – S&S Chicago

Follow DJ Self Born on Facebook, Twitter & Soundcloud