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DJ Deanne

Miami’s own on the ones and twos for Miami Beach Gay Pride

DJ Deanne is a Midwesterner who has made her home in South Florida. It was a pleasure to sit down with her before her gig at Miami Beach Gay Pride where she will spin from 6 p.m. till 10 p.m on Saturday night from the main stage.

When did you realize you wanted to be a DJ?
It was in the late 90’s or early 2000s when I was living in Indiana and going to college for my second degree. That’s about the time I started going to gay clubs and listening to and acquiring different music. I was working at a small gay bar in Bloomington, Indiana and started practicing on turntables. It turns out that I had a knack for it. I got a few breaks and realized that this was what I wanted to do in life.

 

Where are you from, and what brought you to Florida?
I was born in Kentucky, but I spent almost 15 years in Indiana prior to moving to South Florida. Over the years I had been playing at Twist a couple times a year while I lived in Indiana. Every time I came to Miami something happened to me. I felt more alive and it has always felt like “home” to me. When I made the decision to concentrate only on DJ/Producing four years ago, I knew that South Florida is where I belonged.

 

What was your first residency, and how did that feel?
My first big residency was at a club in Indianapolis called Talbott Street. It was the premier gay club in the Midwest (outside of Chicago). Every gay/circuit DJ and other world renowned DJs played there. It was a big room to play in and it felt amazing commanding that dance floor. It was my home for 10 years and I “grew up” as a DJ there.

 

What separates you from other DJs?
This is a hard question. I never really try to compare myself to other DJs. But my philosophy as a DJ is to give 110 percent to every performance, to do my homework, to always give the crowd something new, and to have fun. One of my mentors once told me that the key to being a great DJ is programming and I have never forgotten that. I might overthink my set a bit sometimes, but each set is carefully crafted based on what is happening on the dance floor, at the bar, around the perimeter of the room and inside of me at any given time. There is always an upward arching progression until the energy is so intense that the room is bursting at the seams. I live for the ‘hands in the air moments” and people having the time of their life 🙂

 

What are some memorable moments from the DJ booth?
I just had one of my favorites while playing to a packed room on the Terrace at Club Space during Winter Party Festival 2017. Every legend in the world has played there and it was pretty crazy being in that booth.

 

Other than DJing, what do you like to do for fun?
I like doing adventurous things, I love being in the sun and spending time with my friends and I love traveling and seeing new places.

 

Describe yourself in 3 words?
Fun-loving, passionate, driven

 

What does the future hold for you?

 

Things are going really great for me, playing new parties and gigs all the time. I’m hoping to continue to grow my schedule and play around the world. Also, my production is starting to take off and I hope to continue to make tons of new music for others to enjoy. The future looks very bright!

 

Top 10 this week:

 

1. Djerem, Hiisak ft Roland Clark – La Paz Del Planet Rock (Deanne Intergaláctico Mash)

2. Ralph Oliver – Selection (Original Mix)

3. Breno Barreto, Nalaya – Don’t Stop Moving (Dub Mix)

4. Loleatta Holloway – Dreamin (Alex Ramos Dreaming Remix)

5. Amannda – Drunk (Featuring Nikki & Patrick Sandim)

6. Party Killers Move (Digital Junkiez & Dirtywork Remix)

7. Tony Moran & Dani Toro Featuring Zhana Roiya- Lick Me Up (Tom Stephan Mix)

8. Friburn & Urik – Take Me Love Me (GSP & Erez Ben Ishay Miami Remix)

9. Z LaLa Z LaLa – Strangers In The Night (Alyson Calagna Dub)

10. J. Velarde, Luque, Vitti, Giovanna – Sundays At Heaven (Thomas Solvert Remix)