We speak with Desirée Santana who welcomes us in her studio. Interview by: Lori Help
Desirée Santana, when she was still a small "caterpillar", fed on dreams that bothered her relatives and family, such as being a pilot or an astronaut.
He wastes vitality and experience thanks to a life that he has been sculpting with his effort and perseverance. She is the first woman to have played at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), together with the Gran Canari's Women Band Symphonic Band. This is the first band in Spain with so many women, the second in Europe and, in the history of music, never before has a Disc Jockey joined a band live and direct.
Are you the only professional female DJ in the Canary Islands?
The first and only professional DJ in the archipelago. There are already some women who are recording videos and doing little things but not at a professional level.
Did you receive support of any kind to undertake this adventure?
Nothing. I was alone. I had to fight against my family and their beliefs about women. They didn't want me to do this. The male DJs here weren't helping me either. At most they let me prod when they went to the bathroom. It was also difficult for the public to assume a woman DJing in the booth.
¿Is your story a clear example, not to stop fighting for dreams, despite adversity?
I wanted to be a DJ yes or yes. I did not give up. Researching, I discovered on the internet, a private school in Malaga; It did not yet exist in public education, which was from 2012 on, and I went to Malaga. Then I was in London and I no longer stopped.
About 15 days after returning to the islands, in Los Jameos (Lanzarote), playing at a conference, a French production company signed me to work in Paris. I have good memories of the treatment I received and of my hotel room in front of the Arc de Triomphe.
Perhaps it was an omen to wake up every morning like this ...
A reward for what it cost me. I have never stopped training and working hard. "Video and sound technique", also Degree in Tourism. I worked 6 years without a single weekend. I did 3000 events all over the north of the world. I also set up an agency and gave work to people that I trained myself.
I never stopped training and working hard
YAIZA SOCORRO - PHOTOGRAPHER
How did you find time to work and train other people?
Organizing myself. In the morning and afternoon he would do workshops and at night he would DJ. I had up to 3 events a day. It was a non-stop. The same thing he trained in music schools that rented classrooms by the hour.
Do boys and girls participate equally in your workshops?
In general, few girls come, out of every 50 participants there is usually only one girl.
Is it true that you ask for trombonists at your events?
I bet they go out in all cities and more in the Canary Islands, trombonists, because women don't play trombone and that instrument is hardly taught.
You wanted to be an astronaut and your new logo is something like that, right?
I wanted to be an astronaut, they took it out of my head. Then I wanted to be a pilot. Neither, because it was very expensive, and when I learned what it was like to be a DJ, with buttons and music, well I dedicated myself to that type of booth for the rest of my life.
During the pandemic I started drawing and created this space DJ design. The butterfly logo represents the D-Ci Agency.
Desirée is a complete artist. He shows us sketches where he also writes sentences that give us reflection.
Perhaps these sketches one day I will use as the cover of my future albums.
While he prepares the table to play his music, he brings with him 14 kilos of vinyl turntable and more machinery: 2 devices called CDJs where CDs are played and, in the middle, a mixing table. She connects the monitors where the sound of the music will come out while she supervises, in advance, with her headphones the songs she has prepared.
Desireé while you played I could see how you dance, your hands on the CDJ. Is this some choreography?
These are DJ techniques: “Scratch” which is like scratching or scratching the CD, or the vinyl effect on the CD. Each movement has its name. I also did a "Caress" which in English is "Baby" because it is like rocking the CD and it has an effect where it seems that you make it fly ... I also do choreography, to enralar the square -he smiles-.
Tell me, apart from DJing, how do you encourage the public?
I encourage playing the keys, singing while I DJ, dancing behind and in front of the machinery ... I analyze my audience and adapt to each terrace. It is not just prodding.
It shows us a very orderly compilation of music on CD
All this work with CDs is essential to know what I put on at all times. All this and more I have memorized. I have a 1TB of music in my head.
I have 1TB of music in my head
YAIZA SOCORRO - PHOTOGRAPHER
“Soulful house” is playing and Desirée transmits her love for what she does, from the other side of the studio as she explains how she does it.
Music can be played from CDJs but also from a pen drive or directly from a computer. The speed is 129. You have to watch and match the speeds of the two CDJs. With a part of the headset I listen to the music that has not yet come out, to make the appropriate cuts and put what I want and that it comes out at the right time. In another device I mix
What are the minimum requirements to start being a DJ?
Well, to start learning you don't need DJ machines, but you do need to look for a DJ application or software. Then to professionalize you have to practice a lot and receive training. In addition, you need some equipment, even if it is a basic range.
Do you have a defined style?
Style Desirée… I have no style. If I see a 70-year-old couple, who fell in love with “Ghost”, I spike it, even if they are playing electronics, because that is the client's taste. I practice musical empathy.
What else do you bring to the DJ profession?
When the woman works as a DJ, a sensitivity and energy different from the man transmits. I think that the woman works and communicates a joy and vibrations. DJ guys tend to put on darker themes or thicker music.
Tell us how is a day to day when you are active?
If he played the day before, I rest in the morning: Then I get ready for the work day: the clothes, thinking about how to get ready, what music I'm going to play, I check the list of CDs I have and mark it. Organize everything ... if I bring equipment or not, fix paperwork if I have to go outside ...
How do you stay strong for work?
With a good diet. Healthy lifestyle. Sleep well. Since morning I eat fruit and I take good care of myself. My work takes a lot of responsibility because lighting, security, etc ...
Are there international DJ competitions?
Worldwide there is the DMC. The best of each country goes there and I was trained with the best of Spain and the best of France.
What other DJ would you like to work with?
With TIËSTO or with AXWELL.
A dream?
My dream was to DJ in NY and I already succeeded .. Now I would like to start a school. When you achieve your goals you want to transmit knowledge and help other people, who living on the islands cannot. Living on the islands they cannot train to achieve other people their audiovisual dreams.
Desirée Santana, DJ Desirée Santana, even though they did not believe in her, managed to make her dream come true and now she flies on wings of music. And it gives wings to new generations because it is already said that: "His flapping can be felt even in outer space."
