Chapter 11: Winning mentality

The great day  arrived. 

The moment in which all was going to be decisive.

 I couldn't fail me to myself, or my friends, neither my dream. 

I gathered some friends to come and support me in this important day for me.

 We went by train to Calafell. I was a nervous, and my friends kept telling me :

 Dany going to win! Today you will bring home the Technics!

We arrived at the club and Juan asked us:

 -Well, you are 3. Which order do you want to follow???

 Obviously, no one wanted to be first, and we did a raffle.

 I was going to be the third, which I liked.

 We went straight to the stage, and the jury was composed by professionals of the moment:

 Alberto Tapia, Jordi Beat, Skryker, Juan Cruz, El Brujo ...

 The first DJ was not too bad, but he didn't attract the attention from jury 

(which I was cautiously observing)

The second neither did wrong. But he chose to mix Progressive, which asleep some people who were on the dance floor.

As the minutes passed by, I looked closer to the big win, and I was  prepared to start my mixture with something that was going to call the attention from all.

Before the end from the second session, there was a power outage that lasted a couple of minutes.

Thinking for my own benefit I knew that despite the great pity that this meant for the deejay who at that moment was playing, that was going to benefit me. Since the jury began to talk among themselves, and could forget the previous performances.

It was my turn! It was time to give my all. 

To impress not only the judges, but also the audience in the room.

While Juan Cruz was talking about the contest to the people, 

I quickly grabbed two vinyls, and without no time to prepare them I started both from the beginning.

Juan said:

Well, it's time to receive to our last finalist. He is: Dany BPM.

 After two seconds of silence, I did something that seemed to impress much at all.

 I turned up the channels, I warned that I would put a track, I turned up the other channel, 

and then I put the intro from the second track, and I put both at once,   

and quickly with the two sounding simultaneously, I managed to equalize   

them at a speed that would not last more than 2-3seconds.

My mix lasted almost as long that both albums lasted, and was composed of:

Xavi Metralla - Vibration (undoubtedly the best "Makina" base of that moment)

And a sung theme that at that time few people had, and it was my favorite named:

Kangaroo - Promises

I knew I had succeeded in drawing attention with this mixture and the way to start my session. But my only goal was to get over my rivals. Therefore, before ending my mix, I said a few words by the microphone (which none of them had not done)

I knew everything was going perfect and as I planned. The following mixtures that occurred were of the same intensity and the same energy than my beginning, so until the end of my session .

I went down to the track, and seized my nerves, (funny, but during my session I was not at all.)

My friends had to go back home early, so I was with my friend Marko to keep me company. I went down to the floor and he said:

You have definitely exceeded at them ! It's obvious that you're going to win!

 I honestly also thought the same, but the doubt came over me, because many things could happen

After a long wait, Juan called the finalists to take the stage, and said:

Well, it's time to know who is our winner, our elected ...

And the winner is ............. Dany BPM!

That moment I lived it with a lot of intensity. In a few seconds passed many things in my head, all my efforts, that moments that I wanted to leave it all, the words that people told me about how wrong I was with my decision ...

While I was with those thoughts in my head, the jurors came up to congratulate me and tell me that I

Many of them told me that if I continued down the same road, I could go very far on this music world.

Juan invited me to have a drink, and he asked me:

- How will you do to take the turntable?

 I said him:

 -I came by train, but nothing happens.

 He responded by saying:

 -You're crazy! How you'll get it on the train? It weight too much!!

 -It's okay! I can take them with the help of my friend! (I didn't want to leave there without my coveted prize)

 At the end of my session, I called my parents to ask if they could come to look for me, and it was my father who finally came.

As soon as I got home I explained all my experience to my family while I was replacing my old turntable for the new and deserved Technics I had earned.

The faces on my family and friends were changing, and began to change the apathy and irony to their congratulations.

My mother told me:

Well, at the end you will be right!

 I noticed that when she spoke, his real tone meant:

"Care, this child seems to be serious on his acts."

Mom's Story

Mom's Story

Dear Readers.

On this book "Mum I want to be a DJ",

You can read stories about the most important persons from my life; friends, family, and professionals from this music world, giving their view about my evolution as they have seen from their point of view.

The first story logically had to be my mother's story.

Here you have, as she saw my growth as a person and artist

MARTINA'S STORY:

This is the part of this book in which I enter ... his Mom.

What can I say about him?? he's my son!

When he was a kid and started commenting at home that he wanted to be a deejay, I barely paid him much attention, because with age he had at this moment (a child)

All kids wanted to be today a soccer player, a tennis players tomorrow, and after a bricklayer.

But I didn't lost sight of him, I watched him although he didn't know.

(that's the way mothers are)

As I was saying, I was already quite familiar with the world of this kind of lasts music. Because after years to listen to his brothers, I had learned all songs. It was the soundtrack from home! Nothing about to hear typical Spanish folklore music.

I've always been very modern. His father was reluctant to all this,

but he had no choice but to accept it and was adapted.

I remember Dany spent all the little money he had in albums,

and sometimes I helped him, but we were a poor family and disks were very expensive.

Gradually I realized that Dany's passion grew up, and he spent more and more hours invested in that locked room, trying to earn his chance.

His father always told me:

-Tell Dany to turn down this music! The neighbors are going to complain!

I always answered him saying:

- Come on! It's better to let him be at home with us, and not to be in the street without knowing what he is doing!

(Remembering this I get a huge of nostalgia feeling ...)

Years went by and I saw that Dany was winning his site,

Growing as an artist, and slowly made his living with it.

I was surprised that my work mates know him. Sometimes walking with him down the street, people stopped him to ask for a pic, and that made me see that my son was getting to be important.

He hasn't had any godfather or money to get his goal faster. He did it alone step by step, without confronting with someone and making his own way.

This is not only a mother's love, it is a reality!

People who have seen him grow, or people who know him, are agree with me on this.

I dare to say that Dany will have a big "boom" that has to come, and he will arrive where he deserves.

To the top!

He has fought and continues fighting every day with humility (the quality that best characterizes my son) to reach what he wants to be. Without hurting anyone offering to others the help he couldn't have.

This is just a brief summary of how I've seen grow to Dany, and I wanted to put my two cents in this book so beautiful and special.

Just saying that I'm very proud as a mother, and tell Dany ...

I LOVE YOU

Chapter10: Looking for my opportunity

After many months of being broadcast "The Techno time", the centre decided to close the station,  I was very sadly about this, I really had  lived great moments there.

After my residency at Moes's club, my actuations were at private parties with friends.

My quality and technical were improving, but I was totally stalled.

Even I thought many times that maybe all were right, and that I was wrong wondering to fight for an impossible dream, to be professional Dj.

I had visited many clubs, I had delivered so many tapes to professional DJs, and the answer was always the same ... nothing ...

My helplessness and sadness grew day by day. On one hand the people I knew said I was really good at what I did, but otherwise I was totally stucked and I couldn't get to show my worth mixing to the professional DJ's.

One day coming home by car from Sant Boi with my mother, she said a comment that  would impact and change the course of all that I had on that sad monotony.

My mother told me:

Hey Dany!!  I almost forgot ¡!!

Today called me a DJ asking about you, he wanted to talk with you.

 (Remember, I had no mobile phone, for this reason this call was served by my mother )

I was totally amazed and nervous, and I request to my mother:

Whaaaatttt???? Who was it???

- Ooouuffff... I can’t remember his name. She said.

How could be possible to forget that name? You know how important is this for me mum. Please tell me! It is very important for me! Please, for God, for whoever you want, remember!

I started to tell a thousand names from Dj's and my mother couldn't remember

While my mother stayed thoughtful, suddenly said:

His name is .... eemmmm.... Jordi ... no! Juan... yes that’s it!! Juan is his name, I’m completely for sure!!

- Juan Cruz?? I asked her.

-Yes!! That’s it!! Juan Cruz!! He told me to call back him sooner, because was something important.

-Give me his the telephone number. I will call him now!

My mother told me:

Now is no time to call Dany, Call him tomorrow morning.

I was immensely excited! Finally someone had answered my signals. During that night I could hardly sleep, and I spent all night thinking about he wanted to tell me.

After that long night ... when I woke up the first thing I did was to ask for the phone to my mother and call to Juan Cruz.

Beep….Beep….

Yes?? – Juan picked up the phone.

Hello! I'ts Dany BPM, some time ago I gave you one of my tapes, and yesterday you called me, but this phone is from my mother, so for this reason I couldn't attend your call personally. My mother left me the message that you wanted to talk with me asap.

Heeyyy Dany, I've been listening your tape, and I think you're really good, now I'm playing at some afternoon sessionsat Vips Calafell disco, and I'm preparing the Catalonia Dj competition

The jury will be composed of several renowned deejays, and the winner will win a Technics turntables and a mixer.

After hearing your tape, I think you should sign up to this competition.You have many chances even to win.

After hearing these words, I was totally blocked of excitement!!

Juan Cruz told me that I sound good, and also that had chances to win over the competition Deejays and also earn a Technics totally free!

what else could I asked for?

I asked him to give me information on the contest, and asked him when was to begin.

 And we end the call.

When I hung up the phone, I started jumping for joy! I told my mother, and after that (not to lose the habit) I spent all day mixing, thrilled by the words I received from Juan.

It was the opportunity of my life! And I would not let it go

I had the opportunity to play in a known club, to let me see by several members of the scene, and to have a Technics

The contest began two weeks later from our call. Over those two weeks of long wait few interesting things I can tell you, because all that I did was to dream about that moment, to mix, eat and sleep.

But I'm sure that you want to heard the most interesting from this story, doesn't it?

The contest was based on two qualifiers: 1st and a final round.

At first round there was not a jury, were the own residents Deejays from the club who decided who continued to the next stage.

I remember there were 4 of that phase, and I was the last from them to start with my acting.

and that was an idea that I liked, because I could checking the level of my opponents.

While the deejays went ending their sessions, I felt me more and more nervous, but at the same time, very sure of myself. I kept repeating to myself:

Dany, you have to win, you have to get the Technics! You can do it! You are able and you know it!

My moment came closer,  and Juan told me:

Your turn! What was your name???

Dany BPM! I said

He introduced me, and my turn arrived.

I wanted to surprise the audience and the jury. I wanted to make a difference from other contestants, and I remembered that none of them had said anything by the micro. So as soon as I put the first vinyl, the first thing I did was grab the mic and say:

Good afternoon Vips! Let's fuss!

I had 15 minutes to show what I could do, and that's what I did ...

I did some scractches, mixtures with long highs, ...

Once finished my session, we had to wait about half an hour until Juan announced by the micro

And the finalist is:

Daniel Lopez .... Dany BPM!

I quickly went down to the floor to hug my friends who had accompanied me that day, and my happiness was at the top!

While we were jumping with a warm embrace, we were screaming:

Finalists! Finalists!

When I got home I explained to my family, but the truth is that they didn't pay attention to my words, because they still thinking that it was a childishness, and that this contest wasn't very important.

Chapter 9: Changes

Year 1.997

Honestly ...

The "Techno time" doesn't was renowned for his highest level of hearing, but it was for their good vibes

My routine basically was to play at home and then go to the radio.

The tension was growing at house because my parents never stopped to remind me:

what do I'm going to do with my life?

Trying to make me forget the madness that I had in my head, and making me believe that my goals would never be achieved

My friends thought the same, but they told me  with a softer tone.

But I had no intention to pay attention to their words, and to give up my dream

My father didn't like my visits to Sant Boi, and was my mother who helped me to escape to Sant Boi. We got together at some strategic point from town, and we were going on her car (since she worked in Sant Boi)

She said that we could not go on, but I guess that my answer to that and the security that I conveyed her, along with my illusion, about I was doing, led her to be an accomplice of my getaways behind my father eyes.

At the end from the radio show, while I made time waiting for my mother got off work, I spent a lot of time in a clothing store named Don Juan, and I went to see my friend, Ivan Barbero.

Together we spoke about anecdotes and tales from some Dj's, and we exchanged opinions, talking about how much we'd like a chance at a professional level.

My idol, Frank Trax, was the clear influence in me, maybe by my brother's suggestions. They made me admire at this great DJ.

Back then, I used to go to "Cybertrack" (Cubelles) on Friday night; or at "Ocho" on Sunday afternoon. Especially when Pastis and Buenri used to go to play. They really made me going crazy seeing the good vibes they transmitted from their cabine and how the people went crazy with them, dancing without no limits.

But like my idol  Frank Trax used to do, I shared his philosophy to be more serious, and impose respect for others while he was playing.

But a Sunday afternoon session would change my musical impressions.

We went with some friends to a club sited in Castelldefels, "Tutankhamun"

The guest DJ was DJ SKUDERO

Just a week before, I celebrated my birthday at Pont Aeri Terrassa, and that night they  gave to the attendees a keychain with a logo that he used to use. Was a keychain with an "S" of Superman.

The routine at our parties were almost always the same. While all my friends were dancing, I was static looking at the cabin, watching every move that DJ's did, trying to learn from them, and because of I really liked looking at them.

I always carried in my pockets many session tapes with me. As many as would fit in my pants.

On those tapes I added my name, my address, and telephone number (well... my mother's cell phone, because I didn't have an own)

Nowadays, almost all of you have their own phones, but by then, the phone was only designated for "adult people", or for people who could afford it.

When a DJ finished his session, after think about it many times, due to the enormous respect they imposed on me, I got up the courage to approach him and give them my tape.

I always told the same words:

Hi, my name is Dany, I'm DJ, and I just wanted to give you my tape. I don't ask you for an opportunity, nor waisting your time. All that I want is your opinion

Going back to what concerns us ... Tutankhamun session

I remember Skudero's session struck me very much, and I was hugely surprised with his mixes, and things he did.

He had a unique style and I felt very identified with his music

Come on!! Dance Dany!!!

And I didn't even answered them. All I wanted to do was to be attentive to all the details of that session that was conveying at me so much.

Automatically on that day, next with Frank Trax, DJ Skudero became my new idol.

I still remember that when he finished his session I went to talk with him, to congratulate for his mixing time. With all my excitement and pride, I showed him the anniversary keychain to let him know that I i was there that day.

Logically, also I gave him a tape

I felt that something new was growing inside of me. I felt a new change, as my vision to mix had acquired new techniques, and new ways for my mixtures.

Currently with one click you can access to million of videos, photos, sessions, and much information about any artist worldwide. But by then, the only way to have information about someone was:

That someone offered you a tape that was recorded by the same DJ during his session, or to go yourself to see him live.

Which convey much more, and was much more special and unique.

After that session, a force ran inside of me pushing me even much more to fight for my dream.

A new idol, new hopes, new challenges that kept banging on my head.

I could not wait to get home to start that change. I felt that a new cycle in my life was ready to start

8: Progressing to reach my dream

1996 was closer to be ended.

Weeks went by, and I felt me very happy with my first residance in MOES.

Every week I took a lot of flyers and I handed out at different stores, friends and anywhere where my name could be seen.

We split the MOES sessions in to three times. Because Johnny was more commercial, Gabi was a little bit more hard, and I was the harder from them.

I remember that the environment on stage wasn't with a very good atmosphere. I was the new and I started to be a part from the crew without they have known or they have shown their point of view about it. And I suppose they would felt a little attacked to be inside “their field”.

I remember that between them made jokes when I was playing. Because I was stronger than they were. I still recalling in my mind the pic of them clapping their hands and shouting at me:

- Came on!!! Let it rip!!

They tried to be above of me with that comment, because they associated the "soft music" with music of more quality.

It is clear that the soft music is not synonymous of a better quality. But their words further to bother me, made me to feed my rage and searching be better.

They still on their world kidding with girls, and playing this soft and commercial music with this air of superiority.

I was gaining fame with every session I carried out. Even I remember people over 16 years who wanted to be in my sessions. And I began to heard a rumor about the disco was changing, with a little bit stronger style, and with this tipe of music such as that you could hear at any night famous club of that moment

I have always been a guy very refugee in my same, and rather timid, which only wanted to to do his sessions and go home. My sole intention was to work hard with my mixes and give the best of me. With the greatest perfection that could be possible, and to be liked by the maximum number of people as possible.

I spent from anonymity to be known. People on streets greeted me shouting me:

- Hey!! This is the MOES DJ!!

Everything was going great. I was three months as resident DJ, I was wining popularity. I was very happy working at my first club, that made ​​me feel like a "professional" DJ, and to be different from all the DJ's whith which I use to improvise some mixes at home.

But one fateful day had come, when everything began to change in St.Feliu…

The city council from Sant Feliu, decided to end with a lot of the festivities were enjoyed by thousands of young people every weekend

Next to Moes were a nightclub named "Maui" on their night sessions they always got to fill the capacity of their club. And even had rumored that they would open with afternoon sessions and they wanted to get me to me as their resident DJ

But the city council would destroy that illusion, demolishing the club and turning it into an adult care facility .. ironic doesn't it?

Shortly thereafter, the clubs from this town began to close slowly ... and logically Moes was one of them

This would break all my schemes, my hopes, and my strength

Weeks that went after the end, I felt empty, I wanted to continue progressing in my path to glory.

I was spending my time looking at magazines, trying to meet people and other Dj in the area to exchange views.

"Dj, looking for a job at a nightclub, or other dj's to exchange views, and to record some sessions."

Without thinking twice, I called that boy, who was from Satn Boi de Llobregat

I met him for a drink and meet us, he was a little older than me, and called himself "Reche Bit".

I forged a nice friendship with him and got awaken in me other musical aspects that were totally unaware in myself.

At his home, besides having the vynils, with his computer produced their first demos with a program called "Fast Tracker". Obviously my concern and ignorance on this subject made ​​me intrigued

We got together once a week to play at his home, and dream together about our first songs and some day edit a vinyl. (Something that looked very distant)

He told me that the "Youth Centre from Sant Boi", had a radio station that covered the whole town, and part of Baix Llobregat, and we could go to talk with the manager to do a radio program.

After discussing for a several time, and prepare a project to show, we went this centre and see their facilities.

This center is characteristic, and every time I step ahead, nowadays, wakes me feel an enormous nostalgia feeling

From the outside, you could see some different coloured balconies, an entrance way to a games room, and that's where we met to "Susana"

I'm not going to deny that Susana was a very pretty girl, with a dark hair, and very friendly.

We show her our project, and we explain our ideas,

and that afternoon, they said that had some free hours and we could do a test and start with the radio program in her station.

Just one week before starting the program, Reche told me that would be impossible to continue to play and do the program because of his job. That news distressed me because we had created a nice relationship.

Anyway I was interested to go ahead with our radio project and continue producing, so I asked him for the Fast Tracker to do myself my productions,  and I decided to start the radio program.

The program was called "The techno time"

Today, I do not know exactly why I named it like that. Because Techno is a style that would not play

Maybe  for my poor culture at that time, I thought it would be more serious calling it Techno

I started my radio career alone, a program that was emitted every Monday and Wednesday.

On Mondays I did my radio program alone, and on Wednesday I invited some DJ's from my area to do some sessions on streaming.

Even sometimes I got some free hours that center gave me, and I could do my first party with several DJ's at the station.

Thanks to them, I got to know a lot of people, and have really funny moments ...

People that nowadays I still seeing, people which I don't want to forget to name as:

Sánchez, Frank Tralla, Barbero, Paco, Isra, Isa, and many more…

Also, why not to say...

I had some casual affaires, inviting girls to see the radio station, letting them to speak by the microphone, and dedicating some songs ... LOL hahahaha

After the close of Moes, my weekends were empty, but at least that program made ​​me feel alive, and I could still doing so many things for music.

I did that program entirely by love of art, what it means that ... I did it without receiving money in exchange ...

Which angered to my family, and they told me comments like:

-And this is what you want to do?  To work for free all your life?

Obviously my vision went beyond them, and I answered them explaining:

-Now I do not receive money for my work, but what I'm doing today can help tomorrow to let the people know me, and then at that time... the money will come.

Again, my only source of income was the tapes that I recorded to the people. And also I could survive with a little help that my mother occasionally gave me. Well, my family was a very humble and honored family.

Sometimes my head kept thinking about ideas about comments that some people had made ​​me. Thinking that maybe it was true and I was crazy, or maybe I was hasty in my decision to become a professional DJ ...

But when I stood before the music mixer, on the radio, or someone who made ​​me some praise for my sessions, a force inside of me pushed me to keep fighting to reach my dream.

A dream that I would not miss it for the world

Chapter 7: My first residence.

Year 1996
I remained in my purpose to dedicate myself to music, and my only income was the money that I got from tapes that I had recorded to people.
I spent months recording tapes for all the young people from my village. I was proud to walk down the street and hear my sessions in the cars that passed by people who don't even I met
Monotony and I don't were good friends. I needed to expand my horizons and move forward in my dream of becoming a professional DJ. With 15 years I frequented a disco called "MOES", on Saturday and Sunday afternoons were sessions for young people between 14 and 16 years. The disco was in front of the train station from Sant Feliu de Llobregat. At the entrance there was a locker with 3 men, and a staircase that descended directly to the discotheque.
First you could see a floor where there were a few tables and chairs to drink something quietly and from which you could view the entire dance floor and cab. Going down another floor you can find the dance floor.
I went to all sessions with my friends Marko and Kike. MOES sessions were from 6 until 10 PM, and I remember that music you could heard was a little bit commercial. I think should be pointed out one thing that musically it was fashionable: "half an hour of ballads"..
Yes… even though it may seems to you incredible, all the clubs made a stop for half an hour to play ballads, and was clearly a moment to meet girls!!! Consisted to get closer to that girl that you liked, or to that girl that you've been looking at the whole afternoon and ask her: Do you want to dance with me?
Logically, if the girl accessed.. You could consider you a lucky guy and maybe you could get something else from her! I will never forget all these moments that I shared knowing girls and dancing with them to the rhythm of: Michael Jackson "Earth song", Witney Houston, or a song that marked my life: foreigner "I want to know what love is" that years later I would do a remix (but I will explain this on next chapters)
At one of those dances was when I met my first girlfriend named Ana
She lived in Manresa, and we only could see us some weekends when I was going to see her, or when she came to MOES.
I was not a good dancer, for that reason I spent the whole sessions in some strategic point of the room where there were some group of girls and where I could see the resident Djs. One of them was called Jhonny, and during his sessions he spoke by a microphone-headset. He said funny things, and got encourage the people.
At that time, I didn't share the idea to speak by mic, because my idea was basically just to play music.
After going at so many sessions at this discotheque, some people that know me for my tapes told me:
-You should have to work here ¡!!
And there was when my light bulb turned on
- Why not?? (I told me to myself)
I decided to ask to the DJ
-Hey excuse me! What do I have to do to work here??
Jhonny answered me:
- You have to speak with Freddy, you can ask for him at the entrance door.
And that’s what I did, I asked for him at the door. Freddy was a men around 30 years more or less. He was wearing a cap and he looked like very friendly.
-Are you asking for me? He told me.
- Yes! I was wondering if you are looking for some DJ for your discotheque. (I was really nervous but I knew very well to conceal it)
-Not at this moment. But you can ask me again some time later. Thanks!” Answer me Freddy.
I suppose that he told me this trying to avoid me subtly.
But he really didn't know that this answer gave me the excuse to ask him again and again, I never gave up
Normally I asked him once monthly, and I always got the same answer. But one day the resident DJ said by mic:
-Well friends, I will be on holidays but MOES does not close!! We will see us soon!!
Before to end this new, I went to look for Freddy and told him:
- You need a DJ now, don’t you? I have heard that Jhonny will be on holidays!!
Freddy with a big small told me:
- I have a substitute for him!
I followed insisting
- But why don’t you give me an opportunity to show you how can I do it?
-I am just requesting you for 30 minutes!! Just 30 minutes!! Come on!! Lot of people know me and they could come here and this will be positive for your cash!! Don’t you think?
Freddy, tired to hear me (I suppose) told me:
- Ok, you win! Come here on next Saturday and you will have your first prove.
- Do I have to bring with me my vinyls?
- No! You don’t! You can catch one from some that we have here.
When I heard his words, I could not stay for more time at the discotheque and I went back home so fast to start to play ¡!
During that week I was playing more hours than ever before. I only stopped for something to eat, always forced by my mother
I was really happy and could not stop thinking about this moment. I imagined myself on stage, and I was anxious to show everybody the talent I had inside of me.
Arrived the expected day ... Saturday afternoon!!
I went alone, because my friends and my girlfriend could not come with me, but it was not a problem for me, because it was not the first time that I went alone to somewhere.
I was near the stage, sitting on a chair, waiting to be called
Minutes go by, and hours were eternals for me
It was 8.30 PM more or less, and suddenly DJ called me and made me a sign with his hand, trying to let me know that I had to go to stage
I thought that he was going to tell me the hour when I was going to start, or just to talk with me and meet me, but my surprise was that he told me:
- Are you the guy that has a prove today? Ok so … all yours, you can start!
On that moment I were aghast, because I did not waited for an answer like that. And neither to play in front of people!
I was full of faith in myself, I was succeeding with my tapes from months ago and all the people People congratulate me on the street and told me that I was very good and with a lot of talent. My pride was high, so nothing could go wrong
I start to check over the DJ’s vinyls and I get surprised when I saw the sound table:
This turntable was different like mines!! Logically were a Técnics MK 1200, (a brand that I ignored) I was trying to decode all these colors from that turntable that I had never seen before.
Could you explain me the functioning of these buttons? I asked
These are the High tones, Bass tones, Midtones, here is the pre listening, and the monitors volume
I was totally paralyzed, all the words that he was telling me were new for my ears!! Like a new language for me !!
High tones? Bass tones? Midtones? what is that? I was wondering to myself
I thought to myself
It doesn’t matter!! Just do a great mix, you have to leave everybody awestruck
I Looked at the public, I picked up the stylus, and in that moment I had my second surprise:
My hand was shaking like never before in my life!
I was unable to keep the stylus in my hands, and I couldn't put the stylus in the main point from vinyl
Yes, my friends, yes.... I was completely stuck because of my nerves
I couldn't take me off that feeling that was blocking me!!!
So I gather all my forces to put the stylus on the right site from vinyl and turn back this to arrive at the beginning from the song, but suddenly I felt that touch from these turntables were very differents at my Akiyama. Were stronger than mine.
I kept pushing off the disks by the side in order to be able to balance the mixture in time.
When DJ saw told me:
- Don’t push it by the side from turntable, you have push the vinyl directly.
This was something new for me, and I wanted to follow his advice.
When I thought that all was under control, I turned up the volume from turntable but the wolume was higher than I was listening to.
The DJ, that was alarmed came back to me to turn down the volume, while he told me:
Push the vinyl !! you will lose the track
In my desire to reach the balance from my mix, and with the shame from my trouble with the volume that I had done, I started to push the disk and inevitably my hand brushed the power button from turntable, The result??:
I turned it off ¡!!
My shame and my impotence were growing by seconds, and at that moment I only could thought: But how can be possible? I do it perfect at home
As I got the same result with the second mix like I had with first one, the resident DJ came to me and told me:
-well, that’s enough!!
I got out of stage, completely humiliated and disappointed with myself
It was a very hard kick to my pride, my moral that until then was very high, and fell completely into a tailspin.
First thing that I thought was:
Wich explination can I give to the big boss?? After so many months requesting for this opportunity … and I messed up !!
Slowly, I began to walk up the stairs toward Freddy was…every step I gave was more humiliating for me, and I still wondered why I had this disgusting moment.
When I met with Freddy, with weepy and embarrassed I told him:
Hello…I have to apologize me with you, I did it very badly. I suppose that I got nervous, because I can do it much better. Was my first time playing with people on the dance floor.
I remember that was very hard for me give this excuse at him ... even that I couldn't look at his eyes while I were talking with him
Freddy, told me with a smile on his face, his smile made me be calm.
- Don’t worry man!! I made you this little prove to check over your reaction on stage without being planned !!
- Come back tomorrow, I will make you a prove again to hear you better, and I will teach you how to work with this equipment.
I felt a Huge sigh of relief when I heard about another opportunity to show again my talent. Totally different from my first test
On next day, I took my vinyls inside that JB box from my brothers. I arrived to the club and Freddy explained to me the operation from that equipment. I was playing for a while on his presence.
And there was when he told me:
- Yesss!! Now much better!! You're very good !!
- If you want, you can start as a resident DJ on next week!!
All my anxieties, my complex, evaporated instantly, and a huge joy grabbed me through my body.
I was going to be a residen DJ from a club!!!
I was doing a step further, to reach my goal!
I remember, I told all my friends, well-known and family
They were excited, but in many of them I saw a smile like meaning
( Well... he has been lucky, but things will not go farther)
I called at this girl that I named “girlfriend?” to explain to her my great news that made me so happy, and I told her how excited I was and what it meant for me.
And her answer was:
Sigh! Urk!! ... And now when we will be together? Because if you will be working on all Saturdays and Sundays, we don't have time for us !!
I answered her:
- Well... I don’t know. We can look for other days, but this is my dream and I’m not willing to let it go this opportunity
She was very upset and angry and told me:
- Really!!!!???? Do you preffer to be playing than to be with me??
I answered her with a short and sharp:
- YES!
Before to hear my words, and the security that was transmitted, she answered me:
- OK, if you preffer this it will be better to break up our relationship
The truth is that I don't opposed no resistance to that decision, and there was when I began to understand what is meant the selfishness word in a relationship.
I also began to be aware that It wouldn't be an easy way, and maybe I should have to leave away some important things in my life.
But I remained convinced which was my higher goal in my life, to be a DJ, I couldn't miss this opportunity that was given to me, under any pretext.

Chapter 6: Mum i want to be a Dj

I am about to deal with you this point of infringement that made the difference in my life, which marked an after and before in my life. A normal day for me in Sant Feliu was a fairly normal a monotonous life. On morning I went to the electronics classes, and on the evenings I spent my time with my friend Kike playing the maximum hours as possible at home.

What I was studying didn't motivate me at all, and I only thought about to get home for more practice. Being in other places stole me many hours of practice. (Actually I think that the only thing that I liked to go to the institute, was that I could get free tapes to then sell them ... LOL )

I didn't feel me comfortable or identified with the people from my neighborhood that surrounded me. I always been a very independent kid. I'm talking about personality to choose my own  clothes style. In those moments was when "El pelao" fashion style exploded here. It was brand boom like: Lonsdale, Scottish Clan, Fred Perry, Adidas, without ignoring the mythical Alpha jacket!

In my village almost all kids were dressed as well. Clothes are not a meaning of personality, but some people associate this with fascism. (A point of view that I never shared) I wore wide clothes. And this created a bad image for "pelaos" which surrounded me, because for them I was a weird guy that didn't used to meet with them as a herd that walketh without any direction.

One thing that made me got angry, was to see the interest from people when they knew that I was Dj.

Could have been like a normal class day, but it was not at all. That day marked a before and an after in my way of seeing things and would be decisive for the way that I really wanted to choose.

It was the last class of the day. It was the kind of workshop and our teacher ordered us to all the students to do an electrical panel that consisted of a wooden board in that we had to do a circuit with cables, a bulb, and at the end of the table we had to turn it on. However many times that he repeated me the process I couldn't understand it or do it.

Annoyed me much, and I felt a complete useless while listening my colleagues to say: "I have already finished! I'm done!!" All my partners … except me,  I never even had begun. My impotence was growing by seconds and I didn't even know where to start to work.

At the end of the class, teacher told me not to worry about it, that was not the only who had not managed to conclude this exercise. While I walked toward home. I wondered to myself: "Dany, do you want this? Does this motivate you? You want this for your life really??" My concern was so hard that I just wanted to give it up, and then I thought: "I don't want to be this, I want to be a Dj! Now when I get home I will tell them that I'm going to leave the Institute."

While I repeat this to myself again and again, I also became aware of the situation that I was going to live at home at the moment to give to my family this news. I got home and my parents and brothers were sitting on the table. While we were eating I was looking for the opportune moment to explain them my intentions
In the midst of a silence I told them : "I have something to say " (everyone in silence looked at me expectantly to hear the folly that I was going to pronounce..)

And this was when I said: "I want to leave the institute, I am not happy with what I'm doing." They were all alarmed, my brothers start to joke with phrases like: "Good Another one more to ample the group!" since they had not been good students either.

My father, who was very seriously, asked me: "And what do you think to do? Because if leave your studies you'll have to work, or to look up something to do." Then I said the phrase that would change even more the whole course of this conversation. "Because I ... I want to be a Dj! I want to dedicate myself to this" . All of them told me: "Wake up! Low to this world Dany! It's a very hard world and very difficult to live for! The world of the night is not a nice place to work"

These phrases made me angry and I told them: "I don't care what you say, or what you think! I will not  ask you for money or help! I want to be Dj!" I lift from the table without having finished my supper, and I went to my room to play trying to let me out all the anger that I felt at that moment.

Meanwhile, one by one, went into my room to let me see my desire from another point of view, their personal point of view. And they tried to make me believe that my decision was a madness!

Even my brothers who had also been Dj's, and had worked in some club. I thought perhaps they would support me in my decision but it was quite the opposite. They are who were more opposed to my decision

Later I spoke with my mother, and she wonder me why I had taken that decision? She said to me: "Don't you think that you're getting very far with your fantasy." I answered her: " I know that can looks a little crazy, and I am aware that I am not going to get my dream in two days. But only I ask you to be patience. Maybe in two years or more I'll be coming true my dream, to be a professional DJ".

She tried to change my decision, but I was very clear about my intentions for the future. Although they tried to change my mind, they wouldn't get it. The only thing that they get was to increase my desire to show the world that I wanted to be an authentic DJ profesional.

In the afternoon I decided to meet me with my friends, seeking for their support, and encouraging words. I explain them the conversation that I had with my family, and their lack of support. The words from my friends were on a similar way than my family opinion. I remember that my friend Felipe told me: "Dany, you know that I am with you. I told you for million times that you're a genius playing, and your mixes are awesome. But I think that your family is right. This world is very difficult and I don't want to see you disappointed with yourself.

Right now thinking on all these words, I think there were natural advices coming from people that appreciated you. They just tried to protect me about could have been a blow to my life.

But none of these words that they said made me doubt from my purpose. I had only one objective in mind for my life, and I was decide to fulfill my dream.

None of the words which told me my loved ones got me change my decision.

I had already taken a decision and the time had come to work on it more than ever. I was decide to fight to get it. I was sure it was going to get sooner

I...

Wanted to be a DJ!!!

Chapter 5: The beginning from Dany BPM

The course of 8Gbs had come to an end. And with this I began to feel the first responsibilities from getting older. I had to choose whether I wanted to continue studying, working, or a new course for my life

At that moment I wanted to study Image and Sound, as it was most related to what I was passionate about, but there were no vacancies free to enter. My parents decided to move and live in another town, St. Feliu de Llobregat. There were a big part from my father's family .

For me that was a big problem, since I had to quit my life-long friends, at a key moment in my youth. I was at that time that you start to go out with your friends, etc. I felt enormously alone in that village, away from my friends, without knowing anyone.

My father did not like my often visits to my ancient village "Sant Boi". So some days in hiding from my father, I was going to Sant Boi to see my friends. Sometimes they came to visit me with their bikes and we went every Thursday to the cinema.

In many of my getaways I did some meetups in DJ's houses that I had known. We spent hours playing, we looked at the disks that we had, we exchanged disks forever or for a season.

I was not comfortable with my name. I had recorded a couple of tapes (which I still have) and I just didn't liked my name of Dany Destroy. It was then when in one of my visits to the home from my friend Felipe it will start something new. Felipe is my friend from childhood. Our friendship came by one from his brothers, José Luis. He was a friend of my brother Jero for many years, and he was the person who taught me to start playing.

At Felipe and Joseph's house there was a small study mounted on their room with a few dishes, a keyboard, and a computer where he produced their first tracks. Suddenly I saw on his table a small book of an electronic music festival which was celebrating at their first edition in Barcelona. The well-known festival known today as "Sonar"

The small booklet was a present that you get at the entrance from this festival, and was called: Dictionary of electronic music. on there were described all the technical words used in the dance music. For me it was like a treasure found, because contained much information from which I wasn't aware at that time. Words that were very difficult to know If no one has explained it to you

I had read with great attention until the last page, and when I finish reading it, just a word resounded on my mind ... it was ... B. P. M. (Beats Per Minute)

Number of beats that has a song per minute, indicates the speed at which you goes a song. Against most bpm's hague, faster anger.

Very thoughtful I said to myself: "Dany BPM! YESSSS! I love it! This is my real name!!" Once again I wanted to share with everyone! Not only I went to ask my friends what it seemed to them this name, if not I started to tape recording as a madman, and drawing my name in all places.

Bit by bit The new news about Dany in Sant Boi were taking greater relevance and be heard and that meant that each time I had more tapes to record; increasingly people requesting me for tapes to carry them in their walkman, cars, etc. .. My popularity was increasing, as well as the amount of tapes that could be heard by the people. Even put them at fairs, amusement arcades, etc

Since I had nothing to do in Sant Feliu de Llobregat I devoted myself to record the tapes that people were requesting .The only thing that made me happy at that time. I don't want to forget to mention the only friend that i did in that people, Kike.

In that moment he became into my biggest confidant, I shared with him the hours that I was not before the plates. And I remember that more than once he defended me of some fight. Because he knew the whole people from St.Feliu, and he was quite big (to his side I seemed their key ring LOL)

Also with him, we flocked to a light-disco called MOES. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoons. (Disco from which on next chapters I will tell you nice experiences, and which became my first residence.) I spent the summer without a final decision about something clear to do with my life. For this reason I opted to study an electronics professional formation.

It was not at all clear, but I had to do something with my life. At the institute I did not want to mingling with the other students. In that institute nobody knew that I was a Dj, but little by little I got to know other guys that were interested in that world, and I shared my views.

Once, one from my teachers ordered me to the equipment room looking  for some rubbers, pencils and paper print. And there I found a gold mine! Packages that containing ten tapes! I thought to myself: "Wooowww! With the money that I spend in tapes!!" and my head had a brilliant idea… "Why not to take some boxes, and then sell the tapes? In this way I can buy more vynils."

I started to inform all people that  requested me for tapes with my session, that I was going to start to sell them 500 pesetas each unit. All the people complained this, because they had been accustomed to get it for free, but I told them:

If you want I can record on it a personal dedication with my micro and with these 500 pesetas, I will be able to buy new vynils and to have a better music for my sessions. It seems that those words came out good effect, and it was so as I started to do my first business. I was also aware that I began to raise jealousy among the rest of DJs that were beginning. Which they saw my tapes on Sant Boi's streets, and in addition were paid! Without no doubt it was the beginning for …. Dany BPM