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