We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Striz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Striz, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Overcoming imposter syndrome is a continual process. I try my best to overcome it by believing in myself, and reminding myself what I’ve done to get to where I am. It can be intimidating to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of people and DJ, but when you look up and see everyone is having a good time it’s the best evidence that you’re doing something right. It’s the same thing with music production. It’s very easy to feel like you’re a mediocre producer and an imposter. I keep on making music because I love it, and when I have people reach out and let me know they like my songs, or labels signing my tracks, it let’s me know that I’m not an imposter, and I’m a genuine artist to be taken seriously.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a DJ and music producer born and raised in NYC. I’ve I said it once and I’ll say it one thousand times: NYC has had a profound impact on who I am as a person, and an artist.
Being born and raised in New York City has had a huge effect on my style as a musician and performer. I was exposed to diverse cultures and sounds growing up, whether it was coming from my Dad’s radio, street performers, or the top talent playing concerts throughout the city. This multitude of influences, from classic rock to reggae, rap, and beyond, gave me a wide range of knowledge and appreciation for styles of music, and gave me a great ear for finding music.
It also gave me a unique start to my DJing journey, and continues to provide opportunities for me. I began DJing public high school parties with hundreds of people. Literally, at the age of 16 I was DJing live in front of my peers. It was the best learning opportunity I could ask for. Not only was it fun, but it was a great way to learn the importance not only of DJing but also interacting with the audience. Since then, NYC has given me countless opportunities to perform at some of the top clubs and venues in the world, and play alongside headlining DJ’s that I’ve looked up to for years.
My music and performances continue to tell the story of my journey as a New Yorker. It’s whatever is influencing me at the moment, combined with the deep rooted independence that New York has instilled in me.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities that were most impactful are my persistence, professionalism, and love for what I do. It took many tries to get my foot through the door at my first venue, and I’m still working on getting into others. There will always be another obstacle, but if you are persistent you can figure out how to push past it. Being professional has helped me because, especially in nightlife, some people like to party too hard, and in the end of the day DJing is a job. I am hired to perform and make sure that guests enjoy their time, while also being respectful of the venue and those who work there. If I do a good job, guests will enjoy their night, and if I’m respectful of the venue, they’ll hopefully want to work with me again in the future.
Lastly, I really love what I do. That’s the main reason I DJ and produce. I love dance music and performing, and it’s my main motivation to keep going.
My best advice is to keep pushing.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m always looking for people to collaborate with! If you’re a musician, music producer, vocalist, song writer reach out. I’m always interested in working with other people and making great music. And if you’re throwing an event and need a great DJ, here I am.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/strizmusic/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/strizmusic/
- SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/striz-music
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4xroy2RCLlwZjYsyzlAPS6?si=h6URULPyRx-wBq_K2x-h4A
Image Credits
Ming Chan
