Here is what’s cooking…first we travel to Camaloete to check out a Belizean HitMaker, then we’re in south side Belize City to observe a regionally accredited mix master and finally, we head to Dangriga to learn from an International Belizean Fashion Designer.

I remember my infant days as the son of a dj. Sitting on record crates and peaking at the latest Byron Lee vinyl art (you 80’s kids know what I mean). Then there were the days of side-A and side-B—yeah the cassette—that’s where I first tried my hands at being a Disc Jockey. Then CD’s came and was the pinnacle of my DJ skills, so when those left I kind of never got accustomed to the virtual dj; maybe as protest. Either way, virtual Dj is here now and with it, the population of Dj’s have grown. And as a result, as DJ BUDDY will explain, the DJ market is highly competitive. But even though the music, market and the way the music is delivered may have changed; the grind and feeling it brings, remains the same—DJ BUDDY talks about being part of the new breathe of Belizean DJ’s.

How old are you?

DJ Buddy: 21.

When did you start to Disc Jockey?

 DJ Buddy: Professionally, I started when I was 19, that‘s when I started radio; but I been playing from when I was 16.

Okay, what were the early days like?

DJ Buddy: Difficult in a way because I didn’t really have anyone to teach me much. I just followed my cousin around because he was older and already had a system, so I learnt in spare time. At first my family looked at it as a hobby, they still do.

Where can people find you working now?

DJ Buddy: Vibes radio 90.5, 102.9 also streaming on http://www.stickam.com/belizeheat.

Do you do a lot of parties and clubs?

DJ Buddy: More parties than clubs. The club scene is more dominated by the older DJ’s. They don’t allow younger dj’s on the scene and the club makes it difficult for younger dj’s to arrange events.

Difficult? How so?

DJ Buddy: Well primarily the cost of renting a place to have an event. So as usual any dj goes to sponsors to fund events but sponsors think twice about supporting someone new compared to someone established. How someone new would get a name, is that they would lock unto an established sound and get a name but I don’t like that. I prefer to work with my group now and we get our own name established, without having to say we depended on anyone.

So who is your group?

DJ Buddy: It’s called Encore Sounds, it consist of me, Selecta Cliff and Selecta Orson. We are the founding members and recently, DJ Junior was added.

So how is the Belizean DJ scene right now? Sounds really competitive

DJ Buddy: Yes it is, especially with the addition of the fact that Virtual DJ is very easy to learn and allows anyone to practice.

So the challenges are obvious but what are some of the positives?

DJ Buddy: Well you get to travel and meet new people. Plus, you do something you enjoy and once you are with the right group you make money.

(lol) Okay. So what is one of your best memories being a DJ?

DJ Buddy: Well when you really just feel the vibe from the crowd, especially when you mixing and you control the crowd to the max. Like if during your segment you say “everybody scream” and the whole crowd reacts.

Must be an adrenalin rush.

DJ Buddy: Not anyone can do it.

Where are some of the places you enjoy playing at the most?

DJ Buddy: That’s hard to say because club and radio are completely different. It depends on the mood. I don’t really like parties because what’s common at parties is that you are part of the crowd and everyone likes to come and ask for a certain genre of music, so it’s hard to flow trying to satisfy everyone. But at the club you are apart from the crowd and you can really do what you do best and actually see them react to the music.

DJ Buddy: Whilst at radio, there are very strict guidelines; especially at my station, on what to play and how to play but I like radio because I pride myself on being what I call a ‘variety dj’. I cater to different genres of people instead of just young people.

What are you listening to personally right now?

DJ Buddy: I would say a little bit of everything.

Any particular artists you like?

DJ Buddy: I would say Bob Marley.

So what current projects are you working on?

DJ Buddy: Well at the station, I’m working on establishing a top 10 countdown every week and also working on our own website to stream through. Outside of the station, I am working on doing a dance end of the month but at village. Village dances, once promoted well, will make you money unlike in the City where there is too much competition

Which village were you planning on?

DJ Buddy: Well the next village in mind is Boom.

Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years in terms of being a Disc Jockey?

DJ Buddy: Hopefully I wish to enter the Green Synergy DJ Competition, do a good job and win.

What’s that?

DJ Buddy: That’s the DJ competition for the Caribbean, where the best from all over Belize have to go against each other and then the winner represents Belize.

Anyone you want to thank or shout out?

DJ Buddy: Well vibes radio on a whole, we had our issues but I am still grateful; especially Mr. Gerald Garbutt, he was the first general manager who hooked me up and my family.