DJ PARLAYY

What is the meaning behind your DJ name?
So, I got my name back in college my friends started to call me Parlayy. I got the name because I was always the quiet low key one out the group of friends but still involved just in my own world. Always very observant. But my friend made a joke one day asked if I was okay, which I was. I said yeah man just chilling and he says you know what I’m going to call you Parlayy, you always parlaying just out of the way never into drama or beef, that’s your new name.

Did you always want to be in the entertainment industry?
Yes, but in a different light. I went to school for marketing at Valdosta State University. I wanted to work in the entertainment industry by working with a company’s marketing team doing ads, marketing campaigns, etc. not necessarily the music industry, which didn’t come until later. By becoming a DJ. I knew a lot of established DJ’s that came from Valdosta State that I shadowed and showed me the ropes in the club scene (shoutout to DJ Moneymaal, DJ SlimB and DJ Ochoboomin). It was October of 2021, a couple of months right before I moved to Atlanta after graduating college, I went to an event for independent artist called Meet the Underdogs where that switch in my head flipped and I was like yeah this is where I need to be. I saw the potential to grow in that space seeing artist’s drive and hunger to make it. Crazy enough the artist Jacques popped out which was cool, so it’s like you never know who you’ll run into and get an opportunity to meet to go to the next level. To add to it, after getting in a club or two and studying the game for myself and learning from some mentors how crucial of a role to be a DJ is in the music industry, especially in Atlanta, the hub for all music. Also, the potential to grow with an artist that you see potential in and have the chance to blow up alongside with them because you believe in their vision just as much as they do. For me the end goal isn’t the end all be all, I look forward to the journey.

What is your thought process when working on a new DJ Set?
I honestly never have one going in. I’m not always like oh yeah when I hop on, I’m going to play this, this and this. I read the room if I can tell the energy is high, I’m going to start off on a high note to let them know, “hey I’m meeting you halfway let me take the wheel from here” and vice versa. I feel like if you’re too strategic and analytical when DJing it takes away the creativity and fun out of DJing a set because now you're being a robot essentially.

What inspires you to DJ?
My love for music. I’ve been listening to music since an early age. Fun fact I used to rap around 4th or 5th grade this is when Drake, Lil Wayne and the whole YMCMB label was taking over the game. My rap name was Lil Miah lol. That’s all I’m going to say on that, obviously it didn’t last long but I was always around music with my grandma playing bands/groups like The Whispers, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson was he favorite. Then my grandpa who listened to every genre from reggae to listening to Carlos Santana a staple in the Latin community. So, my ear is very well rounded. Not to mention I played 4 different instruments and was in band playing classical music growing up (drums, tuba, piano, guitar) and an honorable mention I took singing lessons. I think my mom learned early on music was my safe place and realized I was good at it so tried indulging me into this revolving around music in general.

How would you describe yourself as a DJ?
Fun and creative. I’m an entertainer, I like to come from behind the booth and get lit with the crowd. If I could do one thing in Atlanta in the club scene, it would be take away the sections and bring back the boiler room type vibes where everybody’s just surrounding The DJ and everybody’s just lit having fun dancing like it used to be because the sections killed the club scene. Everything seems like a popularity contest now who has the best drip who’s buying the most bottles.

What sets your DJ style apart from others in your genre?
I like to fuse two different genres of music and make it sound good. My main goal is to take the crowd/audience on a musical journey. So, in a sense, I kind of do have a game plan, but at the same time I don’t because I can go off left or right and change up the course in the mist of the set. I may start off with some hip hop and then mix some throwbacks and then go to R&B, after that, I may fuse some trap with R&B after R&B, I may try to mix it with some drill beat type music and then from drill to amapiano and then amapiano to maybe some house and then from house to some pop and then from pop I’m going to take you back to Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, LMFAO group, Gangnam Style we gone have some fun. I like to see people looking at me when I mix certain stuff and they look at me like oh yeah, he’s hard because nobody’s ever thought about doing that. I’ve learned people don’t know where they want to go until you take them there. Ever heard the phrase you can lead a horse to water phrase but can’t force it to drink it? Same concept. You can lead them there musically, but they may not want to stay there for long. Doing things like that keep it creative and keep the crowd and engaged. But as I DJ, I’m experimenting as well so that’s what my style of DJing consist of.

What does music mean to you?
I personally believe that music is one of the deepest forms of connection there is. When you can find the words, there’s music, and when you want to sing the words, there’s music. Even when we were little as babies we would clap and dance to music before we learned anything else, and I believe everyone has an experience, if not multiple, where music was the only thing, they needed in a certain moment. Music connects us, music makes us similar, and music and our musical tastes also make us different. It’s so hugely personal yet universal. Music is the best way to not forget anything from our past. For me there is no nostalgia, no regret, and surely no rejection of what could happen at any particular moment.

What obstacles have you faced in the music industry?
I’m still getting my feet wet honestly. Now as a DJ I’ve had some situations come about that were just bad business and I moved accordingly, but I’ve built a lot of good relationships along the way too. Protect yourself. The industry is very cutthroat and it’s a bunch of lions and wolves wanting to get to the top. But the most important thing is staying true to yourself and be genuine and everything will fall in line.

Do people really understand the business of the industry?
Yes and no, depending on who you have on your team. But no one has everything figured out from the start and this business is a learning process because it’s always changing and new trends and sound are created every day, now with social media playing a huge role in what’s being streamed. Your team is your backbone besides your fans, but your team is the front line of the brand if you have anyone that doesn’t see your vision just like you and wants to see you get there just as bad, they aren’t apart of your team. Surrounding myself with people that’s really plugged in the industry. Also building a community with talented artist to be able to work with off the strength and support of their brand.

What are your business plans and goals for 2024?
Watch me work.