Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren A. Jackson.
Hi Lauren, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In high school, I always would pride myself on exposing my friends to different music and music that we don’t hear on the radio which oftentimes, would reach the radio stations later. I threw a couple of house parties and would have my playlist playing for the whole party and everyone always had a great time. In my later years of high school, my friends and I played around with the thought of me being a DJ because I always had the aux whenever we were in the car.
That’s when the name “DJ LA” came about. LA is derived from my first and middle name initials. I created my brand name atriptoLA during my senior year of high school in 2016. I describe it as it being a trip into my world and my creative thought processes as I plan to do more with my brand in the future as a business owner. When I first started college in 2016, I always felt that there was something missing from the party scene.
There is so much music out there in the world and I felt certain groups weren’t being reached with certain music genres. I never thought that I would get the opportunity to become a DJ. In my sophomore year of college, I prayed about it and asked for signs that this was meant for me. Literally the next day after my prayer, my mom called to tell me I would be receiving a tax refund because of the money I made the summer before.
If that wasn’t an explicit sign, I don’t know what is. During my spring break in 2018, my father took me to Guitar Center to buy my equipment and that’s when my journey started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been so smooth. I had some obstacles when I first started being a DJ while I was in college. I felt like certain people were against me and they didn’t shy away from showing me. The first set that I attempted to do had an address change at the last minute and I didn’t receive the support I had hoped for.
Plus, another event was thrown the same night as mine as I had been promoting this way in advance, but they released the information for theirs either the day before or the day of. You would think that I would’ve been reached out to in order to collaborate. Instead, it was a competition. Being a woman, we have a lot of obstacles and challenges any time we enter a male-dominated field.
We don’t get the respect that we deserve right off. It’s either given over time or we have to demand it. I’ve learned that the hard way. I’ve had situations where I’ve been disrespected as a woman being a DJ and not taken seriously.
From delayed payments, damaged equipment, and unfair situations, those events in my life have made me become more assertive and outspoken about my craft and worth. The learning lessons and struggles have prepared and continue to prepare me for my future in this business.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been a DJ for a little over 4 years now. I provide a trip into my world, vibe, and music taste. I like to say I have a diverse music taste and I’m not afraid to play what I want at events because I know someone at that event will appreciate, cherish, and remember that song that I played.
I aim to play songs you might’ve forgotten about as well that have the possibility to bring back old memories. I always find joy when someone comes up to me at an event and lets me know how great of a job I’m doing and that they’ve really been enjoying themselves. I believe what sets me apart is my DJ style, transitions, and song choices.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that they might not know is that I’m looking into getting more heavily involved in music. I don’t want to say too much about that so stay tuned!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/atriptola
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/LA. https://www.facebook.com/atriptoLA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/atriptola
Image Credits
@madebyglyde, @901nightlifepics, and @genesiii
