Interview With DJ LA

As soon as he broke out onto the electronic scene in the late 90′s, everyone knew that there was something special about . Armando Salazar AKA DJ LA started scratching back in 1997 doing small back yard party’s, small weddings and school party’s. He stated out just playing cd’s off a house set up at first then started to fill in for a friend at 89.1 WIDR WMU in 99. He was just playing cd’s and that same year he picked up some used turntables, Armando always has loved djing and playing good music but fell more in love with the art of djing, scratching,trick mixxing, and so on.

DJ LA resides from the Kalamazoo (KZOO) area of Michigan and loves to work on his whips when time allows for it. As for his music of choice? There nothing he don’t play, House,top40,classic hip hop and r&b Latin and much more.

MIEVENINGOUT: After hours of DJing, sometimes it may be best to get away from the studio monitors. Where does a DJ like you go to grab a drink on a night off?

DJ LA:In all honesty the last place i want to be after djing 4-5 nights a week in bars in back in a bar on my time off, its rare for me but if i do its at one of the places i dj at, so i can get to know the staff a lil better.

MIEVENINGOUT: You’ve always been an DJ that’s in high-demand, meaning the hours can get pretty extensive. If there was one restaurant you could take with you where ever you go, which would that be?

DJ LA: I’m not a picky person but I would have to say any type of Chinese food to go!

MIEVENINGOUT: We’re sure you’ve seen the rise and fall of many trends in the club. What aspect in club culture do you think has changed the most since the start of your career?

DJ LA: The biggest is the cancer of dj’s playing gigs for next to nothin, 50$ and a bar tab! I used to get paid more years ago then i do now and its b/c of these fly by night wanna be dj’s and are driving the market down for real dj’s that do it for a living, but at the end of the day, their gone after a few years and the Talented dj’s will always shine!!

MIEVENINGOUT:You’ve played some of the biggest clubs in the Michigan I am told. If there’s one venue that just feels like home every time you play it, where is it and why?

DJ LA: I would have to say the Wild Bull in Kalamazoo,i’m no longer there but it was close to my house and alot of ppl that went there i knew since a young lad.

MIEVENINGOUT: There’s nothing like a good cocktail to celebrate a successful night in the booth. What’s your poison for such an occasion?

DJ LA: Jack Daniels!

MIEVENINGOUT: Everyone’s had an issue or two with a doorman every now and then. Have you ever had a run-in with a cocky doorman?

DJ LA: No i never had, i alway’s have had good guys to work with and watch by back and always befriend them

You can also listen to some of DJ LA’s Mixtapes in our sidebar.

More Info on DJ LA:

DJ LA spinning on the radio in Grand Rapids every Friday 10 till Midnight & Saturday

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