Have you ever had a long day, only to arrive at your car and collapse in the driver’s seat? You turn on your radio and suddenly you hear your favorite song come on. There’s that immediate rush of excitement and thrill. You know that feeling you have when you close your eyes to sing? That’s you getting lost in the realm of music.
Greetings, my name is Queneetra Corley, better known as “DJ Mooch” or “Mooch.” I’m a fourth-year broadcast journalism scholar from Miami.
Music has always had a huge impact on my life. Growing up, I would sit on my grandmother’s back porch and listen to her radio all day until the sun went down. I found myself listening to old school artists, such as Mary J. Blige, Charlie Wilson, Luther Vandross and more. I enjoyed listening to R&B and soul because it evokes a certain emotion within me. Music allows me to loosen up and become one with the tunes.
My life would be completely boring without melodies and harmonies. Listening to music allows me to escape, eliminate stress and increase my motivation. Music really comforts me during challenging times.
To prepare for a great day, listening to music is always at the top of my list. It’s like a mantra for my life, it’s been with me through everything.
At the age of 13, I decided I wanted to explore my passion for music further, this led to me becoming a DJ. Unsure of all the things I needed to start, I knew I wasn’t going to let that be my setback. One thing I knew for sure was that I needed a laptop and music. As I got a little more experienced, then came the real turntables.
It became a lifestyle for me and I experienced many sleepless nights. I would practice until I felt I reached my level of perfection. Through the process of developing your style as a DJ, you learn to align your personal musical expressions with the desires of an audience.
When it comes to being a disc jockey, things can become very ruthless, especially growing up in Miami, where djing is such a competitive career. I began doubting myself, which caused me to take a break from DJing.
However, my parents started investing in me. They encouraged me to not give up. They made me understand that becoming a great disc jockey does not happen overnight. My mom said, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
I would need to make myself stand out. Their advice gave me confidence, which led me to resume my DJing career.