Canadian DJ YOC has been making his way around the world since the age of 13, working with some of the industry’s greatest DJ’s. His newest passion is rescuing dogs, which he proactively does through his non-profit @rescuealldogsco.
Spinning records as a DJ is such an intricate craft. You have to accurately evaluate the atmosphere you’re given and be well versed in music and its history. How did you find your way to it?
I actually started when I was thirteen years old. My brother-in-law was doing it. He was doing, mostly, the private event side of it. He needed somebody to help him getting the gear around to one event to another, every time he got booked. That’s how I started. Within in six months of working with him, I got so intrigued by the whole DJ’ing thing that I asked him if I could by some equipment from him. I bought some equipment and for the next two years, I was just at home practicing and practicing and practicing my mixing. I wanted to practice all the time.
So then, when you were ready, you went back and starting performing again?
At one point, one of the DJ’s asked me to come and do an event with him. This was probably my first event ever and I didn’t really know what I was going to do.
How did he help you with evolving in your craft?
That guy literally taught how to read a crowd, how to understand music, how to count music, how to play music in terms of what to play/when to play it. He taught me a lot about music in general that I would have never known just sitting at home. Like you were saying before in the question, you have to understand the environment and everything else, it’s true! As a DJ, it’s not only about you knowing how to mix. It’s actually knowing what you have in front of you to know what kind of music you have to play.
In recent years, the art of dj’ing has been taken to even newer heights, with DJ’s making full albums. Where do you plan on going with your craft?
I think the most relevant way to elevate your DJ career is by producing music, producing for artists, and having artists in your songs. Then hopefully, if your song works, it’ll catch on the radio or in the club. Just because you produce it doesn’t mean you’ll get to the next level. It’s about connections. It’s about having the right product.
So, you’ve been dabbling in production then?
I have! It’s a whole other ball game. It takes all of your time. If you haven’t produced ever before, you have to learn. It doesn’t come from one night to the other. It takes time to actually have a product that sounds good and you have to get people involved in your project as well. I’ve been dabbling in it, but the next step is how do you get your stuff out there?
Anyone following you would know that you have another passion. You LOVE dogs and to be honest, that feels like an understatement. You truly cherish them! What is your mission when it comes to dogs?
People have to understand that a dog is a dog. It has feelings. I was never a dog lover, before I had this dog (Lab/Pitbull mix). Going from being a non dog lover to being who I am today — wanting to help dogs in general, is because I see first hand what a dog actually is. There is a reason why they say “a dog is a man’s best friend.” It is because a dog is actually a man’s best friend.
Can you explain why you feel that way?
They don’t want to hurt you. They’re not jealous. The only thing they ever want from you is love and they want to love you back, unconditionally. Sometimes, I love dogs more than humans. I just don’t understand the cruelty that is done to them.
What would you say is the ultimate legacy you wish to leave behind?
The ultimate legacy I want to leave behind — that’s a good question, because I’ve been thinking about it. You have to be kind to people, generous, humble, simple minded. At the end of the day, people will always admire someone who’s always there for them, always smiles, always thoughtful, someone who always gives back — like what I’m doing with the dogs. I’m not doing it, because of the legacy, I’m doing it because I want to and it grew as a passion. Legacy wise, though, I want to make music that people will always remember. Also, for the humane part of it, I’d like to open up a rescue shelter for animals.
Here at Urban, we live urban culture. What are some ways you’d say you live urban culture?
In many ways, but definitely music. As a DJ, I find that music evolves faster now then it did 10 years ago, because of social media. I find that if I don’t connect with the younger generation at times, then I lose my connection with them. I always be aware of what they want to hear. I have to be on top of my game. I’m always listening to Hot 97, Power 106 in LA, going to concerts and making sure I connect to the younger generation.
