By Katie McGregor
Staff Writer
Not many people can double as a disc jockey and a varsity soccer player, but junior Andy Macedo has mastered both hobbies.
Macedo began visiting a local Guitar Center store ever day after school two years ago. After about a year of getting familiar with the equipment, Macedo was able to raise the money to purchase his own turntables.
From there, he practiced daily and focused on the different techniques and styles of other DJ’s in order to perfect his own unique style.
“The music that I play is pretty different than the music I’m into. I mostly play top 40 dance club hits. I play that and throw in my style to mix it up,” said Macedo. “I make a lot of my own mash-ups and mixes and use those at parties.”
Although Macedo tends to play popular songs, he also enjoys playing less mainstream and more underground music.
His biggest influences as a DJ are DJ Craze and DJ Rakif. Macedo considers both to be important figures in the field and says they provide immense inspiration for the music he creates. Macedo can not only DJ, but he also has musical backgrounds in drumming, guitar and piano.
“He is always looking at the crowd, seeing what they’re like, and whether or not he is communicating well with them. That’s what a good DJ does,” junior Indheca Wycoff said. “It can’t be some routine you planned in your bedroom.”
Macedo usually DJs parties about every other month but tends to DJ more frequently during the summer.
He has worked at a teenage club called Addiction in Palos Verdes as well as at birthday parties, graduation parties, and bar mitzvahs. His biggest set so far has been at the teen club in Palos Verdes, where he performed for 200 people.
“When I had the opportunity to DJ at Addiction it was one of my first professional experiences that really inspired me to pursue this because I realized how good it made me feel to perform,” Macedo said. “It was pretty adrenaline pumping.”
Macedo is happiest when he sees his audience enjoying his music. He especially loves to take regular songs and remix them into something new and exciting for people to listen to. He feels that it is important to show his audience that making and performing different types of music can be a creative outlet for many differnt people.
In the future, Macedo hopes to have the opportunity to play in front of a larger audience at a major venue.
“I want to go to college and also to incorporate music into my life somehow, whether it’s playing at large venues or producing on my own,” Macedo said. “I enjoy expressing my ideas in music to other people.”
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