Today we’d like to introduce you to Dj Dr. Esan.
Hi Dj Dr., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Unlike others in the music industry, I did not grow up with musical influences around me. My interest and start to DJing was self-initiated in my early teenage years growing up in the Caribbean Island of Trinidad. The local radio stations which featured live DJs and announcers sparked a passion within me to learn about the art of DJing. I was self-taught (YouTube did not exist at that time and I had no one to teach me), and in my mid-teen years migrated to Miami where I met some liked minded individuals who also had a strong desire for the art. My determination to DJ grew so strong that I used all the money I earned in my first few jobs in high school to purchase equipment. Soon after I began doing small house parties for friends then moved onto college parties all while still being a high schooler. Opportunities presented themself to do underground radio (Mixx 96 and Riddims 95.4) where I held several shows for a few years. I remember receiving one of my first club bookings for a Friday night event at Club Opium in the Hard Rock and I was underage. I had to be snuck in by the promoter and was so scared I would be thrown out if they found out my age. Over the years as my skill and following increased, so did the type events I did and places I became booked for. I’ve now played for events and festivals all over the world – from Ibiza to Amsterdam, Toronto to LA and every year I perform throughout the Caribbean.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Early on getting started as a DJ, a huge struggle for me was getting my hands on equipment to learn. I was not fortunate enough to have someone provide this to me, so I had to work hard and save a lot of money as a teenager to purchase all the equipment I needed. Doing this on minimum wage while also having other bills to pay did not make this easy and took a long time.
Another struggle for me was overcoming my fear of speaking publicly (on a microphone). In my younger years as a Dj, I would simply spin music for partygoers while someone else acted as the MC. This worked fine for a few years, but I began feeling that this limited my growth and kept me in the shadows. As a Caribbean Dj, presence and personality is important in order to be successful and I knew that if I wanted to grow, I had to start MCing. Learning this skill from scratch was incredibly hard and oftentimes intimidating. As a DJ, there is nothing more embarrassing than standing in front of hundreds of patrons and saying the wrong thing, or worse not saying anything at all and there be dead silence in a party. I owe my ability to overcome this to a true pioneer in the Caribbean entertainment space – Marlon “Trini South Boyz” Whiteman (R.I.P.). Marlon gave me a platform on the legendary underground radio station Mixx 96 and pushed me to host a weekly show that forced my to refine my MCing skills. He gave harsh feedback always but constantly encouraged me to do better. Marlon was instrumental in shaping me into the Dj I am today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an international DJ based in Miami. I play all over the world spreading Caribbean music and culture and have become a predominant figure in the Miami party scene. I am mostly known for my unique style of DJing which is high-energy, engaging, and crowd-moving. With a deeply rooted Trinidadian background, my selection of music versatile with, and this is felt in my performances. I hold residencies in the top Caribbean parties in Miami such as Rise + Toast and Wyncarib. I am also often found on some of the largest Caribbean events such as Soca Brainwash, Igloo, and Scorch events. My reach goes far beyond Miami, I am routinely sought after for carnivals and festivals throughout the Caribbean and the world.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve had quite a few people that have helped shape me into who I am and opened doors for my along the way. In high school DJs, Silent Addy and Eccentrix sounds helped foster my passion and ambition of becoming an international DJ. The legendary Willy Chin (Black Chiney) played a crucial role in teaching me how to record, mix and produce mixtapes and introduced me to many artistes. Club Euro owners Ralph Franchise and Big Ralph gave me my first underground radio opportunity and club gigs that helped me develop my skills early on. Marlon “Trini South Boyz” Whiteman (R.I.P.) pushed me out of my comfort zone to become a proficient MC. Miami’s premier party promoters Hybrid Events gave me residencies at the top Caribbean events that helped to build the DJ Doctor Esan brand. DJ International Stephen played a key role in opening doors internationally for me and building my credibility in the Soca community.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctoresan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DjDoctorEsan/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/doctoresan
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/djdoctoresan
Image Credits
Cvnonvision
K13 Images
