Today we’d like to introduce you to Yissel Cabrera.
Hi Yissel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Many DJs I work with today might remember the days I used to call to book them. I worked as a Marketing / Events director for several years before dabbling in DJing. The same guys who I helped secure work for, were the same who returned the favor with DJ lessons. I DJ’d on my spare time, which wasn’t a lot (but my boss let me set up a DJ booth in the office to play on any downtime.) I didn’t sleep, I practiced. I created and build my own brand with my marketing experience. I made opportunities happen with the contacts I developed in the nightlife/events industry. I started DJing restaurants & lounges after work & on weekends until I began being asked to do corporate events (the gigs I really always wanted to do) that were usually earlier in the day. Because they interfered with my daytime marketing role, I was forced to make a career choice. We all know which prevailed.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Nothing worth having comes easy. Let’s not talk about the haters, the doubters, the people who try to hold you back & make things difficult. That comes with the territory & I’ve always worked like I have something to prove. The biggest struggle I have today is figuring out when’s the right time to give this up because I really LOVE what I do, but I’d be lying if I said this lifestyle doesn’t take a toll on you.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a DJ but I’m a self-taught music stylist. What I mean by that, is that while the technical aspects I’ve been taught by others plays an important part in being a successful DJ, it’s the personal curation of music that makes each of us unique in what we do as DJs. (We all play music, we all have access to the same music, it has to be what you play & how you play it that sets you apart.) So, when I have people say that they haven’t heard those songs in a long time, or that they tried to shazam my set but couldn’t grab the right titles, I pride myself on that originality & being able to give them a different experience.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
There’s no doubt that relationships are key to maintaining success but nourishing relationships, that’s a skill not everyone has or practices. I make an effort to know, care & follow up with the people I work with. And I do it authentically because I really do care about them for who they are not for what they do.
Contact Info:
- Website: Soundsbyyissel.com
- Instagram: @soundsbyyissel
- Facebook: /soundsbyyissel
- Twitter: @soundsbyyissel
- SoundCloud: /soundsbyyissel
