I am developing a project that originated from a master class workshop, centering on the concept of community and its significance within the DJ culture. This project examines how DJs define and experience community, exploring both its personal and collective implications. Through a structured yet open-ended series of questions, I aim to challenge each participant’s understanding of their role within the music ecosystem, encouraging introspection on their artistic identity, creative process, and the networks that sustain them.
Beyond merely documenting individual perspectives, this project seeks to construct a broader narrative—one that encapsulates the current state of Houston’s music scene while also serving as a historical record for future reflection. By engaging DJs in conversations that transcend surface-level definitions, I aim to uncover the nuanced ways in which community manifests in music spaces, from DIY collectives to institutional venues, online platforms to in-person gatherings. These interviews are not only about capturing personal stories but also about interrogating the structures that shape artistic communities, including issues of accessibility, cultural preservation, and economic sustainability.
This project takes on a multimedia approach, visual, auditory, and written elements to create a layered and immersive experience. The photographic component serves as both documentation and artistic interpretation, capturing the essence of each DJ in their environment. The auditory element preserves their voices, lending an intimacy and immediacy to their reflections. The written component—comprising both transcriptions and analytical essays—adds depth, allowing for critical engagement with the themes that emerge.
So far, I have compiled a working list of approximately 50 DJs and have photographed and interviewed around 20. As the project progresses, I aim to expand this archive, ensuring it represents a diverse cross-section of Houston’s music scene across genres, generations, and experiences. My ultimate goal is to produce a publication—whether in the form of a zine or a book—that serves as both a tangible artifact and an accessible resource. Additionally, I plan to stage an exhibition that will bring together images, writings, and audio interviews, creating a space where audiences can engage with the work in an interactive and multisensory way.
At its core, this project is about more than individual stories—it is about mapping a living history of Houston’s music scene, questioning how artistic communities are built and sustained, and considering how these narratives contribute to the larger discourse on culture, identity, and creative labor.