vidagirl.com

The brilliant and beautiful Valida has DJ’d for the likes of George Lopez, Salma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, and Bebel Gilberto, to name a few. She’s spun at clubs and events around the world, is the spokesmodel for Wet’n’Wild Cosmetics, has graced dozens of magazine pages, and has lent her singing voice on a number of occasions. Valida has traveled a distinct path from her home in Sarajevo to become one of the foremost DJs in the world.

How old were you when you emigrated to the U.S.?

Err….It was in 1994 and I was 13 years younger than today… (hehehe)

Was the transition difficult?

In retrospect, it was the toughest period in my life…But not necessarily because of my arrival to the States. At the time, my country, Bosnia, was going through a very brutal war so it was difficult to appreciate the good in one’s life. Coming to the States was definitely a dream come through. It’s something I’ve been waiting for ever since I was a little one. Not having any family or friends was tough…especially since I didn’t know if some of them were alive or well for that matter. I was alone in Los Angeles…but at least I was alive and healthy, so I just decided to make the most of it.

When did you begin DJing?

I bought my turntables in April 1998…That’s when it all began.

How did you learn to spin?

I was always passionate about music. I had been singing and playing the piano ever since I can remember. I had started to collect vinyl once I got into the house music scene in 1996. I was just collecting. Then came drum’n’bass and I started to collect some more. My roommate at the time had turntables and we would just play records for fun. One day we were hosting a party at our house and a friend showed us the whole “mixing and beat-matching” technique. Once I understood the method, it was just about practice. You basically have to be able to listen to two different things going on at the same time and match the tempos…I didn’t think it was that difficult…Maybe cuz I have music background. Some people find it easier than others, I guess. In 1998 I was working on music with two other musicians, Kelly Hibbert and Dave Bianchi. I was singing…It was just a studio project called “Kozi” and we were all into it. Kelly was also a DJ who played Monday nights at Nova Express. One day he asked me to come along and play with him…It was chill…Late night…No pressure to mix perfectly. We were just playing records for fun and food (LOL!) Well, after doing that for about 6 months, I got pretty comfortable with it. Word got out that I was DJing and friends started inviting me over to play their house parties. And since I had a lot of friends in the drum’n’bass scene, the promoters would invite me to play the house/breaks side rooms of their shows. Also, the Standard in Hollywood…My big break came when a friend asked if I would DJ her birthday party at Star Shoes in Hollywood…This was in 2001…The bar owner, Johnnie, loved what I did and offered me a Sunday night…I accepted and asked a friend, Khela Tyson to join me…She and I founded “Proper” on Sunday nights. The rest as they say is history…

In the beginning, what kind of response did you receive as a talented, beautiful, female DJ?

I think my situation is different than that of most DJs in that I didn’t “enter” the DJ realm as an outsider. I didn’t just show up at parties and make mix-tapes all day long with the hope that a promoter would notice me. By the time I started DJing out regularly, I had already gained a bit of a stature thanks to the documentary film I produced and directed, “Concentric Beats”. I was not judged on appearance. A lot of skill goes into producing, editing…and just the topic I chose, drum’n’bass, and how I tied it in with hip hop and dancehall gave me enough street cred. I got to know a lot of promoters, other well-established DJs, club owners… And once you can show that you can do the technical stuff (actually beat-match two records and find a good mix point for them…) then it’s all good. And they say that a personality goes a long way too…I tried to be cool with everyone and never pick sides. So in general, I was received really well.

Do you feel female DJs are seen as an asset?

I definitely believe that a skillful and attractive female DJ will always do well. Who does not want to see a beautiful girl get up and do her thing? Male DJs are a dime a dozen and they have been dominating the field for too long. Now it’s our time to shine.

Do you think female DJs have to “prove” themselves more than males?

Not any more than male DJs. Male DJs have to prove themselves just as much. But then, there are circles where DJ skills apparently don’t matter. People will book DJs that are really not DJs, but are celebrities of some type…actors, models, band members. That’s a bit frustrating for people like me who are serious about what we do. They are taking money out of our pockets and it sucks, for us, as well as for the ears of all those present at those events. (LOL!)

What are some of your biggest highlights thus far?

It is really difficult to tell…I have had so many amazing DJ moments. The Puerto Rico Candela party at downtown San Juan was one of my favorite parties as was the Nuphoria party in Tokyo…That was bananas. The Japanese fans are amazing. They kept buying me shots all night. I don’t even know how I got back to my room that night. Also, tag-teaming with Osunlade at an after party in Hollywood was amazing. And opening up for Madlib at Do-Over last Halloween was insane. Any Do-Over party (Sundays from 3PM-11PM at Cranes in Hollywood) qualifies as an amazing time.

You sing on a track on the Soulphonic Soundsystem CD. How did that come about?

I was approached by the producers. They had an idea that needed a vocal and they thought I would be good for it. They sent me three instrumentals and I picked out one. We laid down the vocals and then they mixed it. I really love soulful-moody vibe when I sing.

What are your future plans/goals?

In future I hope to be doing more of what I’m doing now…and of course, more singing!!!! There are already plans to collaborate with some British producers, but more about that when it actually happens. I am always against spilling the beans on things that had not been confirmed yet. Somehow it jinxes it. I am very superstitious in that regard.

What is the one thing you can’t live without?

That’s a tough one…Family, friends, music, and good food (Bosnian, Sushi and Mexican) and I’m good.

What advice do you have for young women who want to DJ?

The best advice is to really get good at it. Go out and watch your heroes. Take notes but develop your own style. Take care of yourself and your health. It’s entertainment after all, so whatever works in other fields, works for Djing. And be cool with everyone and don’t burn any bridges.

You’ve traveled the world…what has been your favorite city and why?

I always say that my three favorite cities are Sarajevo, LA and Baghdad. I can like many cities I visit, (Tokyo, San Juan, Naples) but the only ones I’m gonna love are the ones in which I lived.

Make sure you check out Valida live! For a list of clubs and events, go to Valida.com.