We had the good fortune of connecting with Micki Blendz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Micki, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I don’t think that I initially looked at it as starting my own business. I just knew deejaying was something I enjoyed and it was just a blessing to be able to profit and sustain a lifestyle from it. When you’re coming up as a DJ, sometimes you have to offer your services for free to get into the door but once those doors are opened the opportunities really flood in if you’re good at reading the room and curating a vibe. After a while I realized it was actually my own business and my full time job at the time became my side gig until I was confident enough to walk away and solely focus on the Micki Blendz brand.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I think what sets me apart from others is that I tend to break “rules” in certain spaces. A lot of people enjoy my sets because I’ll play something surprising from Dom Kennedy at a club, or Freddie Gibbs at a Showcase and all the way to throwing in Miami Bass at a club – way before producers even began to sample that sound.

I have had some incredible opportunities but I am most proud that I reached a point where I can do what I love full time. I think I am also proud that I didn’t let having a child stop me from pursuing my passion. However, there is so much more work to be done!

It definitely wasn’t easy getting here. Being a female in a male dominated industry – you have to put up with a lot. But setting boundaries, speaking up, and remaining authentic to who I am is what helped me to persevere.

The lessons I learned along the way would definitely be to stay ready so you don’t have to get ready! You could get the biggest phone call and have just a few days to prepare. Your entire schedule could be thrown off, so really just keeping my crates updated and constantly on the lookout for fresh AND old music.

My brand has it’s own unique formula. I do what feels good and it shows through my performance. If I ever did a bad job it’s not because I had a bad day, it’s because I took on something that I’ve either outgrown or simply wasn’t for my taste.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I might not be the best person for this question lol! Yes I do many things in Charlotte for work but I am truly a homebody at heart!! I’d say maybe we hang out in Plaza Midwood, Noda, and SouthEnd. Bar hop through those areas, hop over to the Music Yard if it’s nice out, then for some late night eats go to Soul Gastro Lounge. I don’t know, I’m super simple when it comes to going out. I do love brunch and find it very necessary wheather thats a chill brunch at Snooze or a “get cute” brunch and go to Restoration Hardware.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is really a hard one because I have had a ton of support in getting me to where I am today. From the company I interned with to the DJ’s that took me under their wing, I have had a lot of love and support. However I think I would have to thank my friend Director Mullah for booking me to DJ his “Bury Me Alive” Artshow. It was my very first show at a club in my hometown of Charlotte, NC. I had gigs before that but none were really in alignment with my style of deejaying or even at a real venue. A lot of my events prior to this were at house parties and I didn’t have the creative space to truly curate a vibe. I believe him booking me for this event opened a lot of doors for me in Charlotte, prior to this I was bartending every weekend in Greensboro.

Website: www.mickiblendz.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickiblendz/?hl=en

Image Credits
First photo uploaded : Tatyana Kiahra, IG @tatyspointofview
Mixtape Cover: DJ Pauly Guwop

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