JIZO:
Bonjour DJ HeavyGrinder. I see that
you still live in Los Angeles. How do you like
living in Cali? What school are you currently
attending?
DJ Heavygrinder:
Hello. Yes, I am still residing in LA, the weather
out in California is always nice plus my family is
here. Right now I am going to a community college.
JIZO:
You are incredibly multi-talented and you were
blessed with real good
looks. What ethnicity are you if I may ask?
DJ Heavygrinder:
Thank
you; I am half Japanese and half mixed European.
JIZO:
Are there any specific life events or incidents that
made you want to become a DJ?
DJ Heavygrinder:
When
I was 17, I started watching my friend Adam spin and
I fell in love with the art of DJing right away. I
knew from then on it was going to be something that
I would want to do myself.
JIZO:
What artists have influenced you and your music?
DJ Heavygrinder: I have many influences stemming
from various genres, but Jamiroquai comes to mind
right away and has been a big influence all around.
When I first started getting into dance music, Timo
Maas had been a big inspiration.
JIZO:
Where did you find the best crowd so far?
DJ Heavygrinder:
It’s tough to say. I have played for
lots of good crowds and I love traveling so I would
hate to put one location higher on a list than
another. I appreciate all the people that come out
and have a good time regardless of where they are.
JIZO:
Do you believe in being "naturally high"?
DJ Heavygrinder:
I think that there are many things in
life that can bring you a natural high, of course
music being one of them.
JIZO:
Have you ever spun at a big rave?
DJ Heavygrinder:
I have played all types of dance
music events. Seeing that the rave seen has deceased
for the most part, I do tend to play more club gigs
than anything else.
JIZO:
What current DJ do you admire and respect the most?
DJ Heavygrinder:
I’m a big fan of the Chicago sound
and really enjoy Johnny Fiasco a lot as of recent.
JIZO:
Have you ever been to the well-known Island of
Ibiza?
DJ Heavygrinder:
I
have. I was in Ibiza earlier this summer to play at
El Divino. I had an amazing time and hope to make it
back there again next summer.
JIZO: Being
a "female DJ" and one of Asian descent, what are
some of the
biggest stereotypes you have had go up against?
DJ Heavygrinder: I hear people often say that
girls can’t provide as good of a set as male DJs or
that they only will get so far and that their career
is based solely on their looks.
JIZO:
What is currently playing in your mp3 player right
now?
DJ Heavygrinder: Voyageur by Enigma.
JIZO:
What is your favorite food?
DJ Heavygrinder: I like a lot of ethnic
foods especially: Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican
and Japanese.
JIZO:
Do you still model on the side? Even as a
part-timer?
DJ Heavygrinder:
Not really, it’s not something that I
want to pursue. I will do things on rare occasions
but not unless it has something to do with my DJing.
JIZO:
Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
DJ Heavygrinder:
Being
successful at whatever it is that I may be doing.
JIZO:
Any plans on touring Europe in the near future?
DJ Heavygrinder:
I
hope to tour Europe soon; I don’t have anything
lined up at the moment though.
JIZO:
Thank you for doing this interview Miss Grinder!
Bonne Chance.
DJ Heavygrinder:
You’re
welcome and thank you too! =)
A
native of Seattle, HeavyGrinder currently resides in
Los Angeles where she is part time student, model
and full time DJ. At age thirteen, she began to
actively pursue her love of music and being on
center stage by taking up vocal training and
modeling. After years of traveling and successful
model work, she made her way to L.A. in 1998. It was
in the City of Angels that she realized her new
love, cozying up to the sounds of underground dance
music, captivated by the power of the DJ and the
reaction of the crowd. 
