Tim "DJ
Turbulence" Alejandro was born in Los Angeles,
California. At the age of thirteen, an age where
most of us are still playing with toys, DJ
Turbulence was already practicing his skills on the
turntables. Even at such a young age he was at a
level of those twice his elder. His inspirations
came from listening to DJ E-Man and DJ Melo-D. He
did not have a teacher, so he recorded and observed
their mix shows. E-Man got him into mixing and
scratching while Melo-D made him believe that it is
possible to not only be a mix DJ, but also be a
turntablist/battle DJ and combine the two worlds.
The under aged, DJ Turbulence also sneaked into
clubs, where he observed how to rock a crowd. With
mixing, scratching, battling, and crowd rocking
under his belt, the future looked very bright for
this youngster. That was in 1997. Fast forward eight
years later to 2005. DJ Turbulence is now 21 and
holds a track record most DJ's can only imagine. His
resumé impressively includes not only high class
events but also numerous successful DJ battles,
mixtapes, and radio appearances.
In 2001, DJ Turbulence took first place in the
Guitar Center West Coast Regional Battle and went on
to become a USA finalist. In 2002, he won the Stacks
Records DJ Battle which gave him the opportunity to
open up in front of a 20,000 sold out crowd at The
Projekt Revolution Tour for artists Linkin Park. He
continued to take top placing in numerous DMC and
ITF competitions. This is just a handful of titles
DJ Turbulence has already achieved. His biggest
accomplishment to date is taking first place in the
2005 DMC USA Team Supremacy Finals, and going on to
represent the United States in London, England for
the 2005 DMC World Team Supremacy Finals. DJ
Turbulence and DJ Phonics (BattleStar) are still
currently ranked the best Team in the nation.
DJ Turbulence's on air debut was in 2004, for Los
Angeles' leading hip hop radio station, Power 106,
in which he also proudly mixes on air every weekend,
working along side none other than his childhood
idol, DJ E-Man. He is also a member of some of the
most highly recognized affiliations in the scene.
His affiliations include Power 106 FM, Rotations
Record Pool, Crowd Control, BattleStar Crew, S.K.A.M.
Artist Management, and teaches at the Scratch
Academy in Los Angeles. The Scratch Academy was
founded by the late legendary, Jam Master Jay from
Run DMC. DJ Turbulence took part in developing the
202 Scratch Course in the school's opening year.
DJ Turbulence mixes everything from hip-hop, r&b,
rock, old school, 80’s, reggae, and drum & bass. His
versatile style and unique skills make him a highly
recognized and sought-after name in the industry.
His expertise has already enabled him to perform all
over the nation and the world. From Hollywood to Las
Vegas, Seattle to Chicago, Hawaii to London, He can
Rock any crowd in the world with his selection in
music and one of a kind style.
DJ Turbulence believes that his talent is a blessing
from God, and is grateful because he also believes
that is the reason why he has gotten so far in his
career. He also has all the support in the world
from his family, friends, and peers. In the future,
he plans to further his career by continuing to be
on the top of his game. Whether it be live on the
radio, rocking massive clubs, traveling on tour,
competing in battles, pumping out mixtapes, or
banging out beats. He also plans to become an avid
music producer, working with his favorite artists
and eventually developing some of his own artists as
well. For DJ Turbulence, music isn't just a hobby.
It's a childhood dream brought to life. He is living
his dream. As he states, "I live, eat, sleep, and
breathe music. Music is my love and I can't see
myself living my life any other way.” This young man
has a strong work ethic and almost never sleeps and
says “I never want to be satisfied because the day
I'm satisfied, is the day I fail... that will never
happen because I will always push for the next
level." – DJ Turbulence. To stay posted on what DJ
Turbulence has in store, log on to
www.DJ-TURBULENCE.com
INTERVIEW:: conducted
by
JiZO Jewles
JIZO: Please tell us a
little about yourself? Where did you grow up?
DJ Turbulence: REAL NAME IS TIM ALEJANDRO. I WAS
BORN IN LOS ANGELES AND GREW UP IN ONTARIO.
JIZO: Why did you first get into DJing?
DJ Turbulence: LISTENING TO POWER 106. DJ E-MAN,
MELO-D, AND FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC.
JIZO: What has been your
biggest gig so far?
DJ Turbulence: DJING OUT IN TAIWAN THIS PAST
JULY. MY BOY PHONICS AND I WERE THE RESIDENT DJS AT
THE LUXY FOR ONE MONTH. ALSO JUDGED THE DMC TAIWAN
DJ BATTLES, OPENED UP FOR THE BLACK EYED PEAS
CONCERT, DID SHOWS WITH ONYX, JAZZY JEFF, DID A
PRESS CONFERENCE, SHOWCASES, DJ'D @ XAGA, AND MADE
SOME GOOD FRIENDS OUT THERE. IT WAS A GREAT
EXPERIENCE.
JIZO: How long have you
been a DJ?
DJ Turbulence: SINCE I WAS 13. 1997. SO ALMOST
10 YEARS NOW.
JIZO: Who have been your biggest influences?
DJ Turbulence: DJ E-MAN, MELO-D, THE BEAT
JUNKIES, SKRATCH PIKLZ, X-MEN, POWER MIXERS.
JIZO: What makes a good DJ in your opinion?
DJ Turbulence: ALL AROUND. FROM MIXING,
SELECTION, TRANSITIONS, SCRATCHING, JUGGLING, MUSIC
KNOWLEDGE, AND ROCKIN' ANY TYPE OF CROWD.
JIZO: How did you end
up with POWER 106?
DJ Turbulence: I ALWAYS WANTED TO BECOME A
POWER MIXER. LISTENING TO POWER IS THE REASON WHY I
REALLY STARTED AND ITS REALLY HARD TO GET INTO
POWER. I ACTUALLY STARTED ON THE FLAVA UNIT. I KNEW
MOST OF THE MIXERS WHEN I WAS GROWING UP SO I GOT
ADVICE FROM THEM AND I JUST KEPT SUBMITING MY DEMOS.
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT... I'M LIVING ONE OF MY DREAMS.
IT’S A BLESSING.
JIZO: I have noticed
that a lot of asian american DJ's from the West
Coast happen to be of Filipino origin? What is your
opinion on this?
DJ Turbulence: I THINK ITS GREAT FOR OUR PEOPLE
TO GET NOTICED FOR THE ART OF BEING A DJ/TURNTABLIST.
WE DEFINITELY REPRESENT THE WESTCOAST STYLE OF DJING
AND ITS KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD.
JIZO: What's your
favourite track that you like to play?
DJ Turbulence: GOOD
QUESTION. I HAVE SO MANY. I'LL JUST SAY CLASSIC
MICHAEL JACKSON SONGS.
JIZO: What was your
first booking?
DJ Turbulence: IT WAS A WEDDING. MY FATHER IS A
PHOTOGRAPHER AND HE WOULD BOOK ME GIGS. THAT’S HOW I
LEARNED TO READ A CROWD, EMCEE, AND MAKE MONEY. WE
HAD A PACKAGE. STILL DO... IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT.
JIZO: Do you prefer
playing at clubs or bigger events like concerts?
DJ Turbulence: IT'S TWO
DIFFERENT FEELINGS. CLUBS ARE A BIT MORE INTIMATE
WHILE A CONCERT IS JUST MASSIVE. AT THIS POINT...
I'D LIKE TO DO MORE CONCERTS. ROCKIN' A SEA OF
20,000 PEOPLE IS AMAZING.
JIZO: When you are up
there do you have a play list or do you read the
crowd?
DJ Turbulence: I HAVE A
GENERAL LIST OF SONGS THAT I PLAY. BUT I ALWAYS READ
THE CROWD. THAT’S THE 1ST THING EVERY DJ SHOULD DO.
JIZO: Your best DJ
experience so far?
DJ Turbulence: TOO MANY
TO NAME. A COUPLE OF MENTIONS: MIXING ON POWER,
WINNING THE 2005 DMC USA TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP, TAIWAN,
LONDON, VEGAS... THE LIST GOES ON. DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCE EVERY TIME. THAT’S WHY I LOVE WHAT I DO.
JIZO: What are you
future plans?
DJ Turbulence: CONTINUE
TO BE THE BEST DJ I CAN BE. RELEASE MORE PROJECTS,
TRAVEL THE REST OF THE WORLD, HOLD DOWN THE CLUBS,
EVENTS, RADIO, AND FOREFILL MY PLANS ON BEING A GOOD
MUSIC PRODUCER.
JIZO: Thanks
Turbulence!
DJ Turbulence: NO
PROBLEM. THANKS, PEACE, AND GOD BLESS
Tim "DJ
Turbulence" Alejandro was born in Los Angeles,
California. At the age of thirteen, an age where
most of us are still playing with toys, DJ
Turbulence was already practicing his skills on the
turntables. Even at such a young age he was at a
level of those twice his elder. His inspirations
came from listening to DJ E-Man and DJ Melo-D. He
did not have a teacher, so he recorded and observed
their mix shows. E-Man got him into mixing and
scratching while Melo-D made him believe that it is
possible to not only be a mix DJ, but also be a
turntablist/battle DJ and combine the two worlds.
The under aged, DJ Turbulence also sneaked into
clubs, where he observed how to rock a crowd. With
mixing, scratching, battling, and crowd rocking
under his belt, the future looked very bright for
this youngster. That was in 1997. Fast forward eight
years later to 2005. DJ Turbulence is now 21 and
holds a track record most DJ's can only imagine. His
resumé impressively includes not only high class
events but also numerous successful DJ battles,
mixtapes, and radio appearances.
