GrungeCake Magazine Interview with DJ Monica Sharp!

Photo: George Lee III Make-Up: Erika Gee

Photos: George Lee III Make-Up: Erika Gee

Blurb from YAMS:

Deejay Monica Sharp is a blessing for GrungeCake Magazine. She has organized, co-hosted, and spinned at many of our parties. One way of giving back to our princess was this feature; online and in print via The Push Episode. Thank you from the bottom of our cake-filled hearts!

MP3: “Mini Dance Mix for GrungeCake Magazine” by DJ Monica Sharp

GrungeCake: Who is responsible for coining the term “DJ” as we know it?

Monica Sharp: Not sure to tell you the truth!

GrungeCake: What are the qualifications one has to acquire before taking on the surname, DJ? Does one go to a supreme court and register the name or earned?

Monica Sharp: I think that it varies from person to person. In my opinion one should be able to properly mix records, as well as have a solid collection of music before tossing that term around. The surname for the most part is earned from the crowds they play to. I know a lot of people who couldn’t mix a record if their lives depended on it but still play records for money, they usually will be the first to admit they are not really DJs.

GrungeCake: Tell us a little about you. Where are you from?

Monica Sharp: I was born in Houston Texas on January 1st 1981. My parents split up when I was very young and I moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia with my mother and sister when I was two years old. We were very poor in those days and my mother usually worked two jobs to make ends meet. I hated school and usually retreated into music, poetry and art. The town we lived in was pretty boring, so two days after my 18th birthday I moved to Philadelphia. I was involved in the rave and club scene there for a long time and eventually moved to Brooklyn where I now so happily reside. I’m big into politics, philosophy, dive bars, trash TV, and I have an unhealthy addiction to feta cheese and gyoza.

GrungeCake: Which mediums do you use? Are you a scratch DJ? Do you use vinyl?

Monica Sharp: I learned how to DJ when I was 18 using vinyl and turntables in my friend Ricky’s “rave cave” of a basement. Now I use serato scratch & vinyl. I DJ in ABS mode which is a vinyl emulator, so when I am DJing I am actually mixing live. You would be amazed at how many “DJs” aren’t actually mixing when they play “live”. I tried to scratch a long time ago when I first learned how to DJ, that didn’t pan out so well AT ALL. I still have my entire vinyl collection (at my mothers house to her dismay) although I DJ with serato.

GrungeCake: Describe your audience. What do they look like? What are they wearing? Predominantly, which sex does your crowd/s consist of?

Monica Sharp: It varies really. I am a huge music NERD and I love all genres of music, so I try and book gigs according to whatever mood I’m in, I’m not worried about how cool a place is. Sometimes Ill play for bands, sometimes posh places, gay bars ect. I would DJ in a Burger King bathroom if I thought it would be fun. Overall I love small and rowdy dive bars, you can usually get away with playing whatever you want and the crowds there are always more easy going and considerably more interesting then they are in the mega clubs.

GrungeCake: What kind of music do you play? Answer this in terms of tempo and not so much in genre classification.

Monica Sharp: It’s hard to describe in terms of tempo. But I’ll just name some of the crates I keep; electro, minimal techno, jungle, no wave, punk, indie, disco, italo disco, funk, soul, house, reggae, shoegaze to name a few. It depends on the mood of the venue honestly.

GrungeCake: Do you admire any female DJs? Why or why not? Name a few.

Monica Sharp: Of course! Female DJs have to deal with a lot of shite. People think its easier being a woman in the field, but its quite the opposite. You have to work 10 times as hard and usually don’t make as much money as the men when you are just starting out. People are much more critical of female DJs even if it is not warranted. There was one instance where I was introduced to a venue owner as the DJ for the night, and he asked me if I knew what I was doing, there’s no way in hell a man would have been asked the same question, I reassured him that I have been a DJ for 10 years. When it comes to admiring female DJs the best set I have ever heard was from a woman, DJ Storm (of kemistry and storm fame) at some rave in DC in 1999. You can check out a lot of her old jungle mixes on goldenerajungle.com if youre into that kind of thing. I remember seeing DJ Irene around that same time, both women are phenomenal DJs and are very humble and sweet.

GrungeCake: What do you think about GrungeCake (magazine)?

Monica Sharp: I think it’s a great magazine! I know you work your ass off with it. From the design to the articles it’s solid, you know this!

GrungeCake: When you first heard the name, what did it mean to you?

Monica Sharp: I didnt have any personal thoughts on the name but my mom thought it was some kind of adult publication! true story.

GrungeCake: Who are your inspirations? Are there any disc jockeys that you look/ed up to before taking on the task?

Monica Sharp: I’ve been reading a lot of Rousseau and Plutarch, which has been incredibly inspiring to me as of late. I’m pretty fascinated with politics, traveling and modern society. Ive always looked up to the DJs who were humble, somewhat intelligent and not hell bent on being famous. Unfortunately, a lot of it now is focused on ego, fashion, who you know, and sceney garbage which I despise. I am inspired by keeping it simple and focusing on the more important things in life.

GrungeCake: Here is your chance to congratulate or player-hate: Share your last thoughts. Comments. Experiences.

Monica Sharp: There aren’t enough trees on this green earth to publish my player hate rantings, but I want to take the time to thank my true friends and supporters, you know who you are.

GrungeCake: What’s next for DJ Monica Sharp?

Monica Sharp: I’m not even 100% sure myself. I have a lot on my plate right now and I like to take things as they come. The only thing I really want to do is retire to Spain and open a bar by the beach when I’m old. I think that would be a fitting end to my life, but who knows what may come.

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