Clarisse Celebrates With a Hawaiian Style 50th Birthday

House parties are always made better with a live DJ. For Clarisse’s 50th bash, friends and family gathered at her home to celebrate on June 23, 2017. With a Hawaiian themed party, I started with a little reggae, but eventually moved into plenty of old school and 80s classics to celebrate.

Here’s a look at the setlist.

• UB40 - I Got You Babe
• Ellie Goulding - Burn (Loud City Reggae Remix)
• Daya - Sit Still Look Pretty (R!OT Remix)  
• A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum
• Rick James - Mary Jane (19Sixty Quick Hitter)
• Stevie Wonder - Knocks Me off My Feet (DJ Joey C Edit)
• Naughty By Nature - Jamboree
• Ray J - Sexy Can I
• J Boog - Let's Do It Again  
• Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight
• Mariah Carey - Emotions
• Drake - Passionfruit (BPM Supreme Remix)  
• David Bowie - Let's Dance
• Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It (DJDX Extra Beat Edit)
• The Spinners - I'll Be Around (70s Classics)  
• Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Edge Remix)
• Fine Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy (Select Mix Remix)
• Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots
• Brick - Dazz (Hot Classics Remix)
• Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
• Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
• Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
• Jagged Edge - Where The Party At
• Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
• Chainsmokers, Ashanti - Only U vs Roses (J. Espinosa Jumpoff Edit)
• Lady GaGa - Alejandro
• Destiny's Child - Jumpin' Jumpin' (Jean Tonique Remix)
• Sia ft Kendrick Lamar - The Greatest (Cosmic Dawn Remix)  
• Sia ft Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills (Mr. Collipark Remix)  
• Major Lazer ft Justin Bieber & MO - Cold Water (J Rythm BPM Supreme Remix)
• Levert - Casanova
• Sean Kingston f./Elan From The D.E.Y. And Juelz Santana - There's Nothin
• DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - Summertime
• Earth, Wind & Fire - September
• Chaka Khan - I Feel For You (Hot Classics Remix)
• Michael Jackson - P.Y.T
• Brenda K. Starr - What You See Is What You Get (Freestyle Classics)
• Sa-Fire - Let Me Be The One (Select Mix Remix)
• Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Fore - Planet Rock (Vanilla Ace Remix)  
• Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam
• Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind (Joey Negro Disco Mix)  
• Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake - Love Never Felt So Good
• Kungs & Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
• Andy Grammer - Honey, I'm Good (Select Mix Remix)
• Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
• KYLE f./Lil Yachty - iSpy
• Emotions - Best Of My Love
• Coolio - 1-2-3-4 (Sumpin' New)
• Griffith, Marcia - Electric Boogie
• Beatles - Birthday
• Commodores - Brickhouse
• Robbie Nevil - C'est La Vie (Select Mix Remix)
• Keith Sweat - I Want Her
• Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
• Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
• Janet Jackson - Love Will Never Do
• Ja Rule - Livin' It Up
• Nelly - Hot In Herre
• Big Pun - Still Not a Player (feat. Joe)
• Van McCoy - The Hustle
• The Jacksons - Blame It On the Boogie
• Cheryl Lynn - Got To Be Real
• The Whispers - Rock Steady
• Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl
• Paula Abdul - Forever Your Girl
• Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - Lost In Emotion (Freestyle Classics)
• Whitney Houston - How Will I Know
• Debbie Deb - Lookout Weekend
• Freestyle - Don't Stop the Rock Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
• Jocelyn Enriquez - Do You Miss Me (Freestyle Classics)
• Afrika Bambaata & The Soulsonic Force - Planet Rock (Select Mix Remix)
• Run D.M.C. vs The Scene Kings vs Aylen - It's Tricky Wild Style (LOCZI Show Edit)
• Salt N Pepa - Push It (Mayeda Remix)
• Flo Rida - I Cry
• Walk The Moon - Shut Up And Dance (Select Mix Remix)

Hot, Hot Yoga Sculpt with Katie B - Corepower Yoga Live DJ

If you think Yoga Sculpt is hot, imagine in the month of June. No room heating needed. But these tunes were just as hot. Here’s the setlist from the live DJ’d class I did with Katie B.

• Ingmarlo - Invoke Within (feat. DJ Taz Rashid)
• Sage The Gemini - Do Not Disturb (Instrumental)
• Faith Evans f./The Notorious B.I.G. & Jadakiss - NYC (Instrumental)
• Rihanna ft Drake - Work (DJ Drew & SoSo Remix)
• Jason Derulo ft Nicki Minaj & Ty Dolla Sign - Swalla (Tek One 98-125 Transition Edit)
• Lorde - Green Light (Chromeo Remix)
• DJ Snake - Middle (Serafin Uptempo Mix)
• Alice Deejay - Better Off Alone (ZAXX Remix)
• Drake - Passionfruit (Mr. Collipark Remix)
• Major Lazer ft Justin Bieber & MO - Cold Water (Kue Remix)
• Katy Perry f./Nicki Minaj - Swish Swish
• Flume ft Kai - Never Be Like You (Downlow'd Remix)
• Daya - Hide Away (DJ-X Remix)
• The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army (Mesto Remix)
• The Killers - Mr. Brightside
• Jay-Z & UGK - Big Pimpin
• Beastie Boys - No Sleep Till Brooklyn
• Drake - Fake Love (Caked Up Remix)
• G-Eazy & Kehlani - Good Life (Mr. Collipark Memorial Day Mix)
• Sam Hunt - House Party (Bpm Supreme ReDrum)
• Iggy Azalea - Mo Bounce (Dirtcaps Remix)
• The Chainsmokers & Coldplay - Something Just Like This
• Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
• Ariana Grande f./Zedd - Break Free
• Mario Winans - I Don't Wanna Know
• Naughty By Nature - Jamboree
• DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - Summertime Pt. 2 (Select Mix Remix)
• Marian Hill - Down
• Ingmarlo - Invoke Within (feat. DJ Taz Rashid)
• Michelle Qureshi - Shivasana

Love is Served ... and Brewed: Christina and Marco’s San Diego Wedding - Stone Brewery Liberty Station

Christina and Marco said “cheers” and “I do” with a fabulous wedding and dance party at Stone Brewery. 

While I was certainly excited for Christina and Marco’s June 10, 2017 dance party and wedding, I have to admit that I was probably equally as excited for where it was all taking place … Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens and Restaurant in Liberty Station.

A Stone beer in a San Diego refrigerator is about as common as a surfboad rack inside a garage (practically everyone has one). And their food is equally as delicious. All of this, plus the gathering of great friends and family made for one fun night of celebrating them and their cute little boy. Such a great family!

The wedding ceremony took place at Stone as well, in the Movie Courtyard, adjacent to the large banquet room where the reception was held. This room looked amazing with the added lighting and is perfect for medium sized parties.

Here’s a look at the setlist:

Cocktail/Dinner Music

• Soul ll Soul - Back To Reality (KLATCH Remix)
• Daughter - Get Lucky (Daft Punk Cover) (Holtoug Deep House House Edit)
• Ludacris - Roll Out
• Michael Jackson - Don't Stop Till Get You Get Enough (Hot Classics Remix)
• A Tribe Called Quest - Check the Rhime
• Big Pun - Still Not A Playa (Hidden Beach)
• Mystikal - Bouncin' Back
• Ludacris - Roll Out
• ZHU - Generationwhy (Original Mix)
• Cure - Close To Me
• Groove Theory - Tell Me
• Maxi Priest - Close To You
• Prince - Kiss
• Stevie Wonder - Superstition
• Justin Timberlake ft Jay-Z vs Biggie & Next - Suit & Tie (Too Juicy Blend)
• Mariah Carey - Dreamlover
• Chainsmokers, Ashanti - Only U vs Roses (J. Espinosa Jumpoff Edit)
• Bruno Mars - That's What I Like
• Beyonce - Love On Top
• Felix Jaehn f./Jasmine Thompson - Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better)
• Carl Carlton - She's a Bad Mamma Jamma
• Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It
• Yvonne Elliman - If I Can't Have You (Hot Classics Remix)
• Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Edge Remix)
• The Jacksons - Blame It On The Boogie
• The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On (Hot Classics Remix)
• Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage (Hot Classics Remix)
• Pitbull f./Chris Brown - Fun
• DNCE - Cake By The Ocean
• Olly Murs - Dance With Me Tonight

First Dance
Tennessee Whiskey, Chris Stapleton

Mother/Son Dance
Te Amo Mama, by Marco Antonio Solis

Father/Daughter Dance
Elton John - Tiny Dancer

View fullsize

View fullsize

Open Dancing

• Al Green - Let's Stay Together
• Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
• Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
• Justin Timberlake - Can't Stop The Feeling!
• Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk (Select Mix Remix)
• Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
• Boyz II Men - Motownphilly
• Cupid - Cupid Shuffle
• Michael Jackson - Billie Jean
• Earth, Wind & Fire - September
• Elvis Crespo - Suavemente
• Nicky Jam - With You Tonight (Hasta El Amanecer) (Spanglish Version)
• Sia f./Sean Paul - Cheap Thrills
• Destiny's Child - Jumpin' Jumpin' (Jean Tonique Remix)
• Beyonce - Crazy In Love
• Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
• House of Pain - Old School Jump Off
• Griffith, Marcia - Electric Boogie
• Journey - Don't Stop Believin' (Live)
• Flo Rida - Low
• Quad City D.J.'s - C'mon 'N' Ride It
• Otis Day & the Knights - Shout
• Violent Femmes - Blister In The Sun
• Duran Duran - Reflex
• Kungs & Cookin' On 3 Burners - This Girl
• Flo Rida f./Robin Thicke & Verdine White - I Don't Like It, I Love It
• Cure - Just Like Heaven

Last Dance
Ray Lamontagne - You Are The Best Thing

Vendor Team
DJ/Master of Ceremonies/Lighting: Justin Kanoya, DJ Kanoya Productions
Venue: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens
Coordinator: Willmus Weddings
Photographer: True Photography

Fitbit Local Fitness and Yoga Event Takes Over Belmont Terrace

San Diego DJ, Justin Kanoya, works the Fitbit Local event at Belmont Terrace with Mike Sherbakov and Sheri Matthews. 

I got together with my Fitbit Local ambassador friends, Mike Sherbakov and Sheri Matthews, for a second round of working out on a rooftop overlooking the beach. We did this mid-year Fitbit party last year, and this years was just as fun. Bonus: it took place on my birthday, which means I got serenaded by 100-plus strangers. Good times.

Fitbit Local workouts are always fun and free. Big thanks to the Belmont Terrace for having us out, as well as Suja and Perfect Bar for continued support!

Here’s a look at the setlist:

Cardio Workout with Sheri Matthews

• Justin Timberlake ft Jay-Z vs Biggie & Next - Suit & Tie (Too Juicy Blend)
• 99 Souls ft Destiny's Child & Brandy - The Girl Is Mine (DiscoTech Midnight Remix) 
• Fugees - Ready Or Not (Cheyenne Giles Remix)
• Whitney Houston vs Chance The Rapper vs LOCZI - Dance With Somebody All Night (LOCZI Show Edit)
• Phantoms - Pulling Me In 
• Kungs ft Ephermerals - I Feel So Bad (DJ Dexterous 100-123 Transition) 
• Bell Biv DeVoe - Poison (Phil N Good Remix) 
• Robin Thicke f. Kendrick Lamar - Give It 2 U (Promo Only Quick Edit)
• Will.I.Am f./Justin Bieber - #THATPOWER (Promo Only Quick Edit)
• Meghan Trainor - Lips Are Movin (Dj XCENTRiC Edit) 
• Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You (Disco Killerz Remix)

View fullsize

View fullsize

Yoga with Mike Sherbakov

• Balla Tounkara - Yarabi
• Adam Byrd - Light Makes Me Calmer (Original Mix)
• Kehlani - Distraction (Instrumental)
• Marian Hill - Down
• Flume f./Kai - Never Be Like You
• Emmanuel Jal & Nelly Furtado - Scars
• Kygo & Selena Gomez - It Ain't Me
• Adam Byrd - Light Makes Me Calmer (Original Mix)
• Michelle Qureshi - Shivasana (Original Mix)

One Great Piece of Content Is All It Takes

When it comes to putting stuff out in the world, I am constantly investigating what it is that will strike people. Even more so, I’m often wondering if I’m striking people at all.

Two years ago when I started DJing full time, in addition to regularly DJing weddings and events, I wanted to create helpful content to share with others. Online content was one of the main reasons I took the latest path into entrepreneurship. It was the video tutorials, the inspiring Instagram posts and the Ted Talks. It was that content that made me think, “hey I too can follow my passion,” and later “I want to be able to talk about how I did it.”

While the actual DJing part of what I was doing has been going well, I struggled on the content sharing and social media growth. I was not finding my niche and was frustrated with the minimal growth. Of course, I always preach about patience and putting in the work and that by doing those things, the rewards will come.
 
But still, it was frustrating. There were also the excuses to really diving into content creation.

“I don’t have the …. right camera; right lighting; proper sound set-up; proper editing tools; a large enough audience to deliver content to ...” and so on.

But it really was that that I didn’t have the guts. Who am I to try and become an authority in a crowded space? I became pre-occupied with thinking about what others would think. 

“Is he really trying to be Gary Vaynerchuk?”

“Why am I going to follow and listen to someone who’s only been doing this full time for two years?”

And then I said “whatevs, I’m doing this.” I also stopped thinking I needed to be declared an authority figure within my niche to start doing anything, because that's not what I am trying to become. I just want to pass along my knowledge and help others and the way to do that is to just start putting it out there.

I reminded myself that all it takes is one good piece of content being found by someone else.

It’s like the letter I wrote to Lululemon with zero intention or agenda. Yet that resulted in me DJing for the company for an entire week at their home base in Vancouver.

It’s like the aforementioned Vaynerchuk who says this speech is what put him on the map.

It’s Linda Raynier, a fellow colleague in the YouTube for Bosses seminar, who went from practically zero subscribers to 40k plus and counting, likely because of this valuable video about how to answer the “tell me about yourself interview question.”

And for better worse, it was “one good piece of content” that brought us the Biebs.

Great strides are being made on the business side of DJing and it made me a bit emotional.

In between DJing, adulting, parental, spousal and other life duties I’ve slowly picked away at creating content on multiple social media platforms  to assist and inspire. And it’s been genuinely hard work, mostly all on my own. There is always a certain fervor I have when creating content. But nothing compares to the feeling of seeing it make an impact.

And now it I’m seeing that.

Recently I created a Facebook group, Business Coaching For DJs, and have been slowly growing its membership (like real slow; a rate of one new member per day). But it was one of those new members that reminded me why I’m putting in all that work.

He found the group because he watched a video I had produced just a few days earlier, where in the description I had a link to the group. He said “since that video I have been studying your social media tactics.”

He was one person that found me because he was searching for an online review of a storage case that I created a video for. One person that actually answered the call to action to “like, subscribe and also check me out on Facebook and Instagram.”

Once I realized that it was this crazy shot of emotion. All of my work … actually worked. And I ugly cried and started rolling my camera. 

It was honest emotion, right at the exact moment. This can be verified if you look closely at the video because I didn’t even bother to clean up behind me or properly frame the shot (sorry my head takes up 90% of your screen).

It was one person that has reinvigorated me.

There’s an inspiring script that was made famous in the decades old “Think Different" Apple campaign.

It says, in part, “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently … You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things … Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

This is my rewritten version.

Here’s to the difference makers. The Instagram users with 10 likes on a photo. The YouTube users with 12 subscribers. The Facebook Group creators with 22 members. You can be discouraged by your minuscule numbers, quit before even getting started or make up another excuse.
 
Or, you can listen to the yearning inside you. Because you are a difference maker, “crazy enough to think (you) can change the world.”