DJ Perly is a Heavy Hitter, a Puerto Rican Bronx native, and proof that curiosity followed all the way through becomes mastery. We connected with her to talk about the night she made history, the DJs who shaped her ear, and what she'd tell the next young woman trying to break into turntablism.
You started spinning at 12 years old in the Bronx. What pulled you toward turntables specifically, and what did those early years look like?
What pulled me towards the turntables at that age was just out of pure curiosity. I was always a fan of music and I always listened to music every day, even while doing homework. I always watched MTV, especially Beavis and Butthead and TRL, and basically anything with music I would be listening to. I always wanted to do something with music but didn't know what. I played congas by ear as a kid and took some guitar lessons but didn't like my teacher, so I dropped it. What pulled me into the turntables was when I saw Lily Allen perform on SNL. After that performance I bought her album Alright, Still and loved it. I saw the remix to "Smile" by Mark Ronson and loved that too. I went down a rabbit hole of who this guy was and what he did as a DJ and producer.
I found out Mark was DJing Fridays on an online radio show called Authentic Shit on East Village Radio, working with Amy Winehouse and other artists around that time, and I thought it was so cool. I listened every Friday night trying to learn what he was doing. YouTube barely had any videos back then, so I had to learn by ear and imagine what he was doing, especially his scratching.
One weekend I saw MySpace pictures of Lily Allen DJing at the YOYO parties with Mark Ronson and Aaron LaCrate and got inspired to want to learn more. Lily had her mixtapes uploaded to her page, and to me she was the first female DJ I'd seen, and that was the coolest thing ever. I thought, if Lily could do it, so can I. I kept listening to Mark Ronson's mix every Friday night, and one day I found A-Trak's 1997 DMC World winning routine, and the rest is history. I taught myself for five to seven years how to DJ, and I loved every second of it all. I was sent into a new world of what could be done with music.
Take us back to 2017, becoming the first woman ever to win the DMC USA Championship. What do you remember most about that night?
I remember just being extremely focused and ready to perform. I remember doing my final six-minute set and just basically leaving it all on the stage. Moments later they were calling the top three, and my heart was beating out of my chest. My name was called as the winner and I blanked out and fell to the floor out of shock that I won. It was confirmation that I really did, and do, have what it takes to be champion and go to the world finals, despite all the bs that happened the year before.
Was there a mixtape, DJ, or moment early on that made you fall in love with scratching and turntablism as a craft?
Coming across A-Trak's 1997 DMC World Finals set was truly the best happy accident I came across when I was teaching myself the art and craft of DJing. That routine inspired me to want to learn more about turntablism and inspired me to want to compete and be a champion someday. So many DJs have inspired me. The ones who inspired me in the beginning, and still do to this day, are Mark Ronson, Aaron LaCrate, A-Trak, Qbert, and DJ AM, rest in peace.
I love AM especially. His skills, love, and passion for music were truly unique. I loved how he found a special way to blend and mix so many different genres within his sets, and it sounded like fun. It was something different and always exciting to see what he was going to come up with next. Seeing AM use Serato also inspired me to get Serato. When I got into the battle world, Roc Raida, rest in peace, Craze, Jazzy Jeff, Skratch Piklz, X-Men, Shiftee, and more all inspired me on so many different levels when it comes to creativity and skill.
That list alone is a lineage. A-Trak's routine set her on the path, but it was AM's genre-blending and Roc Raida's battle legacy that shaped how she actually plays. You can hear all of it in how she talks about her own sets later in this interview.
In 2022 you won the DMC USA title a second time, becoming the first woman ever to do that. How did that win feel different from the first?
In 2022 the feelings were still the same as 2017, but a little bittersweet because that time around it was during Covid and the battles were being done online. I was missing performing on stage and interacting with the crowd. I was also missing flying out to London for the world finals but was still grateful to be there. I was still very much hungry and determined to go after the world finals gold, and I continued to work hard and focus on my finals set.
You've performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. What's it like bringing turntablism into rooms built for a completely different kind of performance?
It's an honor. Honestly, I was shocked and honored to have those opportunities to share my skills with a whole new crowd that may or may not have seen a DJ set that incorporates a balance of turntablism. I was a bit unsure how the crowds would accept it, but I didn't let that get to me. During and after my performances, it was great seeing how everyone truly enjoyed it and even loved seeing something new. It made me feel like people are open to seeing DJ sets that show the layers and styles of creativity within DJing, not just song to song.
As a member of the Heavy Hitters DJ Crew, how has that community shaped your approach compared to competing solo?
First of all, it's a high honor to be a member of the Heavy Hitters Crew. The community within the crew has shown me a lot of love and support that's truly one of a kind. It has shaped me in ways of knowing I have brothers and sisters who always got my back no matter what. We learn a lot from each other and we're there for each other no matter what, and to me that's the best feeling, knowing your crew has your back.
Vinyl and physical formats have become genuinely popular with collectors again in recent years. As someone whose whole craft is built on the turntable, what's your take on that?
Honestly, I'm happy to see people buying and collecting physical media again. It's great to see people go out and support local businesses, indie record shops, to buy vinyl, to collect, or even get into being a vinyl-only DJ. My take is, as long as you learn the history of hip-hop and DJing, have a respect and appreciation for the foundation of vinyl DJing, and see why we have the technology we have now, I say go for it and enjoy the musical journey.
And vice versa too, for those who don't like the new tech out now, I hope they can also appreciate that tech helps DJs a lot too, minimizing back pain from the heavy crates, and not being worried about breaking a needle and not finding a replacement on the spot.
What separates a technically skilled DJ from one who can actually move a crowd or win a battle?
Each DJ has their own style and likes what they want to do with music. Some DJs just want to focus on scratching, some just want to perform at clubs, some just want to collect vinyl, some just want to be at home playing music in their living room or a friend's house. What separates them is basically what they want to do, and how much time, effort, and focus they put into their preferred journey.
You've opened for De La Soul and Monie Love, among other legends. What did you take away from sharing a stage with artists from that era?
It's a blessing to share the stage with those legends. My takeaway from each of those moments is gratitude, and being thankful that I can share my skills with people who were not only contributors to the craft, but who also enjoy seeing DJs like myself still appreciate and love the art, and can carry the torch of the art form forward.
What advice would you give a young DJ, especially a young woman, trying to break into turntablism today?
Focus, practice, and surround yourself with people who push you to learn and grow as an artist and DJ.
Last question — who or what should mixtapekings.com spotlight next in this series?
Luvl1sa. She is a first-gen Filipina DJ who is a powerful single mom in the music industry with a deep passion for her community in NJ and the music scene there. She is dope and you should check her out.
That's the second co-sign this series has gotten from someone with the ears to know, and the second time it's pointed toward an artist building something real outside the spotlight. Luvl1sa is officially on the radar.
Straight from her own feed.
"I'm just a Serato Scratch Freak😏 Serato Freaks, Scratch Lord entry💪🏼 #shorts #djperly #dj #serato"
And the record that started it all, her own cuts, pressed.
"My 1st featured cuts pressed on vinyl🥹 'Culture Cypher' from Albizu's Revenge album!!🔊🔊"
See more on her YouTube channel
DJ Perly is a Bronx-born, Puerto Rican member of the Heavy Hitters DJ Crew, and the first woman to ever win the DMC USA Championship, a title she's now won twice. That same 2022 run, she also placed 3rd in the DMC World Beat Juggle Finals. From Carnegie Hall to Lincoln Center to sharing a stage with De La Soul, she's proof that the turntable doesn't care who's behind it, only what they can do with it.
More Collector Spotlight is coming. If you know a DJ, collector, or curator whose perspective deserves a platform, let us know.
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