The Birmingham DJ Taking Off in the South

Gina Grayson got tired of hearing the same old songs whenever she was out and about in Birmingham, so she decided to do something about it. She became a DJ. She turned to local radio host and performer DJ Serious, who helped her hone her mixing skills the old-fashioned way – on turntables. The hard work paid off, and now Gina has played at major events in Birmingham and beyond, including the Birmingham Museum of Art, Afropunk, Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, and Art Basel in Miami. Get to know this dynamic FACE of Birmingham!

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When did you know you wanted to be a DJ?

I felt I had all of this music that I knew about, and I wanted to share it with people. I wasn’t really hearing cool music when I would go places. So I was like, “Birmingham’s small enough; I’ll just do something about it.” I started doing radio shows, but there wasn’t really any mixing involved. I was using podcasting software to put the songs together, talking intermittently, then putting them on SoundCloud. That was in 2015. The people I was sharing it with liked it, but it didn’t feel like I was doing anything.

I thought, sounds like this need to be heard because there’s an audience for it. The type of stuff I was putting in the radio shows were remixes, mashups, and alternative R&B.

How did learning to mix on turntables help you?

First of all, it wasn’t by choice. DJ Serious was very adamant about doing that. I think it’s helped me immensely — going from something much more analog and manual to more digital platforms is a lot easier than doing it the other way [around]. I’m glad we started that way. It also helped me to learn how to listen to the music. DJ software will tell you if songs are at the same tempo, but knowing how to have an ear for that is helpful. Especially with music recorded a long time ago. Those people weren’t using digital means to record, so sometimes you do have to manually adjust as you go.

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How do you match music with the mood of the crowd?

Honestly, that’s mostly intuitive, but there are some things I do pay attention to — obviously, the demographic. I pay attention to the age and variety of cultures in the room. That helps me determine if the crowd would be a little bit more receptive to experimental stuff they’ve never heard before or if they’ll want to hear things they know the words to. For example, if I’m playing events during the Magic City Classic, I usually play things you can line dance or sing the words to. If I’m doing Paper Doll, I feel like I can be a little bit more experimental because it’s a bar, so people are flowing in and out throughout the night. I feel I can try new things in an environment like that.

What sets you apart from other DJs?

I think my range is definitely something that helps set me apart. I will play mainstream stuff if the environment calls for it, but I also like to dig deep into SoundCloud and introduce people to new things. And I [also have] versatility when it comes to the hardware — being able to use turntables. I pride myself in showing up to a venue and being able to use whatever’s there.

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Who are some artists more people should know about?

I love Lion Babe and Kaytranada, for sure. Kaytranada is the hill I will die on. He’s a Haitian DJ and producer, and I feel everybody needs to know about his music. He’s incredibly talented, and his music is easy to dance and listen to. He collaborates with a lot of different artists.

The Internet is another hill I’m going to die on. More people know about them these days, ironically enough, because of the internet. I’ve just always had an affinity for their music. They’re in a league of their own because each individual member is so talented.

What do you like to do when you’re not working?

I like to sleep and eat. And I’ve had to get to a point where I feel okay saying that.

We’re in America, and sleeping and eating — we equate that to laziness. But I need to sleep! And sometimes, I need to sleep a lot, and that’s okay. I’m still going to get stuff done when I need to get it done.

And eating honestly falls into the health-and-wellness or fitness category in my life. Going to the gym is very important to me.

What are some of your favorite local spots to eat and shop?

I have never had anything from Lé Fresca that I didn’t like. They just don’t miss. Neither does Shu Shop, and I just love the fact that they’re open a little bit later than everybody else because there are not a lot of late-night food options here. [I like] Watkin’s over in Mountain Brook, and Juniper is one of my favorite places on the face of this earth.

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What are the best books you’ve read lately?

Grit by Angela Duckworth because sometimes I struggle with persistence and consistency. That book tells a lot of good stories about how people have powered through to get to where they are.

I listened to David Goggins’ book Can’t Hurt Me earlier this year. It’s really intense — his life has been really intense. Whenever I’m feeling sorry for myself, I feel like I need to listen to David Goggins.

And Max Lucado’s book Anxious for Nothing — I’ve read it before, but I picked it back up a few days ago.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

We’ve all heard there’s nothing new under the sun. But sometimes, I struggle with wondering, Am I being original enough? There are a lot of other DJs, but most of us do things differently. I have my flair, my skillset, and my ear that I bring to the table.

Name three things you can’t live without.

Chapstick, lotion, and my emotional support water bottle.

You can find Gina on Instagram @ginatollese.

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