Mixing Sounds in the Swamp: A heart-to-heart with three of Gainesville’s favorite DJs
By Mariel Wiley
Photos courtesy of Cristina Cabada.
It’s Friday night in the swamp, and the heavy humid air presses against our bare shoulders. We’re standing in line outside my friend Majo Morales’ house, her roommate patiently adorning us one by one with a temporary tattoo that reads “Groove Garden” — a mark that means we belong here once we pass through the doorway into dark rooms glistening with refracted light and pulsing techno bass.
The Groove Garden is a self-proclaimed “secret mission” instigated by Majo Morales herself that brings together the best of Gainesville’s underground DJ scene, which is largely carried by the talents of female and non-binary disc jockeys. But even before the inception of Groove Garden, the area hosted a wealth of talented MCs despite the seemingly out of place locale of an Old Florida town.
There must be something in the (swamp) water — a thread of effervescent jungle energy, maybe — that draws these artists out to play, and brings such a bright energy to their sets. I spoke to four of Gainesville’s beloved DJs about their stories with music and what it’s like to practice their craft in the place where the gators and the Gators roam.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Every creative has an origin story. Can you tell me a little bit about your background with DJing? What was the spark that drew you to it?
Majo Morales: My uncle has always had a really strong influence on my music taste. He used to DJ Afro-Latino music in New York and Miami, and left a lot of equipment stored at my house when he moved up north. I’ve always been passionate about music and curating an atmosphere through sound, but never really had an inclination to start mixing music before I was introduced to it in college. In 2019, my friend was throwing a house party in Orlando and asked me to design a flier for it. He told me his friends would be mixing live so I asked him for a set time in exchange for the flier, with little to no experience or knowledge on how to actually DJ. I got one of my uncle’s old controllers from my house and started to practice— luckily my partner at the time produced a lot of music, so he taught me a lot before performing for the first time. After my first set went really well I realized it was something I really enjoyed doing and could definitely pursue more seriously
Liv Vitale: I've always loved music and had a desire to find a way to create with it, but I was never musically talented. As I gained more understanding about different kinds of music I realized that mixing was an awesome way for me to get involved. I also really needed a job at the time too! Now it is something that I love to do.
Cristina Cabada: Music has always been one of my favorite creative outlets. I’ve always had a desire to pursue it in some way, but always felt like I wasn’t good enough to do so. DJing, in particular, had always intrigued me and I forever dreamt of being a DJ, but never had enough confidence to pursue it. Thankfully, I was finally pushed by my friend Jahi Khalfani to DJ for the first time at Carparc Miami at the end of last summer. I was DJing on vinyl and had no idea what I was doing but it felt so right. It was new and exciting, yet it felt so natural. Ever since I’ve been hooked on this feeling and had the confidence to continue DJing. Five months later, I listened to the recording of my first set at Carparc and couldn’t help but tear up because of the happiness and pride that I have for my growth. I’m very grateful for Jahi’s guidance as I would’ve never uncovered my potential and love for DJing without him. I learned that a big aspect of DJing and what really drew me to it was the ability to share my identity and culture through it. Through the music I play and mix, I share the sounds of my childhood in Costa Rica and my experience as a queer arab-latina in Florida by showcasing queer latinx artists. I would say that this aspect is the spark that drew me to DJing as it has allowed me to explore my background and connect with others who share it.
How has this town shaped your introduction to DJing — is there something about the people or places here that inspired you to start along this path?
Majo: I’ve definitely connected with many types of people through DJ-ing around Florida and felt it has helped shape my experiences in Gainesville. I feel like when I picked up this interest my friends and I also started developing a stronger liking towards electronic music, which has influenced what events and communities we’ve grown interested in. There isn’t a really solid techno or GOOD house scene in Gainesville — compared to where it was in the 90s and early 2000s. Rarely any good electronic music artists pass through Gainesville anymore. I’ve definitely felt like through my practice and community I’ve built around it, we have contributed to reintroducing a better understanding of this scene to Gainesville. We definitely have been working to establish spaces that feel more “underground” rather than mainstream— and encouraging more women, queer, and BIPOC electronic artists to contribute to this.
Liv: I didn't start performing until I came to Gainesville, just mixing! A few of my friends worked at the bar that I now work at and told me they needed another DJ, so I applied, and I am so glad I did. Working at the college bars in Gainesville is a unique experience that you can only get here. I've been able to meet so many amazing DJs from working in Gainesville that have shaped me into a better DJ myself. The EDM scene in Gainesville is kind of crazy, for a SEC school like this kind of in the middle of nowhere, people here love EDM. I think that made me have more of a drive to start performing because the energy you can create from music is like no other.
Cristina: Gainesville has allowed me to connect with amazing DJs and people who have been incredibly helpful in my journey DJing. To name a few, DJ Lotusoph, Offline Angelo, Raph, Chad Darby and Jahi Khalfani have inspired me to continue putting myself out there and believing in my craft. Having the opportunity to meet them has encouraged me to improve and continue this path that I’m on, trusting that something great will come out of it and that it will most definitely be fun.
How do you feel that the creative community as a whole — of all disciplines — has evolved over recent years, especially given the sometimes overpowering shadow of a STEM-focused research University that hasn’t traditionally uplifted artists?
Majo: This is a really interesting question, especially in relation to the University of Florida. As a graphic design major in the College of the Arts here, I feel my program and college is extremely underfunded and lacking in many ways. It has been difficult to grow creatively through UF, but Gainesville has a really amazing community of creatives that has been continuously evolving regardless. There are so many talented people that pursue so many different things, from a wide range of musicians to printmaking and skateboarding. Several collectives, bands, and companies have emerged from this little town with serious potential to blossom even further. Although there isn’t a huge underground electronic music scene here in Gainesville, there is so much support from the community for any form of creative expression, which has made DJ-ing here feel very fulfilling in its own way. Connecting with people from all sorts of creative backgrounds is very exciting and has created endless opportunities for collaboration. Within my community, I feel like everyone has their own piece to contribute to the puzzle.
Liv: Specifically in Gainesville, I think the creative community has grown more than it ever has and has become widely accepted, even in an area with such a strong STEM-focused presence. There have always been artists, but now those who are not find them interesting and encourage the arts now. I appreciate how deeply creative of a community Gainesville has become.
Cristina: I feel that in recent years we have seen a shift of this STEM focus in our community in which local artists are given space to showcase their craft. If anything, the effects of having such a STEM focused environment that hasn’t particularly uplifted artists has produced a desire and respect for art in our community
Gainesville is a rural college town, which can make creatives feel isolated from the kinds of communities they might encounter in a bigger city. Has the relative bubble of Gainesville been a challenge you’ve had to overcome? Or has it pushed you to grow in ways that a city might not have?
Majo: Like I said before, the creative bubble of Gainesville is small but very encouraging. Since there are so many creatives taking on a wide range of interests, there is always so much support for different crafts. It was definitely difficult to feel involved with this community initially, since I do feel like meeting creative people in Gainesville can be challenging at times — in my own experience through the earlier years of college trying to navigate where I fit in socially. But now that I feel more seen within my community for my own creative endeavors, I feel it has pushed me to share more of my own work. It definitely has brought me many more opportunities and chances to connect with new people.
Liv: Gainesville can definitely feel like a bubble at times, but I feel like I've met more creative people of all fields than I ever have before anywhere else. There is a different kind of drive that people here have to be successful in their artistic endeavors that I find motivating and inspiring. I'm being pushed creatively because of all the talent that surrounds me here.
Cristina: In a way, yes, Gainesville is a rural college town, but it also does have a prominent art and music scene that gives space to so many different artists. It has been limiting for me in some ways, as I primarily play reggaeton music and it’s not what some people want to hear in Gainesville. However, it has set me apart as there are no female reggaeton DJs in town or DJs who primarily showcase female reggaeton artists. I dream of DJing in Miami or Costa Rica, where there are who people want to hear and connect with the music I am playing. It’s not to say that people in Gainesville haven’t tried to connect to or dislike my music, it’s more so that my reach would be far bigger in an environment with more latinos or where reggaeton is more common.
What is your favorite part about being a DJ in Gainesville? Any special memories from a set that you’d like to share?
Majo: Being able to create a unique and fun atmosphere whenever I play. I love being able to connect with my friends, and even strangers, through my music. I guess one memory I’m really fond of is when I played my first set at Arcade Bar. I was sooooo beyond nervous to play my first gig at an actual establishment in Gainesville, but the turnout was so good that it was at capacity. It felt so reassuring that people actually enjoyed my set and came to support me
Liv: The energy here. The crowds here get so pumped and it makes it all worthwhile to see people enjoying what you create.
Cristina: How accessible it is to connect with other artists and the friendships that have blossomed from this. A memory that brings me so much pride and happiness was playing a set along with fellow female DJs Lotusoph and Majo at Groove Garden. During this set I only played female reggaeton to celebrate and all female line-up. We all danced, laughed and of course shook some ass!
Although this town is small, the community here does inspire artists to dream big and beyond the city limits. What are your dreams for your DJ practice (whether that be pursuing a career or keeping it as a hobby: no dream is too small)?
Majo: Although I am passionate about DJ-ing, I definitely consider Graphic Design my main interest. However, I love being able to dabble between these two realms, and definitely plan on continuing to DJ and improve my practice. I definitely saw my DJ career as more of a hobby initially, but recently have felt that I want to continue to incorporate it into my professional life. Within my design practice, I definitely want to focus on the intersection between music and graphic design, and continue to nourish both of those passions of mine. I would love to continue doing design full-time, ideally within the music industry, and still be heavily involved with mixing and the community around it. Eventually I want to branch into the European scene —for both design and music— and maybe even one day work on establishing my own label or music venue.
Liv: As much as I love to DJ, it is something that will only be a job as long as I am still in school. My biggest passion over music is fashion design. Big dreams, just different! I would love to be able to perform at some community events before I graduate though!
Cristina: I want to pursue DJing along with fashion and design to eventually bring them all together as a whole. I aspire to go to fashion school in Madrid, where I hope to continue DJing and expand my reach as well as start my own clothing brand once I get my masters in fashion design.
Can you share any advice for other aspiring small-town DJs?
Majo: Have fun! Play for your friends! Watch lots of boiler rooms! I feel like I have always kept mixing light and have made it a really fun aspect of my friends’ and my day-to-day life, which has kept it really enjoyable for me. Definitely curate your sound and find music that speaks to you. Keep it authentic because that’s what always comes through.
Liv: My only advice would be to just go for it and don't be afraid to fail. Trust in yourself and your abilities and don't be afraid to try something new out, because you can never know how music can resonate with someone until you play.
Cristina: Put yourself out there and don’t quit trying. When you put yourself out there and try hard, you will receive what you put into it. Also don’t forget to have fun and stay true to yourself and what you love. DJing should never feel like a job, if it does, you’re doing it wrong. DJing should make you happy, that’s when you know you’re doing it right.
Let our readers know where to find you and your work; feel free to plug any social media channels or upcoming events!
Majo: I haven’t released any mixes in a long time but I am planning on it very soon! You will be able to find that on my personal Instagram page. Also, my roommates and I started our collective, Groove Garden, as a way to establish our vision for an underground electronic music scene in Gainesville. We curate the space and sound at our events and invite our community to participate in them. On our page, you’ll find flyers for upcoming events and other Groove Garden-related content.
Liv: I haven't made a DJ Insta or anything but my socials are @livthehippie and I play on Wednesdays and Saturdays at JJ's Tavern!
Cristina: You can check out a few of my mixes on my SoundCloud and follow me on Instagram for updates on upcoming sets. The first Wednesday of every month I play at The Backyard from 8-11pm — no cover — come out and have fun with me! ◆