About me: I was born in October 1993 in Los Angeles. Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up playing drums, guitar, and bass, always exploring different sounds and rhythms while spending just as much time skateboarding through the streets. That mix of movement and music shaped who I am. In the past year, I’ve taken my love for music in a new direction and started DJing—something that’s quickly become a real passion. At 31, I’m excited to keep growing, creating, and hopefully sharing my sounds with the world.
Favorite music genres: Boogie, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Metal, Psychedelic Rock, R&B … pretty much anything but Country or New Jack Swing.
Favorite musicians: Prince, Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, and Jimi Hendrix are the top of my long list. Haha!
Q&A:
Why did you decide to do vinyl dj’ing over digital?
Well, I got into DJing kind of by accident—people who followed my funk music page (@funk.lordz) just assumed I was a DJ because of how I curated my selections. I started getting booked off that alone, before I even fully considered myself a DJ. My first gigs all had vinyl setups, so I naturally fell into spinning records and never really felt the need to dive into digital right away. But now that I’m deeper into it, I definitely want to expand and learn digital too.
What’s the funniest or most shocking song you’ve ever played during a DJ set?
Ha! So for my first Disco gig, I played one of my favorite tracks called “Come Let Me Love You” by Jeanette “Lady” Day. The vocals start with almost a minute of moaning and giggling.
What’s one sample you heard in hip-hop that led you to the original funk track?
As a kid, I always loved hearing the bass line in Ini Kamoze’s “Here Comes the Hot Steppa”. Years later I ran across the sample, “Heartbreak” by Taana Gardner.
If you could time travel to one concert in music history, where would you go?
That’s not even fair…haha! If I had to pick one I couldn’t go wrong with Woodstock. Jimi and Santana have some of my favorite performances from that footage.
Favorite album art of all time?
Maggot Brain. It probably wouldn’t shock most people if it came out today, but for the moment, it was ahead of its time.
What are 3 rare funk or soul joints that everyone should know?
The first track is a song by Yasuko Agawa called “L.A Nights”. This song is special to me because it features my grandpa (Vance Tenort) on percussion. I was a fan of the song for a year before finding his name in the credits. Second track has to be “Reach For It” by the group Third Rail. A lot of my favorite Funk & Boogie tracks speak messages of motivation. This one gets me through my imposter syndrome. Lastly, I would pick “I Know You Will” by Logg. Leroy Burgess and James Calloway really deliver on this one.
What era of funk hits the hardest for you?
80s baby!! Nothing beats the early 80s funk and boogie tracks of that time. It’s that perfect melting pot of musicianship and futuristic sounds. Most of my favorite artists made their biggest albums in the 80s . I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
Who are some modern funk artists we should know?
Diamond Cafe, Vanilla Is Black, Thee Elektra Kumpany, Thornington, Dj Harrison, Butcher Brown, Lady Wray… & a few others but I don’t listen to much modern funk.
What does funk mean to you and why is it important to keep the genre alive?
To me, funk is a spirit of rebellion wrapped in groove—something that pushes boundaries while still embracing structure and repetition. It’s not about the gear or the setup; it’s a feeling that lives in the pocket, in the rhythm, in the attitude. Like Prince said, “There is joy in repetition”—when you hear a dope bass line, you don’t want it to stop, you want it to loop, to ride it out. Funk pulls you in and keeps you moving. It’s more than just a genre—it’s a pulse that runs through all of popular music.
Any advice, tips, or hacks for aspiring vinyl djs and record collectors?
For aspiring DJs, I would suggest finding a mentor and to practice with purpose, but still enjoy the moment. For collectors, my tip is to utilize social media music pages, Discogs, and YouTube to dig along with record shops.
