Mom, I’m going to DJ full-time
Intersections
In this mini-documentary series, six stories open a window into the complexities of Filipino identities taking shape as migrants and new citizens in the USA.
SoSuperSam built her career from nothing to become a world-renowned DJ and event producer. It’s a far cry from what her parents wanted for her: to have a stable job and health insurance.
As she shared in Rock Bottom, Sam first aspired to work in fashion PR, which prompted her moving to New York, crashing, hitting rock bottom, and asking her mom if she could come back home. At her lowest, she still chose to continue pursuing her DJ dreams.
“The second I get to New York, I’m literally booked for a tour with an artist. I never got the PR job. I’m going to DJ full time now. When all is said and done, I’ve DJ-ed for six hours in the cold for 80 bucks and, every day, I would live off three-for-a-dollar falafels. And I would sell all my clothes at Beacon’s Closet just to try to make rent.”
“Cut to me, in my late 20s, on a twin bed in my mom’s apartment with three boxes and $44 and this fucked up dream that I’m somehow going to be a DJ full-time.”
“It was heart-crushing not only for me but for my parents who were like, ‘Uh ok, I guess our weird daughter can move back home.’”
“I think a lot of what I do now is from me really soaking in the rock bottom and what feelings came from that, what ideas came from that, where your interests lie — because that’s the core of you. That’s all you have left.”
“A lot of my process comes from just honoring how ridiculous whatever I’ve come up with may sound and then finding a way to get it done and putting together the right minds to get it done.”
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Samanta Duenas, aka SOSUPERSAM, is a DJ, singer, and super host of RnB party and production outfit, 143. She credits her success to her support system, especially her mother.