Mixes & things

Alejandra Sabillón @@@@ Mood Ring February 2023

MoMA Nights with Alejandra Sabillon 01-05-2024

New York-based Alejandra Sabillón grew up between her native Honduras and the south, midwest, and west coast United States. “Genres are a funny thing to me,” Alejandra says, “especially within dance music, and particularly the dance music being made today.” She graced our 8th Bouquet. Tape with a merging of elements that in theory don’t mesh. Bass, techno, pop, R&B, house, Latin and African rhythms coexist and even make sense together. The result is experimental, but fun, energetic, and surprisingly approachable, considering the diverse styles.  Gigging weekly in multiple parties and venues, Alejandra Sabillón also co-runs a monthly club night in NYC.

Follow: @alejandra-sabillon 
Art: CM-DP
Words: Marcel Reyes-Vermillion

Bouquet. Tapes #08 with Alejandra Sabillón

@oscarnn b2b Alejandra Sabillón live on @rinse_france - 2/1/20

Rinse Radio Podcast

Alejandra Sabillón b2b Oscar Nñ live on Rinse France 2/1/20

Live for MoMA PS1 ~ Come Together (Apart)

@alejandra-sabillon

Introduce yourself? Hometown? Where do you currently reside? 1 fun fact about yourself? 

My name is Alejandra Sabillón I’m from San Pedro Sula, Honduras and currently live in New York City. I have a dog named Goo.
 
Why do you think it's important to DJ? 

Music is something everyone understands and has strong opinions about. If someone hates or loves what your playing their reaction is like a reflex and they have no problem expressing their feelings. We all place ownership over music we identify with and I like the innate kind of connection that happens. It’s also a source of joy. 
 
Describe your favorite club in the world? 

Sweaty basement, not too big, not tiny, great sound, fog.
 
What do you think djing will look like in 20 years from now? 

No idea what tomorrow will bring so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
Let’s play a pipipi game… I give you a situation & you give me a track
 
** Track to explain to your grandkids in 2069 what 2020 was like? 
https://youtu.be/0oZYC1k6ufs
 
** At the bottom of the sea swimming with dolphins
https://youtu.be/A5MtQMKa7ao
 
** On a roof at sunrise still bursting with energy
https://youtu.be/goBEb5LHP8A

Advice to beginning djs?

I guess take the time to go down rabbit holes of music listening, fall in love with music. Learn the history of where things come from. Don’t just listen to new music, don’t just listen to old music, don’t just listen to one genre. Think about why you want to DJ in the first place. Motivations and intentions matter. Mixes are not the same as seeing artists live.
 
Sad can’t happen now but I think learning on the job is best. In my opinion the ideal setting is a small low-pressure bar, even if equipment isn’t great. It’s good to practice with some kind of crowd and knowing you have to entertain strangers from the start speeds up the learning process. I suppose owning equipment can help with the technical stuff but only playing for yourself and your best friend doesn’t get you too far.
 
Describe the best dj/live set you have witnessed?

The first time I saw Theo Parrish play was the first time DJing made me feel something. It changed the way I thought it about it after that.
 
Describe the vibe of your first DJ set?

DJing a hotel lounge when I first moved to NY.  I lied and said of course I DJ and know what serato is. I wasn’t new to music by any means but definitely had never been paid to DJ. Vibe was more mood, less party. Kept a regular gig there for years and  it’s where I learned to use CDJs.
 
Describe the first moment where you had an epiphany about your love for music? 

Probably as a teenager new to the US. My parents moved us to a small college town and besides old stuff like The Carpenters of all things I had literally never heard any modern American music. I became obsessed with the college radio station. Saved up $100 to buy a little stereo at WalMart, another place for insane culture shock, and spent most of my time making mixes off the radio.
 
Favorite weird drug experience? 

This was in Memphis, lived there a few years. Ate mushrooms and went on a nighttime walk around the neighborhood. My friend and I saw this couple get out of their car and they turned into cat people. Like their heads became cat heads but what was crazy is that she also saw them turn into cats. No one believed we both saw the same thing but it’s true.
 
Any advice about what to do with free time during this moment of social distancing?

Spend some time doing nothing at all.
 
What would you like to see in the future for the dance community? 

Bigger community, more inclusive and more diverse, more music talk , less chisme.
 
Venmo or contact info to support a local club who is undergoing hardship…
https://www.thelotradio.com/

Alejandra Sabillon's Album

Alejandra Sabillón - 79˚

Genre free!
Bookings & beyond: sabillon.alejandra@gmail.com