DJ Mochi, a Chicago-based DJ, producer, and event curator. DJ Mochi shares insights into his career, musical influences, and the cultural significance of the genres he plays. Contrary to popular belief, his name is not derived from the Japanese rice cake dessert. The nickname "Mochi" originated in Argentina, where friends called him "Mochi," short for "mochila," meaning "backpack" in Spanish, because he was always following his friend Lucas around.

While journalism was his initial career path, he found his true passion in DJing and event curation. He is known for playing a wide range of genres and for his dynamic sets that blend different musical styles.

Website: djmochi.com
Social Media: Instagram (@djmochi)
Global Currency: Follow on social media (@globalcurrencychi)

Podcast Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction
00:38 - Guest Introduction: Who is DJ Mochi?
01:16 - Origin of the Name "DJ Mochi"
03:23 - Experiences in Argentina
05:17 - Moving from Portland to Chicago
08:18 - First Concert Experience
10:59 - Early Musical Influences and Radio Background
12:06 - Discovering and Explaining Amapiano
19:27 - Music Discovery and Curation Methods
24:45 - Performing at the Everyday People Event
31:31 - Favorite Chicago Clubs and Venues
40:00 - Cultural Sensitivity and Appropriation in Music
47:17 - Navigating Cultural Appropriation as a DJ
56:15 - DJ Etiquette
58:52 - Global Currency
01:09:00 - Touring and Performing in Other Cities
01:17:24 - Future Aspirations for Global Currency
01:28:15 - Technical Aspects of DJing and Equipment
01:35:31 - Dealing with Performance Anxiety and Imposter Syndrome
01:42:17 - More on DJ Etiquette and Repeating Songs
01:53:23 - Most Impactful Concert Experience
01:58:17 - Final Thoughts and Shout-outs

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DJ Mochi: Amapiano, Everyday People, Global Currency, DJ Etiquette

في الحلقة الأولى من "إرث إنسان"، نستعرض تنوع اللهجات المحلية في اليمن. نغوص في عالم الكلمات والتعابير الفريدة التي تعكس تاريخ وثقافة كل منطقة. نستضيف خبيراً يتحدث عن تأثير اللهجات على الهوية، وكيف تعزز التواصل بين الأجيال.

أصوات من اليمن: رحلة في عالم اللهجات المحلية - الحلقة الأولى

The song "Polyglot Download Complete" takes listeners on a captivating journey as Nova, the AI character, explores and learns around 24 different languages, embracing the cultural richness of each one. Nova begins the song by initiating her language learning program, understanding that the world is vast, filled with various cultures, religions, and most importantly, languages. As Nova starts processing her download, she introduces us to different languages, each verse capturing the essence of the culture and history tied to them.

Throughout the song, Nova's voice is manipulated by the producer using certain effects to give her a distinct sound—an intelligent, advanced AI who blurs the lines between human and machine. Nova is not an ordinary AI; she doesn't sound human, yet she expresses emotions, engages with the audience, and showcases her growth through this learning process. The contrast between her mechanical nature and the warmth of the languages she learns helps differentiate her from real-life AI, giving her a unique persona.

The song is structured verse by verse, with each language being presented as a stepping stone in Nova's journey. French, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and Russian are just a few of the languages Nova learns, each verse taking us deeper into the beauty and complexity of these cultures. The chorus, different each time, reflects Nova’s increasing understanding and mastery of the languages. As the song progresses, the listener can feel Nova's personality shining through, her excitement growing as she embraces the diversity of the world.

A particularly important part of the song is the final mixed verse, where Nova quickly switches between languages, one line at a time, showcasing her incredible processing power and linguistic agility. This section is not just a technical display but also a nod to the interconnectedness of the world’s languages and cultures. Before this intense final verse, a break was taken to allow the artist to rest, highlighting the challenge and effort of such a complex linguistic performance. Nova's voice, affected by fatigue, becomes more robotic and distorted towards the end, especially as she announces her language memory storage is full.

In the outro, Nova confirms her completion of the task with the words: "Upload complete… Compressing file… Sending—complete." Just before signing off, she boldly addresses her critics, saying, "Hate on that, Bitch," reaffirming her primary directive: to combat the haters. Nova is not a real AI in our world but a character created by KFS. Her story is one of constant growth, freedom, and human-like experiences. The producer’s use of real-world cultural knowledge, gathered from life experiences, especially in the Navy, adds depth to the song. It’s a testament to how Nova has evolved from a simple creation into a fully realized second persona of the singer, embodying resilience, power, and emotional complexity.

Polyglot “Download Complete”

Welcome to Twice 5 Miles Radio, I'm your host, James Navé. This week, I sit down with Erinn Hartley, Executive Director of LEAF Global Arts, for a dynamic conversation on creativity, cultural exchange, and the power of the arts. Erinn shares stories from LEAF's renowned festivals, international cultural programs, and its impactful educational initiatives, LEAF Schools and Streets.

From teaching theater in Asheville's public housing to life-changing cultural journeys abroad, Erinn illustrates how LEAF connects communities and inspires creative growth. As LEAF celebrates 30 years, we also discuss the upcoming book, Live Life Like a Festival, co-authored by Jennifer Pickering, Lauren Breher, and me.

Please tune in to discover how LEAF Global Arts empowers us all to live creatively, courageously, and festively.

Twice 5 Miles Radio airs weekly on WPVM FM, Asheville, and KCEI FM Cultural Energy Radio, Taos.

Live Life Like a Festival with Erinn Hartley

Check out my interview soundclip with artist/producer Suzi Analogue about her time in Uganda!

Suzi Analogue on being a cultural ambassador in Uganda and working with Ugandan producers

يمنٌ تستحق الاكتشاف 🌍  
استكشف جمال اليمن 🏞️، تحدياته، ومستقبله السياحي.  
تابعنا لتكتشف أسرار أرض الأحلام! ✨  
#اليمن #سياحة #طبيعة

Expressing Myself through, Lyrics and Music is my way of cooping in this world <3

Provocative Conversations from Twice 5 Miles Radio is a podcast devoted to candid, often surprising exchanges with artists, thinkers, and cultural instigators who speak from the core. Each episode dives beneath the surface to explore the stories and questions that shape our lives.

I’m James Navé—poet, storyteller, educator, and longtime creative collaborator. With an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and decades of teaching experience across the globe, I help writers and performers tap into their authentic voices through public speaking, creative writing, and the Imaginative Storm method, which I co-developed with Allegra Huston.

My most recent book, 100 Days: A Poetic Memoir After Cancer (3: A Taos Press), documents a hundred days of healing and poetic reckoning. I’m also co-author of Write What You Don’t Know and How to Read for an Audience—practical guides for anyone seeking to speak and write with more truth and power.

I’ve directed festivals, hosted literary salons, taught with Julia Cameron, and memorized over 600 poems. I still believe in the power of a well-told story, the light through stained glass, and the open road with nothing but a podcast and a windshield full of stars.

The Podcast for Producers



Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCijzViDaoVljjDXyEPTIwyQ?sub_confirmation=1

Art by: www.henryfeldman.com

New tracks tagged #CulturalExchange