Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Gomez.
Hi Joshua, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My name is Joshua Ray Gomez. I go by Dj J-Goodiez or just Goodiez. I am prior service and a US Army Veteran with the 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas. I got out of the army in 2011 and when I moved back home I would go see my cousin & best friend who was djing in downtown Austin then. He was the one who got me to start learning how to Dj to help me find something that I was missing in my life at the time. I always had a love of music but didn’t have anything in my life since leaving the military that made me whole, and when I started learning and then became my own dj I found it in that. So since 2011 I have been playing in venues all over the city and still am growing my brand and my skills everyday! I have had the honor of playing in fun and new places, meeting and working with some of the best in the industry and now am booking and helping others find work to further their careers. Its been a amazing 15 years in this game and I look forward to the years to come.
Honestly without my family (My Grandparents Ray & Yolanda Gomez, My Mother Mary Lou Gomez, and My Cousin and one of my bestfriends Jason Hernandez) believing in me from the beginning and helping me always stay on the path I wouldn’t be where I am today. I can truly say that I am proud to do what I do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Things haven’t always been easy. As with any business things don’t always work out. Venues close, management want to try something new, a pandemic like Covid kills work. Its what you do in the now that makes you come back stronger. When the pandemic hit and I wasn’t able to go back to work as a DJ i went and got a couple of jobs to keep myself afloat until we were able to resume work. I can honestly say that I stay consistent with work cause I love going out, meeting new people, shaking hands with owners, managers, bartenders, door staff and even regulars in establishments cause they are gonna be the ones who spread your name around and the reputation you have built. My failures in life and my career have made me work harder to keep doing better and always wanting to do so much more.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a DJ I specialize in playing many different styles and genres of music. I pride myself on learning new kinds of music and staying tapped in not only with people who are younger than me but also those who are older so that i’m able to curate a vibe that everyone can enjoy. I love being able to set myself apart from others because I love getting to manipulate music and see what kinds will go together and create something beautiful. There is something truly special and amazing when you can get these in the moment happy reactions from a crowd or groups of people and know you just did something they will remember. I am proud in the fact that I am able to play not only the music my grandparents loved, the music my mother loves but also the stuff I love as well and blend it all together to come up with something to make me sound different from my peers. It’s a running joke around my DJ friends that I am widely known for playing alot of what we call EDITS, and I love that I do because it truly makes me sound different from everyone else.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
When I first started the chips were stacked against me. I wasn’t sure if DJing was going to be able to keep me whole to pay my bills, take care of myself in general. I wasn’t sure If I was going to be good enough to last for as long as I have. I learned that being professional and giving %100 even on those days where it feels like its hard to give it matters! My grandpa once wrote on a piece of paper after a long day of him being at his job, Ideas for Josh to use Djing at home or gigs. 1: change the background to black background with large catchwords like BAM! POW! ” LET’S GET IT ON!”. 2: Wear white gloves, white mask & a white derby hat!. 3: BE UNIQUE!!! STANDOUT!!!. He was able to see the potential in things even before I did. Those have not left me ever since.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jgoodiezatx
