KAREN LOUVIERE a.K.A
”DJ Kaykay47”
DJ + ARTIVIST + MSW
BRONX, NEW YORK
Contact: djkaykay47@gmail.com
Check out her Instagram, along with her BEAUTIFUL portfolio for more of her work!
“Dare to be different.”
5 favorite musical artists of all time?
This was hard to write as I wish to include more lol:
Missy Elliot
Chaka Khan
Teena Marie
Busta Rhymes
Whitney Houston
What inspires you?
My taste in music is inspired by my family. As the youngest of 6 and with my parents' generation, I was introduced to music genres such as jazz, disco, funk, dancehall, House, Underground Hip Hop, Mainstream Hip Hop, and pop. And while growing up in The Bronx, some of my homies introduced me to salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton and more. But it wasn't until I started attending the West Indian Day parade when I became a huge fan of soca, Zouk, and Konpa.
I also tend to play music for people to feel liberated. Some folks may condemn Twerking, however, I look at Twerking as a form of liberation. And so New Orleans Bounce is definitely in the rotation.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Dare to be different.
What industry blogs/websites/podcasts do you enjoy?
https://rockandsoul.com , https://ra.co/features/3986
What do you think the future holds for people of color in creative industries?
I think that we are constantly growing. And it's definitely needed.
What is your dream job?
DJ-ing all over the world and impacting millions of people through my craft, while creating my own work schedule. Also, working from a beach lol.
What skill(s) would you develop if you had more time?
Music production skills.
What is the last thing you learned?
How to use the effects button on the Pioneer DJM-900NXS2 Professional Dj Mixer. As a creative, it's important that we learn everyday.
What are you working on right now?
Right now, I am prepping for a May 2022 Tour in Colombia with Audry Funk and AQ the God. I am also in the process of developing a DJ workshop series for girls in The Bronx.
If you could talk to your favorite creative for an hour, who would it be? Why?
I would talk to Kaytranada. He is such an inspiration to me. The way his music flows through my body and makes me dance is insane( in a great way). I remember when I first saw him live at AfroPunk '18 and honestly, that was my favorite part of the night. I would love to collaborate with him in the future too!
What advice would you give to creatives of color looking to pursue their passion full-time?
Remember to trust the process and keep evolving. A flower doesn't grow in a day. One of the ingredients to growing a flower are rainy days. We all have them.
How do you keep your creative drip going?
Through being around other creatives who inspire me. And by listening to music and grounding myself through meditation and affirmations. Reminding myself that creativity is the cure to my mental and physical health.
Contact: djkaykay47@gmail.com
Check out her Instagram, along with her BEAUTIFUL portfolio for more of her work!