Meet Angela Niblett | DJ & Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angela Niblett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angela, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, my background and upbringing was heavily influenced by family and my environment. My mom immigrated from Mexico as a child with my grandparents and her siblings, family and preserving culture was something that was emphasized. My grandfather was a Mariachi who played multiple instruments, so I grew up listening to live music at family gatherings my entire childhood, well into adulthood. We laughed, danced and sang and I carry the joy of those moments into every DJ set that I perform. Sunday dinners at the home of my paternal grandparents is where my love for R&B, soul and funk was birthed. Gathering in the den and listening to records was something that we bonded over, I can still see my grandmother sitting in her chair snapping her fingers and tapping her toes until she was finally on her feet swaying her hips. Growing up in the 90’s I fell in love with hip-hop; my father would have music videos playing often and I instantly fell in love with how fashion and hip-hop came together. You can see the imprint of the the 90’s in my nails, gold jewelry as well as my style, all of these pieces have contributed to who I am today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a DJ I feel what sets me apart is how I draw from all of my influences, as well as the energy I bring. My goal is to take the listener on a journey, connect with them and provide an experience that will not only spark joy but also allow the crowd to temporarily lose themselves in the moment. My DJ journey began at the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound where I had the pleasure of learning from some of the best DJs in the game, and simultaneously gaining a community that turned to family. 5 years in, I’m truly enjoying the journey and continuing to work on becoming a better DJ everyday. There are so many layers to DJing, from learning how to read a crowd, getting on the mic, organizing your library in a way that’s efficient, staying on top of new music, there just isn’t space to get complacent. Djing has truly changed my life, I LOVE what I do and put 100% into every event that I am a part of.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend was visiting from out of town, I would start by grabbing coffee at either Harun Coffee or South LA Cafe, we would then head over to Kenneth Hahn Park for a walk, then have a seat near the MLK monument to take in the view of the city. I would do lunch at Gracias Madre which is one of my favorite vegan restaurants, we would grab Ice cream at Bumsan in K-town. I would say to wrap up the day we would do dinner and drinks at Ka’teen. If they were staying for a week long I would definitely make sure I would take them to El Cholo’s on Western, strictly for the Margaritas and because it’s a staple in LA. There is a fish market on the corner of Western and King who’s friend fish and shrimp dinners I love, we would definitely have breakfast at Pann’s, grab some patties at Simply wholesome and make sure I took them to Hilltop for coffee at least once. We would also spend some time in Long Beach, being home to some of my favorite DJs we certainly would have to pull up and experience the nightlife there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Grandfather, Hilario Fuentes is the first impression of strength, perseverance, and the importance of authenticity that I have. He taught me to be unapologetically myself, and imprinted an appreciation of music, culture and the arts. Dorla Lamb was a second mother to me, she always encouraged me and enveloped me in unconditional love. In a world where women struggle to be seen and hold space, she showed me how to stand firm in my power and always hold my head high. My resilience is a reflection of hers.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/illmeca

Twitter: https://twitter.com/illmeca

Image Credits
LightBoxLA, CapturedByGwin