We had the good fortune of connecting with DJ Daisy Van Tassel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DJ Daisy, what are you inspired by?
I am inspired by the pure joy and positive energy that occurs between people while they are sharing a musical experience. Music has been an impactful influence throughout my entire life. I love exploring the endless variety of sounds and feeling they way they effect my mood. And when I find a new-to-me song that I really love, the first thing that comes to mind is how much I want to share it with others. My happiest moments in life are spent behind the turntables, watching the crowd have their own experiences with music and with each other. Bringing people together to dance and celebrate and feel good together is a sacred thing to me. I love that music can inspire such beautiful human experiences.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Well, my career spinning vinyl records really began as a child, when I would go out every weekend buying random old albums at thrift stores because they fascinated me. Through this I discovered that I loved all kinds of music from all different periods of time, and not just what was popular on the radio. In my 20’s it became known in my music community that I had amassed a very eclectic collection, and a friend encouraged me to start playing those records at dance parties and bars.  It made me so happy to have a platform to share my favorite songs with others, I realized that my true calling was to help people celebrate and connect with each other through music, and I began DJing professionally.
What sets me apart from other DJs is that I get very creative with my selections due to my knowledge and love of many genres and time periods. I am not only great at putting together a unique, wide-ranging mix to keep the dance floor moving, but I can also specialize in period-specific selections for clients who want to throw a special vintage-themed event. For example, I had the honor recently of spinning a 4 hour set for a Hollywood premier of a streaming TV series of artists exclusively from the Laurel Canyon and Sunset Strip neighborhoods between the years of 1966 and 1974, to highlight the vibe and theme of the show. Another time I played 5 hours of music exclusively from the Pacific Islands spanning from the 1920s to the 1970s for an ‘Aloha Sunday’ themed party at a beautiful old-school Tiki bar. And I even take care to dress up for these kinds of parties in era-appropriate vintage clothing to complete the vibe, it’s so much fun!  While being such a ‘niche” DJ takes an incredible amount of care and planning to prepare for each gig, I have found it to be extremely rewarding, and these are the kinds of events that I hope to focus on more in the future. I am grateful that it’s my job to bring people together through music — I love it so much, and I want to share that love with the community.

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?
There are so many unique, amazing places to check out in LA! Some of my very favorite places right now are: Cakeland, The MorYork Gallery, Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Operator Vintage, Arroyo Records, The Record Parlour, The Velaslavasay Panorama and The Vintage Synthesizer Museum.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Gosh, there are so many friends and fellow artists who have supported me to pursue my dreams over the years! Honestly, too many individuals to list and explain what each did for me here. But lets just say that the local independent music scene has given me constant inspiration and encouragement to grow, learn and succeed for over 20 years. Oh, I should mention my friend Davey Bones who brought me along to his DJ gig all those years ago and insisted that I spin a few records with him — that’s what really gave me my start.  And of course, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my wonderful clients who have kept me in business over the years, allowed me the opportunity to be creative with my selections, and included me in the joy of throwing a fun party.  I feel honored every time someone thinks of me when they want to plan an event.  So Thank you Everybody!

Website: https://linktr.ee/daisy.van.tassel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj.daisy.van.tassel/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DJDaisyVanTassel/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pCSzmYlrtVY

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