Meet Maris | DJ

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

Hi Maris, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One of my favorite affirmations is a line from Big Sean’s song “Why Would I Stop?” when he says “I never listen to what the odds say, why when the universe respond to what I say?” Big Sean has been one of my favorite artists growing up as I’ve gained lots of wisdom and confidence from his music. This line specifically reminds me to bet on myself and that my own belief and confidence in myself can carry me far in life. Even if the odds are stacked up against me, as long as I and the universe are for me, then I’m going to carry that with me in any situation AND make the best of it.

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.
I’ve always loved music growing up. Making my own playlists was a form of me curating vibes with handpicked songs I felt conveyed the message the best. I remember a moment when I was driving my family around listening to my favorite Soundcloud songs at the time saying “When I’m a DJ, these are the songs I’m going to mix.” Fast forward to the beginning of COVID and being in quarantine, I felt that was the perfect moment for me to finally buy my own controller and start experimenting. As my knowledge and music library grew, I had fun testing out different sounds and seeing what felt best. Although I love keeping other people in mind when I record mixes or perform sets, ultimately I love playing the music I want to hear because my passion radiates out into the music. It wasn’t easy getting to where I am now. It took humility, dedication, and practice, practice, practice. I’ve learned to welcome feedback, find sources of learning and inspiration, and also read the crowd to keep them vibing. As Maris, I want to continue curating sets that make people feel good and let loose. Music is a powerful tool and magic that I express myself through and when someone reaches out to me telling me they enjoyed my music or that I’m doing a good job, it makes me feel amazing and further solidify that I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was in the city, I’m making sure they have a great experience from start to finish. Some places I’d take them to eat are AYCE Gogi for some bomb Korean bbq, Nat’s Early Bite for some family-owned breakfast food, and Kopan to enjoy ramen and sushi in a Japanese-village environment. To get some drinks going, I’d take them to Holiday Bar to enjoy a sip while good music plays or NoBar to play some music on the jukebox while lounging out. Other hang out spots would be La Brea for some shopping or Universal Studios for some good theme park fun. I’d also introduce them to lots of my friends because things are better when experienced together.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my Shoutout to my family, my partner George, and my friends. Specifically, I want to shoutout my father who has nourished my love for music by always showing me new tunes across many genres. He has dabbled in DJing himself and that carried over to me. He’s always honest with his feedback on my mixes and the tough love is appreciated. My partner George is who really kicked off my DJing journey. Being a DJ himself, he took me on as a student and I’ve grown tremendously since. His unwavering support and love keeps me going.

Website: beacons.ai/bbmaris

Instagram: bb.maris

Other: SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/bbmaris

Image Credits
Bonita Music Radio