1. Can you use three to five words to describe our generation?
Narcissistic, Brave, Understanding, Dreamers
2. Selfies: Thoughts?
I’m for it, I love selfies! I’m encouraging of it, there are maybe some people that shouldn’t be posting the same picture every single day, but I think we’re only in this life once and if you love yourself so much that you want to post as many times as you want, then go for it!
3. Who or what is your biggest motivator in life?
A lot of the reason I do everything that I do - I”m the oldest of three and my dad passed when I was young, I was 13 and I kind of became the man of the house. I think a lot of my drive comes from wanting to show my brother and sister that as long as you put in the work and make sure you’re nice to people, dedicated, and love what you do, there’s no reason why you can't have everything you want.
4. Do you believe in love?
Oh yeah, totally! There’s different kinds of love. There’s love for that special someone in your life, there’s love in different parts of your life like your family, and the friendships you can have with people. I think that’s a love, you always have those core friendships where you have two to three people you know are always going to be there for you and that’s love.
5. What’s something you think people assume of you based on your internet persona?
I feel like people probably think if they go on my Instagram they would probably think, “Oh he’s a model, he’s relying on his body.” But I don’t take it seriously and that’s why I continue to do it, because it’s fun and I don’t take it seriously. If people see my Twitter, they see that I’m pushing a lot of my music stuff.
6. Do you volunteer? Why?
I have. Not recently, but I’ve done a lot of private charity events and I never got paid for them, didn’t ask to get paid, and I’ve donated here and there. If I see something I’m passionate about, if I have it, I’ll do it. I’m more of a quiet advocate for things, I’ll donate something or do an event and no one has to know about it.
7. Do you think you’re represented in things you consume? (TV, Movies, Books, etc.)
I think recently, a little bit more for sure. I think a lot of the reason why I’m attracted to white boys is because I was told to be attracted to them, that’s not my fault, this is a deep rooted society’s push for us to like that.
8. Who or what brings you the greatest joy in your life?
I find a lot of joy in the people that I have in my life. If I could just be with my good friends that know me in and out. If I could be with those people all the time, that’s all I need.
9. Is college overrated?
I think so, because I’m proof of it. I didn’t go to college, I went for two semesters, I got good grades, but I was there and I felt like I wasn’t learning anything. The only thing I really loved in college were my writing classes which makes sense because that’s what I do. But where I’m at DJing and writing for Billboard, Just Jared, and doing freelance - all that didn’t come from me having a degree, it came from hard work and a love for everything and that’s how it came and I did it all by myself, nobody took my hand and told me what to do, I just did it.
10. Would you rather have security or fulfillment in your work?
It’s always been about the fulfillment, I could care less about money. So with DJing, not every night is the best, especially when you do it for a while. But there have been nights where I’ve done a new party or gig and people the whole time are dancing, and there’s this excitement and joy, their hands are in the air, and they left knowing they had a good time. For those couple minutes, they didn’t think about anything else but having fun in that moment is insanely fulfilling for me. I’ve left gigs, got into a cab, and smiled.
11. What do you want out of this life?
I want to do everything that I'm capable of doing. Like RuPaul says, “Play with all of the colors.” I truly live by that.
12. What would you say is your biggest character flaw?
There’s a part of me that’s very sensitive so as much as I am a confident person and I like to carry myself a certain way, I’m not open to critique sometimes and I don’t like that, and I’m working on that. If someone has something to say about what I do, I kind of take it to heart and I could get a little angry in response.
13. Would you consider yourself entitled?
I can be, but more so if I’m putting in the work, I’m very entitled in what I deserve. I’m proud of what I do, I didn’t come out of the woodwork and start doing this and began asking for things. I’m entitled in that I know my worth, but I don’t expect things from people, or that because I’m me that I should be this or that. I just know my worth.
14. Who is someone you consider to be a voice of our generation?
Tyler Oakley I think is great and I have so much respect for him. I’ve met him and he’s the kindest. He does good things and not just for himself but for the community. He’s put in a lot of work and you can’t take that away from him, he has all the receipts.
15. What are qualities that you value?
Humility, Empathy, Understanding, Kindness, Self-Awareness
16. What are your thoughts on the dating landscape in today’s culture?
I just know based on living in Jersey and New York, but the problem with being a gay man in New York City is that we’re everywhere, the options are endless, and people are always looking for the next best thing. I hear it with my friends and I’m guilty of it myself, where I’ve met someone who I really connected with, but I’m like, “there’s this other guy over there that’s giving me attention!” So why are we looking at people in that way? It should come down to a connection. I think with the Grindrs and Tinders, it’s easy for people to find the next best thing and no one is really consuming what’s in front of their eyes.
17. What do you hope 30 will look like?
I want to be able to travel DJing, to have my own parties where my name is over the helm of it. I want to keep doing what I love and continually embracing myself in every aspect and challenge myself nonstop.
18. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?
High standards, low expectations.
19. What’s the hardest lesson you’ve had to learn?
Being okay with letting people go.
20. What is the best piece of advice you want to leave the world with?There’s magic in letting yourself be yourself and blossom.
