Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Luznar.
Hi Amanda, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a DJ, producer….with a focus on electronic music… I have had the most wonderful teacher I could ask for in this journey. This man put in hours of dedicated time every day for weeks (while I was pregnant with our son) to teach me how to be a great DJ. My Husband John Wayne who I first met a decade ago, taught me the foundations of what it means to be a DJ and put on great events. He has been in the industry for over 15 years, as a DJ, and event producer. It was not long after he taught me that we were DJing together publicly and formed our brand Team Umami. (Side dish…. we came up with the name Team Umami while sitting together at a Cheeba Hut in Arizona. Umami is one of the five basic tastes, that many people don’t know about… It means “savory and delicious!” Since my husband and I like to play a wide variety of vibes, we found the name Team Umami to be a perfect reflection of our eclectic and delicious style.) I was kind of thrown into the booth before I felt I was “ready enough,” but at the beginning, my husband was right there beside me at every show, so if I ever needed help, he could jump in and save the day.
As I got more comfortable moving around the equipment, and more familiar with the music, he began to let me have the spotlight more and would step away from the DJ booth from time to time to help me feel more confident Djing by myself. I think that is one of the biggest factors that led to my success… Put me in a position where I either “figure it out” and “keep the vibe going strong” … or trainwreck in front of a crowd full of people just trying to have a good time. Needless to say, I learned how to “figure it out” pretty quickly. We played at clubs in Vegas, Arizona, and Texas, and a few festivals before moving to the DFW area to raise our family.
My enthusiasm was supercharged after gaining confidence from successful SXSW showcases and the various shows we played across the state. Then everything moved into fast-forward during the pandemic, I created the “Baelien” brand with my husband’s help. At this point, my desire to create and grow was strong…Surely this feeling was flowing through many in society, with so many out of work. and looking for ways to spend their time. John and I were doing live stream sets or “virtual concerts” for our friends and trying to keep our focus on producing and mixing music while we waited for the world to come back online.
As things were starting to return to the “new normal”… I launched my solo brand and was connecting with people and playing shows all over, except this time I knew what I was doing and could really “have fun” with the crowd and every show was fueling my passion and drive. I am always really comfortable and in my element or “happy place” when I’m behind the Dj booth now, and I owe that to my husband for leaving me to learn to do so, our parents and family for helping to watch our son Atlas when we had shows, and for God helping me to see the vision and not be afraid. I play music to get all my emotions out, connect with people and help them do the same.
2021 was filled with beautiful connections and friendships. My weekends were booked with shows and festivals and much of my free time was spent in the studio learning tips and tricks for my personal productions. My goal last year was to play for all the major collectives in the area, and I surpassed that and was able to play several out-of-town shows, including two out-of-state festivals. This year I plan to continue the growth and will be releasing my debut EP in a few months.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
My brother passed away unexpectedly during the pandemic and that hit me so hard, I was navigating the challenges of all the changes around, and processing the emotions from getting married, raising a child, being laid off from work, and suddenly realizing everything I took for granted. After his passing, I stayed in the studio and taught myself how to produce music through an online course. I needed to find a way to get these new and intense emotions out while keeping myself busy, and the pandemic provided the perfect opportunity for me to take that time and focus on my studies and emotional healing. I am grateful to my brother for sparking my drive to create more and really learn the tools I have to do so. I also have a lot of… social anxiety or awkwardness I guess… Being a DJ really helps me overcome that and gives me a great way to start a conversation with someone. No matter how nervous I feel, I say a little prayer and jump on stage, as soon as I am there, whatever anxiety I had dissipates and I’m in my zone dancing and vibing, (with a splash of people watching… the DJ booth is a great place for people watching.)
Oooh also, USB’s and quarter-inch jacks…always lose them. I’ve probably lost dozens in the past couple of years. It is a real struggle but one I am working on hard.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a DJ, Producer, and classically trained musician with a passion for Electronic Dance Music. My specialty/focus is Experimental Bass music, wubs, dubs, and whatnot, although I play pretty much every genre which I think sets me apart a bit. I have played alongside headliners from quite a few genres including House, Drum and Bass, Techno, Bass, and EDM. I play everything from Riddim to Hard Techo, Organic House, and Hip- Hop, and often mix them together into my sets. Last year I played 7 festivals including Backwood’s in Arkansas and Dancefestopia in Kansas, as well as shows across Texas as direct support for headlining artists. I have played alongside Modestep, Minnesota, DirtySnatcha, Meso, Megalodon, GTA (Good Times Ahead), Wax Motif, Riot Ten, and many more legends, and recently began producing my own beats to continue growing and experiencing the culture and love that this music provides. I will be releasing my debut EP later this year, with a few singles along the way. My brand is all about being weird, having confidence in who you are, and spreading love and light.
I believe in God and have a connection with Him through music and spirit. God saved my life and music was a huge vessel for that change in my life and in learning His love for me. I pray before every show and all throughout the day for guidance and joy to fill my life…and it does. I would not be where I am today without God’s help and guidance and am so honored to have the opportunity to share that love in an unconventional way with the people around me. Encouraging and uplifting others is one job we are all tasked with, and I feel music is a way to speak to people on a different level that is very therapeutic and can absolutely encourage and uplift people. God has placed in my heart a desire to speak light into people’s lives, wherever they are at, (with a passion for the heart of the electronic dance community,) and given me joy that withstands all this crazy world throws at us.
I still Dj with my husband as Team Umami, play solo shows as Baelien, and look forward to what the future holds for us and the opportunity to impact the masses. I am enjoying life, my calling, and the connections I make as I journey through it with my family and community. I do this because I love doing this, and seeing the joy it brings others.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I have had the best teacher ….my husband John Wayne I have always had a passion for connecting with people, and music is one of my favorite ways of making connections. When I was in school, I often found myself interested in the arts and was involved with the school orchestra and church band playing violin, drums, guitar, as well as a member of the school’s choir, and Colorguard/Dance team. I love music and the movement it creates, Music transcends the boundaries of language and culture. It can speak to the soul and breathe life into people…Music can change the energy of a single person or an entire crowd. Music has power. For me, a big part of that power was being able to express myself, and my emotions in a way that words alone couldn’t. No matter how I was feeling, it seemed there was a song that expressed that, and understanding that sparked my love and admiration of songwriting. I grew up blessed with loving parents and two amazing brothers that were born with medical conditions that caused them to be unable to speak, grow, and learn the way most people do. They were both non-verbal and mentally delayed to the extent they would never be fully independent, and they both required around-the-clock supervision. Although I could never really speak with them the same way other people speak to their families, the connection I shared with my brothers was very deep. I had to communicate with them in some way, and for whatever reason, music seemed to be the best way to do so. We could share our happy times, or try to “get out of a mental funk” together, through the rhythms and melodies. If I wanted to make my brothers happy, I could turn on the radio and dance and watch them smile and dance with me. Music was our special way of connecting. I did have to “grow up” pretty quickly to help my parents care for these two special, amazing souls, as they had many behavioral and medical needs, but the lessons those two taught me, without speaking a word…have impressed upon my heart a need to connect and share the love that has been infused into me my whole life. A love deeper than words, that can be expressed in many different ways, without speaking.
I was always kind of a loner growing up as I helped care for my special brothers and I was “different” than most of my peers as far as the things that were important to me, or the things everyone found “strange.” I saw judgment and felt what it meant to be an outcast from a young age. I never want anyone to feel those things. Everyone should know they are loved and feel they belong, and I want my music to be a place where people can express their emotions and feel accepted and loved.
Contact Info:
- Email: baelienofficial@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baelienwubsyou/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BaelienOfficial
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/baelien
Image Credits
Meegz Photography
A Barefoot Photographer
Giulio Ferrari
Amber Allen Fevermatic
