Today we’d like to introduce you to Casie Farrell.
Hi Casie, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
People oftentimes ask me, “what inspired you start DJ’ing?” and my answer is always, “well, I went to Berlin!” If you know anything about techno, you know that Berlin is very well known for its techno scene and home to world-renowned clubs where you can dance from sunrise to sunset. Previous to that trip, I had very little knowledge of EDM music other than the David Guetta’s and Steve Aoki’s of the world, and if you knew me back in the day, then you know that I only listened to hip-hop, and you could always catch me at the hip-hop clubs in Houston. But my experience in Berlin changed me and my perspective on music forever. The energy in the room, the pulsating music, and the ability that the DJ had to captivate the crowd through the music; I had never seen anything like it, and I wanted more.
The moment that I returned from my trip, I hoped to find a place that could match the energy and vibe of Berlin, but in Dallas, so I reached out to a friend who I knew was interested in electronic music, and he introduced me to the infamous, It’ll Do club, where I’ll never forget I saw my now favorite DJ, Anna Lunoe. As a DJ, she had the ability to create an environment where people could let loose, forget about their woes, and just dance, and in that moment, I knew I wanted to immerse myself more in the electronic music world.
Long before my trip to Berlin or I’ll Do, I was introduced, not literally, but musically, to DJ Souljah. It was at Candleroom, on my birthday, where me and my friends danced on all night long. I recall thinking, “he’s a great, DJ,” and proceeded to look him up on Instagram and add him. Little did I know that years later, that adding Souljah would change my life, as one night I recalled seeing him post an ad for The DJ School Dallas. I looked into the details immediately and realized that unfortunately at the time I couldn’t afford to enroll. Not long after that, he posted a contest, where the winner was awarded a free semester at DJ school. So, I entered, crossed my fingers, and won, and the rest is history!
Soon after my enrollment in The DJ School Dallas, COVID hit, the DJ school became virtual, and I proceeded to do weekly livestreams and learn as much as I could about DJ’ing. As I became more immersed in the DJ world, even virtually, I fell more and more in love with DJ’ing, the music, and the people that I would meet along the way.
Lastly, I owe a shout-out and a huge THANK YOU to so many people who have supported me, cheered me on, put me on stage, and empowered me along my journey, and I am forever grateful to each and every person who has stood by my side during the past 2.5 years. I couldn’t have done it by myself, and I am grateful to have you in my corner.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I find that nothing in life worth doing, is usually a smooth road all of the time, and that’s just life! If I’m being honest, there are always moments of doubt, wondering if you are good enough, or if your set was adequate and you definitely worry about people judging you, especially being a female. However, overall, I feel that struggles are a part of the journey. If you don’t struggle or make mistakes, then you never learn. I have made a ton of mistakes throughout the past two and a half years, and I wouldn’t take any of them back because I learned from every single one. Ranging from pausing the wrong deck during a show so there is a moment of silence, to putting the song on the deck that is playing so the song playing randomly switches, or even clearing the dance floor; it has all happened and happens to most DJ’s. Mistakes and struggles are a part of the process of becoming a more confident and more well-versed DJ. Every single set that I play I take away something that I would do differently, and I’ll never stop doing that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Who is DJ Casie Farrell? I am a DJ who is most known for my funky, tech house and techno sets. I have a passion for filling the room with positive energy and providing a musical journey for the audience. I have only been playing for 2.5 years, but during that time I have played all over Texas, Oklahoma, NYC, and in clubs, hotels, restaurants, and private parties.
I’m not very great at saying what I’m proud of when it comes to myself, but if I were to mention something or moments that I’m proud of, there are two that come to mind. First, being given the opportunity to DJ in New York City. This moment for me was a pivotal and full-circle moment in my life. In 2008-2011 I lived in New York City, and in 2011, I moved back to my hometown of Houston due to personal reasons, but I always wanted to return and felt that I didn’t quite do NYC right when I lived there. I have returned almost yearly since moving away, but if you know me then you know that I am still a New Yorker at heart. This past trip, I was honored to have so many of my friends fly to NYC to come see me play. A year previous to me playing in NYC, I was visiting, and took a photo in front of Brooklyn Mirage (a world-renowned electronic music venue) and posted on Instagram, ‘I’ll be back NYC, but to play next time”, and one year later, I made it happen. I finally felt like did NYC in the way that I wasn’t able to when I lived there. It was an incredible moment for me, and the fact that I was able to share it with my friends, was just the cherry on top.
Another moment that I will never forget and am particularly proud of, is DJ’ing at Burning Man. This again was a very full-circle moment for me. Going to Burning Man has been a dream of mine for over 10 years. It’s not just a, you get a ticket and you go, type of event. It takes a ton of preparation, taking a significant time off of work, it can get very pricey, and finding a ticket is like finding gold. During COVID, I had plans to make it happen, but it was cancelled, so instead, I took a trip to California, drove from San Diego to San Francisco, and participated in a Burning Man event at the beach in San Francisco where Burning Man originated. As soon as Burning Man came back, I had no doubt in my mind that I would make it happen. And so, I did! And not only did I get to experience Burning Man, I was able to DJ there 3 times. The experience itself was very eye-opening, I learned a lot about my resilience, and my ability to persevere, not only in the harsh climate but while DJ’ing there. The power went out probably 5 times in my first set, the second set I followed after an incredibly famous DJ and cleared the dance floor, and the third, I just got out of a dust storm and was mentally and physically exhausted. All in all, it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but that is life. Nothing always goes as planned, and you have to take it as it comes and take it for what it was, and what it was, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget. And as they always say, you the Burn that you need, not necessarily the Burn that you want.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
1. Be YOU because YOU is what will make you unique and stand out.
2. Go out and network. Meeting people, just as any career, will get you far or at least further.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask people for help or if you can play. The worst they will say is no, and then you just come back later and try again.
4. And on that note, BE PERSISTENT!
5. Never stop learning.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/casiefarrell1
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/casiefarrell1
- SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/casiefarrell
Image Credits
Peter Hsiao
Mike Brooks
Chilly Media
