By Polina Smith
COVID-19 is impacting all types of artists. It’s forcing them to get creative, get online, get on video, and reconnect with their family and friends in whatever ways they can. Seismic Sisters recently caught up with DJ heyLove* to find out how she is using Buddhist principles as she continues to be a DJ, artist, teacher, and mother during this time.
DJ heyLove* spinning at inaugural ‘She the People’ summit held in the Julia Morgan Ballroom, San Francisco. Photo by Tumay Aslay
What were you up to before the Coronavirus shut down live events in San Francisco? What kind of gigs did you have on the calendar?
DJ heyLove*: I had your ‘Seismic Power Shift’ conference, for one, which I was always really excited about! For Thousand Currents, a nonprofit that does work globally, I was supposed to do an event in June. And then wedding time was coming up. All of them have been postponed right now. I had a few corporate events, too. And then, of course, I have my residency at the Virgin Hotel three or four times a month. I also have a residency at Charmaine’s, which is a rooftop bar on top of the Proper Hotel in the city. I even had a kid’s party that was supposed to be in the city!
You had so much work lined up, yet you seem to be in bright spirits. I’m curious how have you been navigating this time?
I was a full-time DJ. I lost all my work. I had a couple of side jobs that I was doing at the time. I’m a trainer at a kickboxing gym and I also teach DJ lessons at Guitar Center. So those are my two little side jobs. But, I lost those as well because of Coronavirus business impacts. So I’m basically jobless.
That’s definitely a hardship that hit home. Luckily, I saved a little for a rainy day. My husband is a full-time photographer. He is doing his ‘Shelter and Love’ social distancing photo project, which has been bringing some income because people have been giving him donations.
Not having Angel, my eight-year-old, in school has definitely been a challenge. He has two other brothers, but they don’t live with us at the moment. So he has no siblings to play with. I took on the role of mommy, play buddy and teacher. So that was a struggle for the first few weeks. We’re finally getting into the rhythm of doing schoolwork at home. That was difficult for a minute - to stay sane through it all - and I miss my family. I miss my friends and most everybody that I work with. Just that alone is also a struggle — to not be in the community.
But I’m still in good spirits and I credit that to my Buddhist practice. We have our prayers and chanting. That has been helping me a lot — the spiritual meditation. It’s also about taking action. And if you’re not using your whole being and taking action to contribute to our created value, then you’re not really living to your highest potential. And that’s the whole point of a living being, a human being.
People have stressors inside, and they take it out in their home, environment, and things like that. But in order to keep the family harmony, you have to realize what’s real. And what’s real is that we’re alive, right? And that we’re well. That we’re together with one another. I pray for time with my family because I never really had enough time for my family. I was so busy working. And now I have it. So there are blessings everywhere.
There’s always something to be grateful for. My practice of having gratitude every day for being here has gotten me through these tough times.
If you’re not okay inside, you can’t be there for anybody else. I really feel like it’s important that we all find a way to keep it together inside so that we can keep it together outside. I have a little home gym on my deck, and I’ve been making sure to work out at least three times a week.
But I am so itching to DJ right now, I need to get into my music! Like I said, my spiritual practice has helped me remain happy inside. I’ve definitely been praying for the opportunity to hopefully bring some light to people and to DJ - I think that’s also going to help my spirit a lot.
DJ heyLove* spinning at a nightclub in San Francisco. Photo source: DJ heyLove*
What role can the artist play?
This is going to be the time for artists to really shine through digital media. I’ve been seeing so many dancers, producers, vocalists, and DJs going live online, and it’s been awesome. The role of artists is to continue to remain creative and contributing beauty, keeping up that energy and positivity. Even if we can’t do it directly, at least we can do it live somehow on social media. It’s important for us to keep expressing ourselves and to keep wanting to give that to people.
Recently, I have become a Content Creator & Official Partner for TikTok’s Creative Learning Fund, which encourages education during the COVID-19 pandemic. From July 1st - August 31st I will produce 40 videos. People can follow me on TikTok @glowinglotus where I will post a series dedicated to sharing ‘Ways to Light Up Your Life’ with the purpose of keeping you “ALL GLOWED UP”! I’ve also created a brand new IG account where people can follow me @stillglowinglotus, where I hope to inspire and encourage you to elevate your life force. I’m also providing LIVE streaming DJ entertainment services for online gatherings, jumping on this trend.
Some people are sheltered by themselves and don’t have family that they live with or a roommate. It brings light and human connection when there’s somebody dancing or performing or playing music online. You can still feel that energy when people are doing it. Artists are here to bring life and light and beauty. It’s very important that we keep doing it because right now can be really dark. I think all of us have artists in us. This is the time to awaken the artist inside of us!
That’s so beautiful!
Of course, like my husband with his photo project — this is history happening to people right now, not just documenting what’s on the news, but documenting the people. Just everyday people who are also being affected somehow by this pandemic.
What would your message be to young artists right now?
Keep creating because if you’re creating your art form, you’re creating more than just art. You’re creating some sort of emotion. You’re creating freedom. You’re creating hope. You’re creating beauty. You’re creating love.
The youth are what’s going to change the world. There’s some youth out there that are going to find some way to be reliable and revolutionary with their art forms and to really teach us as older people or teach the younger generation after them what is most important in life. We could get lost in everyday tasks and duties and our jobs and paying bills and all that, but art gives us a moment to stop and really reflect. For the youth, the art form needs to turn into something that’s revolutionary. That is going to change our way of thinking and the way the world is right now.
It’s really up to them because I think that COVID is teaching us a whole lot of things that I don’t think our world would see unless this happened. I truly believe that everything has profound meaning. This pandemic is showing us that we are all connected. One person can impact the world in a positive way. I feel like the youth right now - experiencing this at their age - hopefully, they will be able to create their art form to express a revolution of thought.
Stay up-to-date with DJ heyLove*:
Website: www.djheylove.com
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/heylove-1
IG: @djheylove and @stillglowinglotus
Twitter: @djheylove
FB: www.facebook.com/djheylove/
TikTok: @glowinglotus
This interview was lightly edited for clarity.
Polina Smith is the Executive Director of Crescent Moon Theater Productions creating original, thought provoking new work that spans across the disciplines of theater, dance, music and circus. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Inquiry from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Smith is an art event producer for Bioneers and Seismic Sisters.