Kelvin Vo
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September 20, 2024
Editorial. One of our senior editors at AAPI Chronicles, Kelvin, shares insight on how music, particularly DJing, has been a constant source of inspiration, creativity, and community in his life. It's a journey marked by personal growth, cultural exploration, and a deep-seated love for sharing music with others.
Music has been an integral part of my life from my earliest memories. As a child, I eagerly requested my parents to blast the radio during car rides. Through the years, I explored various instruments such as piano, violin, double bass, guitar, and ukulele. However, it wasn’t until I attended a concert by one of my favorite electronic artists that my entire perspective on music shifted. Surrounded by a sea of fans who all knew the music and lyrics, I realized the unique power of music to unify people. With encouragement from a close friend, I immersed myself in learning how to DJ during my time at UCI, driven by a desire to create similar shared experiences for others.
Initially, my passion for DJing stemmed from the satisfaction of getting crowds to sing and cheer along to the tracks I spun. Yet, with growing experience, I came to appreciate the complexities of the craft. A DJ is fundamentally a music curator, not just satisfying audience expectations but also broadening horizons by introducing unexpected tracks. Shaping a DJ set involves creating a balance of familiarity and danceability, providing a platform for discovering new and intriguing sounds. DJing offers endless creative opportunities, allowing me to explore unexpected mixes while maintaining smooth transitions. Along this journey, I found my love for house music—the genre's pulsating rhythm, layered vocals, basslines, and drums resonate deeply with my appreciation for subtlety and the dance floor.
As a medical student, DJing has become an essential aspect of my life, providing me with a creative outlet and a much-needed break from academic demands. Moving to New Orleans for school has shifted my perspective as both a music enthusiast and DJ. Coming from Los Angeles, a vibrant cultural hub near my hometown, I witnessed how house music thrives with a large audience. In contrast, New Orleans, while owning a rich musical heritage as the birthplace of jazz, offers a narrower niche for electronic music, including house music. Despite initial challenges in a different musical landscape, I discovered pockets within the city that embrace and celebrate house music, quickly making me feel at home. I've also actively sought out opportunities to share music within New Orleans. Through DJing, I've found a unique way to connect with my new community, especially my classmates, while fostering memorable moments of music and bringing people together.
Kelvin, a medical student at Tulane University, enjoys expressing his passion for music through the art of DJing.
kvo5@tulane.edu
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At AAPI Chronicles: Voices in Medicine, we are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where the AAPI medical community can share their stories, celebrate their achievements, and advocate for a more equitable and compassionate healthcare system.
