SCRATCH DJ: CONTROLLING THE PARTY

snapshots from Scratch NYC
Music has been sort of embedded in my DNA. My sister and I both sing…the piano was our number one instrument and always front and center ever since I can remember. Dancers, actors, performers…they all go way back in the Suarez clan. It’s everything that I live for…music. There’s a song for literally every memory that I have. That dance show. That time writing songs with my sister at only 10 years old. Growing up, I’d make cd’s for my friends through school, we’d exchange what we liked. There was a playlist for every single high school memory. I feel like now, actually have been in the studio, recording my own tracks, I’ve become more inspired. I want to know everything. If a song comes up at a party that grabs my attention, I easily get distracted…barely able to hold a conversation, just wanting to stop and listen. 

In NYC, I’ve gone to countless events and always, always I’ve wanted to control the party atmosphere. I want to keep discovering new and old music, blending them into one perfect mix…turning the whole room into my own little world. At Scratch DJ Academy, I’ve had a killer time. I’ve looked forward to every Monday, and am always looking at my calendar, in hopes of a spare moment that I can go on in and keeping practicing. Just putting those headphones on relax me after a super long day. The guys at Scratch are super inspiring…these men know exactly what they’re doing and you can tell, music is their love and joy…what keeps them going. It’s what tells their story..oh, and what makes you want to dance! I’m happy that now, we’re working with what music started with…actual records. Hearing the beats over and over, slowly mixing two together, adding in sounds to make the sound your own. Each class is inspiring, and new, and honestly, I miss our little crew…all together, plugged in, and in our own little world in the same room.

I’ve completed my time at Scratch, and I’m ready to just work with my own playlist. I have a very eclectic taste in music. I want to play everything from Blood Orange, to The Kills, to Solange, to The Rollings Stones, to Daft Punk, to Jay-z, and back to some Fleetwood Mac and Michael Jackson. I love my classic rock, I love my hip-hop, and I love some good soul…and I LOVE my remixes. Anything really that I can dance to, or play air guitar with. I grew up with the classics, replaying constantly in my father’s car as a child in LA with the Mamas and Papas playing in the background. Just being in NYC, I grew to love sooo soo many new genres. So many local and new budding artists that kind of mix all those elements I love into one song. Ones that i see constantly walking down Bowery. Devonte Hynes, I really do love you, I do.

So there you have it. I cannot wait till the next time I’m plugged into the turntable to DJ, but with all the people I love, and all of my friends, sharing all of my favorite upbeat tunes to get everyone whipping their hair and tapping their feet. Lord knows it will be a wild time.

See some of my guest posts now on SCRATCH’s #DJLIFE

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MANGO THE RUNWAY// 080 BARCELONA

(MANGO moto jacket, white dress, heels, and necklace, BOERA knuckle ring)
Last night was the gorgeous MANGO runway show here in Barcelona! Yes, I’ve flown all the way to Spain for my work with the MANGO team, and honestly, I’ve missed them! It’s been a while since we had our last shoot, and I am so so happy we all get to back in Barcelona together, and this time, in honor of MANGO THE RUNWAYYY! Morning of the show, I quickly picked a last minute look at the showroom, and I ended up going the super simple and classic route. There are always those nights that I crave just throwing on a great dress and jacket before run out the door. A crisp white mini and black/brown moto jacket with some rad gold hardware. And HEELS! Yes, heels, a bold red lip, and a wavy new do, fresh out of hair and makeup at my hotel. Just a short drive from our place at Placa de Cataluyna, we finally arrived at the venue. We were greeted by a sea of BLUE. The neon lights overhead made everyone look a grey-ish blue…as if we were all from another planet. Talk about wild! Just a few drinks later, we finally plopped down at our seats at the front row as the live electric guitar filled the room. The models, looking completely badass, came out in a pack. Those sheer black stockings, extra thick socks, the plaid shoes, the bold metal hardware, black sequins, and thick leather jackets. SO MUCH LOVE! It makes me want a killer rock n’ roll Fall out in Shoreditch, London. From the biker boots to the black stilleto, I loved it all. A chunky layer on top, and a slim trouser or skirt on the bottom. Perfection. The reds, blacks, and whites have me thinking it’s going to be one beautiful season to come, complete with black eyeliner and a head of messy hair. 
What I love about Barcelona is how the nights start late, and end later. After a quick mid-day nap, dinners are served around 10pm and the party doesn’t even begin till about 2! The MANGO afterparty required dancing barefoot on the grassy field, and downing one too many gin-and-tonics. Gala and her man really showed us how to party, and BARCELONA STYLE! It happened to be “Nasty Mondays” at the Apollo, and entering the backstage, I really felt like I was coming out of some real Spanish coming of age film…complete with good tunes and smoke-y rooms!
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The Traveling Van

(Rebecca Taylor denim/leather jacket and skirt, Chaser Brand “Nat Geo” tank, Chloe “ethel” handbag, Kenneth Cole sneakers, Jennifer Zeuner “evil eye” necklace and wishbone necklace)
The 4th of July for me meant STARS IN MY EYES! Finally a day to get all of my friends together for no worries, just play! We had the most beautiful deck view on the westside, and I cannot wait to share the shots I took of the fireworks and all the crazy people in the crowd. HERE’S TO AMERICA, THE GREAT! These little sunnies were tucked away in my bag all week, and finally they’re able to make their little debut hehe. It’s my last day in NYC before I’m off for work in Barcelona tonight, and I am so so excited for a little change in scenery. Lately, the heat has left me slowly wandering my neighborhood in sneakers and a tank, yet this little white denim and leather jacket just couldn’t NOT be taken out. Rebecca Taylor, you can do no wrong! Plopped in the East Village was this old traveling van, so big, I tried capturing it all in one shot. Talk about one big party. 
I’ve got just a few more hours to get all my travel necessities in check. See you in Europe babettes!
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Zac’s Favorite Color

It being the first time at Zac Posen‘s studio, I took that moment to sling my camera around my shoulder that day…as behind the scenes images are usually always my favorite. Sitting beside Zac, I was blown away. We had our absolutely own mini-runway show right here in Tribeca, and honestly, I didn’t want to leave the cherryblossom-covered work abode, home to the fashion genius. Dresses I could only imagine seeing walking down the red carpet or just something plucked from a Cinderella fairytale, came to life. A model plopped down in that blue strapless gown and it looked like all she was floating on was a beautiful and lightweight cloud. He spoke of London, Primrose Hill, a place that inspired his latest designs (secretly I was swooning, as London has touched me like no other city). Immediately I knew I liked him and the beautiful creations, all carefully handmade right there in his studio. I could see just by the seamstresses, smiling as they sewed chiffon to the bottom of a starlet’s dress, that they loved their job, they loved the art, and it too made me smile. I felt like a little girl on Christmas when Zac threw the cashmere camel coat on me and took a photo. It matched my hat. Beige, his favorite color.

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