DJ Kamala Jefferson - New York based DJ Kamala has been professionally providing music services for over 8 years yet her passion for music stretches back to her earliest memories.

Kamala’s father, Carter Jefferson, a renowned Jazz Musician who played with the likes of Mongo Santamaria, Jimi Hendrix and Woody Shaw and was a member of Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers in the early 70’s endowed Kamala with a rich musical legacy. Her Mother, Sandy a native New Yorker of Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage and stepfather Jimmy of Puerto Rican descent exposed her to the soulful Salsa music of the 70’s, R&B Soul music and of course Disco.

Growing up in the downtown Chelsea area of Manhattan, one of the epicenters of underground culture, art, music and clubbing for many decades, Kamala’s experience has been saturated by urban culture. Going up the street to the legendary Roxy to rollerskate, neighborhood block parties or listening to the dance mixes on stations like 92KTU all profoundly impressed Kamala with a deep appreciation for the multi-cultural energy that has always surrounded her.

As early as seven, Kamala found one of her favorite pastimes was playing records on her mothers record player. At Ten, Kamala received her first walkman (the year they were invented) and she can recall playing in 17th street park, bobbing her head to “Planet Rock” by Soul Sonic Force, a definitive track at the time for the burgeoning hip hop phenomenon. By Eleven, Kamala received her first recordable cassette deck and began making tapes with music she recorded off the radio.

Kamala went to her first club at 16, (Studio 54, circa 1987). By this time, Kamala was already quite versed in music. Having learned much from local radio station weekend mixes and collecting records and tapes. It would take another decade of downtown clubbing before Kamala became inspired to become a DJ. During this time, Kamala worked primarily in the fashion industry but always stayed active in the downtown nightlife scene and collecting music.

Finally in 1998, Kamala DJ’d her first venue, Nells nightclub. Since then, Kamala has provided music for many venues and clients including, PS1, The MOMA, Giant Step, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss to name a few. Kamala is a firm member of the NYC Deephouse movement and has also benefited from her years of social and community interaction. Kamala enjoys her friendships and associations with a diverse community of artists, dancers, DJ’s, Producers, actors, performers, musicians, photographers and veterans of the New York City night life and underground scenes.

Musically, Kamala integrates many styles. An avid appreciator of the deephouse sound. Kamala can recognize how strongly deephouse resonates with her essence, being very much an amalgamation of many genres that preceded it, from Disco, Soul, Jazz, Gospel, Freestyle, Hip Hop, Latin, R&B and Dub. Kamala also embraces the variety of genres of our modern age, global and broken beats, trip hop, drum & bass, tech house and many more yet to be categorized styles. Kamala has also turned her attention to music production, a natural progression for her.

Kamala is devoted to enhancing the world thru the exposure of creative arts and lifestyle marketing. From music, art, film, literature, for Kamala it is all about the cultivation of humanity. Believing that war and violence, racism, poverty and ignorance are the hallmarks of a barbaric civilization. Kamala champions the unlimited, positive influence music and other forms of art and culture can have on society. Strong family foundations, networking with friends, community empowerment, green building, natural health and spiritual enlightenment are also on the top of Kamala’s list for a good life and a better world.

It is with all these ideals that Kamala gratefully accepted the invitation to join the Melting Pot, NYC.

 

For more information on DJ Kamala

Visit: www.myspace.com/kamalamuse