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PROFILING GDL MUSIC

With only a few years of experience but a reputation to prove they belong up there with the top djs of the state, GDL has jumped the charts in what people want in the Salsa scene. They are one of the selected djs to play at local universities, and are requested again and again because of their selection of Salsa.

Mexian natives but with Salsa inside of them, they are in the scene as much as other djs to feed the salsa crave from the public - And with new and old salsas in their repetoir they are able to please the junkiest of the junkiest in the salsa community! Everyone, here is GDL Music.

First tell us your names, and give us a bit more about you?

HECTOR: I am Hector Reyes, I am from Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico. My Profession is Student... I am actually studying for International Relations and am in loooove with the music. Oh, ...and am a mormon.
LUIS: My name is Luis Farias. I am Mexican, from Mexico City actually... I am about to get married - I'll be getting married on August 19th. And about professional life, I am a DJ and right now I am studying to obtain a degree in Communications. About religion, I am LDS... am a mormon.

First of all, what does GDL stand for?

LUIS: The letters GDL are the initials of the city of GuaDalaJara in Mexico. That's where we grew up. We were born on different cities, but we grew up there.

How does GDL identifies itself?

HECTOR: Well, at first GDL was identified as 100% Mexican, just like us two. But now we moved more to tropical. On a personal note, I love "Musica Norteña y Banda" (Mexican Tejano Music), and I love Salsa. I think those two are my two favorite rhythms.

How did GDL came to be?

LUIS: Well, I would say that GDL started.....hmmm.... well, first let me tell you that GDL is very young, it's only 2 years old, so very young still. But GDL really... REALLY! started by learning from Arturo Reyes, and his mixing group "PURA CANDELA". Arturo has been doing this for over 10 years or so, and we learned most of what we know from him. His music, skills and all, very thankful for having him helping us out. So really we are very young still.

As DJs what do you prefer playing, Salsa, Merengue, Norteña, Bachata, Cumbia?

HECTOR: It really depends on where we play. Like for example here at BYU, we are working for the BYU "SALSA" club, so we have to play more salsa. But on a personal note, I just truly, truly enjoy playing Salsa, that would be my first choice, and I also love playing Norteña, I really like those two.

How did the idea of starting mixing came into place?

LUIS: Well, it was really my cous' Hector. I remember that since we got to America, he started collecting CD's, and at one point he told me "Caray! I have 2000 CD's", and he told me that it would be a great idea if they could buy equipment, and start to DJ. We'll have some fun doing it, and why not get some money as well...

How does your religion affect what you do?

LUIS: I think it definitely affects what we do. Not in a way that affects us what we play, but mostly our carefulness on what we edit. I mean, some songs we have to watch for some words that might be offensive out there, and such. But I think that it doesn't really influence us into what we play. The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints doesn't really have much to say on what we play, but we do have to watch on some of the content on the songs.
HECTOR: Bueno, about religion, I always consider that my religion let's me balance what I do in life. I mean, I go to church on Sundays but it also let us have some fun on the side, but up to one point. I mean, religion has to be involved in what you do as a guide, it's really up to you to follow it and do what you need to do with what has been given to you.

Tell us about your hobbies?

LUIS: Believe it or not, I like to sing... I loooove to DJ and MIX of course. I am not too much into sports and much on the athetic side. I do like to be just kicking back with my girlfriend at home, watching a movie or so.

What do you prefer dancing more?

HECTOR: Heheheheha, personally I love dancing Salsa, it's just so "Sabroso!" (Flavory!), the rhythm is so intoxicating. And there are so many steps in it. And my second choice would be Norteña of course. It is very close between the two of them, but Salsa is my first choice.

How is the salsa scene where you grew up?

LUIS: Well, where we grew up, the salsa scene is not as big... Actually here, in Salt Lake, we have a bigger variety of that kind of music... Salsa, Merengue, Bachata,... In Mexico, they know about them, but they don't really go all OUT about it, they don't play it that much. Those genres there are not as strong as in here... I mean, Salsa here is so strong, and it's growing.

If you could change something, what would it be?

HECTOR: Well, I think the same... I would really like to unite with the other DJs. I would like to do events with the rest djs, and have more communication between all of us. I really think that it would really helpe the scene if we could do that.
LUIS: Personally, if I could do something, it would be to do an event with all the DJ's, and unite the DJ's more than what we are here. I know that sometimes I feel like there is a bit of competition between the DJ's here, and I would really like to have a bit more communication between all of us, instead of having to feel a bit of "COMPETENCIA CONTRA ELLOS" (having to compete against them)... if I could change that, I would love to communicate better, share, talk, just unite!

Do you think the scene is still growing, or has it stopped?

LUIS: Oh, wow, it's growing! Definitely! If anyone is trying to be a DJ now days, I'd tell them keep it up and come join the scene, because there is plenty of space... I mean, I think it's growing and there is space for everyone at the moment. There is just so much more that we could do here in the state. Adelante Muchachos!
HECTOR: Bueno, let me tell you about when I started and how it is different from now. I think it is very different from back then. I started 5 years ago with Arturo from Pura Candela. And the difference is huge, I mean, there is just so much more public that is dancing to Salsa and more. It grew so much! And this is music that never goes away really. If I go and play a salsa from five years ago, people still love the song and still dance to it. I think that the music has changed a little bit, but the scene is what has grown a lot. And the media has a lot to do with it, we never had so many people attending our dances.

Do you guys have a set price, or how do you price events?

LUIS: I would say that it really depends on events. It depends a lot on the location and the hours. What is really hard about being a DJ, it's the mobility about it. We have to know where we have to go, becaus we have to carry and set up the equipment... so that varies from event to event.

Do you guys only do dances, or do you do other things?

HECTOR: We do different events. We've played at different locations. That includes clubs, private parties, we did some small competitions and such. We are very versatile. We accomodate to the event.

Let's talk more personal, are you afraid of anything?

LUIS: Oh yeah, I get scared about a lot of stuff... I get scared that I will not be successful, that I will not be the person that I want to be, or that I am afraid that I will not achieve the goals that I set for myself. But only to those kind of things, not really a fright of something, or unnatural not really.

How about a song, do you have a special song, a favorite song?

HECTOR: YES!, I have this salsa song from Puerto Rican Power. hmmmm.... huuuu.. Gosh, I can't believe I can't remember it at the moment...hehahehehae.... I'll go get it and tell you in a sec! hehaheheaheheha.

Do you have any future plans?

LUIS: Oh yeah, I have some plans... the first one on my list is to have a good start with my new wife. I love her, and I love it that she is not like some wives that I've seen. I mean, sometimes a lot of women, once you get married, they make the husband DJs stop playing since it is a Friday night or Saturday night... but she instead helps me out, and she supports what I do. My second plan is to be a bit more responsible with my kid. I have a son, and I have to support and be there for him more, and try my best to make sure he has what he needs... I know it's hard, but I have to make an effort.
HECTOR: In my case the same, of course I have plans. I would like to progress in this field, I would like to finish my studies and my career. And of course keep going with music, since I was a little kid I was always involved with music, playing the guitar, dancing and so on. So as DJs we would like to always grow and improve. Music has always been in my life, and I'll have it with me for the rest of my life. And after that, Marriage of course!... hehehahehaehe... somedaaaay!... hehehahea...

Besides being a DJ, do you qualify as a Salsero?

LUIS: Really, I loooove Salsa. The first time I heard salsa was Four years ago, and at one point you connect with the rhythm, and... MAN! You just have to love Salsa!. I may not be a good dancer, but I really love the rhythm... Salsa is just amazing.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

HECTOR: I see myself VERY HAPPY! hehhaheea... yeah, very happy! And hopefully with a lot of progress, and prosperity I think I'll manage that.

Do you think GDL contributed to the salsa scene in Utah?

LUIS: Honestly, I would not say that, or say that "OH, thanks to GDL the salsa scene in Utah is so big and so on...and so... and so..." NO. I couldn't never state that. I would say that it is the opposite, GDL has grown TO the salsa scene in the state. I am very thankful that the people, the salseros and salseras, have let GDL get involved in the scene. I feel like they have given the opportunity to GDL to get involved not just in the Salsa scene, but to get to know great salseros here in the state... not just as salseros but as friends as well. They let us get in their circle of communication... I mean, I like being part of the circles of Mamboholics, Callejeros Dance Company, BYU Salsa Club, Dj Azuquita, and many more. I like that GDL gave us the door to get to know great people like them.

What do you think of the Salseros, the dancers here in the State?

HECTOR: I have the pleasure to know all the salseros we got in the state, and I am glad that I got the opportunity to get to know them. The salseros here are very nice to us, very humble, they help us, I consider them really good friends. If I could say anything to them, I would tell them, keep it up, you are taking the dancing to a different level here in the state. I know that you guys will help future generations of dancers that love salsa. Keep up, and keep learning and teaching.

Do you have an anecdote that you want to share with us?

LUIS: Well, not really, but I'm gonna have to! hehehehahee... This really happens a lot. I remember that sometimes you are playing the music, and that sometimes someone (most likely yourself) trips on the cables, and you get stuck with no sound at all... and you are like "OH UH!!!" hehehhehe... so that happens... you know... stuff always happens.

What do you think about UTAHSALSA.COM?

HECTOR: We actually came to find out about it by other salseros. People started to talk about it all the sudden. People started to tell us that they saw comments about us there, and we went to check it out. When I saw it, I was very impressed. The way that the site can interact with the community, that is what I liked the most, and of course the design, it is just so well planned out and thought out. I like that people can tell what they think, and they can give their opinion, I really like that. And also that they keep everyone informed without having a preference on some events more than others. I really like that!
LUIS: Well, I think it's a site that is sooooo complete. I remember that a month ago, I didn't even know about it, and then all the sudden the name was everywhere. People would tell us "Have you seen Utahsalsa.com?", "Check Utahsalsa.com", "The site it's called Utahsalsa.com"... I mean, everyone all the sudden knew about it. It got very popular very fast... And I really liked the site when I saw it, very professionally done, the graphics are way nice and all. Compared to other sites here in the state, it is the best.

If we could change anything, what would it be?

LUIS: Well, hmmmmm... really nothing. I just find the page so complete and the design is amazing. I heard somewhere that Chocolate put his Design Spoon into the dip... and that's why is so good. But to change anything, I couldn't say anything. It's just so complete.

Any last words, want to say anything to anyone?

HECTOR: I would like to say hello to all my friends, and to all the people that come to the events that we play, and to the people that are always supporting us. The salseros, and the future dancers that are growing in the scene. We thank you very much!
LUIS: Pues... I would like to recognize the help and say hello to BYU Salsa Club, to dancers we know, Mamboholics Productions, Callejeros Dance Company, to the DJ's Coque, Arturo, Panama, Azuquita, and many more... but SPECIALLY to the people! I know that sometimes when we are playing we act bussy, and we may seem Stuck Up or "Creidos!", and still people support us, and they come to the events. So guys, because of you... the people... we are here and we thank you from the very bottom of my heart.