HISpanic! at the Disco DJ to spin música at Lumberjack Weekend
by Hortencia López
What started as an idea from a friend named J at a local event has grown into a career that has allowed Eduardo Gutierrez, also known as HISpanic! at the Disco, to create community
through music. While at the event, the two wondered how fun it would be if the DJ started playing cumbias and reggaeton and so HISpanic! at the Disco was formed.
Gutierrez couldn’t have foreseen what the idea would turn into, but he is grateful for the opportunities and the people he has met along the way. For him, DJing has become a way to build community among people of color, especially when Latine people can feel displaced being in Humboldt.
“Even something as simple as bonding over music can really tie together that sense of community and camaraderie,” Gutierrez said.
Music has been a part of Gutierrez’s life long before he stepped behind the DJ booth. Before becoming a DJ, he played in several bands, including Sarcophilius Santanicus, a two-piece death metal group. In the band, Gutierrez played guitar, bass and vocals at the same time, alongside a drummer.
His musical influences as a DJ, however, come from a different place: childhood. Gutierrez remembers wanting to sleep in after a long week of school while his mom cleaned the house with Los Angeles Azules and other old-school cumbia playing in the background.
When he was younger, Gutierrez wasn’t a fan of the music his mom played. But after feeling displaced in Humboldt, he found himself returning to those sounds and discovering a new appreciation for them.
“I really longed for that, I kind of reintroduced myself to a lot of that kind of music again and just feel in love with it,” Gutierrez said. “I was like ‘I get it, it makes sense to me now’. It didn’t back then but it’s taken me a long time to become grateful to it.”
His connection to music also influences how he approaches his sets. Rather than preparing everything ahead of time, Gutierrez has a few playlists and albums to choose from, but makes his selections on the fly. He doesn’t want to restrict himself to a box and instead wants the flexibility to respond to the room, making sure there is something for everyone.
Being a Latine DJ has also helped Gutierrez get his foot in the door. He has been able to reach a niche demographic that he felt was demanding and craving a Latine party, while also getting booked for more intimate events like weddings and birthday parties.
For Gutierrez, the goal is ultimately to give people a chance to escape their worries and create new memories.
“I want it to be fun and exciting and as stress and worry-free as it can be,” Gutierrez said.
Looking ahead, Gutierrez hopes to branch back out to Southern California, where he is from, and collaborate with friends in Los Angeles. Not only through DJing, but also through writing and producing music.
“I just hope that in the future people can look back at these events and smile in fondness of memories that they were able to experience.”
Following his performances at the SAC during the first week of school, Gutierrez will be playing at the Fuego Latinx Rave on Sept. 4 in Blue Lake. Following that, he will also be playing at the Cal Poly Humboldt Lumberjack Weekend Block Party on Oct. 10.
