Today we’d like to introduce you to Demi Korrin Alvarado.
Hi Demi, Thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, My name is Demi, and it isn’t short for anything. Most people know me by Demi Korrin (my middle name). I was born and raised in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY. In my teenage years, I moved to Orlando, Florida, with my mother and sister, where I have now been for most of my life. Growing up in Brooklyn is a big part of who I am today – Sunset Park was a melting pot, surrounded by beautiful people and tons of culture. As a kid, stepping out of our brownstone into our small neighborhood was a big world for me. We heard many languages; music always played from someone’s window or car. Bodegas and block parties were jammin’ day in and day out. My mother did a great job ensuring my sister and I were involved in everything and anything that caught our attention, from basketball practice, swim class, piano lessons, and ballet; for children, we were very active, and our calendars were always full. My parents were also always sharing music with us. Songs like “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac and Andrea Bocelli “Time to Say Goodbye” remind me of growing up and were some of the first songs I fell in love with. Back in 1996, Bannan Republic released a CD of the songs they were playing in their stores that year, and I remember my mother buying this CD and playing it in our home. On this CD, I discovered Aretha Franklin’s song “A Rose Is Still a Rose.” This is my earliest memory of owning a piece of music, and it wasn’t even mine – it was my mother’s haha. Funny enough, I found the exact CD in mint condition on eBay about 3 years ago, and I purchased it, so yes, now I own the CD and on Vinyl. As early as I remember, I was burning CDs and creating mixtapes with great music.
Moving to Orlando was a huge pivotal piece in my growth. Although it was less buzzing than a city like Brooklyn, NY, I found ways to get involved in school and kept busy with extracurriculars and events. I am proud of and known for my Cypress Creek High School involvement. I was Senior Class President, hosted events, was a writer on the yearbook committee, and played on several sports teams. During high school, I attended my first music festival, Ultra, and following that, I experienced EDC Orlando with friends after my last day of high school. On my way to college to go to a design school where I graduated from IADT, the Art & Design school in Graphic Design with a minor in Journalism. Since then, I have worked many jobs, from retail to bartending, and recently left my job of 7 years as a Community Development Specialist with Microsoft. I always expressed my interest in DJing with family and friends during this time. At parties, people often ask me to “hold the AUX” or play jams via Spotify – music has always been on my mind. One year, we threw a huge NYE party at my house with my boyfriend at the time, and I amateur DJ’d the entire party, haha.
I began DJing in late 2019, and thanks to a few friends and a group called Made with Love, they allowed me to join them every last Sunday of the month at Grape & The Grain. Although I was an amateur at the time – I legit learned how to DJ by standing in the booth and just doing it, facing the fear that I could be terrible at it, but shortly, I came to find out that I wasn’t.
When the pandemic hit in 2020 – as most of us did, we picked up hobbies. Yes, I was drinking lots of natural wine and riding my bike for hours a day, but I also began studying the art of DJing. As you may be aware, many events, festivals, and concerts were on pause, which led many creatives to result in live streaming – things like IG live, YouTube, and virtual events were taking place, and it was trendy. Every day, a DJ named Luciano in Barcelona, Spain, would go live on YouTube from his home, and I would sit and observe his process. I would hear the selection of tunes he shared that day and became obsessed with it all. DJs can tell stories through the tracks they share; from one day to the next, their entire set could be entirely different than the day before, and if you’re truly paying attention and feeling your way through the music being shared, you can discover it. I was fascinated by this, and I knew I wanted to explore this technique and tell stories through music. Shortly after, I discovered a DJ named MINX began going live from her basement in Detroit, and her style and attitude blew me away. I was so inspired, and at this point, I knew I would give DJing my full attention.
From then on, I carried a residency for about 2 years with “Second Sunday,” a Made with Love led and managed by Julian. DJs such as Monsanto, Bryan J, and Jose Rosa taught me much about what I know today. I’ve had the opportunity to play for groups like Zelo’s Audio, CHKN & BEER, Orlando House Party, and Soul Artefacts, and at venues like Uncle Tony’s Donut Shoppe, Grape & the Grain, Iron Cow, Deeply Coffee, Tori Tori, iBAR, MyLounge, Proper, Elixir, and the Orlando Museum of Art.
A big part of my creative inspiration comes from my family – they share stories old and new of all the parties they partook in at places like The Loft w/ David Mancuso, Paradise Garage – Larry Levan, 1018, my godmother had the opportunity to go to Studio 54. Kenny Dope is also from my neighborhood, Sunset Park. He DJ’d my Aunt Deici & Uncle Chu’s wedding. My mom has been in the same room as Keith Haring, my favorite artist, and her best friend, Lydia Lee Love, had a huge hit, “Don’t Take Your Love from Me,” that we still play. My family does not miss a show. My music is curated with timeless records – house / deep house/ disco / Latin / jungle. I love sharing vocal bits, too. I have spent a lot of my 20s traveling, and I believe that this has influenced my music taste as well. Just this summer, I went to Greece, Turkey, Dominican Republic, and Tulum, and I can hear how certain places play out in my sets. My favorite part is just being a part of an experience where people go to dance, let loose, release their feelings and emotions, and just be.
As of today, I do not have a set schedule. I pop up with where & what aligns with me; you’ll have to catch me on IG to see the next party I play. I stay busy coordinating the events at the Orlando Museum of Art as their event coordinator and actively DJing in the community, popping up at different locations. I recently opened up for Sam Divine, who is signed on to my favorite label, Defected Records, and it was a big deal for me to be asked to do that. A year ago, I began an online Newsletter called “Love Letters by DK,” where I write poems, share playlists, and express ideas. I am currently starting a brand with my sister Kayla, named Jeanie, after our mother. All of this, in addition to DJing in the community, is near and dear to me – I love diving into all forms of art, and I have a calling to bring people together – I am blessed to say that all of my current endeavors speak to me and fuel my soul. I love Orlando, the community we are building here; I hope my name appears when we talk about how this community leveled up and those who partook in that process. The friends and community partners I made here are lovely and inspiring. I cannot wait to see how we continue to build together.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I love Orlando, the community we are building here, and I hope my name appears when we talk about how this community leveled up and those who partook in that process. The friends and community partners I made here are wonderful and inspiring. I cannot wait to see how we continue to build together. The road and the journey have been so much fun. I look at every opportunity as a chance to learn, and even when things don’t go as planned, I try to see the bigger picture and be grateful for the opportunity. This mentality has helped me a lot – it’s not always easy being an artist and choosing to live your life creatively. One of this year’s most abrupt events was getting laid off from Microsoft. I was with the company for 7 years, and it hit me suddenly, along with about 10,000 other employees. I began my career with Microsoft, and as their community development specialist, I took pride in giving back to the community and being very involved in education, the arts, and events while also representing the brand. I allowed myself to grieve when that happened, but I didn’t let it bring me down.
I decided not to apply for jobs aggressively; at this point, I knew that I did not want to work anywhere but somewhere that aligned with me. I looked at it as a new beginning, and with that, I began to write more, say yes to more DJ gigs, and commit more to the things I loved. Things were shifting in my life, and I could feel it. The best part of this story is that I was DJing at the Orlando Museum of Art one night when I heard the event coordinator was stepping away from the role and accepted a function elsewhere, meaning this position was open. I did not jump at the idea, but about a week or two later, I asked the Development Manager at the museum if the position was looking to be filled, and she told me it was. After a nice conversation – I was offered the job. I suppose this is what they mean when they say, “What is meant for you will be yours.” And this is also a great testament to where following your heart and, in this case, DJing has taken me and the doors and people it has opened and brought into my life. Now, I am hosting/organizing/and logistically planning their fundraising events and, ironically, hiring the DJs to come through and play.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I wear many hats; I am always a student first. I am an event coordinator at the OMA; I DJ in Orlando, Florida, and I write for a newsletter I have created. I am a designer for an upcoming brand named “Jeanie.” I am most proud of how I have always managed to lead and find my way, and I am always trusting that my talents and abilities will continue to bring me opportunities. I am proud of my growth, and although I have a beautiful community that has supported me and continues to gift me flowers, I have done this all alone. What sets me apart from others is that I am not afraid to be who I am. I am genuinely friendly and no better than anyone else – I am just me.
Contact Info:
- Website: demikorrin.com
- Instagram: demikorrin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demialvarado/
- Twitter: demikorrin
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/demikorrin
- Other: https://linktree.com/demikorrin
Image Credits
Kai Massy – Kayla Alvarado, Alex Espejo – Alexandra Espejo
