another… ERA

Era.

Eras.

Time periods or pieces—either way, you are in another one.

This one transcends time and converges your past, present, and future self into one.

In layman’s terms: you acquire a new skill. You learn to DJ.

What is most relishing about learning to master the controls is the thought in the back of my head: “I now have a music skill.”

Even after four years in theater and three years in show choir in high school, I was determined that I was musically illiterate. My choir teacher gave up on trying to teach me how to sing. It often became a laughing matter when I did try to sing, so for exams and finals, I always did a monologue—or what could be deemed as my first comedy set. I just needed an A, to be honest, and everyone loves a good laugh.

Behind the controls, I don’t feel illiterate. I feel infinite. I could spin all day. My biggest hurdle when I was younger was that I could hear my voice but could never match or correct the pitch. I didn’t know my range. I could look and hear others and tell when and how they were off—one at a time, in clusters, or as a group. That was the perk of never singing but always listening. I was training my ear.

Now, as the beat moves, I move with it. I can finally look back at my younger self and say, “Your time to find your voice is coming—and they are gonna dance when they hear you sing.”