Check out the Berkshire Eagle 413 section great article I am a very proud grandmother In the MIx: Taconic grad pursues dream of deejaying By Jenn Smith, Berkshire Eagle Staff POSTED: 09/11/2014 08:11:20 AM EDT0 COMMENTS| UPDATED: ABOUT 3 HOURS PITTSFIELD -- They call Sean Mochon DJ Wheelz because hes always on the move. The 2008 Taconic High School graduate, whos been previously known for a heavy metal and hard rock radio show he used to deliver for 89.7 WTBR-FM, is now pursuing a career in deejaying dance music. My dreams are big dreams, said Mochon, now 24. A lot of people might look at me and say, ‘What the hell does this kid think hes doing? But Im just a regular old person. Im only different because I cant walk. Mochon has cerebral palsy with quadriplegia, meaning hes confined to a wheelchair. Advertisement Cerebral palsy, or CP, is a group of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood -- occurring in about one in 323 children -- and permanently affects a persons body movement and muscle coordination. But thats never stopped Mochon from leading an active and adventurous lifestyle. At age 15, Mochon joined Taconics Alpine ski team, and learned to use a bi-ski, a tethered four-rudder ski-sled that operates in tandem with a rider and instructor. David DJ Youngchamp Dias, left, shows Sean DJ Wheelz Mochon a few mixing techniques on a set of digital turntables. (Jenn Smith / Berkshire Eagle Staff / photos.berkshireeagle) He also learned a modified way to play tennis. After he became a radio deejay during his sophomore year, he continued to volunteer on WTBR for about a year and a half after he graduated from high school. Next to music and going to live shows, he loves getting tattoos. He joked that all his childhood surgeries means he now has a high tolerance for pain. Each of my tattoos means something to me and represents a chapter of my life, he said. Almost four years ago, Mochon exercised his independence by moving out of his parents house and into his own apartment. I wanted to have my own life. But Im very lucky. My family is very into my career choice as I am, Mochon said. Of all his limbs, Mochon has the most strength in his left hand, which hes now training to mix music. Everything I do in my life is with my left hand, he said. Helping him to learn the ropes is Mochons longtime friend, mentor and personal care assistant, David Dias, 28, aka DJ Youngchamp. When he first brought it up, I didnt know what to think. I didnt know how hard it would be for him, Dias said. But everythings digital now, so he can still blend and transition. The only thing he cant do is scratch. The good thing is, he knows music already, which is the hardest part. Dias recently added Mochon to his roster of Western Massachusetts deejays, known as The Shutdown Team. This past weekend, Mochon got his first paid gig deejaying a community event by Project AIM at Pittsfield State Forest. For Champ to take me under his wing and teach me how to do this stuff is amazing, Mochon said. For him and The Shutdown Team to believe in me really means a lot. My mom and my grandmother have always been great fans, but Ive never had friends really believe in me like this. Dias said its easy to believe in someone whos passionate and dedicated to what they do. This kid is just breaking the odds and barriers for handicap individuals, Dias said. He has had cerebral palsy since birth, so you can imagine how hard it should be to deejay for him. But this kids will is stronger than a lion. Last month, Mochon also began going to Vs Doghouse in Lanesborough to watch and learn from other deejays from The Shutdown Team work. Its just about paying attention and practicing. I practice all the time, Mochon said. Less than year ago, Mochon invested in a Numark Mixtrack Pro II DJ control system, which he hooks up to his touch-screen computer monitor. Dias loaded up the machine with about 2,000 songs from his own collection that Mochon plays and tries his hand at remixing. Ive always loved music. Back when I was in high school, I was really into heavy metal and hard rock. Now, Im into EDM (electronic dance music). I dont know how to explain it, but it really speaks to me, Mochon said. His favorite group is Krewella, an EDM trio from Chicago featuring two sisters. He was there in the front row back in May, when their tour came by The Armory in Albany, N.Y. Mochon said he was thrilled when they spotted him in the audience and came off stage to give him a hug and a T-shirt, literally off one of their backs. That show was crazy. Theyre one of my main inspirations, he said. Mochons also a big fan of the music and deejays featured by the annual Ultra Music Festival (UMF), which began in Miami in 1999. He also listens to deejays like Martin Garrix and Garrix collaborator Afrojack; Steve Aoki, and a Dutch outfit known as Showtek. EDMs not going to die off anytime soon, which is another reason I like it, said Mochon. He said his primary goal right now is to watch, listen and practice so he can earn more gigs. He said hes already booked for at least one holiday party, and just had a banner made up to promote his work. Just by watching how people react when youre deejaying and youve done something right, its amazing, he said. The young deejay said hed like to move to Los Angeles and to learn more about music. If he could ever secure a spot on the Ultra Music Festival circuit, he said, Thats my ultimate dream right there. All I can say is, I love music and this is what I want to do with my life. I know its going to take some time to get there, said Mochon. People that dont understand who I am and who dont think that I can do it actually have to come out and see what I can do. All they have to do is give me a chance. Thats all Im looking for is a chance.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:23:38 +0000
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