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meet jeffrey park - coach by day, dj by night

from being the founder of 'theSIDEROOM' podcast, mentor at the Academy of DJs, renown creative director for SoulCtrl, to  water polo coach - jeffrey park, better known by his stage name 'justjeff' is the epitome of one who does it all. 

park's lifestyle is essentially a mixtape, where he's able to interchangeably take into consideration a compilation of hustles in his life. read and listen through his life tracklist that takes you through his day to night of him being his own boss.

name. age. hometown. socials.

jeffrey park. 25. cerritos, ca. 

Instagram

SoundCloud

founder of theSIDEROOM

creative director of SoulCtrl

mentor @ Academy of DJs

how did you get into music and what made you stay? how'd you get your foot into the door with DJing and producing?

In 2015, I was watching a lot of Boiler Room sets through YouTube and I was intrigued by the way DJs can curate a specific vibe for a room full of strangers. I loved the fact that people can bond through music and have fun! It's cheesy but DJing allows me to express my creative side and allows me the platform to share music that I enjoy. DJing has always been a therapeutic hobby for me.

What got me to stay exploring the world of DJing was the community that I grew a part of at the Academy of DJs (ACODJ). ACODJ is a DJ school located in Orange County, CA. We teach the fundamentals of DJing, the ins and outs that make up the culture, and allow for an environment all ongoing and aspiring DJs can prosper in. Our community is so supportive and I'm always learning new things with this group. There are over 100+ alumni through this school and I’ve met and made so many friends through this school. 

I got my foot in the door into the industry through ACODJ. After graduating from ACODJ, I began to make connections with others in the nightlife scene. I started getting booked for small gigs which led up to eventually DJing at bigger bars/clubs in SoCal. Throughout the years I started to make connections with other producers that would want to collaborate with me. 

you're a dj. producer. creative director. podcast co-host. water polo coach. mentor. it's crazy how you multitask anything and everything! what's the secret behind it?

I tell my polo kids that I live the “Hannah Montana LifeStyle”. Coach by day, DJ by night. It’s all jokes but I try to find pockets throughout my day where I can focus on one thing at a time. There is a lot of scheduling and planning involved in my day to day life but it keeps me on my toes. The hustle is what keeps me focused and clear-headed. I try to have fun with everything that I do and not take things in life so seriously. 

how did Soul Ctrl come around, and what’s been the most difficult and rewarding lesson you’ve learned while creative directing? 

 Soul Ctrl is a party rocking event that was founded by Jonathan Ilagan aka J Ill (IG @jilagann) in 2019. Soul Ctrl is branded to share individuality and creativity when it comes to our music and vibe. We provide a safe space for dancers, DJs, producers, etc. to have a good time and make connections with each other. We give our DJ’s freedom when it comes to playing whatever music that they want- no judgment. 

The most difficult and rewarding lesson that I’ve learned as a creative director was while planning our Soul Ctrl 3 Year Anniversary Event. Our event was thrown at the Regent Theater in Downtown Los Angeles and we booked big time acts: J. Espinosa (Bay Area’s finest Red Bull 3 Style DJ Champion) and Jael (Soulection DJ from the Netherlands). There was a lot of anticipation when it came to planning out the event - from selling tickets, managing the acts, and running the entire theater venue. Going from playing my music at clubs to executing an entire event at a venue made me realize the different ball park I was now in. It took the Soul Ctrl team about 3 tireless months to plan everything. We managed to have a great night in the end. We maxed out the theater and had an amazing night. 

do you have anything to say about the stigmas and stereotypes people hold against people pursuing music, especially within the POC community? do they still exist? if so, how would you challenge society to push past those antiquated mindsets? 

My opinion on this topic isn’t too strong because I usually get booked by POC. I guess it’s more of who you surround yourself with within the nightlife community. I can say that talent and hard work is undeniable when it comes to the nightlife scene no matter what your skin color is. I stand by that, and I hope more people can too.

while you’re on stage DJing, what’s the go-to fit that makes you feel your best? before you perform, do you have any particular habits for good luck?

I love to go for an ALL BLACK look or comfortable clothes that are a little loose. When it comes to my style, I don’t like to conform and I want to be different from everyone else. I like subtle flexes more than anything. Nothing too flashy! As for particular habits for good luck, I've got none at the moment.

if you could collaborate with any figure in the media or feature them on your podcast, who would it be and why? 

So many. But I would love to work or collaborate with Peggy Gou! Gou is a South Korean DJ and producer who's based out in Germany. She’s an absolute badass and I love everything about her. Music, lifestyle, clothes, tattoos...everything! 

what're some goals for 2023?

Major goals that I have for myself for 2023 is to play at a big time house club or event like 'Sound NightClub' in Hollywood. Recently, I've been feeling stagnant in one place when it comes to DJing. I look forward to stepping out of my comfort zone again.