Atlanta record spinner DJ Applejac designs music collages from a vast spectrum of genres

On City Lights’ series “Speaking of Music,” local musicians share work and stories in their own voices. This edition spotlights our series’ first DJ, an Atlanta-based music curator and record spinner who goes by the moniker DJ Applejac. “As a DJ, I try to play from all over the spectrum and just try to really engage people, as well as put people up on things that they may not know about,” said Applejac. 

Though he’s focused on sharing the wide world of recorded music with listeners, Applejac is no stranger to performance, growing up in a musical family and playing drums since he was four years old. “I play by ear, so anything I sit in front of long enough I think I can figure it out,” he said. Applejac draws his inspiration from across the artistic spectrum, giving his attention not just to musical artists but to other accomplished DJs, to poets, to photographers and anywhere else he sees exciting work being done. 

DJ Applejac’s original tracks are collages of musical pastiche, drawing samples and organic performances together to form a rhythmic journey of interlocking riffs, beats and basslines. Featured track “Richard Penniman” is a collaboration between Applejac and vocalist Maleke O’Ney, from their full album together called “Not Really… But Kinda.” The track was created as a tribute to the late pop icon Little Richard and showcases O’Ney’s vocals artfully stacked in harmony, pushing the groove forward with chant-like syncopation.