Raquiqui + Dj Mahealani

>i've been collecting records since i was 11 years old. i saw a lotta crazy stuff as a kid, & music was the one thing i could always count on. >i earned a b.s. in applied learning development & a b.a. in comparative ethnic studies at u.t. austin. while there, i created the student union open mic hip hop night, which showcased & gave space to local hip hop legends such as bavu blakes, tee double, romeo navarro, & tigre liu in their early years, & co-sponsored big shows like the roots. during this time, i also studied afro caribean hand drumming, & afro haitian dance, amazed by the rhythmic echoes i could see in hip hop beats. >after graduating i moved to maui & became a children's advocate at the local women's crisis center, learned to surf, & sold mixtapes on the side. it was there i was given my name in a dream, which i found out later from a hawaiian friend, that's traditionally how names are given, & it means the full moon. >i was also making mixtapes for my long distance boyfriend, mc tigre liu, at the time. his roomate, dj trey lopez (now manolo black of peligrosa) heard my mixes, & invited me to dj back in austin. that was the first time i deejayed live with two turntables. >missing the unique city culture of austin, i later moved back to texas, & bought myself turntables. i started off doing some pirate radio, house parties, weddings, my husband's family reunion (!), on to high end events, kick ass shows, & super fun residencies. >i still work with children & their families part time, which i love. it keeps me grounded in what's important- you know, sharing, playing, being kind+connected, healing- that kinda thang. i am also currently fascinated by the effect of music on brain development, & am working on kid mixes to support learning. >my beat matching & blending is the timing of catching a wave & the rhythmic geometry of poly-rhythms. my selections will save your soul. >i am a professional mood setter.