NY Profile #33 Belinda Becker visual story, DJ and performer

So many things... a singer, a painter (my dad painted), a pianist, a dancer. I guess I always knew I wanted to be an artist, I just didn’t realize which form it would take.

3) Favorite soundtrack while riding in a taxi?

Anything old R&B or soul like Luther Vandross or Marvin Gaye. I find comfort in their voices and in the nostalgia they bring.

4) The music you play as a DJ has a broad spectrum, can range from incredibly energetic and electrifying to intimate and almost confessional. How do you process and select your DJ set?

Nothing is pre-planned. I usually go on the vibe I feel when I get to the venue. And it’s always informed by the way I feel or what’s going on in the world. But, in general, I let the vibe dictate the journey.

5) What has your life been through these pandemic months?

Revelatory, depressing, horrifying, beautiful... everything really. I have found wells of strength and discipline that I never knew I had.

6) What truth do we prefer to ignore in the USA under this socio-economic climate?

That racial inequality and climate change are the two most pressing issues we face and if we don’t deal with them, they will eventually destroy this country.

7) As a society, have we started to fear debates and factual discourses?

With the rise of social media and Fox News, there is a lot of misinformation being disseminated that has completely polarized the country. So it’s not really a question of fear, it’s more about the realization that you cannot debate without one set of facts that both sides agree on. One side believes in facts and the other deals in conspiracy theories.

8) How do you retreat and recharge under these uncharted times?

I stay home, turn off my phone, put on my favorite music and dance until I can’t dance anymore... and I can do this for a few days in a row.

9) Your favorite place in New York

Prospect Park, even although I don’t go there very often. When I do, I am always reminded of the beauty of nature and our humanity. And in these troubling times, I need that.

10) A memory of strength and beauty you would like to share

The day 9/11 happened, we were all in shock because the world changed so abruptly and we knew that our innocence had been lost forever. My old apartment on Prince and Crosby street became a sanctuary for our friends. There were sleeping bags everywhere and people were cooking meals for everyone camping out in our apartment. No one knew what was going to happen or if there was going to be another attack. Nothing was said, we all just came together to mourn and comfort each other. I will never forget that moment as it showed the resilience of the human spirit and what we could accomplish when we came together as a community.

11) A planned project on your to-do list you are looking forward to?

Right before the pandemic hit I was working on a performance of Haitian Vodou songs, called Vwa Zansets, conceived and directed by my friend and fellow dancer/ choreographer, Sheila Anozier. I am hoping that we will be able to go back to rehearsals early next year.

12) Will you ever leave NY? And if yes, where would you go?

I definitely want to leave NY at some point. I don’t think I want to grow old here. This society does not treat old people nicely. And as I get older, the yearning to go back to Jamaica grows stronger and stronger. I have a few things brewing in my mind... but I think it’s better not to talk about them until I can make them a reality.