A crowd can tell when a DJ has passion and skill for their craft, elevating deejaying to an art form. A good DJ must know their audience, have the ability to 'read' the crowd, mixing and blending the music to the crowd's taste.
A talented DJ can influence the mood or atmosphere at a gig or party, transforming a 'quiet' party to a swinging event, or push over the top an already electric dancehall to a rollicking party.
Kristie Brewster, DJ Punksta, from Fyzabad, who just turned 14 on Friday, manifests the qualities it takes to be both inside the DJ booth and on the airwaves.
She is making her musical mark in what is viewed as a predominantly male industry.
Speaking to the Kids' Guardian Kristie said "I got into Deejaying from my father who is also a DJ, Jason Brewster, DJ Jason-X, by just watching him go to gigs and blending all these different genres in a way that makes a party a party.
"I started deejayjng around eight years old, my mentor and biggest inspiration is my father. I pattern myself after my father's DJ style.
kristie Brewster
"My role models are DJ Jason-X and DJ Charlotte Selectah Kerry. I love the whole idea of just mixing music and being able to move to different genres in the coolest way ever.
"I play and practice at my father's studio, Thrill Entertainment Studios, where I also host my own show 'Z-Generation Live' on an online radio platform called ilivecaribbean every Saturday from 10 am to 12 noon."
She said she had lots of DJ friends, but the one she was the closest to was her co-host on her show, Chelsea Crawford, DJ Selectah Chels, an upcoming DJ who mics for the show.
Kristie Brewster
Kristie likes food, interacting with people, spending time with her family and her very few friends. She also enjoys meeting new people who share the same interests as her, such as playing the pan.
The Fyzabad Anglican Secondary School Form Three student's favourite subject is Music.
When asked how she would feel seeing her school friends and teachers in person after such a long time when school finally reopens, Kristie said that it might just make her tear up a bit seeing everyone, even though she never really got to be around them since secondary school started as school has been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She was still undecided as to what she wanted to be when she grows up but deejaying was never leaving that ally.
Kristie disclosed that her favourite food is anything with potatoes or pizza and her favourite dessert is chocolate ice cream or sweet smoothies.
She absolutely loves the series Grey's Anatomy and Once Upon a Time. Her all-time favourite movie is Toy Story.
Kristie declared that she loved all genres of music and that was probably what made her a great DJ.
Jason Brewster, Kristie's father said that they always encouraged her in her pursuits.
He described her as very disciplined when it comes to her school work, and she always loved school.
Kristie's mother, Analisa Brewster, said they always assured Kristie that she was a very intelligent and well-rounded person.
Their daughter continues to make them proud in every aspect of her life and gives them hope that despite all the challenges parents are faced with, they can still raise respectful, well-mannered and ambitious children.
