With more vaccines rolling out, and soft re-openings of live music happening in the US, vinyl DJs are also finding themselves getting back into the …spin of things.  This week, we meet Lisa Trevino by day and DJ DevilWoman by night.  Lisa is an all vinyl DJ in Austin, Texas primarily spinning 80s hair metal, and heavy rock, depending on the venue. “I try not to take myself too seriously, it’s a night out to see my friends and enjoy music together”.

How did you get into your industry / What motivated you?

It was kind of an accident. I was leaving a concert with a friend and we decided to stop in at a bar after the show, I noticed the DJ booth on an elevated platform stage under bright, shiny lights; it was almost calling out to me. I had a decent record collection at the time, so I felt like I could do it. I asked the bartender, “How can I get on there?” And she responded, “Leave your business card and I’ll forward it to the owner.” So the next day I did an impromptu promo shoot with a friend, and made myself some business cards. Now that bar is my monthly DJ residency, thanks Drinks Lounge!

What is a day in the life like?

By day, I work in the escrow industry. I’ve been in finance/lending for over seven years and I really do love it. My partner Matt and I almost always have something going on during the week. We like to get out on a random Monday and hit up a live show.  Between work, home life with the dogs, and random outings, we’re always busy and I wouldn’t change it!

What has been your favorite / the coolest thing you’ve worked on?

Every DJ night is special to me, but the one night I’ll never forget would have to be when I opened up for Night Demon. My best friend, Sean hosted Night Demon at the Lost Well for his 50th birthday. They weren’t on tour, but they were such good friends with Sean they agreed to fly out to Texas from Ventura for this one-off performance. We didn’t know then that it would be their last show of 2020 before the pandemic hit.

What has been / is the most difficult part of your job?

Loading/unloading equipment is always a tedious task, but I’m lucky to have a supportive partner, who’s also my #1 hype man, and roadie. Ha!

What advice do you have for someone wanting to get into pursuing what you’re doing?

Get to know your equipment! Learn what cables you need, carry backups, and have a plan B in case something goes wrong. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve showed up to a gig with the wrong cables, but that’s how you learn right?

Know your worth! A lot of places might try to lowball you. You’re the one who loads the equipment, sets up, and dedicates hours of time. And most importantly, don’t forget to have fun!

Up until only a few years ago, I wasn’t a huge collector of vinyl. When I first discovered New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal, I realized that a lot of these bands weren’t on Spotify, so you had to hit up their BandCamp for an LP. But now, I’d say I’ve grown a pretty substantial collection, with not only the classics, but the special release singles, marble discs, and picture discs! Ahem, all the W.A.S.P. releases please!

What types of things are happening in your industry / with vinyl that you’re excited or worried about? i.e. innovation, or trends you’re seeing.