Intro by King Musa
“Yo, what it is? You know what it is. It's your man, King Musa! Welcome to First Impression Nacogdoches, the podcast that's all about showcasing the vibrant local businesses, unique brands, and hidden gems right here in our incredible town. We're here to help students, parents, and visitors discover what truly makes Nacogdoches special. I'm your host, King Musa, and today we're digging into another local favorite that you need to know about. We have a very special guest who's making a real impact in our scene. We're excited to learn more about John Lacy, the artist, DJ, and producer, and more to find out later. But before we jump into our chat, let's get to know a little bit more about him. Introducing John Lacy!”
Getting to Know Mr. John Lacy
King Musa: “Man, talking about sunny, it's definitely hot outside. But before we jump into hot questions, I want to know, just a little icebreaker, right? There's BandLab, FL Studio, all types of mixing and mastering software that artists use. Which one would you say is the best, or which one did you start off with?”
John Lacy: “The best is hard to say, but I’ve found whatever you're most comfortable with is sometimes the best. I started trying to use Ableton, but it’s so complex. Honestly, I use an MPC drum machine and its software for production, and FL Studio for mixing, mastering, and arrangement. The gist of it is: don't psych yourself out about the tools. As long as you get what you need done, you're good. If you try to be perfect about everything, it's going to be hard to take that next step, big dog, so you just got to do it.”
We want to know a little bit about you, right? So, go ahead and introduce yourself, and then what do you do here in Nacogdoches?
“My name is John Lacy. Some people know me as DJ John Lacy. Others know me as a percussionist, sometimes a producer. But mainly, I'm here today to promote myself as an artist and a producer. I make instrumental music, and I’m excited to announce I'm dropping a project on November 5th called 'My Own World.' Ever since I was a little kid, people have been telling me, 'Man, John, you just look like you're in your own world.' This project sums up what goes on in my world.”
Personal Background and Passions
Do you have any siblings? Where are you from? And then what got you into making music with your parents, or is this something you jumped in by yourself?
“I have two sisters, Emily and Rachel—they're the best! I am originally from Houston, Texas—the Northwest Side, Cypress-Jersey Village area. My family is very musically inclined. My parents actually made it mandatory for me to take piano lessons. I didn't love them at the time, but it laid the groundwork for my creativity. After that, I picked up the drums around 12 or 13, and that’s what I first got serious about. I’m a percussionist forever, and I try to be very dynamic, painting a picture with drums. As I grew older, I wanted to paint a broader picture through production. As for DJing, people saw what I did and just assumed I DJ’d, so I learned how to do it. As an artist, I'm a percussionist who moved into production, putting it all into one special thing. I’m very conceptual and like to tell stories with my music.”
When you're not making music, what do you like to do for fun? What is life outside of being a musician?
“Being a dad is the main thing. I'm a husband and a father, and I love my family, dude. Everything is family first, 100% of the time. I love my son Elijah and my son Zeke. When I think of hobbies, that's all I can think about. Music takes up enough space, so I also started doing some boxing stuff. I just do whatever’s in my mind.”
Music Career: Journey, Challenges, and Accolades
When was your first performance? How did everything get popping off? How did you know you're truly an artist and not just a person making music in his room?
“I’d say probably playing in church started me off, teaching me how to be a musician and work with others. As you grow and make other music, you ask if you can perform, and it snowballs. Since then, I’ve done beat battles and performed in Atlanta, Houston, Austin (on Sixth Street), and here in Nacogdoches at places like Old Tyler Road Cafe, Max, Miller's Crossing, and Frontier Park. Anyone who supports the arts in the community, I'm for.”
What would you say are the challenges you kind of had to face, and how did you overcome them?
“Being perfect is a big one. You always think, ‘I can make this better,’ but then years go by with nothing to your name. I've serviced others a lot with my musicianship—playing drums and making tracks for people—but for myself, I've second-guessed putting something under my name. I’ve been a lot more forthcoming with my music lately and just putting myself out there. The other challenge is money, man. There’s not a lot of money in the arts, and you have to get it wherever you can. You have to be okay with people looking at you a certain way for going everywhere to do it. My reality is, I’ve got two kids to feed and a home to maintain, so I’ve got to get it everywhere I can. And don’t be ashamed to work a regular job too. As an independent musician, you just gotta do it, man. Do what you can to the best of your ability, and don't be ashamed of yourself. You work hard.”
What are some accomplishments you want to highlight? What are some ways that people can connect with you, find you? And then we do want to hear this song.
“I feel like I perform a lot more than I’ve recorded, and I'm proud of that. Playing in different places like Houston, Austin, and Nacogdoches. I went down to downtown Houston during the World Series and made it fun. Being able to perform as an artist with my drum machine, my own music, and flipped samples, means a lot to me—not just as a drummer or DJ, but as an artist who can paint my picture with better colors. My new album, 'My Own World,' drops on November 5th. Remember, remember the 5th of November! (Like V for Vendetta).”
John Lacy & His Audience
For Visitors:
- Uniqueness: There's nobody doing what I'm doing in this area—performing electronic music live using a drum machine and my fingers to drum and trigger sounds. It's nothing like it!
- Personal Touch: I like to remix people's favorite songs and sometimes come out with a remix just for fun.
- Find Me: You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube at @DJJohnLacy. My website will also have my locations and upcoming events.
For Students:
- Diverse Sound: If you love many different genres, you'll love this album because it's very diverse. I use samples from viral, funny stuff that tells a story, then skirt back into a beat. You'll hear jazz, funk, soul, and experimental sounds.
- Strong Beats: I’m a drummer, so the beat is always there at some point!
- Perfect for: Working out, studying, and anything else students do.
- Get Involved: I wish more students would get involved. Shout out to SFA! I'm trying to do an EDM show and other things in September when school comes back. We love the support from SFA to get things going.
For Parents:
- Clean Content: As a parent, I understand wanting music your kids can listen to. You're not going to hear much bad material on the album. If there were, I would put out a clean version because I like my kids to hear different kinds of music.
- Respect for the Audience: I appreciate and respect this crowd.
Community Shout-Outs & John Lacy's Favorite Local Spots:
- Taqueria 21: Best al pastor in the city. Don't be intimidated if you can't speak Spanish, just go in and get the tacos!
- Who You Hibachi With: Great food truck that just got a physical location across from Walmart.
- Claw Daddy's: Everything I've had there is really good.
- Supporting the Arts: Puffin Stuff, Old Tyler Road Cafe, Baron Johnson, The Firehouse, and any other venue or city music scene that's booking artists and showing love.
- Ink Baby Tattoos: My favorite artist in the city.
Outro by King Musa
“Alright, a massive thank you to our amazing guest, John Lacy, DJ John Lacy! Go ahead, follow him on all platforms at @DJJohnLacy for sharing his story and giving us such a great look at what's unique in Nacogdoches. Remember, our town is full of incredible local businesses and hidden gems, and First Impression Nacogdoches is here to help you find them. Subscribe, stay connected with us on social media, and join the community. Until next time, this is King Musa signing off. Go out and explore Nacogdoches! See y'all later!”
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