Proud to stand out. Courtesy of djicon.com

If ICON do it, you can too!

By Jenn Chong

At the tender age of 14, orphaned and consequently disadvantaged, she was left on a solitary enterprise to survive alone. During that time, she received a scholarship to train and perform in the circus trade as a contortionist. Shortly after, she discovered the enchanting world of electronic music. With the dexterity of her hands and deejaying prowess, this precocious DJ was already courting the hearts of club and rave patrons by the age of 16. And, by the age of 22, she obtained a highly coveted role on MTV's 2003 amateur dance competition series "The Wade Robson Project," hosted by renowned choreographer Wade Robson.

Striking a pose for her CD cover. Courtesy of djicon.com

Interested in conquest under trying circumstances, Connie Wong, alternatively known as DJ ICON, strives at tempering and combating disadvantages with an opportunistic flair. Learning from her past that dwelling on misfortunes would not foster success, DJ ICON remarks that one must "start taking from life instead of always being the victim." Concluding with a carpe diem like statement, she finishes, "when an opportunity arises, you must seize it." Speaking of opportunities, ICON admits that being an underground persona in a commercial television series has cultivated misconceptions regarding who she is, and what she stands for. "I do not just play hip-hop or electronic music. I am not just one thing. I'm just trying to take opportunities as they come and to be diverse and well rounded," ICON clarifies.

Her surprising transition from being a contortionist to practicing the art of deejaying is a detail that demands deeper reflection. She explains that as far as longevity goes, being a contortionist affords less fiscal stability as opposed to her primary passion, deejaying. This is because contortion is most promising during one's youth. Turning her back from the circus industry, ICON began experimenting with turntables, collecting records, and acquainting herself with the correlate equipment. Instantaneously connecting with the music, she felt she had finally secured her niche. Although influenced and inspired by DJ Mars and DJ Mystre, her colleagues who essentially pioneered the trance scene in San Francisco, ICON explains that learning to DJ was largely self-taught. Simply put, ICON just started throwing her own parties, creating her own identity in the scene, and "just doing my [her] own thing."

ICON doing what she enjoys most. Courtesy of djicon.com

Connie Wong's stage name, DJ ICON, is derived from... well her name, Connie. She explains, "It's the letters of my name, almost an anagram." She concludes that this name is "powerful, short, and to the point." This meaning-laden moniker is fitting for a remarkable woman that sophisticatedly attends to the issue of discrimination in an industry that is notoriously known to be dominated by males. Concurring that there is indeed an invisible impediment for females in this industry, she recalls the beginning of her career as "really difficult because either they wouldn't take you seriously or they wanted to book you just because you were female and a novelty." To ICON, one must learn to muster the courage to overlook these institutionalized biases, and be confident that one's talent and aptitude will speak more forcefully than such external trappings.

In that respect, although once irked by these standards of marketability, she realizes that "it doesn't really matter why they are booking you, you just have to get out there and show them that you kick ass and then everybody wins." This indefatigable mantra is the reason so many aspiring female DJ's gravitate towards her and find her worthy of esteem. Not surprisingly, she is a proud associate of SISTER, which is an organization devoted to the idea of supporting female DJ's and celebrating women as powerful creative beings.

Deejaying, she informs, is a highly competitive field. With the multitudes of adept DJ's circulating the entertainment arena, it is almost requisite for those seeking recognition to distinguish themselves in a singular fashion. DJ ICON's philosophy for performing does precisely just that. Granted that all DJ's possess their own angle or style, DJ ICON's distinct style is a product of her background in performance. The majority of DJ's, she premises, are not really big on performance. Conversely, when she performs, she endeavors to make it an actual exhibition on stage. DJ ICON finishes, "I don't just stand behind the turntables, looking down. I like to include my image and energy to connect with the crowd." Gauging and understanding the audience, and playing accordingly to cater to their appetites, are all a part of how she incorporates her showmanship.

Consistent with her freestyle approach, she states, "I just bring the records in my box and kind of go off a feeling." Playing primarily Breaks, being versatile, incorporating all different types of genres, and mixing in and out of tracks really quick, is very characteristic of her distinct, captivating, and attractive mode of expression. It's no wonder she was scouted and snatched by MTV talent and subsequently placed on the hit series "The Wade Robson Project." It is noteworthy that underground DJ'S rarely get a spot on national television. In that respect, being selected to work with Wade Robson, choreographer of famed talents such as Britney Spears and NSYNC, is even more conclusive evidence of her gifted artistry.

Deejaying, for the most part has proven to be a sobering and humbling experience. ICON recognizes that gaining exposure and winning the loyalty of the creative community is secondary to a more profound goal-"connecting with people and affecting them." The capacity to arouse deep emotion and "move" individuals is by far the most gratifying aspect of her occupation. Although she has no definitive agenda for this upcoming year, except for performing at shows around the globe, the implications of her talent certainly await our awe.

DJIcon.com

November 21, 2003.