Issue date: 5/16/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: photo courtesy Grace Siador Her DJ name is DJ Kaleki, which means 'Grace" in Hawaiian [Click to enlarge]

It was supposed to be just another night out with the girls for Grace Siador. She and her boyfriend had just broken up and her best friends had dragged her to a local dance club to cheer her up.

That night, Siador was recruited to be a dancer for a Hawaiian party for a promotions group called Mass Appeal. She became good friends with many of the DJs from Mass Appeal and soon took an interest in mixing.

Since she started mixing as DJ Kaleki, which means "Grace" in Hawaiian, she has been busy - and loving it.

"I love the adrenaline rush and knowing that I could either make or break the party," Siador said.

By day, she's a serious nursing student, but every weekend she can be found mixing at the hottest clubs in San Francisco or Hollywood. She also does weddings, dances and miscellaneous events.

Christian Camarillo, known as DJ CMC, first met Siador when she started working for another promotions group called Illatainment. Camarillo said it's rare to meet a female DJ, but Siador instantly fit in with a group of males.

"She was laughing at all my jokes," Camarillo said, reminiscing about meeting Siador for the first time. "She was easy to get along with and I had felt like I'd known her for years."

Siador is finally able to take a breath this semester after finishing her general education and prerequisites for the nursing program. She has applied to nursing programs "pretty much everywhere in the state" and hopes to attend one in or near Sacramento.

The past four years, Siador attended classes at Sacramento State Monday through Friday. She would have gigs Friday and Saturday and sometimes Wednesday or Thursday. She said she wouldn't go to sleep until 3 or 4 a.m. and would just use Sunday to sleep all day before returning to school Monday.

Siador said at times it was too much.

"But I'll never admit to my parents," she joked.

When she attends nursing school in the fall, she knows she will have to cut back on DJing, but it's something she doesn't ever want to completely give up.

"I love it. I just can't not do it," she said.

DJing has given her many opportunities, including an appearance in the Black Eyed Peas' music video, "Bebot." In the video, Siador is DJing the house party.

Some of the downfalls of being a DJ are the stereotypes associated, Siador said. She networks and talks to so many people that, when it comes to relationships, partners may not trust her because she networks and has many friends, she said.

Vanessa Ragudo, 23, is one of Siador's closest friends. The two have known each other since third grade. Ragudo said Siador is goal-oriented and determined.

"She always sets her goals to what she wants and gets it," Ragudo said. "She's always full of energy, and I like her ambition."

Siador said it's her friends who inspire her to continue doing what she loves.

"I have a few friends who have full-time jobs and are in the industry - who do just as much and are able to handle it," she said. "It encourages me to be motivated to finish school and do everything that I love."

Siador has high aspirations for herself. She would like to attend nursing school, get more gigs in southern California - especially Hollywood - and like most college students, pay off her credit card bills by summer.

Camarillo said he's proud to see Siador grow as a DJ and as a person overall.

"I really believe she's going places," he said.

Amy Ball can be reached at
amyball@statehornet.com

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