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DJ Fifth Element
They say music has the power to transform lives, and that is certainly true in Roushedia Liburd’s case. As a child, she used to dance to the music played by the neighborhood DJ’s, noticing all the while how the music they chose set the mood for the crowd. “It was really interesting to see how music could change the feel of a not so good day to a great one,” Roushedia recalls. “The DJ could do that and I wanted to be the person that could take an ordinary day and make it a memorable one in a good way.”
The first time Roushedia heard Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” her future path was sealed – she knew she wanted to be a professional DJ. Her remix skills came naturally to her, yet because she didn’t have any professional equipment at that time, she improvised by using her mother’s dual-deck cassette tape player to record her first efforts at mixing. Although it would be several years before the Virgin Islands resident could afford to have her own professional DJ set up, the seed was planted and Roushedia was on her way.
Roushedia got her start at a small resort when the regular DJ, who was also the resort owner, found it too difficult to do both jobs. “After a while he found that with his regular duties of running the business it was hard to stay up on a Friday or Saturday night and go to work the next day,” Roushedia says. “I would help him haul the equipment out, set it up and then break it down. So one night he asked if I wanted a go at the decks and the rest is ‘herstory’.”
After becoming a professional DJ, Roushedia’s first gig was a pool party which she describes as “very cool. I was super nervous but after seeing everyone in their skevees (sic) dancing and just having a real good time, I was extremely happy and hooked for life.”
Today, Roushedia goes by the name of DJ Fifth Element professionally, and she counts the entire island of St. Croix as her area of operation. Her laid back yet slightly edgy style as well as her desire to be inclusive are what set her apart from other professional DJ’s on St. Croix. “I am not the star DJ in my area but I love to share what I do know to help other DJ’s and those wanting to get into the business,” she says. “Also being approachable – I don’t have a complete meltdown when someone requests a song or hands me an iPod to play one of their songs at a gig.”
Roushedia is a fan of American Audio products, and included in her current equipment are two Radius 3000’s, an MX-1400 mixer and a Versaport sound card.
Roushedia says the first wedding she DJ’ed is one of the most memorable events in her career, and weddings have become her favorite type of gig. “It’s really nice most times to work with a bride or event planner to be a part of someone’s special day,” she says. “Twenty years down the line they may not remember what they had for dinner but they usually never forget the DJ.” When asked if she would change anything in her DJ career, Roushedia says no. “Every step on my life journey has a DJ playing in the background and now I am the DJ. So right here, right now is everything I want it to be so I wouldn’t change a thing.”
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