Today we’d like to introduce you to Edmel Diaz.
Edmel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We are all sand among the cosmos, where the universe carves and shapes us all into who we are as individuals and as a society. Music is one of the most unique ways this has happened, as we identify ourselves with our taste, engraved into us by years and generations of vibrations both new and familiar to our soul. Originally from Newark New Jersey and of Puerto Rican descent, I was introduced to a melting pot of music from salsa to house, from hip hop to dancehall, rock and everything in-between. For as long as I could remember I loved a good dance beat and groove, but really, who doesn’t?
It wasn’t until my early 20s, after already attempting a career in hospitality management, that I realized I wanted to pursue a life in music. More importantly, it wasn’t just about music, it was about what music does, it brings us together with this feeling of comfort and celebration of life. I began my days in the music industry by learning how to DJ and trying to create my own unique sets that combined some of my favorite sounds. I knew I didn’t have what it took to be a top 40 club DJ or wedding DJ, I was more selfish, I wanted to create my own atmosphere and vibe that I felt was missing from the world, or at least my own local scene. I quickly realized the only way I could do this was by throwing my own events.
I got a few friends together and next thing we new, we rented out the back of a record store in Downtown Lakeland, rented out a serious sound system and Dj equipment and we started throwing our own little parties. This quickly put me on the radar of other local promoters and talent buyers, and next thing I new I was Djing some of the best and most established events in Tampa. Performing everywhere from Crowbar, The Ritz, Jannus Live, TK Lounge, Shepards Beach Resort, Sunset Music Festival at Raymond James Stadium and more! Even landed a few out of state festivals and events, as well as across Florida, from Miami, to Orlando, Daytona and Jacksonville.
Eventually I came back to understanding that to get the best outcomes that I desired, I needed to create and foster my own events and community, and after some years of learning from others, I started my own brand called SUM R&R. We operate as an independent record label and event curators, as well as promotional assistants and branding consultants for others. While doing this, I also took the time to pursue less DJ gigs, and focus my time on growing my company and learning how to produce my own flavor of dance music. Now after 7 years of SUM R&R and 10 years Djing, 5 years producing, I find myself slowing down on trying to grow and learning how to enjoy what I have and what I’ve accomplished. Today I am happily married with 2 baby boys and taking things one day at a time. Working and taking care of my family has left me with less time for the company but I’ve been fortunate to have built such a solid foundation and teams that have helped carry the brand to new heights. With our most recent show and music release just this last October, I look forward to seeing where this all takes me and most importantly, how my family will be apart of it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of my main challenges have been finding what direction I want to focus on most in the music industry, between running a label, curating events or producing/DJing my own music. And while I still enjoy all of it and want to continue pursuing all of it in different cycles and capacity, right now, making music is what brings me most peace and happiness. I’ve never had trouble being unique and people quickly find out I have my own blend of flavors, but keeping people hooked on social media and remaining popular has always been a bit of a challenge for me, and you need that to make big moves in the music industry today. Building my own brand like SUM R&R has helped my stay relevant in music and it’s helped me learn things from all sides of the business and community. More recently though with growing our family and having babies, I’ve had to cut back on how many events I can create and how many music releases my label can put out. It can be tough but I’m just happy I can still have a simple life with my family while also participating in the music industry and communities. Luckily my kids love music too which allows me to continue producing and DJing music more often then not, but its still very challenging making the time.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work in the industry and community has primarily revolved around booking and curating events, that has gotten me the most attention and gained me the most respect and followers world wide, even though our events are only local, we curated something that wasn’t seen in Tampa til we were doing it on a regular basis. Operating the music label has been one of the less exciting parts of my work but it has opened so many doors for me and has expanded my music library and taste to new heights which I am grateful for. These days I’m focusing most on my own music productions and soon I will be releasing more music on a regular basis. For now, my past discography has granted me some great friends, fans and respect from peers around the world, and even though I have been doing this for a decade, I really feel like this has all just been the beginning of my musical journey.
What does success mean to you?
It took time for me to understand myself, but personally success for me is being able to do what I believe in creatively and not be pressured about its financial success while still taking care of my family.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edmel_diaz_music/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@sumrnr
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/edmel-diaz-music
