Nick Shoman - aka DJ Oasis - bought his first turntable when he was 10; retired from deejaying at the tender age of 13 and then, finally, as he reached adulthood decided to stage a comeback.
"When I started I was inspired by DJ Premier and DJ Kool Herc - the real pioneers (who) could play old James Brown records and old groove jazz records and get people breakdancing," he says.
Once in high school, however, the budding turntablist decided to take a break - discouraged by what he described as a lack of "spirit."
"I could just see things were changing - hip-hop was going in a different direction," he says.
"I just let everything collect dust."
The spark reignited years later when a friend asked Shoman to show him the basics of deejaying.
Happy to be making music again, Shoman also realized he could, perhaps, make some money at this as well.
It wasn't easy, however.
"You could be the best DJ ever but some (clubs) won't give you a chance," he says.
After a few fruitless attempts at getting his set into various Sacramento clubs, Shoman teamed with the Neighborhood Watch, a local coalition of deejays, musicians and artists.
Now, with a little help from his friends, the 22-year-old has performed at Harlow's, the Press Club, Empire and Capitol Garge.
"We're just a group of people who work together - we're friends who give each other a push."
DJ Oasis
Song: "Well Connected (Introduction)"
Style: Jazzed-out noises and pop samples
Behind the song: "This is the first track I did after I started deejaying again," he says. "I wanted to make something that served as introduction to me, expressing who I am."
Shoman mixed the melody from the old '70s pop tune "Baby Come Back" ("I just thought the beat was so crazy") with riffs created on a computer. All those bits and pieces, he says, add up to one voice.
"I speak with my hands because I'm deejay," Oasis says. "I cut up a bunch of different (sounds) to make myself heard.
See him: Wednesday, March 4 at Capitol Garage (1505 K St, Sacramento) with DJ Matt Kelly. The all-ages show starts at 10 p.m. and is $5 at the door. For more information: (916) 444-3633
On the Web: www.myspace.com/djoasis
Listen to "Well Connected (Introduction) here:
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