Life lessons from the DJ booth | ELEW

Life functions like a nightclub called "Club Reality," where every individual acts as a DJ responsible for the tracks they drop and the atmosphere they create. Concert pianist and "rock jazz" pioneer ELEW, born Eric Lewis, argues that navigating the gap between our plans and reality requires the same empathy, sensitivity, and rigorous preparation found in professional DJing. By studying the science of EDM and hip-hop virtuosos in New York City clubs, he developed "piano turntablism"—a technique of playing two tunes simultaneously—which helped him overcome career-related panic attacks and depression. This philosophy posits that the human brain is organically wired like a mixer, with the corpus callosum syncing the two hemispheres. Maintaining a "groovy" mental atmosphere through intentional choices allows individuals to bear the weight of life's unpredictable loads while keeping their metaphorical tracks spinning.