The first time I heard Oshee Yumako’s voice, I didn’t doubt that being a DJ in SL would be an extension of what she does in RL. Her voice is beautiful, melodic with a sultry laugh. She sounds young and relaxed, so when you find out she is a mother of five, ages from 4 to 14, you envy her kids for their luck in having fallen asleep to Oshee’s lullabies. Recently, Oshee and I met at her house, a place that she built herself and shares with her husband Mur Zimminy.
The house has a real feel of the southwest, a place that makes Oshee feel at home. The southwestern theme is present throughout the house, from dome shaped fireplace in the living room to the Native American rugs in the loft upstairs. She kindly showed me her favorite spot of the house—a balcony that faces the ocean and has the most beautiful lighting in sunrise. Finally, we settled on the deck by the pool, which was also designed and made by Oshee. We chatted about life of a DJ, her experiences and inspirations.
Leda Carter: Thank you for inviting me to your home. It is a lovely place. Do you spend time here with your husband?
Oshee Yumako: We don’t really hang out in SL much. But the partnership is a representation that we are married in RL. My husband actually is in SL to do RL work. In fact, my husband was looking at SL as part of his RL job. He was amazed by it and encouraged me to check it out as well.
Leda: Did you join the community having “DJing” in mind, or did it evolve on its own?
Oshee: When I joined SL, I didn’t know anything about DJing. My first employment included being a hostess for a variety of jazz clubs, among them Blue Fusion and Franks Place. Later, I was promoted to management positions in those clubs. Then, I became a builder for 18 months, and an owner of a shop, a shopping mall, and skybox rentals. About 15 months ago, I decided that it was time for a new experience. That’s when I began DJing. I’ve always loved the environments in which I have worked and I love love love the music. So, it’s the best of SL in my opinion.
Leda: So you say that you love love love the music….. I also love music. But it seems like it takes more than loving music to become a DJ. Have you always had a vast knowledge of music, songs, singers, the details that go along with DJing?
Oshee: Like most people, before I started I had a vast knowledge of what I liked. And, in the past, I had worked in jazz clubs as a hostess and a manager. So, I had a lot of knowledge of that type of music.
My first job, which was a tips-only job and where I cut my teeth into DJing, was for a place called Shadow Hearts. I played techno and industrial rock, of which I knew very little. DJing has taught me a lot about different genres, and, through requests, I’ve learned even more about stuff I absolutely love. If I schedule a set in a style I don’t know well, before hand I spend time studying what’s out there and what’s popular and then I will set up a playlist.
Leda: I see…..do you have any interest in DJing in rl?
Oshee: Not really. I have no real life background in DJing. I do love the easy access to a much more varied life that SL has provided, but RL always is first and most important. I have five children and DJing is usually a late night event. I am, however, scheduled to take a class at a local college about doing voice-over work. I’ve had compliments about my voice, so I’m going to see what might really be possible.
Leda: Well, the compliments are indeed true. I love your voice. How did you learn the technical aspects of the job?
Oshee: I watched online videos. YouTube has a vast supply of videos that help with DJing in SL. Also, a DJ friend helped me to flush out the technical troubles I ran into. She was a lifesaver.
Leda: Is DJing your primary reason to be in SL?
Oshee: It’s a dual purpose now. There used to be times when I came into SL only to work, but I have grown an amazing group of friends who enjoy the music as much as I do. I lean on them for advice and for smiles, almost nightly. I am very lucky to have my dear friends. Now, even if I quit DJing, I would return to SL to see them.
What I enjoy most is when fun conversations start during one of my sets. The witty play with the music and people happily dancing is just the best.
Leda: I wonder if looks are an issue for a DJ. How much time have you spent on your avatar?
Oshee: I have spent considerable time on my avatar. I turned to working in SL very early and I always wanted to represent what I wanted out of SL. I feel that it is important to look classy and even businesslike at times.
When I started in SL, one of the first things I noticed was how many women looked out of proportion and wore next to nothing. Now, things have changed a bit and more and more I see women mixing the sexy with classy so much better. But that’s what I wanted. I wanted to come across as elegant, especially as I felt like I was working in classy places. I wanted my avatar to represent how I wanted to be seen and treated.
Leda: What are some of the challenges of being a DJ? What is your working schedule like?
Oshee: The biggest challenge is when people request inappropriate songs for the venue I’m working. I really prefer to help people and improve their time in SL. Occasionally, if a request doesn’t suit the mood of the set, or the venue, I will say no to the person who made the request. At times, my refusal has turned confrontational because some people forget to treat each other with respect.
My schedules are planned to work best with my RL schedule. Right now, I mostly work for Frank’s Entertainment group. I’m at Frank’s Place several nights a week and at Franks Elite Jazz Club a couple of nights. Now and then, I get to plan great salsa nights at Elite. I also do theme dances every Friday for a great little poetry group called POZ. They are one of the first groups I found when I started SL, since I do love to write and read poetry. They also have monthly poetry contests with money prizes.
Leda: Now, we share the love of poetry too! Does the music that you play reflect your own taste? Tell us a little about your selection process and what inspires your sets.
Oshee: Like I said, I always try to play music that fits the venue where I’m working. But I also check to see what latitude I have as well. Personally, I have a wide variety of likes so I can always put together a set where I like most of the music regardless of the genre. I often don’t put together a full playlist. Instead, I let the room and the people help me decide what else should be heard. Also, I always take requests, and that has introduced me to a lot of amazing music.
I am most inspired by the atmosphere in which I’m working in. The venue will often determine the style of music, but I choose specific tones and I try to match or enhance the mood of the people in the club.
Leda: Does your avatar reflect the RL you in any way?
Oshee: My avatar doesn’t really look like the RL me. Sometimes, I think she really looks like my younger sister. However, as I expressed above, I wanted to find an elegant look. When I first started SL I was not impressed with the shapes available. They were, for the most part, unrealistic in proportions. So, I tried to find something that looked elegantly real.
Leda: Does anything in SL relate to your RL? Do you keep them separate?
Oshee: I don’t keep them separate. I am me in either place, my RL husband is my SL partner. I am grateful for all that SL has taught me about myself. It’s fantastic what you learn when suddenly life restrictions are lifted, such as finding jobs in different fields and meeting people from all over the world. I like to say I’m all me in here, just a blond, skinny version. Those who keep that separation are in a way just role playing themselves in SL, which isn’t a bad thing as long as they treat people with respect. For me, I have gained the most from people that I have been able to trust with all of me.
Leda: You know that I cannot end the interview without asking you to tell the story of your Japanese sounding name.
Oshee: My name, Oshee, is a nickname I’ve had for most of my life. It did not originate from a Japanese name at all. I chose my last name, Yumako, for my husband who loves everything Japanese. He had started in SL first and I hated the last name he chose. As a result, I chose something to honor him. I didn’t realize how Japanese my name could sound. Thus, I have a Japanese-sounding name.
Leda: It has been a pleasure having known you, and I thank you for giving your time for an interview.
Oshee: Thank you for asking. I am really flattered.
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