Name, Location, What You Do:
My name is Arlini Martini and I am originally from the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, but currently live in Austin. I founded a doowop night called Where the Boys Are, and deejay a garage night called the ¡Big Beat! with Topper James.

Influences:
I grew up on a steady diet of punk rock, which influences me both as a person and as a deejay. I still maintain that DIY ethic, and play songs that are a little rough around the edges – like me.

Favorite Records at the Moment:
I recently purchased The Twilights “You’re the One”. It isn’t my usual sound, but when I heard the song I couldn’t get the tune out of my head. I swear, it even played in my dreams that night! I was super excited to finally add it to my collection.

Best Digging Story.
One thing I love about buying records is learning about, or even just imagining, the story behind that record. I love when I find a signature on the sleeve, especially when it is scrawled in old school cursive. It really personalizes the record for me, and I get to share in the history. A few years ago I came across a small collection of generic disco 45s, and each one was stamped with “Disco for Old People.” It cracked me up, but sure enough, whenever I play one of those records the older crowd moves onto the dance floor!

Favorite Mix and Why. Any Genre, Any DJ.
Jock Jams. Nothing else comes close. It was the first “mix” I ever heard on the radio, and to this day it gets me pumped up.

LP, 12”, or 7” format?
7” for sure! Even as a kid I didn’t have much of an attention span to listen to a full album, and preferred mix tapes. Listening to 7” records allow me the opportunity to jump across genres and styles.

Junk Food You Can’t Live Without:
I have such a sweet tooth, so I have a stash of candy with me at all times. I prefer things like chocolate bars over sour candy, so I am usually munching on Milky Ways, 3 Musketeers, or Almond Joys…or Cookies ‘n’ Creme. Any kind of chocolate, really!

Most Memorable Gig Played:
Last year I deejayed Suavecita Souldies in Oakland. My friend Rene Lopez organizes it, and was gracious enough to invite me in December. I was able to deejay with an amazing female line up, and the crowd out there was extremely welcoming – and they never stopped dancing throughout the night!

Record That Never Leaves Your Record Box:
I usually end my nights with something people can dance and sing along to, so I always play The Undertones – Teenage Kicks.

Shout Outs, Last Remarks, and Gig/ Release info:
I have several mixes coming out this month, and a few livestream gigs. I post event information and links on my instagram page @arlinim. And of course, I want to give a shout out to my favorite venues in Austin – Drinks Lounge, Velouria and the 13th Floor. We can’t be together during these times, so please visit their social media and show them some love!

Dig Deeper!