Misty’s vinyl journey has taken her from the DJ booths of Toronto to running an online record store from her home in the Japanese countryside. We caught up to talk musical roots, finding confidence behind the decks, and her love of 45s.
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I’m a former big‑city DJ turned country mom. Originally from Toronto, I moved to Osaka, Japan, before settling down with my family in a little countryside town. I’ve been crate‑digging since my teens and DJ’ing for over 20 years. My shelves (and sets) span a lot of genres but heavy on soul in all its forms and vintage R&B, with a soft spot for garage, punk, and rock & roll. These days I mostly collect 45s, partly because I had to leave my LP collection behind in Canada (I’ll be back for you one day!), but also because 45s just make sense from a DJ’s perspective.
“There’s something magical about that feeling of time travel when you put on a record”
What sparked your interest in collecting records?
I think it was from growing up surrounded by music and records. My dad is a musician and we always had music playing in the house. From the time I was little, I was encouraged to pick up records and play them, so it’s always been a comfortable and familiar way to listen to music.
What is it about vinyl that you love most?
I love the thrill of the chase in hunting down rare records from my wish list and building stories through the search itself. Most of all, I love the stories pressed into the wax. I know you can hear the same songs digitally, but there’s something magical about that feeling of time travel when you put on a record. It’s like hearing the music the way the original artists and producers first experienced it.
When did you start DJ’ing, and what got you behind the decks?
I started DJ’ing in my early twenties to fill a gap in an underground music scene my friends and I loved. It worked out well because I absolutely loved playing music and finding ways to tie it together but it also helped a deeper reason. I used to struggle with social anxiety, and DJ’ing gave me a reason to show up. It also let me be present while having a little hideaway of my own (the DJ booth). I’m thankful I don’t suffer from social anxiety anymore and DJ’ing played a huge role in helping me past that.
What can we expect from one of your sets?
A whole lot of soul and vintage R&B, a little rock & roll, and a dance floor full of happy people.
What advice would you give someone wanting to try vinyl DJ’ing?
Go for it! Build your collection slowly and fall in love with your records. Support other collectors and DJs. And most importantly, check your ego at the door and keep it fun.
What’s the most prized record in your collection, and is there a story behind it?
Believe it or not, it isn’t a 45 (though plenty of those mean the world to me, each with its own story). It’s a first pressing of Green Day’s very first LP, 39/Smooth. I’ve been a die‑hard Green Day fan since I was a kid, and what makes this copy priceless is that it’s signed by Billie Joe Armstrong. I met him after a Toronto gig with his side project, The Longshot and it meant the world to me. He was so kind that I’ll never forget it. The cover stays framed on my wall, and the record itself stays safe but I still play it.
What’s your go-to crate digging spot?
I’m spoiled because I have a record store in my own house. Night Beat Records was a brick and mortar store in Osaka for over a decade before we moved to the countryside and took it all online. A lot of my favorites have come straight off those shelves.
In Osaka, Rare Groove is a must (I once found a record from my dad’s band there!). In Tokyo, I love Nat Records for punk and Disk Union (especially the Ochanomizu store) for soul and just about everything else. And in Toronto, Kops Records and Sonic Boom are my go‑to’s.
Follow DJ Misty over on Instagram.
