Dance Floor Delight: Grace Seymour

Words & photos by Amiyah Golden

Music is multi-faceted, everchanging, riveting and intertwined with tales.

 It is the one thing that will continue to unify people — whether that’s on the dance floor, through shared interest or happenstance — it collaborates with the intention to emote; in whatever way invoked by the listener or the artist.

 Music stripped to its bare bones goes beyond mere accolades and streams. It is backed by a history of ascendency to consolidate divergence. A moment in time where all mankind crowd together under flashing lights to groove with no disapproval for differences.

 With universal tensions prevailing, it is always a sigh of relief to witness new-found unity amongst the community that derives from the lucid spinning of records.

 And while the landscape on partying has changed with more phone usage than bodies moving, it doesn’t diminish the anticipated resurgence of real caper; The kind that is led by the DJ of the night that has so carefully curated a soundtrack meant to uplift the vibrations that rise high and to keep it flowing until gas exhausts from the patrons on the floor.

 With life – for many these days – feeling monotonous and laborious, the need to just let go feels necessary.

 We often take for granted the indispensable need for the additional moving parts of a good music experience – the DJ – an integral piece to the biorhythm.  

 I get to sit down and talk to a plethora of artists with many shouting out producers and DJs who have aided them in their journey – cognizance of the paucity of DJ voices struck me. Their own individuality and creative processes often left out of the conversation.

 As I’ve recently experimented with the craft in my own time, it has shown me the intricacy of the art and the appreciation it requires. It is frequently suspected that it’s comprised of modulated buttons that do the work but, for many DJs that’s the furthest from the actual reality. It needs to come with a vast knowledge about catalogs, beats-per-minute (bpm) and the unrequited love for music (and this is just to be a good DJ.)

 My latest hyper-fixation of house music has required me to visit Surfer the Bar in Jacksonville Beach to quench my thirst. With resident DJs that I’ve heard on drunken nights at various establishments who tickle my fancy, it didn’t compare to the set I heard from DJ Grace Seymour on a sober Sunday. With my mouth agape, my hands in the air, and my feet shuffling I knew I was in the right place.

 Anyone can play the latest songs from Tik Tok that are ingrained in our memory without consent but to pick archival pieces and transform them into your own brainchild, is a skill unmatched – and that is what local DJ Grace Seymour does so well.

 There is a science behind DJing and keeping partygoers on the dance floor.

 Artistry drips in an IV bag for Seymour as she is filled to the brim with creativity, not only as a DJ but, also as a visual artist and photographer. Her unaltered love for music takes the chore out of DJing and allows a purified flow of expression to transfer from her veins to the audience.

 From the DJ booth to face-to-face conversation, Seymour is the illustration of radiance. With an aura that is unalloyed and a facility that is thrilling, it makes rooting for her successes so facile.

 As a female DJ having to carve her way through adversity and a scene that is male dominated, especially in the Jacksonville area, it caused Seymour to work 10-times harder. Her hunger for approbation made the grind worthwhile.

 With the California native taking a chance on Jacksonville, it has paid off with the support that has found her and the name she has made for herself.

 “I had graduated at the time and was looking for something different.” said Seymour. “Jacksonville happened to be the place.”

 Now considered one of her home bases, Seymour has fostered a wonderful community within the beaches and beyond!

 Her skills are unmatched and if you haven’t seen her live and in-action you’re missing out. Regardless of your preferred genre, I guarantee Seymour will have you dancing until the dogs come home!

 To keep up with Seymour and support her art, you can follow her via her Instagram below.

 IG: @gracieseymour