With her community-oriented and Afro-diasporic approach, Puerto Rican-Panamanian DJ Bembona has established herself as a singular voice in the landscape of New York nightlife. Bembona is now recognized as a mainstay in this musical panorama, as she regularly performs at parties and festivals across the country. Bembona’s DJ practice is rooted in healing and self-love, with an emphasis on educating her followers about the politics of Black Latinidad. In an era where much of mainstream Latinx music is whitewashed, Bembona is adamant about empowering and visibilizing those who look like her.
“DJing & performing reminds me of my power & my purpose especially since my work is always intentional and for my people.”
Attia: What’s your favorite self-care practice?
Bembona: ufff, I can't pick just one favorite because they all are so interconnected and the recent process of discovering & prioritizing my self-care practices has been beautiful. MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC...music digging, arranging, curating, dissecting, dancing, singin'. Being PRESENT...listening & honoring my body, my breath. Savoring every moment alone or with souls that I love and that nourish me, by using all 5 of my senses (especially when in nature). Saying NO, constantly learning & unlearning. Cooking with love, taking care of my exterior body in ways that I've never before. Unplugging from the outer world, RESTING, honoring the ebb & flow of it all, knowing that I won't be perfect but keeping in mind that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be on this self-care journey.
Attia: How does DJing and performing impact your health?
Bembona: It nourishes my spirit! DJing & performing reminds me of my power & my purpose especially since my work is always intentional and for my people. On the other hand, it has definitely had a negative impact on my physical body. When your spirit is on a whole other dimension of light & energy, but your body reminds you that there are limits. I've definitely lost rest, spiritual energy, liver health (haha) and time to balance out other aspects of my life, but I definitely think that this year has guided me in a necessary direction to tackle the future of my career differently.
Attia: Who has taught you the most in life so far?
Bembona: WOW, well definitely every single being that has been placed throughout my life has taught me so much! I'd say that my chosen family & extended family of revolutionaries, creatives, artists, healers etc. continue to enlighten me! They have all in their individual & collective ways (from close & from afar) taught me so much about the importance of community, of intersectional revolution, about love, about joy, about BEING, about making this lifetime & many lifetimes after us, a better place for ALL marginalized peoples.
Attia: Where do you feel most at home?
Bembona: I would say that the "where" is a feeling; that feeling that's indescribable but when you feel it, you know it's home! I get these range of feelings when I'm having a deep, connective moment with the people that I love, when I'm lit on my way home smiling, basking under the magic of the moon & the stars, when I'm moving my body & sing-screamin' to my favorite songs without a care in the world...when I've taken the first bite of a meal that I've cooked...when I'm staring off into the endless ocean, bathing under the sun. These are feelings in time, very small moments that bring me back to HOME.
Attia: What is your favorite comfort food?
Bembona: Dannng! This is way too hard to choose because I have sooo much love for A LOT of food but off the top of my head I'd have to say a bowl of soulful ass soup! It can be any season of the year, a bowl of Asopao', Pho, Sancocho, Caldo, etc. brings my body & spirit so much love and comfort.
You can watch some of DJ Bembona’s quarantine-era DJ sets here on Twitch.
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