Local DJ in online reality contest
Reality television is at a peak. You have “American Idol,” “Survivor,” “Rock Of Love” (yes, I am a Bret Michaels fan) and about a million more that viewers tune into every week to see what’s going to happen next. Well, one local disc jockey is participating in a new wave of reality contests – the online genre.
Brownsville native Ples Jones, or DJ Deepbleu, as he is know in his profession will be competing in the iCHOOZ.tv Hip Hop Master competition, which is similar to “American Idol” as they do performances via the Internet and then fans vote for their favorite performers.
Jones is the only Pennsylvania resident in the contest.
“It’s a remarkable communal experience that transcends borders, culturesand languages,” said CEO and co-founder of Second-Look Media, Christina Tongco Garcia. “Our empathy for the struggles and hardships artists must endure to fulfill their dreams make us stand up and take notice. We hope to open doors for millions more to participate in this communal experience on a global scale with iCHOOZ.tv.”
“I’ve encountered so many talented people who never got their break, and their careers ended in hardship and disappointment,” said Garcia. “As someone who struggled in Hollywood herself, I’d have been grateful for the life changing opportunities that iCHOOZ.tv brings.”
“Each week of September, there will be a challenge that I must complete,” Jones said. “Each week I need as many fans to vote for me to stay in the competition.”
He said the first three weeks of the challenge are video challenges. In week one, he must do a music video, the second week is a performance video, and third week he must do a freestyle video,. In week four Jones must do a remix of a existing song.
“I really need the support of all of Fayette County,” he said.
And what he could win, which includes a live television performance, cash, record deal and concert tour, is certainly worth all of the hard work he is putting into the competition. He’ll be competing against nine other people from all over the world.
And music is something that really comes from Jones’ heart.
“Basically, I have been into music since I was a child, playing the sax in school, and getting personal training on keyboards by Ralph bill, music teacher in Brownsville when I was a senior.,” he said.
“From there I moved to Washington, D.C. and learned under some great underground hip hop and house producers of the D.C/Baltimore area. I then moved back to Pennsylvania to hone and master my skills.”
Currently, DJ Deepbleu has a deep house release, “Monday 2 Sunday,” in the United Kingdom under the Feelin, and has two R&B releases on Taste Records (Autumn Love and Soundz feat. Nichelle.)
“I would really like to get the Fayette County area on the map,” he said. “This is a lot of fun.”