Within the dimmed music hall in Canterlot stood many ponies who waited in excitement at the foot of a small stage full of speakers and turntables that sat idle and ready to be played. The entire room dressed up beautifully to set a mellow and warm mood that would match the music soon to be played. Currently, it was all excited chatter from ponies whose voices overlapped one another from the anticipation that filled everypony within the room. However, no pony was more excited than one Vinyl Scratch, who pushed her way through the crowds with a smile plastered to her face until she reached the closest she could possibly be to the center of the stage. She wouldn't miss this event for the world, as she never once missed an event by this one pony she held so close to her heart. She wanted to be just like him, the stallion who created the music she was ultimately influenced by to create music of her own. It wasn't long before every single pony in the room started to cheer, starting from the front and getting louder as it reached the back. However, the excitement that was the loudest was that of Vinyl Scratch as the stallion took the stage and approached the turntables with a smile as his eyes panned the entire crowd that screamed for him.
He was none other than DJ Soul, the stallion who was known all over Equestria for his nostalgic, smooth, soulful instrumentals that would convey such perfect emotions that some wish the music would never stop. He wasn't just a musician but an artist who showed just how pure music could really be. The stallion had a short, well kept mane along with tinted purple glasses and black with purple trimmed headphones. He held a smile, one of embarrassment. He was never used to being famous as he couldn't see himself as someone famous. He was like everypony else; just your average pony that had a passion for what he did. A love for music, which was obvious by the two musical notes that embraced his flank. It was time for the room to go from being full of chaotic cheers to the sound of soul. DJ Soul grabbed an album and placed it before he dropped the needle carefully in place and started to mix. The crowd kept cheering, but that slowly turned into each pony moving and dancing to the beat. Everyone started to become lost in the music; the bass against their chest, the sound just reaching the very bottom of their hearts, all with eyes closed. The change in reaction was phenomenal just by the way the crowd could be instantly controlled by the way DJ Soul would mix. The crowd didn’t tire from the music as he continued for another hour or so, breaking in between songs as they ended for only a moment to change the album. Within the pause of music, the crowd would always break out in applause before the song would start and the crowd would become entranced to the music once more.
He was finishing up his tour of shows around Equestria and this was the reaction to be expected at any show. DJ Soul had mastered the art he had loved all his life. Nevertheless, It wasn't easy to reach that stage in his career. Despite thinking of himself as everyone else, the fame was now huge and it all started when he started experimenting with turntables from home as a colt. Originally, he lived in a small home out of Ponyville. His parents were both very supportive in anything he wanted to try. Though, he used to always just hang out with a group of friends that he was very close to. They used to go down the riverbank and just hang out and talk about how life was. One day, through discussion of the normal mundane day to day, there was an idea that sparked; the group of them should start a band. Soul had never given music a shot, though he wasn't one to say no to such an endeavor. He quickly pondered on what instrument he would play, and while everyone else picked traditional choices like drums or guitar, Soul wanted to go above and beyond and try something different. He just needed the tools to think of what he wanted to do. It was that night that he decided to go home and tell his parents what he and his friends planned.
Since his friends already acquired instruments, he decided to give them a shot. At first, the guitar he thought may have been a perfect choice. He would hang out with his friend and try to learn to play it but the coordination was too much and the grip was very awkward to him. He simply couldn't adjust to it. Maybe he should try his friends drums he figured and gave that a shot as well. As his friend showed him how, he tried and had some of the same issues. He couldn't make a beat consistently with all the moving parts involved and felt as though it just wasn't his thing. He knew that he just wasn't really much for singing, and he didn't want to go the orchestral route with pianos or anything like that. He knew what he wanted it to all sound like yet he couldn't perform it on the instruments his friends were seeming to take better to. He went home and explained to his parents the problem. It was simple enough; he knew what he wanted it all to sound like, but he couldn't get the individual parts down first. It wasn't long before his dad suggested trying to take all the individual parts of what was already existing, even creating some of your own beats and sounds, and mixing his own music. Soul's father explained it in the sense of like taking the samples of parts of music as ingredients and putting them together to make his own original sound. His parents soon bought him his own turntables and other music equipment. As time went by, he started to create beats and small loops of music on his own before introducing his friends to what he was doing. They loved it and supported his idea as well, but they had started to lose interest in the idea of a band.
Despite his friends eventually giving up on the idea, Soul kept at what he was doing. He didn't give up, he only wanted to get better. He would stay up long nights, and even whole weekends, locked away in his room which had now became his personal studio creating his own full length songs before it came to him that maybe he should try to make demos and get the opinion of the locals. After he had composed a handful of songs that he liked, he put them on a handful of CDs that he could hand out for the locals. He took out the time in a day to go down to the market and hand out the CDs for free. He didn't make many copies so he ran out quick, however he was surprised to find that there was a small demand for his music. He had received many compliments and accolades from the community who had the chance to listen to his music. He had composed a few more original CDs with a few more songs on them and continued to hand them out at the local market, only with a larger quantity so that more people could enjoy his work. Finally, his parents had given him a great idea. They told him that he should go to the town square and do a small live show for everyone, playing some of his original music and even creating some original tracks to show off. He was nervous to do so, yet excited as it was a wonderful idea. His parents helped him hand out fliers and even got him setup with a small stage with his equipment out and all. He didn't think he would attract much attention but instead, all of his friends, his family, and many of the local community that praised his music to begin with had showed up to not only support, but partake in the entertainment. After doing just a small show, it was the day he no longer found himself a blank flank anymore and finally found his talent. He worked so hard and was from that day on given the prefix that made him forever the person he is now known as by all, DJ Soul.
At the end of the show in Canterlot, he finally ended with a slow track that would bring the crowd down from it’s euphoric high of sound. As the crowd gave their approval through the applause once more, DJ Soul gave a bow in gratitude to those who took the time out to see him. The lights came up to bring the room back to normality as DJ Soul exited the stage there ending the performance. Instead of getting out of there and instantly moving on to his next location, there was something that he always liked to do which was stand by the show's exit. He would thank people as they leave, say hello, sign items if people asked, even took pictures. He pretty much found a chance to hang out with everyone so he could show that he really felt, and was, another normal pony. Most people didn’t linger for long as they did have to leave, but it wasn’t much a problem for him as he just liked to meet the people who were into the music that he strived to make perfect. This was the night that stood out though, as he met one fan specifically that would stick with him more-so than any other. A mare with a white coat and double shaded blue mane came up to him and gave him a greeting.
“Hi! I loved your show! I've been to each one on this tour of your shows and they have all been perfect!” Vinyl Scratch said with elation, holding her hoof out to tap it with DJ Soul. His attention turned to her, a big smile in appreciation of the compliment and returned her outstretched hoof.
“Why thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the show. I’m even more appreciative that you managed to come to each show! That's quite a lot of traveling you must have done.” He chuckled then continued. “It’s very nice to meet you though. Are you coming to my final show? It will be an outdoor show, and this one will mean a lot to me as it’s sort of like going back to my roots.” Vinyl Scratch nodded.
“Of course I’m going, I’m really excited. And I heard about that, it’s where you played your very first show. I wish I could have been there.”
“Haha, well. You will get to see it this time around. After that, it’s back to the studio to make something new. I am a bit beat from all the traveling myself. It’s one heck of a pay off though since I get to see so many people who enjoy my music. Even I’m still surprised that it has become this big. I mean, it was really just a hobby at first.”
“Well, to be honest, you’re like my idol. You’re not only my inspiration but the reason I’m into making and mixing music like I am today. I do my own stuff from home but I’m no where near as good as you are! It has always been a dream to meet you and I finally got the chance! I have seen you before outside the venues but I had to leave too quickly to get the chance to stop by. I can’t even stop smiling! Actually… Would it be okay for me to show you my music and get some pointers?”
“Of course it would be, but obviously we can’t here. I’ll tell you what. How about you swing by my studio in Ponyville after the show tomorrow? We can hang out and I can help you with whatever you need!” Vinyl Scratch let out a fan girl squeal before nodding instead of saying anything. At this point, she was shaking with exhilaration. DJ Soul laughed.
“Alright well, It’s time for me to retire and head back home so I can put on my final show. Hope to see you there!” He said as he walked through the crowd of people, occasionally getting a shout out or whistle so fans would notice him as he passed them by. Vinyl Scratch was more excited about hanging with him then she was about the show. She was quick to rush home and sleep to get up tomorrow, though she knew with so much to look forward, she would probably find it extremely difficult to sleep.
The next day, DJ Soul woke up and headed out to the town square to make sure that his stage was being set up correctly. He had personally asked that some of the ponies come out and sell their goods like some cakes from Sugar Cube Corner and some apple products from the local farm. As he went out to the square, he went around to speak to some of the coordinators of the booths selling goods and merchandise along with the event staff who were putting up his equipment on stage. Everything was running smoothly and the event was just hours away and DJ Soul was extremely excited to do this show since it was at home, where everything started for him. As he stood outside, he caught Vinyl Scratch coming his way. He turned his attention and approached her as well.
“Well, I see you got here early.” He laughed a bit, happy to see that she showed up.
“I said I would, didn’t I?” She stuck her tongue at him playfully then continued. “I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t late. Guess I made it just in time.” DJ Soul smiled and shook his head.
“Well listen, since it’s not starting for a while and you are already out here, want to grab something to eat at a local place I usually go?” She blushed lightly. This was like a dream. It’s like her idol is just her best friend.
“Oh, I mean… I don’t want to impose or anything…”
“Hey, no, don’t worry about it. I’ll pick it up. Just something small like a sandwich or something. C’mon!”
He quickly moved along down the road with Vinyl Scratch quick to follow. They showed up at small outdoor diner where they took their seat and were quickly met with a waiter. The waiter had obviously recognized Soul and was quick to be by.
“Well welcome back! What’ll be for you and your friend here?” The waiter said.
“Just get us a couple of hay sandwiches please?” DJ Soul responded.
“Sounds good, I’ll get them out to you in a hurry!”
DJ Soul smiled the waiter as the pony left and turned back to Vinyl Scratch. He saw on her face that she was still excited, I mean she was hanging out with her favorite pony in music! How could she not be? He was flattered but didn’t want her to seem so stressed by trying to impress, in spite of the fact that it was practically a lifelong dream come true.
“So, are you excited for the show like I am?”
“Heck yeah! I mean, I’m happy and sad. The tour will be over but I will get tips from THE DJ Soul. I mean, that’s way cooler than anything I ever expected. I mean really, being taught by the one who inspired you in the first place? That almost never happens to anypony and here I am with the chance!”
“Haha, well. I’m glad. Don’t think of me so highly though. One day, you’ll be better than I am. That’s just the way it is in life. I can’t wait to hear your work as well. As far as the show, I just want to put on the best performance possible. It’s what the fans deserve!”
He smiled to her and paused his conversation as their food arrived. He nodded and gave a thank you to the waiter before going back to Vinyl Scratch, taking a bite each time he could. She followed suit and started to eat as well. She ate a bit quicker than DJ Soul, as she was anxious and rushing like somehow she would miss the show. DJ Soul continued.
“None the less, I do have a new song I want to throw out there tonight. I plan to make a standalone album that is five parts. I only have one fully recorded, but that’ll change when I get in the studio. I’d like to give you some tips while I work on parts two and three. They are nameless tracks right now but hopefully, you can help me with that. Maybe you‘d be the one giving me tips on this album instead. I‘d enjoy that, to have your help on it. Didn‘t think about it, but I think it would be cool to do a collaboration or something together. ” Vinyl Scratch giggled before she could reply.
“That’s… An honor! I’d love to!”
“Well then it’s settled! But for now, let’s go. Time I get on stage and put on one heck of a show! You’ll love the new stuff, for sure. C’mon!”