00:17I think a chosen family for me comes from people who are looking for the same thing
00:23I am in a way.
00:27I think Sasson Department fulfills the void.
00:29The core of it is to be as inclusive as possible.
00:34When it comes to DJing, we offer a space that is everything you see in culture as expressed
00:41through a Latinx identity.
00:47Our music reflects us.
00:49We come from Afro-Indigenous backgrounds, from Caribbean backgrounds, and that's in the blood.
00:59Since we all share Latinx heritage, the food making process is very important.
01:07When you're with people that you love, you want to incorporate their hands in this experience.
01:14How many pizzas do I get?
01:15We need seven.
01:16I guess Danny's not playing because he's busy.
01:18Busy.
01:19Yo, Danny, what's on the menu for tonight?
01:21Oh, we got some marapas on the pan.
01:23Empanadas coming soon.
01:24We got some pernil and salsa verde.
01:26Yeah.
01:27We got the platano with some queso fresco.
01:29Some chorizo with the bean sauce.
01:31It's about to be mad good.
01:32How long though?
01:33Don't ask me how long.
01:34It's a process.
01:35It's a process.
01:37It's done when it's done.
01:38Right.
01:39There's love in that meal.
01:40You kind of remind me of an arepa, to be honest.
01:43Ooh, I'm mad comfy.
01:45Yeah!
01:46That's right.
01:46What about me?
01:47I want to know what I would be.
01:48You're definitely like a dessert.
01:50Yeah, you mad sweet.
01:50Something sweet for sure.
01:52That's right.
01:52I'm like a tres leches.
01:53She got layers and she's sweet.
01:55Okay.
01:56Is this like the simple way of playing it?
01:59Yeah, there's strategy involved.
02:01Cause the goal is to not have any in your hand.
02:03So it is like, ooh, no.
02:08I'm very happy that I found my Sazon crew.
02:11You know, I saw this as like, oh, an amazing like DJ opportunity.
02:14And then the more gigs we had, like the friendlier and more open we became with each other.
02:19It's funny how like beginning from gigs and now like I have a second family now.
02:23Like it's, it's kind of wild.
02:25My immediate family's only trained right away.
02:28But you know, even now, like with like, like during COVID, like my family has never felt this far away.
02:33You know, like I can't even step foot into my parents' house and like hang out with my little sister
02:36and little brother because I have to keep them safe.
02:39It's really hard.
02:40But I think, yeah, we, we are able to like lean on one another during such difficult times.
02:45And we've kind of found the silver lining, I would say, right?
02:49To continue on and to grow.
02:50What I find in all of y'all is really the fact that people can accept you as you, as
02:56you are, you know, with all the differences you have, with all the different things you represent.
03:00That you could come and you can be welcomed and you can share your differences in a way. That's really
03:05what it is for me.
03:06You're very professional in every aspect of your life. Danny, I admire your love for everything that you do.
03:13Well, I think we all know what we love about you and it's your nurturing spirit and that optimism and
03:20that love that you always bring for everyone to be themselves and to show up just how they are.
03:25And Diego, you have so much strength. You have so much courage to go out there and chase your dreams.
03:30And I think all of us have that strength to push beyond the binary, to push beyond the boundaries of
03:36what people expect a Latin American group to be or look like or to sound like.
03:41Everyone is a key ingredient into making that work, into making that what Sasson Department is all about.
03:51Being intentional behind everything amplifies whatever it is that you are doing.
03:59Every day that you wake up, you have to make choices.
04:04I think that those choices really guide you towards a path of evolution.
04:12When you're creating a beat, there's love in that.
04:15When you're creating a meal, when you're preparing a meal, love goes into that.
04:22This is my family. This is my chosen family.
04:25I choose them. And they chose me.
Comments