Born in Palm Springs, CA , Rafael Lopez was introduced to music at the age of 13 when his dad bought him a drum set. A few years later he attended the Coachella Music and Arts Festival for the first time and was bitten by the DJ bug. He eventually sold his drum set and got a pair of turn tables. The young, aspiring DJ would spend hours in his room practicing how to mix records. Lopez began his DJ career playing parties for his friends while attending Palm Desert High School. He didn’t really have a stage name but went by the nick name “Ralpha.” With the help of his friend Kevin, they came up with the name he uses today, “DJ Alf Alpha.”
While in his last year at University of California, Riverside, DJ Alf Alpha began getting paid by the college to spin music for the students and quickly learned he could make a living doing what he loved, sharing music. He also had some help growing his record collection from his sister who worked in a record store.
Alf Alpha would attend Coachella every year only to be inspired by some of the world’s best DJs– dreaming of someday getting to perform at the festival himself. He eventually got this foot in the door by being invited to play in the festival campgrounds in an area known as the Coachella Art Studios where concert goers can make arts and crafts while DJs spin music consistent with the Coachella vibe. In 2011 Alf Alpha was called up to the big leagues and was invited by festival Co-founder Paul Tollett to play in the Sahara Tent and at the Oasis Dome coming full circle from being a fan to performing on stage. The icing on the cake was getting to perform with legends Snoop Dogg and DJ Quik last year at a private pool party. West Coast Hip Hop is one of his favorite genres of music so he felt right at home.
Currently living in LA, DJ Alf Alpha will bring his Technics Turntables and Rane 57 mixer to both weekends of Coachella. This year Goldenvoice has booked DJ Alf Alpha to perform inside the festival each Sunday in the Gobi Tent. In addition, DJ Alf Alpha will be performing all six days inside the Coachella Art Studios and at the Official Coachella After-Party “Midnight Disco” in General Camping.
If you miss DJ Alf Alpha at Coachella this year you can also find him hosting the “World Famous” Dance Party with The Coachella Valley Art Scene at ACE Hotel in Palm Springs, every last Saturday night of the month inside the Amigo Room Bar, 10pm – 2am. Other future dates include the High Point Monthly Rooftop Party at The Fox Theater in Pomona April 27, 10pm-2am. He will also be releasing an album later this year.
For more information, you can visit his web site at www.djalfalpha.com
Written by: Craig Michaels / www.facebook.com/musicalaffair
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