Don’t Skip This Gem: DJ GEMINI GILLY Is Transforming Social Work Through Her Sets

Draw an image in your mind about what a five-year-old’s bedroom would look like. What do you think would be inside? Lego sets, coloring books, Hot Wheels, and kitchenette sets are the most popular answers when thinking of this. There’s always one or two little ones whose mind sparks other interests and passions. For example, Milwaukee’s very own, DJ Gemini Gilly had a different first love compared to the majority of kindergarteners her age; music. The earliest flashback she has of falling in love with music was at five years old when her older brother would be sampling music using a gener8tor CD player while 106&Park flooded his TV screen daily. From that day on, it was as if her head was the one being spun on the turn tables and music was the DJ; while each vinyl record and scratch birthed new mixes and ideas inside DJ Gemini Gilly’s creative compass. 

For many young children creating and knowing their identity can be the most challenging while juggling the world’s perception and being under their microscope. Fortunately, Gilly’s identity was as easy to learn and understand as the ABCs. She’d gift CDs with personalized playlists created by her to classmates, be invited to parties just to plug her cell phone into the aux and introduce the vibes, and knew every hot and new song on the radio. The wild thing is music wasn’t at the forefront of her life as everyone would assume. Sports took that seat early on and sat front and center of Gilly’s childhood as she began channeling her inner Sanaa Lathan in the 2000 film, Love & Basketball. Drills, tournaments, and a goal to attend a D1 collegiate university to play basketball became the breath in her lungs and the routine trained in her brain that kept the talented athlete going. Throughout childhood, Gilly never deemed her connection and fascination with music in an extraordinary light everyone else witnessed; basketball received all her time, attention, and dedication. It wasn’t up until high school graduation that an epiphany clicked.

“I wanted to lock in during college and see how far my potential would go. All throughout high school I was doing just enough to skate by because being an athlete took all of my time. Once I attended college, my head was in every book of mine”. -DJ GEMINI GILLY

Overwhelmed, lost, and interested in too many things over what over 50% of college freshmen experience when declaring their major. Not ya girl at all. Throughout the entirety of her childhood, images of social work and its significance were given a main stage right in front of her. Gilly’s mother is what you’d call “The Neighborhood’s Mama”. Although being a social worker wasn’t her primary job; legal paperwork wouldn’t make any difference. From picking all of the neighborhood kids up and taking them out skating to providing meals to the entire block; social work ran through her veins and became her daily routine subconsciously. Young Alice (A.K.A DJ Gemini Gilly) instantly grew a hunger to follow in the footsteps of the woman who brought her into this world. Consistency and hard work runs in the family because Gilly attended the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, cracked down on the books, and slayed undergrad; doing all things academia she set out to do. Her detailed goals were becoming reality in no time and life became carefree but everything changed as the chapter of undergrad was wrapping up and grad season was just beginning as it started to write its own story.

A timeline has been taught rigorously generation after generation being described as “The Key to Success”. Go to school, graduate with a degree, and then you’ll get a “good job” in order to become successful. At what cost do we all have to give in order to achieve success? For DJ Gemini Gilly her hurdles came a bit sooner than expected as she was getting masters and the journey was all but exciting. Experiencing racism, depression, and the feeling of not belonging can be described as the synopsis of her entire grad school experience. Luckily, all of the pain and trauma were used as motivation to explore something that was always within her; her love for music, specifically DJing. Gilly already felt as though the party scene was not catered towards her culture at all so it was an extra push to learn so that she could specialize in African-American music and create spaces for people just like her. The week before winter break, a Twitter post listing the top fifty female DJs filled her eyes and a lightbulb came on! As soon as class ended she rushed to Guitar Center and copped a DJ set counsel the same day. Over the next nine months, the days and nights consisted of teaching herself how to create flavorful and lively mixes which led to DJing at Madison, WI bar and grill, The Atwood, her very first gig!

Gilly’s journey over the last six years has been nothing but full-speed and trailblazing. Her resume includes opening for SZA, Mariah The Scientist, JaRule, Anime, and being the face of music at Milwaukee events such as the All Black Xperience and free days at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Ironically the love she had for sports came back full circle as she now has two jobs working as a full-time DJ for the Milwaukee Bucks and Wisconsin Badgers Women’s Basketball team. Since 2018 when DJing became stamped in Gilly’s heart; it’s never been only about hyping up an audience to dance. Her connection to social work never depleted, rather strengthened even more as she wanted to not only shift the culture of going out but also the personal interactions people have with one another. While in college DJ Gemini Gilly quickly took note that the club scene in both Madison and Milwaukee, WI neglected diversity and had several restrictions. Gilly bridged the gap between her passion for both music and social work by bringing two ideas that lived rent-free in her notebook to life. 

On May 27th, 2023 Gems Only was born. Gems Only is an event series carefully curated by DJ Gemini Gilly and her team that’s bringing a unique and hot take on the party scene; not only nightlife but all celebrations. Although the business is only a year and a half, it’s had the success that many entrepreneurs dream of after year three of being in business.

“I believe success came so quickly for Gems Only because it was needed and something nobody in the city has ever seen before”, she said.

You may have been in attendance some of the events such as Nightmare on Water Street, Summer Jam 2K24, and their New Year’s Eve event. The purpose Gems Only serves is to be a safe space physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially for all in attendance. Different groups of people that represent different ethnicities, cultures, and beliefs shouldn’t feel divided and judged by others when going out for a good time. It captures both the essence of a Renaissance feeling but heavily reels in on respect. In the words of Aretha Franklin, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me” should considered by Gilly as the intro theme song at every event. Respecting others, the space and especially yourself are the three rules not only for Gems Only but also another event series Gilly has brought to life: NO SKIPS. Her foot is never off the gas. NO SKIPS is a subseries under Gems Only. An album listening party created to be intimately experienced and celebrated as a collective group is the overall bread and butter of what the essence of what NO SKIPS is. On April 20th, 2024 the launch event was a hit; celebrating Wiz Khalifa’s Kush and OJ album. NO SKIPS is not for those who just listen to music, but for people who relate, analyze, and feel the music that speaks and uplifts them in their lives. 

Creating her own lane and climbing the ladder of the music industry has changed her entire life within the last six years. Being able to leave her corporate job where she felt as if a disguise had to be worn and code-switching was mandatory to become a full-time DJ was nothing short of a testament to her journey. Making bold moves has not only shaken up her life but also the lives of thousands of other people who now have a fresh take and a newfound love for going out such as college students, former classmates, and everyday people throughout the city of Milwaukee.Gilly continues to stamp her name as one of the most talented DJs in Milwaukee, Chicago and New York. This is why she was selected to be the DJ for the “When We Vote, We Win” led by former Vice President, Kamala Harris during her campaign run for the 2024 Presidential Election. 

“It was at that moment where I seen Flo Milli, GloRilla, and Kamala herself that I felt a shift in my career had happened without me knowing in order for me to get here. I felt that I was taken seriously by all people. Since I started DJing Black women were always my number one supporter so it just felt like a full circle moment”. -DJ GEMINI GILLY

Providing spaces and opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) community members to feel seen, heard, respected, safe, and celebrated has always seemed like secondhand nature to Gilly. She’s turning the tables when it comes to combining her fascination and passion for social work and music. To make sure you receive an exclusive ticket to the next culturally curated event by DJ GEMINI GILLY whether it is NO SKIPS or Gems Only follow their social media page at (@gemsonlyseries). Trying to explore new people, places, and things to enjoy going outside and hearing music you normally wouldn’t hear; follow the creative herself as she keeps her community up to date consistently of what she’s got going on next at (@DJGEMINIGILLY). 

Desriana Gilbert | Entertainment & Social Journalist for /CW