By Brian Burns
WUNC
Before moving to Durham in 2011, Gemynii never imagined she'd become a party DJ. She spent her childhood recording music off of the radio, and was a college DJ at her alma mater Elizabeth City State University. It wasn't until she started throwing house parties that caught the attention of her mentor DJ PlayPlay that she started to take the craft more seriously.
"During that time, DJ PlayPlay was teaching a class on DJing at UNC Chapel Hill. They had noticed my parties and asked if I wanted to take their class," Gemynii said. "I took two lessons in 2016 and have been DJing ever since. If it wasn't for them leading me into the party DJ world, I don't know what I would be doing right now."
Since then, Gemynii has become one of Durham's most in-demand DJs. "Gemynii's beats are like a heartbeat of Durham's DJ and Club scene," said Kym Register of The Pinhook. “She's out here advocating for QTBIPOC (Queer and Trans Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities on the daily, and she brings so much queer joy to her parties. I love working with her for a number of reasons. She merges being an incredible DJ with being an incredible human. She really gets how to curate a joyful and safe space on the dance floor, and that's so invaluable right now and for always."
On top of being a DJ, Gemynii also spends her days working as the director of Housing and Therapeutic Services at the LGBTQ Center of Durham. A self-described "community auntie," Gemynii helps marginalized people in her local community attain the resources they need to thrive.
"I love being able to help folks, especially our younger folks, who are trying to navigate ‘adulting’ in a better way, because a lot of us aren't raised knowing how to be great adults," she said. "That work has also crept into my DJing. I sometimes throw a party called 'Rent Due,' where we raise money for Black trans folks in our community who need housing assistance. I call it a party with a purpose."
In 2017, Gemynii and fellow DJ Femi the Femme started The Conjure, a dance party that centers around Black and brown queer artists. This past April, they celebrated their eighth anniversary, and they also participated in the inaugural Biscuits & Banjos Festival, where they held a party at The Pinhook called "Sweet Molasses: A Pop Up Juke Joint."
WUNC music reporter Brian Burns recently caught up with Gemynii to discuss her evolution as a DJ and artist, and also what sets Durham apart from other cities with DJ scenes.
The following have been edited to incoporate information from Gemynii's Q & A by Brian Burns:
When Gemynii moved to Durham in 2011, she didn’t know much about the city—just that she needed a fresh start. Raised in Eastern North Carolina near Camp Lejeune, she was going through a difficult time and followed her instincts. “I figured if it didn’t work out, I could always move again. But Durham just held onto me.”
Over a decade later, she's still here—now a homeowner, artist, and staple in the city’s creative scene.
At first, she only knew a few people from undergrad and the poetry world, but Durham welcomed her. “It was the first place I truly felt community. I was embraced by people who didn’t know me and didn’t owe me anything. That gave me space to grow.”
Her roots in DJing go back to childhood, recording songs off the radio, and later hosting a college radio show at Elizabeth City State, where she first adopted the name “Gemynii.” Though she initially pursued a career in radio, she found herself pulled toward art and eventually DJing.
After throwing a few successful vinyl-and-art house parties, she caught the attention of DJ PlayPlay, who invited her to take a DJ class in 2016. That mentorship launched her into the DJ world, where she now works across formats—vinyl, CDJs, and her preferred controller.
Durham’s dance scene, she says, is full of energy and talent. “There are amazing crews like No Visa and Party Illegal. But sometimes crowds want what they already know. I try to expand their ears—help them discover something new.”
Her go-to venue? “The Pinhook, always. It’s where I started and still feels like home. Plus, they have a drink named after me—the Gemynii.”
She also spins at PS37 and Club Era, Durham’s first Black and Latinx queer-owned club, nestled under The Fruit. Supporting inclusive spaces is central to her mission. In 2017, she co-founded The Conjure with Femi the Femme to highlight and fairly pay Black and brown queer DJs. “We weren’t seeing ourselves represented. So we created something of our own.”
Visual art has been just as important in her journey. Early on, she held shows in her apartment, bypassing traditional galleries. “Growing up, most of the art I saw didn’t reflect me. I wanted people like me to feel seen.”
Off the stage and out of the studio, Gemynii loves low-key spots like Silver Spoon and weekend escapes to Asheville or Emerald Isle. “North Carolina gives you balance—mountains and beaches. Durham gave me the space to become who I am.”
