His signature “Mushroom Jazz” sound—downtempo hip-hop mixed with jazzy soul—is famous worldwide, as is the funky house he spins—a reflection of his Chicago upbringing. He’s been voted one of the “Top 20 DJs in the World” by DJ and BPM Magazines and was nominated for the Dancestar Award for Best New Artist Album (Air Farina, 2004) and California Music Award for Best DJ Talent. He’s worked alongside such turntable icons as Derrick Carter and Cajmere. And he just released the fifth volume in the Mushroom Jazz series. Let’s see, what else? Oh, he had his own hugely successful acid jazz club in San Francisco. He also tours a hell of a lot—playing something like 300 shows a year—and has been known to spin extended sets of over eight hours. Having said all that, we figured it made sense to ask Farina for five steps in how to become a successful DJ. And he said: