DJ Laroc Whips up Some Tasty Mash-Ups

DJ/VJ/chef Tommy Laroc has the ultimate mash-up recipe (not to be mistaken with mashed potatoes); it's a blend of music ranging from hip-hop to house mixed with projected videos and graphics, culminating in a seamless tapestry of audio-visual deliciousness (yes, a mouthful).

Laroc, originally from Long Island, NY started off in culinary school but soon broke the news to his mom that he was gonna be a DJ instead. After years of mixing, mastering, and spinning, Laroc joined forces with a group of fellow VJs, DJs, and artists called the United Content Providers (among them is Laroc's creative partner, Gardner Post, one of the founding fathers of video sampling and creator of the grand baby master). It took Laroc and crew two years to compile their video library, a collection of over 3,000 videos ranging from movies, to music videos, to animation, to graphics.

One of the top DJs/VJs in Miami, Laroc pumps out sessions loaded with nostalgic music and videos spanning from Run-DMC, to the Beatles, to Slick Rick, to the Beastie Boys, to contemporaries like T.I and Lil Wayne. Laroc's latest endeavor is performing with the baby grand master at the 16^th Annual Caribbean Festival, sponsored by Rum Bum, at Miami's Bayfront Park on Saturday February 28^th.  This will be his first performance on the baby grand master, a piano turned turntable, computer and sound-system with a projector on the side.

Laroc's long-term goal just may be to make edible audio-visual media; the ultimate indulgence of the audio, visual, and taste senses.

PS: Tom Laroc did not quit working on his culinary skills. He's a vegetarian whose favorite vegetable is asparagus- he recommends a quick and simple asparagus recipe of baking them at 400 degrees with some garlic and olive oil till they're tender then drizzling lemon on top.