Behind the Boards: Mini Skrrt's DJ Career Started With a Christmas Gift

Sometimes all it takes is a little nudge. For Los Angeles-based DJ, Mini Skrrt, it came in the form of a Christmas gift. 

For years, DJing was something Freddie "Mini Skrrt" Ransome-Ruffin admired from a distance. She always loved music, especially the songs that instantly take her back to the 2000s and inevitably turn into full-blown karaoke moments. That love for music also fueled her interest in playing around on friends' controllers and imagining what it would be like to be behind the decks herself, but she never quite committed to buying her own equipment. That changed when her boyfriend (now husband) surprised her with a controller for Christmas one year. That was when she decided to lock in, turning a longtime curiosity into a career built on reading the room and keeping people on their toes with her song selections.

Ask Mini Skrrt what makes a great DJ, and she'll tell you it's much more than seamless transitions or technical skill. It's about finding the sweet spot: leaning into certain records, holding back on others and striking the balance between nostalgia and discovery. She's just as intentional about weaving in newer hits that will one day spark that same familiar feeling.

Wrapping up Okayplayer’s final installment of "Behind the Boards," Mini Skrrt reflects on the evolution of music discovery, why playlists haven't replaced DJs and what she's building next — both behind the decks and beyond.

Okayplayer: For those who may not be familiar, tell us a little about yourself and your journey into DJing.

Mini Skrrt: Heyyyy, I’m Freddie. I’m from VA, but I’ve been living in Los Angeles for 11 years — pretty much my entire adult life, so LA does have a special place in my heart. I’m a video producer, event producer, content creator and I got into DJing in 2022. I’ve always loved music and had a desire to try DJing, but I was never committed enough to buy equipment myself since I have a lot of DJ friends and would play around on their controllers. My boyfriend (now husband) bought me a controller for Christmas and [I] locked tf in.

In your opinion, what separates a good DJ from a great one?

Ooh, this is a good question. The crazy thing is, I've always thought being able to beat-match and transition well was a given in the DJ space, but it’s really not. The DJs that make me look up from my conversation at a party, give smooth transitions, wordplay, or just have really great taste and play unexpected heaters.

How do you balance giving people what they want with introducing them to something new?

I’m not gonna lie. This is tough for me. I have to put in effort to make sure I’m playing current hits. The old sh*t is easy and second nature for me, but I try to have balance because there’s always a new song trending on TikTok that the people want to hear.

Do DJs still break records, or has that responsibility shifted to algorithms, playlists and social media? 

I definitely think that responsibility has shifted to algorithms, playlists and social media. A lot of the time, the crowd wants to hear songs they know and can sing along to. In my experience, they check out when it’s something they haven’t heard before unless it’s super upbeat and naturally gets people dancing. I think that’s why people complain about R&B parties not playing new R&B. A lot of the new R&B songs aren’t considered club bangers with the exception of Destin Conrad, Odeal, Kehlani, Victoria Monet and Leon Thomas — and they aren’t necessarily “new.” A lot of times, people aren’t wanting to listen to something new and slow at a function.

What's a record you believed in before everyone else caught on?

JEMS! (Elujay & J.Robb) - “CREEPIN” (I still don’t really think people have caught on, but it’s a banger)

Have playlists changed the role DJs play in music culture? Why or why not?

Hmm, I don’t think so. I think playlists are a great alternative to hiring a DJ if the event is small and lowkey. I’m sure at a point in time there was concern that DJs wouldn’t get booked as much if people can throw on a playlist for next to nothing, but that hasn’t proven to be true at all. People still recognize the importance of a DJ mixing live and hopping on the mic. It creates a really special, elevated feel.

What's something we've lost in the transition from mixtapes and DJ-driven discovery to streaming and playlists?

We’ve lost the rawness. Mixtapes used to feel very authentic and raw, like “we were messing around at the home studio and decided to make music and put it out.” Streaming and playlists go through a very intense level of quality control and red tape. It’s a little too polished. Streaming and playlisting almost feels a little too available. The rush of trying to get access to a mixtape back in the day was a different kind of feeling.

Social media can make a song feel huge overnight. How often does that actually translate to parties?

I think it’s a direct pipeline to parties. People want to hear the song that’s trending on TikTok or Instagram Reels. I’m always getting those types of requests.

L.A. day parties and nightlife bring together people from different neighborhoods, backgrounds and parts of the world. How do you build a set that feels authentic to L.A. while still connecting with everyone in the room?

It’s hard to make everyone happy at a party. I think staying true to the current dancehall banger or L.A. banger I love will make everyone else feel it too. With that said, I do think it’s important to keep your ear to the streets to find out what people are loving. I’ve asked friends in NYC what songs are getting the parties hype so I can help debut it in L.A.

What are you working on right now, and what should people be paying attention to?

I’m working on a late-night music dinner series with Airbnb Experiences in L.A. Stay tuned for updates by following me on Instagram: @freddie.

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