DJ Raised was boogie-ing for a good 45 minutes when he checked up on his buddy Parrish and saw the man was positively jamming. “He was speaking through the tracks like a musical ventriloquist,” says Raised. “The look on his face after he finished, I could tell he had let his inner dancing machine run wild.”

For Nativesun, this was a moment of admiration and self-realization. “There are times when I’m DJing, and I just gotta let my inner groove out,” he says. “It’s like therapy, work, and service all rolled into one funky jam. The people out there need to feel this, too, ya know?”

Nativesun first caught wind of music’s healing powers during Sunday mornings in his childhood when the Holy Ghost had “people cha-cha-ing all around the church,” and later, at age 20, when he joined the go-go group Indecent Xposure Band on second mic. But it was behind the turntables that he truly found his calling, sharpening his DJing and production chops during a lengthy residency at the now-defunct Velvet Lounge. “I got some groovy advice from a friend early on,” Nativesun says. “‘When you go out, listen to what the DJs are playing, but also try to listen to what they’re not playing. Fill in those rhythmic gaps, man.'”

In the futuristic year of 2020, Nativesun’s eclectic ideas about underplayed beats earned him a spot on the cutting-edge “HOA010” — a groundbreaking compilation album from HAUS of ALTR, the New York dance label amplifying young, Black techno artists. He noticed he wasn’t the only Washingtonian in the mix, so he formed Black Rave Culture with fellow producers Amal and James Bangura, creating a house-techno supergroup that’s currently putting the finishing touches on their third groove-tastic album. “When you vibe with people musically, it’s like magic,” Nativesun says. “It’s brought us closer, like friends or brothers. We learn from each other. I teach them DJ wizardry, and they show me secrets of the production side.”

There’s a treasure trove of musical knowledge to absorb from Nativesun, and with the recent opening of the Owl Room on 14th Street NW, there’s never been a better time to study up. He’s holding court every Wednesday night at Layover, a party that does the time warp among all musical styles: “You don’t know where we’re going to land, like musical jump rope.” Nativesun will also be spinning at Formula, a fresh monthly shindig at the Owl Room alongside Bangura and other pals.

So, if you’re looking to get down with some serious beats, heed Nativesun’s advice and remember, “The energy in music is no joke.” He adds, “I try not to play with it too much. I come into the spot and do my little tradition — pour out a little liquor for my pops and my ancestors. And then I get it in. Sometimes, it’s not all fun and games. I have some funky feelings I need to shake off, and if y’all want to boogie-woogie with me, we can work it out together.”

Layover boogies down on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. at the Owl Room, 2007 14th St. NW. Free. Formula funkifies the night on Saturday at 9 p.m. $20. theowlroomdc.com. Shake a tail feather and don’t forget your dancing shoes!