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Welcome to our series, #WHYoming, brought to you in partnership by Kaumo Law.

We are highlighting people from around our communities and asking them a few questions. We want to learn a little about them and see why they chose this great state to raise their families, start their businesses, or simply to ask — Why Wyoming?

This week, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Cooper Galley, sophomore at Green River High School and aspiring DJ. Cooper is also known as DJ M.C.G. (which are his initials, Mark Cooper Galley) and can be found DJing several GRHS events and activities, as well as events around the community.

Cooper, a self-proclaimed goofball who always tries to make others laugh, was born and raised in Green River. He loves the community he grew up in and is thankful for his upbringing in Wyoming. He hopes to have a career in the entertainment industry where he can make his passion for music his job.

This community series is brought to you by:

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Cooper, when did you develop an interest in DJing?

When I was in 7th grade, my mom took me to see Straight Outta Compton, and they showed a bunch of footage of Dr. Dre DJing, and I thought it was really cool. So that’s pretty much how it started. I didn’t know anything about it, I just always thought DJs were cool.

Later, my grandma got me a beginner DJ controller called Numark IDJ Live, so I practiced with that for a little while. I went a year where I kind of played with it but I wasn’t too interested in it yet. Then I started listening to music more and more and that’s when I started getting back into it.

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What do you enjoy about DJing?

When you’re at a party or a place where somebody provides music, the music is the whole energy of everything. The music provides a certain feeling that makes you want to be in that place. I like being able to be the person who chooses the music and the one who provides that energy.

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What kinds of gigs have you played so far?

The most recent one that I did was the Blood Drive. I also did Homecoming this year and another dance. I did a tailgate party for Peak Performance and I did a Christmas party for Mandros Painting. And I do basketball games sometimes.

My favorite was probably the Blood Drive because when I first started doing gigs, I was very uncomfortable. I had always practiced in my bedroom so it was really different DJing in front of people. But when I did the blood drive I wasn’t uncomfortable, I just had fun.

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How do you choose what music to play while DJing?

It just depends on the vibe of the gig. You have to kind of know what the crowd wants and what environment you’re in. At the blood drive, I mostly played hype music to get the blood pumping.

For dances, I play a lot of pop music because you can dance to a lot of that. And it also depends on if you get a lot requests. I also just pay attention to what’s trending on music charts and what everybody is listening to around school.

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What do you like about living in Green River?

There’s a lot of people here but there’s not too many, so I like that. I don’t necessarily like the cold winter though. But for the most part, I really like it here.

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What is something unique about you?

I talk a lot. When I’m at school, I talk 24/7. There’s no stopping me. Even when people tell me to be quiet, I don’t stop. I’ll give you the definition of be quiet and then we’ll go into an argument about being quiet. I represent myself through humor and making people laugh.

You know, I have not done a whole lot of talking while DJing, and when I do, I get so nervous. But the more I talk I’m sure I’ll get more comfortable and grow out of it.

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What are some of your hobbies?

Hunting and fishing. I like to watch TV, play Xbox, stuff like that. I also do sound for the theatre department and I like doing that.

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What do you appreciate most about our community?

The people are nice here. And at our schools, I think we have lots of good teachers.

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If you could give one brief piece of advice, what would it be?

If you’re uncomfortable with doing something, just do it and eventually you’ll grow out of it. If you’re uncomfortable that means you’re growing.

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Where is your favorite place to hang out in Sweetwater County?

The places I like to hang out the most are probably either my house or the lake.

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If you could only describe yourself in three words, what words would you choose?

Probably energetic, humorous, and social.

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How would your friends describe you?

They would probably say that I’m weird. I say some weird things. But weird in a good way. They would probably say funny too.

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What would you sing at karaoke night?

What would I sing? Oh, I don’t know about singing. I’m not much of a singer.

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What is one of your proudest accomplishments?

I don’t know if this would necessarily be an accomplishment, but I work with Mr. [Bradlee] Skinner a lot. He’s one of the biggest reasons I actually started DJing. He has a company called Phony Stark Industries, so working with that and getting paid through that is pretty cool.

Phony Stark Industries is basically a DJ service. We have about five DJs and we try to book gigs in the area whether it be weddings, school dances, and things like that.

DJ M.C.G.’s first performance at the Wolves STOMP after the Homecoming football game in 2018. Video by Phony Stark/Bradlee Skinner

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Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

There’s a lot of good actors I could say, but I would probably have to say Ashton Kutcher. I think that he’s cool. He’s on one of my favorite shows called The Ranch on Netflix, and he also has a brother who’s disabled like I am.

I like the way that he acts on his shows, he acts kind of like me. Just like a goofball. A lot of his characters are really good looking but not always smart and I just find that funny. And just some of the things his characters say remind me of myself.

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What do you like about Wyoming?

I like living in Wyoming a lot. You know how there’s that theory that Wyoming isn’t real? I love living in Wyoming because when I run into those people who don’t think Wyoming exists, I can tell them it definitely does.

I also like that a lot of the resources people use and need in the world come from here. I also just like a lot of Wyoming’s history.

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