At an age when many children are still learning routines and school rhythms, Dawson City resident Steven McIsaac is already carving out a place onstage as DJ Waffles.
MacIsaac, who is 12, began learning to DJ about a year ago after joining a beat-mixing program at the local youth centre. Since then he has progressed quickly, booking multiple sets around town and performing before crowds of hundreds — most notably at the recent Dawson City Music Festival, a marquee event in the region's summer calendar.
From youth centre lessons to festival stages
His pathway was straightforward: sign up for the program, practise the craft and pick a performing name. He explained the choice of moniker in a way that mixes humour with the everyday comforts of family life.
"Everybody starts somewhere, and if you don't start you'll never start,"
That line captures how McIsaac views the chance he took last year. He said the name DJ Waffles evolved from pancakes his mother made for breakfast. "Waffles are better than pancakes, obviously, so I adopted the name waffles," he told CBC.
While he says he likes many kinds of music, McIsaac has gravitated toward electronic dance music, particularly the subgenre known as tech-house. The energetic, crowd-oriented style suits festival settings and has translated well to the outdoor stages of Dawson's summer events.
What his experience means locally
McIsaac's rapid progress underscores the value of local youth programming and community-run arts initiatives in small northern communities. The youth centre provided the initial training and a supportive environment where a young person could explore music technology and performance. Organizers and audiences in Dawson City have long positioned events like the Dawson City Music Festival as opportunities for regional artists to gain stage experience; McIsaac's inclusion on such a bill illustrates that pathway in action.
Performing on public stages has also had a personal impact: McIsaac says DJing has boosted his confidence and helped him connect with others through music. He hopes that energy reaches listeners when he plays.
Practical details and early milestones
Key facts from McIsaac's story can be summarised visually:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Age | 12 |
| Stage name | DJ Waffles |
| Started learning | About one year ago |
| Genre | Electronic dance music / tech-house |
| Notable recent performance | Dawson City Music Festival |
Support and opportunities in small communities
McIsaac's story highlights how small northern communities can incubate creative talent. For other young people interested in music or performance, the steps are familiar: seek out local programs, practise regularly, and accept small gigs to build experience. Community festivals and local venues often have a stake in promoting emerging artists, and organizers in Yukon communities frequently try to include youth performers as part of broader efforts to keep events rooted in local culture.
- Start local: youth centres and community-run programs are often the first access point to equipment and training.
- Practice publicly: small shows build confidence and teach stagecraft more quickly than private practice alone.
- Lean on community: family support and local promoters can open doors to festivals and larger stages.
McIsaac's quick transition from student to festival performer will be encouraging to youth workers and parents who hope creative programming yields tangible outcomes. For the wider community, his presence on the lineup adds a youthful, homegrown element to Dawson City's long-running summer cultural life.
As he continues to perform, the learning curve is likely to persist: honing transitions, reading crowds, and expanding a set list. For now, Steven McIsaac — DJ Waffles — is an example of how a small-town program and a young person's enthusiasm can turn a year of lessons into a place onstage.
This coverage reflects reporting from Dawson City and interviews with the performer published by CBC.
