Viking Dingdong says he spent about five years sleeping on a floor while working overnight radio shifts and trying to establish himself as a DJ.
Recounting his early career, he said he used the overnight hours to develop his mixing skills and learn musical genres beyond the soca that had shaped his first broadcasting experience.
The schedule became so familiar that visiting the station during daylight felt strange, he recalled.
Dingdong said he supported himself through weekend events, carefully saving and budgeting through what he described as a difficult period. People questioned why he accepted those living conditions when he had somewhere to stay in his home community.
He remained committed to music, despite initially considering becoming a firefighter like his father or pursuing work connected to the oil industry.
His father supported the change of direction, buying him a turntable for $10,000. Dingdong said his father later admitted having reservations, but chose to encourage him.