Above the bridge
Above the bridge
Episode 171 DJ NASTY NATE
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
A national championship ring on one hand, a turntable on the other. That’s the unexpected arc of DJ Nasty Nate, who traded Auburn football practices for late nights in Honolulu’s Chinatown and found a craft worth building from the ground up.
We dive into the real playbook for breaking into Hawaiʻi’s DJ scene—no clout chasing, no gimmicks. Nate walked us through how showing up to clubs and venues, listening before asking, and introducing himself with aloha opened doors faster than any pitch. He breaks down the differences between Birmingham’s trap-heavy nights and Oʻahu’s genre-blending crowds, why Latin sets became his biggest learning curve, and how he balances new heat with the familiar records people forgot they love. From reggae to R&B to hip hop to reggaeton, he treats each night like a puzzle: peak, reset, send folks to the bar, and bring them back without burning the room out.
We also get into the craft. Nate still practices on turntables to keep his ear honest, avoids repeating the previous DJ’s set, and builds crates as a foundation before freestyling where the crowd leads. He shares candid thoughts on timeless R&B versus TikTok-fast trends, why some songs will outlive the news cycle. The community piece matters too: Hawaiʻi’s collaborative culture, Scratcher Hawaiʻi, and Bay Area ties that prove sharing shine doesn’t dim your own.
Offstage, Nate coaches at UFC Gym Kailua with a functional fitness focus—helping clients move better, feel stronger, and build sustainable habits. The mindset that earned him a scholarship at Auburn now powers long nights, consistent practice, and a growing party brand with DJ Marknado. He’s building Much Loved into a traveling R&B experience while keeping Hawaiʻi as home base, investing in social content, and wearing all seven hats modern DJs need.
If you care about crowd reading, set building, vinyl respect, or how to enter a tight-knit market the right way, this conversation is packed with examples and honest advice. Hit play, subscribe for more Above the Bridge stories, and drop a comment with the one song that never fails in your city.
Meet DJ Nasty Nate
SPEAKER_05Okay, welcome to another edition of the Above the Bridge Podcast. I'm your host, Thaddeus. If this is your first time, you can find us wherever you get your podcast. Please like, subscribe, leave a comment. I appreciate you taking time out and joining us for this episode. Aloha. Okay, for us, as always, you can find us at Above the Bridge Podcast on YouTube, on Instagram, our website is atvpod.com, and my personal Instagram is fattydaddy high. Okay, this week my guest I just met recently, and he was a DJ at our laid back event. I always get super excited uh when I have DJs on my show. I've been uh working with DJs for the last 20 years, and it's a skill that I always respected. It's something I can't do, and I did a lot of business with a lot of DJs, and um, I'm always impressed with how they handle their work and what they do. But DJ Nasty Nate, what's up, man? Thank you for coming on my show.
SPEAKER_02What's up? Appreciate you having me, man.
SPEAKER_05Bruh, you guys all killed laid back. The vibe was such a cool vibe, and um I couldn't have been more happier with the DJs. Obviously, Hoppa Boy hand picks you guys to to play that event, and it was such a cool vibe, man.
SPEAKER_02It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun, nothing but vibes.
SPEAKER_05You guys you do a lot of those RB events.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, actually, I have been doing a lot of RB events lately, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Um DJ wise, um how did you even get started DJing? Because I don't know, like it's it's a weird story every single time I asked this.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's funny because in college, like my best friend, he was a DJ. I was just playing football, and he was like, he was like, Man, you should start DJing. I was like, nah, I'm you know, I'm trying to go to the NFL, play football. He was like, You got all the music and everything, and you always know good music. I was like, nah, that's your department. And then so I like fought it for like the longest. And then I moved back home to Virginia, and then um I was just working at this alternative school, and I had a co-teacher, I mean, I had a um co-worker, she DJ'd, and she was like, She's like, Oh, I got this extra controller if you want it. And I was like, you know what, might as well. So I bought it from her, and I just started messing with it, and then I just kind of like fell in love with it, and then the rest was history.
SPEAKER_05Um when did you play for a crowd? Like when was your first crowd?
SPEAKER_02Ooh, I think it was the first time I played for a crowd, I think it was either 2018, 2019, so not too long ago. Yeah, like basically right before COVID.
First Gigs And Finding His Sound
SPEAKER_05Oh and what was it like a club or what like what was your first experience playing for people?
SPEAKER_02Um, I think it was a pop-up for like um one of the homies clothing brands, um, Chilele, it was back in Virginia in Richmond. And um they opened up a store and they were like, hey man, you wanna come spin? And I did, and then after that, um, yeah, just got the ball rolling. Yeah. So basically like a little pop-up for a fashion event I played in front of people. But I mean, it's that I mean it's in front of people, but it's not like I gotta keep people dancing or anything.
SPEAKER_05So Yeah. That's cool. I um I had a like a little kiosk store in Waikele back in the day, and we were doing events, and DJ Hoppeboy was our video guy, and he started messing with it, so we let him play for Black Friday night at Waikele. And I remember he he set up and we're we're just letting him do whatever because like he just wanted to play. And our store, we got we sold out a lot of our stuff, so we closed it real fast to uh restock. And when I opened the door to see what was going on outside, Taylor had that whole area with B-boys, and he just had a jump in him. Oh wow, he got some skill. It was like one of his first things he's ever done, and I'll always remember that. And that kind of got him started to to where he would start DJing on the rig. And it was it was just crazy how little small opportunities like that can start something big, you know what I mean? Oh yeah. How did you end up in Hawaii?
SPEAKER_02So um I was like, funny start, my wife's actually from Waimanalo, and um met her in Virginia, and uh we were just talking, you know, got married, and then she was like, Would you ever move to Hawaii? And I was like, Why not? And then we came out here during 2020, visited her um her nonna, and uh was it called? We were like, she was like, Well, you live out here, and I was like, Oh yeah. So we left, and then next thing you know we're moving on out here, so yeah, just because of the wife.
SPEAKER_05Oh, that's super cool. I'm I'm I live in Kanye, so I'm on the east side, and the Waimanalo culture and community. My daughter plays for a volleyball club based out of Waimanalo, and we have so many friends and family from Waimanalo, and their community is super, super family-oriented and super deep and very uh supportive of each other. Uh, do you live in Waimanalo now or?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I live in Waimanalo. Live in Halona. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Oh, right on. Okay.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_05So you experience that culture then. That's that's a good vibe out there.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah. Every day.
SPEAKER_05So, how easy was it to transition from the mainland DJing to Hawaii? Because I mean, I know how it is in Hawaii. It's kind of who you know to break into that where you start getting gigs and and people start trusting you with their events. How how easy was that for you or hard?
Moving To Hawaiʻi And Breaking In
SPEAKER_02Um, well, funny story. Um, I had a homeboy that I met in Virginia, um, Jacob, and he was living out here, and I saw that and I was like, yo, I'm actually about to move out there. He's like, for real? He's like, Cool, I'll put you in touch with some of my people's. Because um, when I moved out here, he was off island for a little bit. So he introduced me to um CL Slick, DJ CL Slick and um Mr. Celestic or Sean.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_02And uh he put me, so like the first week I got here, like that Friday, he was like, yo, they're having a party. Um, you should go check them out. So I did, and then I went up to them, introduced myself. They're like, Oh, okay, cool. Um, they're like, You want to spin with us next Friday? I was like, I was like, all right. I was like, I almost said no because I was nervous, but I was like, Alright, I'll do it. And then ever since then, they're the ones that kind of put me in my first bar in Chinatown, and then yeah, then I just was always just going out, uh seeing like the scene, trying to do my homework research, and just introducing myself to DJs and people, managers, whoever, and then eventually I just get hit up. So yeah, I mean so I've been blessed. I was it wasn't too hard to get in. I guess, like you said, it's all about who you know. Yeah. So yeah, that's how I got in. People just, you know, I already knew a few people, so oh, that's super cool.
SPEAKER_05I always um I would get hit up by DJs, or I would get approached by DJs in the middle of our event, especially when we were at district, and they'll be like, hey, put me on the spin, and I'll be like, I don't even know you. Like, there's better ways to approach a promoter or even another DJ. And I always thought, like, kind of look learn what kind of how to do it and learn what the DJ that's already playing there is doing before you kind of ask or whatever, and do it with uh aloha, and it it always works out if it's done that way, and at least for for me, and I always was down to give up-and-comers a chance or people I didn't know a chance, but it was how I I was approached, and then of course Hoppe was my my resident DJ, and like he would just shut people down left and right if if they did it come correct, but I feel like it it's a hard uh wall to break that you seem to kind of get into it easily. I you probably did it with Aloha, that's why.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I didn't I didn't really ask for gigs, I just introduced myself, like, oh yeah, New Island, you know, I'm a DJ. And then my name's you know, Nate. Just got here from you know the mainland. And and then I would just show my face to whatever like venues that I was like interested in playing. And I was just always showing up. So like I was when I first moved here, I was going out all the time. I wasn't drinking or anything, I was just going out, seeing the scene, the music, what people reacting to, and then just watching the DJs, just learning, um, you know, just trying to get better and just checking out the scene, yeah. And then that's super cool. I would get hit up. So, yeah.
SPEAKER_05That's super cool. That's the way to do it. So, any of you DJs out there, that's the best way to do it. So, like, guarantee. How weird is the scene different from where you were at coming to Hawaii. It gotta be a different kind of scene, right?
SPEAKER_02I was like, it was it's really different. So, like right before we moved here, we moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Um I never thought I'd be in living in Alabama, especially after college. I was like, I'm never moving there, but you know, we did. But it was fun, and that scene is so different. Like, I don't think I can play reggae out there, and people like go crazy for it like they do here. Oh yeah. It was a lot of down south trap, um, hip hop, and then of course, like the club up tempo pop stuff. But here you can uh I would say here you can get away with a lot more genres and just people are more open here compared to Birmingham, Alabama, where I was. Not saying like the whole mainland, but just where I was, people here are more open to a lot more genres and stuff.
SPEAKER_05So yeah, I mean that there's certain areas. I mean, I don't even know where Alabama is, to be honest. I went to Wichita a couple years ago, and I was culture shocked. Like, they don't even have a hill. It's flat. Like it's just it's not even and the people there, they were nice, but they they definitely weren't as warm as as I'm used to, like even Bay Area and Cali and stuff like that. But yeah, I was culture shocked, and I would I would think it would be super hard to understand how to play to them. Coming to Hawaii, I guess it it it does open your playbook up a bit because we're so culturally diverse that everybody loves every kind of music at at some point, right? Yeah. Okay, let's take a short break to shout out our sponsors. Defend Hawaii's been my sponsor since the very beginning. They have a store in Winward Mall called No One, but if you go on their website, defendhawaii.com, they got some new drops, some new clothes that just came out. Go to their website, defendhawaii.com. If you use promo code ATBPOD upon checkout, you'll get 15% off your first order. Everything you order, 15% off. Defendhawaii.com. Aloha. The people in Hawaii were they were they easy to play for when you first started, or you had to kind of figure it out and then be okay, this works.
Reading Crowds And Shaping Sets
SPEAKER_02I mean, it it depended on the party and I guess where I was, but they're like accepted, but then also it's like I had to figure out what really moves. Of course, you can play like the top songs, and you know, everybody reacts to those, but it's just like how to how to play it, when to play it, and just what is like bubbling around the scene and everything. So it took I mean it took a little bit, but yeah, just you know, did homework, research, listen to the DJs, check out different venues. So yeah, just some research and some homework.
SPEAKER_05So where do you normally play on Island?
SPEAKER_02Um I have a residency at uh key club. I'm there like twice a month.
SPEAKER_03Nice.
SPEAKER_02Um and then I have my day party that I run with um the uh uh my boy Mark Nado, DJ Marknato.
SPEAKER_05Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02Me and him run it. And um we do that now. Well, we used to do it every first Sunday. Um, and then we're probably gonna start doing every before Saturday now because we got another opportunity um with that. So I also have a speaking of that, we're at Manifest every second Saturday for our much loved late night lovers party. Okay. We just started uh January actually. January was our first one. Oh nice manifest, key club, and then just those are my residencies, but I'm just kinda everywhere. Chinatown next door, yeah.
SPEAKER_05You like that um Chinatown vibe?
SPEAKER_02It's uh it's kind of a cool vibe out there, uh I feel like you can literally kind of play everything and anything, honestly. Um well, I mean it's it it changes between the bars, but I would say manifest and next door, I can kind of play literally kind of almost everything.
SPEAKER_05Okay, yeah, it's definitely a good good vibe out there. I like um Chinatown. So what was the challenges you had playing in Hawaii? Like what was what kind of gave you difficult times?
SPEAKER_03Um the challenges, uh well, what challenge did I have?
SPEAKER_02Um I had to learn how to play Latin more. So when I first I didn't realize how big the Latin seems out here. So I had to do a lot of research, um, and just a lot of listening and digging. Um so learning how to play Latin, what songs, um all the different subgenres within it, like you know, salsa bachata, cumbia, parel, reggaeton, like all that. Um and then just I guess because I mean I was still kind of new. I'm still kind of new in the DJing well in the DJ world. I think I've I've been DJing for like probably around six, seven, eight years around there.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_02But DJ years that's kinda like you're still a baby, you're still Yeah, yeah. Um so just learning to read crowds, um when to play certain songs, how to warm up, how to close. So just a little bit of everything, you know, just just learning, you know.
SPEAKER_05So you're pretty diverse. Well, what what kind of genre would be your favorite, like if you had to pick?
SPEAKER_02Well, I would say probably RB, of course, because that's like what I grew up on.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_02And that's what I can I can listen to RB every day, all day. But I mean, of course I like everything. I like playing everything. I don't like to be limited, but I would say RB. Well, yeah, it's a it's a trip a lot of the RB parties I've been to.
SPEAKER_05It's a trip because for me, I grew up I listened to rock and I did nightclub events for uh like two decades, and I grew up listening to music and it's always in the background of of my life. I realize how much RB I know and relate to just from going and and being a part of these RB events, and it it blows my mind because I it's not on my it's not on my phone, it's not like none of that music I seek it out, but I know it, sing it, love it, and it it just a trip like how much I relate to it. And oh, I used to work here and this would be the song I would always hear, or it's and it's just good music. I feel like that kind of music nowadays isn't as strong as it used to be. I don't know if you feel the same way.
SPEAKER_02I would say I was like it's the s I would say it's not the same, but it's like starting to get back to where it was.
SPEAKER_03Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, in my person in my opinion.
Scene Differences And Genre Openness
SPEAKER_05Yeah, and I'm the same, everybody's has their own opinion. I I trip a lot because my daughter's 15 and she has a Spotify playlist and she'll play it in the car, and she'll have Boys to Men, Joe to see, she has some Mira, and I'm just tripping. Like, okay, I know you don't know these people because you weren't even born when this stuff came out. And I always say good music um can stand the test of time. And I'm curious to see how the music now is gonna stand in the future because it doesn't have as much depth, and it could be because I'm older, but I just feel like it there's no depth, even rock, and and I love rock, it just it just feels very surface, if that makes sense. I don't know if if it's the same to you.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I would say it's it's been the same for me as well, but that's why I was saying like it's slowly starting to get back because there's a certain songs that I'd be like, oh yeah, that's that's gonna last for a while. It's like time, a timeless record. Um but a lot of it is I would say a lot of music now is kind of like surface.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um doesn't have as much feeling or relatability to it. It's just like trying to catch people's attention quick, like because you know, the whole TikTok and it's just like, what's hot now? What's hot? Let me just, you know, do that and everything. But I would say a little, it's starting starting to get back there.
SPEAKER_05That's good. That sounds hopeful. You're one of the few DJs uh currently that I've talked with has that kind of vision where it's like, oh okay, it's coming back, it's it's making and I guess it should, right? Because good good music, everybody wants to hear it. It it it crosses over all kinds of b barriers. Who do you say you grew up listening to and and inspired you when when you were younger?
SPEAKER_02Like talking about uh artist or artists, groups, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, uh yeah, or um RB art or any kind of music. Like, and then I want to get into like DJs that inspired you after.
SPEAKER_02Um artist, uh well, like my parents listened to everything, so like all the old school, you know, Earth Went on Fire, Joe to see, like, you know, all the all the main people. Um, and then like as I got older a little bit, I'm a big Drake fan, you know.
SPEAKER_05Okay.
SPEAKER_02I throw a Drake night party too here on Drake, he's like one of my favorite artists.
SPEAKER_05Um okay, stop you right there. How is the whole Kendrick thing to you since that was I mean, you probably hear about it and probably defended him, but I I mean I didn't do a deep dive until the Super Bowl because uh I it wasn't that important to me, but then Hoppe is trying to explain it to me, and I'm like, okay, I'm gonna figure it out. What was your take on that whole thing?
SPEAKER_02Um I mean, because I was a I'm a Kendrick fan too, but uh if I had to pick a side, I'm picking Drake's. I mean, I've been rocking with Drake since the grassy days and whatnot, so yeah. But I mean, I wouldn't say Drake lost, because I mean, I mean, look at him, he's still relevant, still dog, like still putting out music. People kind of forgot about it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
Sponsor Shoutouts And Local Support
SPEAKER_02It's just I would say Kendrick just was really strategic on when he put stuff out. Like when Drake dropped out um one song, and then he literally dropped a song like within what five, ten minutes afterwards, and then kind of everyone kind of forgot about it.
SPEAKER_05So that's kind of the strength of what he did, and then he he had his hits and then dropped it in the Super Bowl and just caused a controversi it just seem like he wa he kind of took that over. Like Drake didn't really egg acknowledge any of that from what I've seen. I don't know if you know differently, but like he just kinda let it happen. He didn't rebut it, I I don't think.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. I think he just kinda let whatever happened happen, whether whatever rumors that was put out that I guess he knew that wasn't true. He didn't like jump like, you know, try to defend himself like that. He just like, oh, it's whatever, 'cause I guess he didn't he knew it wasn't true and all that.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, so sometimes it takes a bigger man to just end shit. You know what I mean? And like I said, good music stands the test of time, and he's somebody I think that guarantee will. And people like he still sells out arenas, he still sells out stadiums, he's like people want to hear him, he's good. And he he hasn't dropped anything new, has he?
SPEAKER_02Um, he hasn't dropped anything new, but he's been teasing his new album, Iceman, I believe that's what it's gonna be called.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_02Um, but yeah, I was like, that's supposed to drop this year, so yeah, I'm waiting for that. It's funny that you say all this too, because like the whole Kendra Drake thing, all the homies, like someone play a Kendra song, they look at me be like, Nate, what are you doing? Are you gonna sing the song? They're like, how do you feel right now?
Residencies And Building Parties
SPEAKER_05I'm like, get out of my face. It's not that, it's not that pressed. They always like Yeah, you can like everybody. I don't care. Like um, my my daughter is super excited for the new Bruno Mars. Uh that guy don't miss, bro. He's like that, that I can be proud of. He's from Hawaii. Like, he doesn't miss, and he has such an old school vibe to him. Yeah, and I think that's kind of why he's doing so well. And yeah, she's super excited for that. Do you when you're in the in the club, like you have you must have go-to songs that don't miss? Like, what would be some of your like hammer tracks that would be like, okay, crowd's kind of dying. I got this in my back pocket. Like, what would be like your go-to songs to pick it up?
SPEAKER_02Well, I mean, like, I mean, you you already know the obvious. There's everyone loves no hands by Waka Flocca.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_02Some Fetty Wap. Uh also say some uh some sexy red. All the ladies love sexy red, so you can just play basically almost any of those, and they just go crazy for it. So yeah.
SPEAKER_05Are you a DJ that kind of predetermines his set according to where you're gonna play, or you just come walking in and kind of just feel out the crowd?
SPEAKER_02Um, I kind of like to like get a foundation um of what I may play, but I don't just set up, line up my songs. I kind of freestyle the night because I'm reading the crowd and like because I can set something up, and then I'm like, okay, it's an older crowd, they're not gonna feel this. So I you know, go here, go there. So I kind of try to organize my library so I know where things are, and that's definitely an ongoing process that I feel like I need to like restart all the time, but I'm still working on that. But for the most part, I'm just freestyling through the um when I'm when I'm spinning. I mean, I'll make I'll put songs that I know I want to play in a crate, but for the most part, I'm just freestyling. Yeah, reading the crowd.
SPEAKER_05That's one thing as a promoter I would look for, and I would see if the DJ would kind of predetermine his set and and not deviate from it, because then it's like I could I could do that. I could I could make a set or get somebody to make a set and I could just play it. It's the crowd reading and and transitions and to turn it when it's going slow or cycle people out to the bar. It's just such a uh talented uh skill to have. I just would judge and hire DJs from what you just said. Like, I I gotta be able to swerve when when you're playing for a live crowd. Do you um do you ever mess up where it's like, oh shit, I'm bombing, and then kind of gotta figure it.
SPEAKER_02I mean, of course, like, you know, I'm uh my own, I'm like the worst critic for myself. Like, I'm really hard on myself because I hold myself to like a really high standard, and I'm I know I'm nowhere near where I want to be. Um, but yeah, I was like, I mean, all DJs mess up. It's just on it's just about how you handle it and how you move, you act like you don't mess up and just keep it moving. You know, you fake the funk and you just figure out the solution right then and there and just keep it moving, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Well, in Hawaii, there's a lot of crazy stuff that happened in the club, and I've seen them all. I've seen everything. What would be some of the crazy shit that you've seen from the booth?
SPEAKER_02Oh man. I mean, I've seen fights break out, seen bouncers just take people through the door, tackle them through the door, and they go down the stairs and yeah, just some wild stuff, yeah.
Challenges: Latin Sets And Crowd Control
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I don't know. The nightlife is like that. I think uh it's a crazy industry. Um I always think DJs, well, for for me, uh obviously the the DJs is what creates our business, and it's such a hard uh skill to have and to do it for such a long time. A lot of the DJs, like I know they'll play like the regular stuff, and like I can call it out, like especially when we're at district, I could say, oh, this song's coming next, this song's coming next, at a like to the T. And then it's like, oh, like what what's the skill? And um, how easy is it for you to cycle people out to the dance floor, get them to go drink, make the club money, and and kind of keep switching out the vibe to where everything's flowing, it's not just banger after banger, everybody's just dancing.
SPEAKER_02Um I mean, of course, I wouldn't say it's easy, but I mean I can do it. Um, I'm also like one of those DJs that don't like to play the same thing everybody else is playing. I like to take risks and um play new music or play music you forgot about. So um, or just songs that people love listening to that you would never expect to hear in the club. Um, so like I'll do those, I'll do that, and that may send people to the bar or they'll just be like, oh wow, I haven't heard this. But I mean, for the most part, I can kind of feel like if I need to pick up the energy or if I need to bring it, like they're going crazy. I'm like, all right, let me give them a break, um, bring it down, reset the room, you know. Oh, this this I see this um this crowd of people over here, they kind of mess with this. So let me go there, give these people a break, you know, just you know, it's like a puzzle.
SPEAKER_05You just puzzle the whole night.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Multitasking.
SPEAKER_05Do you look at your previous DJ's playlist before you jump on? Like see what they played before you or Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02I mean, well, normally uh if I'm DJing with someone and if I'm going afterwards, I like to get there like early so I can hear what they're playing.
SPEAKER_03Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02So I don't play the same stuff. Yeah, because I I don't like doing the same playing the same songs because then it just, you know, it's like okay, then people just hearing the same stuff over and over, and then I'm just gonna be like, they're like, there's like nothing special about it.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_02And it's monotonous, I would say. So like if a DJ plays like all those bangers early, I'm gonna I'm gonna be like, okay, what am I gonna do? I was like, it's almost like a challenge, a fun challenge, but okay, how can I rock this without doing the same thing that DJ did and just sound different? Um, because I don't I don't like to ever play the same sets or sound the same every time.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Of course, there's those songs that you're going to play, but I I like to I like to think that I pride myself of not sounding the same and always trying to switch things up. So you never know what you're gonna get.
SPEAKER_05You seem like a student of the craft, and I think that's probably why you're so successful. It's a lot of DJs don't think like how you think, or they come in thinking that oh, I'm the man or whatever, and they don't take time to oh, let's hear what the DJ played before, or kind of study their craft to where I'm gonna do this different. And I I always I always think DJs like that um are the ones that are that are that'll have longevity, and it's it's cool to see like a lot of the old school DJs are still doing it, like technique, taco, like guys. I've brought uh to our events that are like 15 years ago that are still killing it, and they still can can just do their thing, and and I feel like the younger generation of DJs kind of not like that as much, but there are a handful that is like, oh okay, this guy got something, like this guy got something different. Do you what do you think about the DJs um culture now versus how it used to be?
SPEAKER_02Well, I mean, I'm still like I said, I'm still pretty new in the whole culture. I mean, coming from like where I was in Birmingham, the culture wasn't everyone was like this this is my territory, like they didn't really like help or like grow together. It was like, oh, I'm a gatekeep, this is mine, like you better find your own. But like when I got here, I was like, I love the culture out here because it's like people want to work together, people want to grow together. Um, it wasn't a lot in my like my experience, it wasn't a lot of um like, oh no, you can't do this, like go do whatever. I always had people helping me, guiding me, mentors, and um yeah.
Timeless R&B And Today’s Music
SPEAKER_05Okay, I want to take this break to shout out our sponsor, iRip Detail Supply. They're your one-stop shop superstore for everything you need to detail whatever vehicle you have. They have a store in Temple Valley Shopping Center, they also have one in Las Vegas. Everything you need to detail your car, they have it in one spot. Give them a look on their website, iRepDetailsupply.com. If you use promo code ATB Pod upon checkout, you'll get 15% off your entire purchase order. Go down to their store if you have any questions. Their staff is fully knowledgeable about all their products. iRepDetail Supply. Aloha. The culture in Hawaii with their their DJs just from being around it is very uplifting. I've seen DJs have the same mentality where it's like if I help you and give you shine, it's not gonna diminish my shine. And and that kind of puts DJs on different levels. I seen and and there's a lot of pettiness too as as well, and and there's some bullshit going on too. But I for the most part I see DJs just inspire each other here, and um especially uh working with Bay Area DJs and some Vegas ones, but a lot of the Bay I I've noticed, like, oh, those guys just have aloha, and we bring them down or they they bring us up to do events, and they just are so stoked on each other and and bringing DJs from here up there and kind of throwing them in the sh in the in the shine, and it's like wow, that that's that's the kind of culture that I like to see. And I mean I I never got to DJ. I'm not I don't have that ear, I'm not that guy, but I I respect it and and I love the the culture that comes with being a DJ, but I always am jealous. Like I always tell Taylor, like bruh, I wish I could hear music how how you hear it, or like how certain DJs hear music, because it's on a different level. It's like looking at art. If you're an artist and you look at art, I'm you're you're gonna see it differently than someone who's just looking at a painting. You know what I mean? When you're out, do you just catch like songs that are just like, oh shoot, what is that? And kind of start figuring things out just wherever you're at.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um like it can be a song I never heard of, or a song I heard of, and then like I'm like, oh, that would sound good with this, or this would sound good, or oh, I never heard that. And let me dive deeper into that. Um, so yeah, I'm always getting inspired, inspired like everywhere I go. I can just be out eating at a dinner spot with the wife, and then a song come on. I'm like, oh, what is that? Shazam.
SPEAKER_05Shazam.
SPEAKER_02I have no shame. I have no shame of Shazam, Shazaming anything and everything. Um yeah, that's what I wanted to say about the culture too. Like, there's a lot also happening, like the Scratcher Hawaii, like a bunch of turntablists that cut, um, like get together, like they'll open up an open room. They got all the turntables, they got people from out of town coming in. Um, and like it's a dope community, and it's like welcoming doesn't matter what level you're on. And then, like you said, the Bay Area, because I've DJ'd out there too. And we've had some Bay Area DJs come and DJ for our party as well, and like they always giving us advice and like you know, helping us grow, which is like like I was saying, I never experienced that when I was in Birmingham. Um, so it was just nice to finally like be a part of like a DJ culture that wants to like help bring the the younger generation up and just show them the right way and all that stuff. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05So you kind of learned on a controller, correct? You never had to carry crates or CDs or and shit like that.
SPEAKER_02I didn't have to carry no crates or anything. Um I had yeah, I had a controller for a little bit, but I got turntables like really soon because um one of my boys, Marcus Gold, he was like the first person that put me in a bar. Um, because he's been DJing for a minute, and I always looked up to him. And uh I was like, he always played on turntables. I was like, yo, where can I get some of those? And he was like, yo, just look online. Um you know, I forgot where. What was it? I forgot what of those sites, but yeah, I was just looking online, found one, got one, got a mixer, and so I was I basically learned on turntables like that was like the main thing I was DJing on. But I mean I had a small controller that I started with, yeah, but then long after that I was on turntables.
SPEAKER_05That's cool. I think with uh um for me being around it for so long, I got to see the transition and progression of DJs. And bro, I remember our DJs with them milk crates with vinyl, and just that would like it would suck. Like now you can have your whole playlist in your pocket, like your whole library, and these guys, but with um technology, everything gets better. But do you still like mess with the turntables? Like you mess with vinyl at all?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I mess with vinyl. Um, I haven't did a all vinyl set out, but I want to. Oh, uh, most of my vinyl is actually back home in Virginia at my parents' um house. Um, but I have a little bit here. Um, but I'll practice on it just to work on like you know, being matching by ear and not relying on a screen and all that. So and I just I don't know something about having a record and playing a record, it just I don't know. Yeah, I just just love to go back and you know where it all started.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that's the respect. How how often do you practice?
SPEAKER_02Um, so I for the most part I would practice every day, even if it's like 10, 15 minutes. But um the wife's sister just moved back, so I had to like close the st I had a studio, we had a well, I had my turntables always set up. So I would just go in there, you know, like I said, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, practice. But since she's moved back here with us, um I don't get to as much.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02But I'll like every now and then I'll go in the garage, set up the turntables and everything. So I've been trying to get back to trying to do it every day. Cause I mean, if it was if I had my way, I would I'd be on it every day. So I'm starting to get back there because at one point I was doing it too much. You know, I gotta spend time with the wife and the family.
SPEAKER_05So for sure. Yeah, yeah. Does she come with you onto these gigs and stuff?
Go-To Tracks And Freestyle Strategy
SPEAKER_02Yeah, she comes to um, well, not she don't come to a lot of them anymore because it's I've been pretty I've been gigging a lot. Yeah. And it's not really her scene, but she'll come to like, you know, my events that I throw or um like the big events um to show support, but she'll every now and then she'll um pop out and support, but she's it's not really her scene, but yeah, she comes, she comes and supports.
SPEAKER_05That's super cool. How hard has it or easy has it been having um being married and being in the in the industry? I know that trials and tribulations, jealousy or whatnot, and insecurities. Um, how has your marriage been navigating being in the scene and being in the industry?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, um, I would say every marriage has its challenges and everything. Um, but I mean, I'm always honest, communicated, and then we, you know, we have each other's past locks and we communicate and talk all the time. And you know, it's funny, she actually is always up after my gigs. I'll be like, you should get some sleep. And then I'll get home from the crib um from the from the DJ gig, and then she's like, hey, like, what are you doing up? She's watching TV. She's like, I don't know, I just can't feel like I can't sleep when you're not here. And then when I get home, she passes out. So that's cool.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that's super cool. Fortunately, I had my ups and downs being um in the industry. I fortunately found a good one who bartends at the district, and being um in the industry together for me helped a lot because all the insecurities uh I would get she didn't give me. And same with her. Like I would watch people hit on her all the time and be like, oh, watch this, I'm gonna go get her number, and just be messing with people. And is it was just refreshing that I I could find someone in the industry and and it was no drama for the most part. Yeah, yeah. Um, what DJs inspired you like coming up?
SPEAKER_02Like, what were the like, oh, this fucking DJ got got me got me locked in and I got so many, but if I had to narrow it down, um I would say um, well, uh my homeboy who first put me out in the bar, Marcus Gold, he kinda mentored me when I was back home in Virginia. Um he he was one. Uh of course, like all the legends, Jazzy Jeff, shortcut, you know, um, but another DJ Moma, um, DJ Get Live, um, some big ones that Miles Medina, and then um the homie here, um, DJ CL Slick. Um, I was look up to him a lot because he's from New York, but he lives out here and he always does some crazy stuff, and he can he can play any genre, all the genres, and make it make sense instead of just like it just being like so chaotic, like it just flows so well and everything. So, yeah, those are some of the guys that I kind of look up to. I mean, I can name so much more, but yeah, it doesn't slow it down.
SPEAKER_05Okay, taking this short break to shout out our sponsor, Medicinal Mushrooms Hawaii. They're a medicinal mushroom company that's based out of Hawaii. They have uh tintures of five different mushrooms. They have lion's mane, chaga, turkey tail, red raishi, and the newest one they have is the quarter steps. I take all five every single day. If you don't know the medicinal property properties of these mushrooms, go to their website medmushroomhigh.com and they explain to you the medicinal properties of each one of these mushrooms. I take the first three in the morning, I take red racia at night to help me sleep, I take quarter steps right before I work out, like a pre-workout gives me energy and yeah, it helps me work out perfect. Medmushroomhigh.com. If you use promo code ATBPod Upon, check out all capital letters. You'll get 45% off your purchase or your first tinture of extracted mushrooms. Give them a look, medmushroomhigh.com. Aloha. Other than DJing, you told me earlier that you were a um fitness instructor or you do do personal training. Where do you do that at?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, um, I'm a personal trainer at uh um UFC Gym in Kailula.
SPEAKER_05Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. So do some personal training.
SPEAKER_05So what kind of training do you do? And like who can come get trained by you? Just anybody or like yeah. Training fighters?
SPEAKER_02Um, it doesn't it doesn't matter. It's like whatever you know someone's looking for, unless like I see a better fit for that person for another coach, then I'll be like, like I can train you, but I feel like this coach would be better for you. But um, yeah, I do sports training. I do, you know, general pop, like if they want to get stronger, lose weight, or just you know, functional movements. Yeah, so I do a little bit of everything.
Club Chaos, Bar Cycles, And Risk Taking
SPEAKER_05I've been noticing that recently, functional fitness is becoming like a trend. And um, I had this guy, a key, that uh he has this fit uh fit truck. I don't know if you've seen it, it's a mobile gym and he drives it everywhere. He does he they bring it to my daughter's practice once a week and has like rowers and stuff, weights and all kinds of stuff. But he always tells me about as you get older how important functional fitness is not like I don't need to pound, like I don't need a bench press, 300 pounds. It's not gonna do anything for me in life, but I do need to be moving around and working out to where um I can keep up with my daughter and stuff, or be able to pretty much carry a bag of rice up the stairs from so my wife don't like functional fitness is becoming important. Do you focus on that kind of stuff or like whatever whatever your clients need?
SPEAKER_02I mean, I that's what I mainly focus on, but it's also what the client's looking for. So I always I always try to like um have a little bit of me and my style. Okay. Um, to whatever they're looking for. But that's mainly my approach, is functional, because I want people feeling good, um, of course, looking good and just moving better. Um so like, you know, aches and pains, like going up the stairs or picking something up, like you said, just feeling better in general while also reaching those goals, those aesthetic goals that they're looking for.
SPEAKER_05So when you're training people, do you sit down with them and kind of have them set up goals for themselves prior to starting? Or yeah.
SPEAKER_02So when I first would meet with someone, um, we'll sit down and talk about what they're looking for, what they want, um, where they're at, how committed are they? Um, and like are they really ready to change your life and you know, get after it? So that's like the first thing I do when I meet with anybody.
SPEAKER_05So you ever like have to train like lazy people and you just can't like I used to teach martial arts and we did this cardio kickboxing class for women, and like some of these women just were lazy, and it's like I I couldn't be around it to be honest.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I was like, I have I mean there's lazy people, but um, I always try to like tie it back into why they came to me in the first place. Yeah. And like, like you said, you really want this, so you know, let's, you know, do what do what you say you're gonna do and really like go all in um and just commit. So I just kind of like to tie it back to why they always, you know, what they came to me for instead of you know, I it's not like I'm like, hey, you need to do this. It's like, hey, I wanna, you know, feel better, I wanna lose this weight, I want to get stronger, I wanna, you know, move better. So I kind of like to tie it always back to that, to their goals, so that, you know, because you you can't train someone that doesn't want something, right?
SPEAKER_03Yep, you guys.
SPEAKER_02I mean, that person's gonna have to want it to really like, you know, get after and change their life.
SPEAKER_05So you um consult in nutrition also, or just straight uh physical fitness kind of a little bit.
SPEAKER_02I mean, I'm not a certified nutritionist, but I can I give my opinions, um, I can help with some macros, um, and just help overall um like just give them information that can help them, you know, reach those goals. But like I'm not a nutritionist, but yeah, I mean I do a little something, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, so you're you're pretty much in shape. You kind of kind of live it too, then, right? You're a fitness person. Do you compete or anything? Any of those little fitness things, or like they have those challenges?
SPEAKER_02I have because um at the gym out at UFC Gym, when you first get there, you're required to do the a fitness challenge and whatnot. I mean, I did it, I mean I came in first, so yeah. But I mean, I've been playing sports my whole life, so oh yeah.
SPEAKER_05Used to competing and working out, it's it's kinda it's part of the lifestyle, so yeah, and you get that discipline, especially playing college football. What what position did you play?
SPEAKER_02Um, I was a receiver, um, and then I switched to DB the last two years. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05DB is to me the hardest position in sports, I think, other than quarterback being a corner, like that is the hardest. So who's your who's your team? Are you happy for this Super Bowl?
SPEAKER_02Um, my team is the Panthers. Oh, okay. Carolina. It surprised me actually. Um, I don't really follow NFL too much, but my team is the Panthers because I was born in North Carolina, so I always just root for them. But um, I'm not a big Patriots fan. Never really have been.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um, but I really don't care who wins. I just want a good game. But if I had to pick a side, it'd probably be the Seahawks.
SPEAKER_05I hate them, bruh. I'm not even gonna watch this game. I do will not watch the Seahawks win a Super Bowl in 49ers stadium. Like it's I wouldn't.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah. Wow, yeah. I hate him.
SPEAKER_05But hey, you should be stoked though. You're in Nalo, the Panthers best receivers from Wai Manalo, the team at he's based in.
SPEAKER_02I was yeah, when he got on the team, I was like, okay, cool.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah, that's Wai Manalo homeboy. Like he he's he's doing it. I think um Panthers could could get some momentum. I mean, I I like the Panthers just because they gave us freaking Christian McCaffrey.
SPEAKER_03All right, I was sad when we got rid of him.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that's all you guys had.
SPEAKER_03No.
SPEAKER_05But the rebuild is coming. I I like those Cam Newton days. I thought he lost his marbles at some point, but he had some cool, he had some cool seasons.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05You said you played with him, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Um, yeah, I played with him uh back in 2010. Um where yeah, we end up we ended up winning the national championship and uh SEC championship back in the day.
SPEAKER_05So wait, you played in the national championship?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I was a part of the team and everything.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Oh, that's crazy.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I was in uh where was it? Was it Glendale? Yeah, we were in Glendale, played against the Oregon Ducks.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Wow. So you got a ring?
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Oh, that's I've never talked to somebody who won the national championship before.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_05That must have been an unreal experience.
Culture: Cooperation Over Gatekeeping
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that season was like ridiculous. Like the campus was crazy. Um, Auburn was just yeah, it was it was kind of unexplainable, like just how things was happening, just the hype around us, and then we had Cam Newton, the best player in the in the whole college football, and like just the attention the school was getting. And then we went undefeated too. So it was it was something else. It was an experience to say the least, yeah.
SPEAKER_05That's super cool. So you catch passes from Cam Newton then?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I have, yeah.
SPEAKER_05That's pretty cool. That's hey, not many people can say that.
SPEAKER_02I wasn't a superstar thing, I was a walk-on and then I earned a scholarship. So, yeah.
SPEAKER_05That's a big deal, man. And to be a national champion, that's something you could tell your kids one day, and like, bruh, I'm pretty stoked to know that. I've never, yeah, I've never talked to anybody who won a national championship. That's that's super dope.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I don't normally tell people that too much. Um, normally like the people around me, like, oh, oh, you don't know who this guy is. I was like, stop. I was like, he ain't gotta do all that. Like, yeah, he got a ring and everything. And I'm like, I mean, if I was on the job interviews, oh yeah, I wouldn't be why not use what you got, right? They forget about the humans just start looking at the ring and start asking questions. But that's cool. I it's all my stuff is mainly with my dad. I he has his whole shrine in the basement back home in Virginia.
SPEAKER_05How was um transitioning away from football? Did you miss it? Do you still miss it?
SPEAKER_02Um It was it wasn't actually too bad because after college I was still like training, trying to, you know, do tryouts and get an opportunity. Um, but then like I found DJing as I was still working out and training. And then I don't know, they were just one day I was just like, I'm okay and not playing. And DJing, so basically what I would like focus on, like how I was for football, it was like went all straight to football. I mean, straight to DJing. So like like I mean, if I had an opportunity to go, I mean, why not? You make some make some good money, even in this for like a couple months, I would go. But like I'm not I'm not like oh I I miss it, like I need to be playing football. Like, if I don't play football ever again, I'm okay.
SPEAKER_05That's cool. And you you treated, not treated, but you you found a different passion and fills your heart, fills your coat. Yeah. Ah, you could get you could get a chance to go play for the Niners. They the way our team gets hurt, like they'll have openings every year.
SPEAKER_01I don't know. That's funny. That's funny. I mean, I would shoot a bad ass me.
SPEAKER_05That would be super cool.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I don't know. That's not happening. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05Anyways, we've been going for what I don't know what to ask you. How did you get Nasty Nate as your DJ name? You name yourself, or somebody gave it to you.
SPEAKER_02I got that. That's funny. Um, everyone asked me that. I got the nickname in high school from playing football. Because um, I remember we would uh we'd um go out and practice or play games um in the fields. Um, and then I was just juking people, making them fall and everything. Breaking ankles. We came in, they were like, coach, this kid's nasty, nasty, nasty nate. And it kind of just stuck because I was quiet. I didn't really talk in high school. Like I go back now, and people like, you talk, and you're bigger, you got muscles and all this stuff. I'm like, but yeah, I got it from playing football, and then it kind of like moved into like school. Like, teachers started calling me that. Like, I remember someone, like one of the teachers was like, um, they called me Nate, and then one of the girls was like, That's not Nate, that's nasty Nate. And then the teacher was like, Oh my gosh, that's terrible. They're like, No, it's a good thing. I'm like, Oh my god. And I'm being I'm quiet and shy, so I'm just like, I don't even really say anything. I'm just like, so then teachers and everybody in the whole school started calling me that. So and it just followed me. I even try to get rid of the name. I try to change my because I was like, okay, I'm gonna be DJ, I'm gonna be nasty nate for DJ. And then I try to change it to a different name. What'd you change it to? I was like trying to do like DJ Soul or something, because I'm part Korean. I was like, Oh, really? Yeah, I'm part Korean.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I'm half Korean. You're part Korean.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I'm a quarter Korean. My mom, yeah, my mom said oh shit, that's yeah. So I tried to change it to that, and it just didn't feel right. And it just didn't, it just wasn't the same feeling. Cause I was like thinking about, oh, what if I get corporate gigs? Like they ain't gonna be like, but that's the other deep names. So I was like, you know what? Everybody calls me this already, I'm gonna stick with it. So yeah, here we are since high school.
SPEAKER_05That's crazy. That's super cool. Yeah, you can get stuck with nasty nate for corporate gigs, it'd be cool.
SPEAKER_00I mean, I do corporate gigs now, so yeah, cool with it, I guess.
SPEAKER_05So that's super cool. So you're a quarter Korean, that's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_05All right. So that would have worked, bruh. I'm I'm half Korean, you can't tell, but yeah. That's yeah.
SPEAKER_02Normally people are like, they're like, what, really? And then they look at me, they're like, Oh, I can tell by your eyes.
SPEAKER_05I'm like, yeah, liar. My last name's Park, and people don't know I'm Korean.
SPEAKER_02I would say my last name's Taylor, so yeah, uh English.
SPEAKER_05That's crazy. Um, any advice would you give to any up-and-coming DJs that want to try and break into the industry, especially here in Hawaii?
SPEAKER_02Um, I would say go out, um, network, meet people, be friendly. Um, DJing is really all about relationships, honestly, and just being a genuine person, not just like using somebody like, oh, I'm gonna just be cool with them just to get this gig. And then do your homework. Like go out, listen to DJs, um, dig for music, try to try to figure out your own style and technique, and just set yourself apart from other DJs, because everybody can play the same music, but you can give one DJ, you can give two DJs the same playlist, but they're gonna play different, right? So what's gonna make you stand out? But listen, don't take I was like, I love taking quant I can't even speak criticism. So like take that, don't take it to heart. It's just gonna help you get better and just you know, listen and just you know, always be open and practice, of course.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, uh Wow. Uh honestly what you just said, I wish I had that sound bite the last 10-15 years. I would have this is how you become a DJ. Go out, make relationships, connect, network, meet people. Like that's honestly the best way to do it. And that's probably why you're catching all these gigs and getting all this love. And I mean, of course you're gonna have to play at some point and be good at that, but that's uh you can get turned away or given an opportunity just from the Aloha vibe that you give off. And don't be afraid of stuff. Yeah, and I've seen it, I've done it, and I I always try to give DJs a chance. But if I get approached, like, hey man, put me on your next show or put me in the put me in the district next week, I'm like, bruh, I don't even I never even heard of you or heard how you play or what like I don't even know your name, you didn't even introduce me. Like I just don't do that, like and then uh yeah, and if you did that to Hoppe, he would just tear you anew. But um that mindset I would highly suggest it. If you're an up-and-coming DJ and you want to break into the industry, do it how he just said it, and that would be your best uh foot in the door, and um know your craft and appreciate your craft and then appreciate the opportunities because especially in Hoy, there's not many venues and places and um clubs to play at. So when you get those opportunities, uh be appreciative and and go from there. This is why I like doing my podcast, this is why I like talking to DJs. Uh your story's inspiring. Your um story was cool and and it was a great conversation. I I'm impressed with um how you got to where you are now, and I'm excited to see where you're gonna take this in the future. And hopefully it's still on this island. How how do you you like being on the island or you see yourself off island or oh I no, I love it.
SPEAKER_02Like, I mean the plan was always to like move here, settle down, and then travel every now and then, not all the time, and you know, DJ around the world every now and then, but home base will be Hawaii. So yeah, but no, wherever God takes, takes us, so yeah. But we're here for the time being. So yeah.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. Do you have any kids yet?
SPEAKER_01Or not right now.
SPEAKER_05Oh, that's gonna change everything.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's all good though. Yeah, that would be super cool. Okay.
SPEAKER_05Well, I appreciate I appreciate you uh taking time out that um yeah, that sound bit for advice for young for young up and coming DJs. I hope a lot of them hear it because that's that's perfect. That's the perfect way to do it. Um, yeah, I hope to see you playing soon, bro. I want to come check out some of those Chinatown gigs.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, come on out.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, that'd be super cool. Um shoot, I wish I was still doing club events more now. I could have some better DJs out there, and yeah, it's refreshing. And respect to all the DJs in Hawaii. They like I said, the culture here has been cool to see, and and just being around Hoppa and how he um handles his his little little DJ crew and and stuff like that is is just uplifting and I don't know. It's it's a cool culture to be around. Yep, for sure.
SPEAKER_02Definitely a blessing.
SPEAKER_05Future wise, where do you see yourself taking this career? Like what do you envision?
Marriage, Balance, And Nightlife
SPEAKER_02Um, well, hopefully, as far as I, you know, can take it. I want to have a successful traveling party. Um, the much-loved party that I do with Mark Nado, just traveling around doing that, also traveling more and DJing around the world, meeting new people, you know, connecting with new people and just seeing the world and then making enough money to, you know, you know, provide for the family and just doing what I love.
SPEAKER_05So right on. Um social media-wise, where can people find you if they want to book you for something or get in touch with you or even get a workout in with you?
SPEAKER_02Well, um, social media on my IG, um, nasty nate.dj. Yeah, at nastinate.dj. Um I think it's the same thing on TikTok that I just started. The wife told me I need to get that, so I got it.
SPEAKER_05You can be doing them dances.
SPEAKER_02Nope, just DJ videos, no dances right now. Even though I can dance a little bit.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_02But um Yeah, Nassinate.dj, um emailing booking, Nassinate, um uh gmail. Yeah, nassinate.dj, gmail.com. Yeah.
SPEAKER_05All right on.
SPEAKER_02Um I have a YouTube channel.
SPEAKER_05Okay, what's the YouTube?
SPEAKER_02Um, I think it's the s I believe it's the same thing, if I'm not mistaken. I just kind of started it. I actually uploaded like my first uh um uh DJ mix, visual mix that I did actually at Southern Love here um on Amazon.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, so keep doing your thing, bro. Um I do know a lot of successful DJs put a lot of time and effort into social media and um documenting your videos, and it's like you gotta learn that side of the business. It's not easy. I think uh DJs gotta be a promoter, videographer, foot photographer. You just gotta wear like seven different hats, and the successful ones like can do it all. And I think you scratching into different uh social media avenues is is gonna just help your brand, and like you gotta think of it as a business. And honestly, social media is the biggest uh business opportunity worldwide now. And like as soon as you hear of somebody or something, the first thing you do is go look for their website and the Instagram, right? Like that's that's just how life is nowadays.
SPEAKER_00Learning that myself now, yeah.
SPEAKER_05Well, keep doing your thing, and I appreciate you taking time out. Um, yeah, it's been an hour at um shakas for the cameras. Right on, man. We're out. Shout out to the artist group network. Aloha.
