I'm Friends With the DJ
I’m Friends With the DJ is a podcast hosted by AJ the Silverfox, featuring real conversations with DJs, producers, performers, and the creative people who bring the energy to the dance floor, the day party, the club, and everywhere in between.
From music and event culture to personal stories, creative journeys, and Quick Mix moments, this show goes beyond the booth to get to know the people who make the scene feel alive.
Because life is more fun when you’re friends with the DJ.
I'm Friends With the DJ
Episode 15 - Gainz
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Why am I friends with the DJ? Because life is more fun when you’re friends with the DJ.
Welcome To I’m Friends With The DJ
SPEAKER_01This is I'm Friends with the DJ, hosted by AJ the Silverfox.
SPEAKER_03Welcome back to another episode of I'm Friends with the DJ. I'm here host, AJ the Silverfox. And joining me today is my new friend, great from LA, Michael, and he goes by DJ Gaines. Hi, welcome. Welcome to San Antonio.
SPEAKER_00Thank you.
SPEAKER_03Thank you. Um is this your first time here? My first time here. Your first time, but welcome to San Antonio.
SPEAKER_02What do you think of the city so far? It's awesome. I've uh gotten out a little bit when I got here, also had some really good food. So yeah, I'm enjoying it.
First Impressions Of San Antonio
SPEAKER_02People are really friendly too.
SPEAKER_03The Tex Mex is amazing, very different than the LA uh Mexican, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So, and you're you're born and raised in Los Angeles?
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_03Awesome. So being from LA, tell me a little bit about like your like upbringing there. Well, what part of LA are you from? Sure, I'm from Northeast LA.
SPEAKER_02Shout out Northeast LA. Uh yeah, like by Glasshow Park, uh Glendale area. So nice. Uh honestly growing up there, super awesome. Really privileged to say I'm from LA. You know, I have a lot of friends in LA who are not from LA, so they don't have the same upbringing uh in LA, but yeah, I love LA. It's uh such a diverse culture.
SPEAKER_03LA is very like transient, right? So like people come and go, people want to start their career there and and you know, and hope that it blows up and totally you know, on that, you know. Tell me about like how and what made you like what was your first sense that you loved music and wanted to become a DJ? Sure.
SPEAKER_02So my mom was actually a teen mom, had me at 14, and she was actually going to all the raves when she was really young. I loved it. And I was kind of the little kid being taken to school with a fucking TSO blasting,
Growing Up In Northeast Los Angeles
SPEAKER_02uh Cascade blasting in the background, kind of like embarrassed telling my mom, turn down the music, you know, no one was listening to house music or techno back then, you know, like in school. So yeah, at first I hated it, but then I grew to love it. And you know, by the time high school came around, I was I was well in. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So, you know, and and with your your background from your your mom, like hearing that growing up, like at what point did you like feel like you know what? I want to be a DJ. Like, where did that when did that start?
SPEAKER_02Sure, honestly, me and my mom always have had something where we would share music with each other, and so I kind of had that gift already where I was the playlister, I was the guy in the car who always was on aux and stuff like that. And my friends always joked around and were like, you know, you should try DJing sometime, you'd be great because you have great music taste, and you always are discovering new artists and putting us on. And you know, I was really nervous about it at first. I didn't want to tell anyone that I DJ'd, so I kind of just bought it and I started making mixes on my own at home. And uh I one day I showed one of my friends in the car and he was like, This is nice, like who is this?
SPEAKER_03And I was like, That's awesome, it's humbling. Yeah, you know, we expect our friends to always like hype us up, right? But at what point did you like I could make a career out of this? Like, I'm fucking good. Like, what point did you realize that?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it was actually after my first show ever. Uh, and I only played my first show ever because my best friend told me you need to play a show. And I was like, all right, I ended up getting into a nightclub and we sold 300 tickets, my first show ever. Holy shit. Yeah, it was a lot of friends and family and just people supporting from TikTok and stuff like that. Wow. And uh as soon
A Mom’s Rave Soundtrack Becomes His
SPEAKER_02as I did that show, I knew that I could do it 100%.
SPEAKER_03You know, and and so you mentioned TikTok. Was that like your first like exposure or yeah?
SPEAKER_02So that's actually how I built my fan base was through TikTok. I actually started live streaming every single night. I live streamed for two years straight every single night on TikTok. Uh, that's how I built my fan base. Really? Yeah, so people know me from live streams. I used to live stream. Uh we did a like a couple 12-hour live streams as well. DJs. Yeah, so yeah, that's how I grew my fan base.
SPEAKER_03You know, and and when it comes to like not only your fan base and TikTok, but like you mentioned 300 tickets sold. What nightclub was that?
SPEAKER_02It was catch one in LA. Yeah, it's like a small, smaller venue, uh, very kind of like a lot of local DJs play. So I got my first shot uh when I was more of a local DJ and crushed the ticket sales, you know, and just kind of kept moving from there. That's amazing. And how long ago was that? When did you start? That was in 2022, so it's been almost four years since that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, wow. I mean, I I looked you up, and for four years, you're quite accomplished. Thank you. What I mean, how did that feel?
SPEAKER_02It feels great. Honestly, I like I try not to, you know, get too content with where I'm at ever. I'm always trying to evolve, always trying to learn and grow from other DJs and you know get feedback from fans and stuff like that. So I feel like that has really helped me evolve and and really just like break barrier after barrier.
SPEAKER_03So you know, I for me, you know, I I doing this, I've met quite a few different varieties of like DJs and like very tenured DJs, um, DJs just starting, and you know out of all of them that I've I've encountered and met and spoken to, it's it's you're quite accomplished. Thank you.
First Show Shock And TikTok Grind
SPEAKER_03You you not only just DJ and make sounds, but you create, right? Correct. Tell me about a little bit about that process. Like what inspires you totally.
SPEAKER_02Um, so I knew that in order to take it to the next level, I was going to have to start creating. I started off as a DJ at first, and I wasn't really making any music, and then I enrolled into a school and Iowa or Iowa Music Academy, yeah. And so they kind of showed me everything, and and really just being there on all my days off from work. I was working in 9 to 5, and uh, you know, I was just there all the time Saturdays, Sundays, uh, and then I was there off on my days off on Thursdays, you know, like just all day asking questions. The teachers were super annoyed of me from asking all the questions, but like it really inspired me, and uh hearing them create at a higher level really made me want to pursue it and be like, I want to be like that one day for sure.
SPEAKER_03And so, like, like you mentioned your teachers. Was there one that really stood out that really helped build your passion or your your strength and your confidence?
SPEAKER_02Honestly, it was all the teachers at IO. Yeah, it was uh Adam, it was Josh, you know, and they just really instilled a lot of confidence in me as well. They were like, you know, you have the work ethic of no one that we've ever seen here before. Like, and that's very special, you know. And uh I wasn't the most musically talented at all. I always tell people, like, I'm not talented, I just I just work my ass off, you know? And when you work hard and and then you become successful. 100%. Yeah, that's amazing. Yeah, so they uh definitely inspired me.
SPEAKER_03You know, and so through from your start to where you're at now in the past four years, have you matured with your sound or has it changed? Like tell me a little bit about your your your evolution.
SPEAKER_02Definitely. In the beginning, I was creating a lot of uh stuff kind of just like all over the place. You know, I was making techno, I was making tech house, uh, I was making bass house, I was making a bunch of different types of genres and stuff like that, trying to experiment. And I would say 2025 or so was when everything started sticking together, my sound and kind of just creating similar sounds, but making it different with each song so that my catalog gets more diverse, right? And uh just replayability as well, which is always important, you know.
SPEAKER_03You want them to enjoy and and love that, like that's my favorite track, you know, that they do. Totally. Describe
Learning Production And Outworking Everyone
SPEAKER_03describe your sound for us. Describe your sound for us. Like, what would you say? Where did you end up landing? Sure.
SPEAKER_02So I would say I landed in the category of bass house, um, and it's definitely more aggressive, dark, sexy house. You know, in my bio it's a sexy house for sexy people, and I truly believe that I do make sexy house for sexy people.
SPEAKER_03You're in the right venue for it. Totally. You're in the right venue for it. So, you know, um with with that being, with that being your like main sound and and sexy, and would you consider like when you start your first mix or when you're starting to create, do you go for a melody? Do you go for the bass, the drums? Like what what starts your initial sure?
SPEAKER_02Honestly, I can just be, you know, about to go to sleep and I hear something like a like a ringtone or something, and it'll give me inspiration, and I kind of just go off of that. It's not always a vocal, it's not always drums, it's not always like a melody, like how I said, it's very random, like my creativity just sparks very randomly.
SPEAKER_03And those that's why you're so talented and why you're successful. You know, it's from a ringtone, from a ringtone, he gets inspiration. That's crazy. I love that. You know, it's it's it's so it's so nice to hear, you know, the variety that you're able to do. And on my way over here, I was listening to uh I think it was Radio uh 09 or something. Yes, you were in like uh Superstar Radio? Yes, yes, yes. Tell me, so that was fun. Yeah, I was like dancing while I was driving on my way over here to prepare. Yeah. So so you've been in New Mexico. Where else have you been?
SPEAKER_02Uh I've been in New Mexico, I've been to Hawaii, New York, Florida, uh, Texas. I've been all over Texas. This is another city unlocked in Texas, which is really cool. Yeah. Um, I've been to Arizona as well. I've been to quite a oh, Michigan. There's the list goes on to be honest. There's yeah, yeah, I've lost track at this point a little bit.
SPEAKER_03Which has been your favorite?
SPEAKER_02Oh, I can't play favorites. I would say everywhere is different, yeah. And I love the experience that each city gives me because everywhere is a little bit different, and you think you know a city, and it's the complete opposite of what you think. Yeah, which is great because it keeps me on my toes while I'm performing live.
SPEAKER_03That's you know, and that's that's great to hear. And I want to ask also, since every city is so different, you play to the people, right?
SPEAKER_02Totally
Locking In A Dark Bass House Identity
SPEAKER_02100%. Yeah, I'm always mixing live. I'll usually plan my first three or four songs or so and kind of gauge test the water where the energy's at, what people are feeling, and then I'll just freestyle the rest of it.
SPEAKER_03Wow, that's so cool. So, with your touring that you've done, do you also have like um a home base in LA that you're a resident at?
SPEAKER_02Or I don't actually. Uh, I really wanted to break the mold of being a local DJ, even though LA is such a big market and there's definitely growth for it. I wanted to break the mold of being the local LA DJ, like the LA legend type of guy. Uh so I really just you know started testing out smaller markets, other bigger markets, and it's been going very well for me.
SPEAKER_03I know you won't pick favorites, but do you have like a memorable gig that you did, and what was it?
SPEAKER_02Man, we'll we'll go from this year because I have a lot. Okay. Uh I would say Buffalo, New York was awesome because I played my first eight-hour set. So that's the longest time. It was a really long set. Yeah. So, okay, so so it's what kind of event was it? Or what was uh It was their graduation weekend actually uh from college. So we had all the college kids coming in, so I had to prep for that, you know, prep remixes and all that stuff, and uh really start off the night, you know, pick up the energy, which I haven't really done. I'm gonna be honest with you. I've I've usually been close to headlining or or direct support. Of course. Um, so like opening was a little bit different for me, but I was opening for myself, right? So it was cool.
SPEAKER_03So, okay, so from what time to what time? What's that eight hour? It was from 10 a.m. or 10 a.m.
SPEAKER_0210 p.m. Yeah to it was 4 a.m. Yeah. Holy shit.
SPEAKER_03That is a long ass night.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and then we actually extended it,
Touring Everywhere And Mixing Live
SPEAKER_02that's the thing. So we went longer than that. And we went till the sun came up, basically. And yeah, yeah, it was it was to the point where we had a huge crowd of all the college kids, and then right after that, uh, you know, the club was like closing per se, but they were like, We're not gonna we're not gonna shut it down. So we literally got back to the hotel or where I was staying at like 7 or 8 a.m. Uh from the show, and it was it was crazy, and then I had a flight in like two hours, so I really didn't sleep, but it was totally worth it. That's crazy, yeah. Fun times with fun people.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and listen, you're young, you could do that. Yeah, definitely. Take advantage now. 100%. So, and you know, what is something, what's a a misconception that fans have with a DJ touring?
SPEAKER_02Like, what what do you think that I think uh when fans complain about like a DJ playing the same set over and over? I I used I listen when I was a fan too, I used to say the same thing, but now that I've been touring, I totally get it. You're making music, you're grinding, you're in the studio all the time. You don't always have time to create new sets and find new music. Um, I was actually nervous for today that I hadn't found a bunch of new music, but then I remembered wait, I created like 12 new songs of my own in that whole time. So I do have new music, it's just not other people's, it's mine. That's amazing though.
SPEAKER_03And that's what people need to understand. So, you know, I read that you've gotten like alkalades from like really big names. Yeah. How does that feel?
SPEAKER_02It feels great, honestly. It at first it felt like really surreal, and now I'm starting to kind of like feel okay, these are no longer like super out of reach, they're more like my peers. Like I can yeah, I can like DM certain DJs and like they'll respond, and like it's really, really, really cool starting to make friendships and relationships with people that I've always looked up to.
SPEAKER_03Whose DMs have you slid into? They've actually slid into mine. Oh, okay. Even better. Who slid into your DMs? I don't want to put them on blast because we follow each other. That'll be app that'll be off when when we're done. He'll tell me then. That's that's also yeah, it's been awesome. That's humbling. Yeah, oh yeah, totally, 100%. But also that reflects on your talents. Yeah, it's rejective as an artist. Totally. Are you okay? So then with all that, what's next?
SPEAKER_02Honestly, I've stacked a bunch of songs this whole summer. Uh, so I'm doing a six-month uh monk mode type of thing where I'm just locking myself in the studio, throwing the key away, and let's see what we can create and let's stack something so big so that next year we can go on the biggest run
The Eight Hour Set And Touring Myths
SPEAKER_02that we've ever been on. So I want to be a name to watch out for in house music.
SPEAKER_03I mean, you're making it. You're making it and and you will be. And I I see that in the very foreseeable future. Thank you. What um okay, so then what is a goal? What is a city? Where where do you want? Where do you envision? What are you manifesting in? What city? I want UDC. Bad. Now, Vegas or Orlando? Which I've got one of them.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, but Vegas has a uh special place in my heart because I went there when I was 18 and it was like my dream. With your mom? Um, my mom actually, funny enough, she was in Vegas at the same time. She wasn't at UDC. She's like she was on the street. I'm not gonna say hi to you. Yeah, she was doing all the nightclubs and stuff, and then I was at UDC. That's amazing.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so you have a very close relationship with your mom then. Definitely. Yeah. Do you have other siblings? I don't. I'm an only child. Of course, yeah. That's awesome. Very, very cool. You know, when it comes from like such a young age, it's natural. Totally, yeah. And which would explain why you're so talented. Thank you. And uh, I'm gonna stop. I'm gonna your head's gonna be so big, you won't be able to get in the door. I'll stop. But you know, I think that when it comes to family and music, what is where what's your USA? Like what where where do you find yourself? Like, what's your center? Like outside of outside of music. Sure.
SPEAKER_02Honestly, I love the gym. The gym keeps me very grounded. Um, the gym, that's why my name is Gaines. I was about to say, I've lived in the gym since I was like in high school. It was a nickname given to me, so you know, the gym is is honestly like very it's therapeutic for me. Yeah. I I love it, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, so so that's how you like balance. Exactly, yeah. So gym is your like clearing, and then music is your passion. Yeah. What else do you do with your off-time?
SPEAKER_02Uh so I also do marketing uh back home. So I get to test strategies and stuff like that on businesses, and then I see what works, and I use it on my own self, which is the best thing ever.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely, yeah. So you're not just a DJ full-time, yeah. You also have your nine to five, your big boy job.
SPEAKER_00Correct, yeah.
SPEAKER_03That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So are you like um for a specific company? Are you like freelance or multiple companies, yeah? Freelance, yeah. As marketing. Yeah, yeah. What is what is a tip that you would give for new upcoming DJs?
Big Names Notice And What’s Next
SPEAKER_02That's a great question because it really depends on how far you want to take it. I've always been a very extreme kind of guy, so I always want to take everything to the limit. But I would say if if you know, if you're a DJ, you're hungry, you have dreams of you know touring and stuff like that, get on the production ASAP that get on creating music. You know, a lot of people can DJ. I can probably teach you how to DJ within a week, right? Okay, so I can teach a bunch of people how to DJ within a week. Making and creating takes way longer, and that's what makes it more valuable and special, and what makes sets really unique. You're right. So I would say get to creating as fast as you can.
SPEAKER_03I love that. So, not just DJ, produce and DJ. That's what you gotta do 100%. And as many people that I've met and interviewed, not all of them produce and DJ. So it does take a unique talent to do that. Um, what has been your favorite? Okay, which one that you currently have on Spotify or SoundCloud best describes your sound now? Probably my body. My body. My newest release. I heard that one. Yeah. My body is a very good one. Check it out. So what about it that what inspired that?
SPEAKER_02It's just very dark and and uh underground and sexy. Yeah, that's that's all I can say. It's very sexy. So from the lyrics to the sound design to everything, it's just it's very sexy.
SPEAKER_03That's amazing. Have you thought about international in terms of shows? In terms of like, yeah, shows going and so I actually I'm working on something right now.
SPEAKER_02Um, I could probably talk about it, it's nothing strict, but I'm working on something in Mexico because uh, you know, Mexico City is actually one of my top stream uh cities. So we're work we're trying to work something out for September.
SPEAKER_03So amazing.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, we've been in talks for a bit.
SPEAKER_03I've seen so many DJs in Puerto
Gym Balance Marketing Skills And DJ Advice
SPEAKER_03Rica. Yeah. Um Monterrey has a really big scene, also. Yeah, 100%. Um I think Black Coffee was doing something at the pyramids.
SPEAKER_02Yes, yeah, they have a massive, like growing scene. Yeah, it's crazy. There's a lot of people.
SPEAKER_03That is so full. Would you do like you did your sunrise or from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.? So we're thinking of doing uh a nightclub.
SPEAKER_02Okay, yeah, it's gonna be a nightclub like traditional set, probably like 12 a.m. to two. Yeah, something like that. Yeah. To find like a normal headline. Mexico, yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03That's awesome. Well, good luck with that. That's gonna be really, really cool. Um, what do you have coming up on online already, like after San Antonio?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so I actually have a festival coming up, my first festival ever. Uh, it's gonna be Nocturnal Wonderland. Where's that? Uh it's in Southern California, like San Bernardino area. Yeah. Uh so yeah, it's it's gonna be a festival. I'm actually opening up things at the uh Insomniac Records stage. So first time Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Wow, that's so cute. That's so that's inspirational, that's really really amazing. You know, I the sky's the limit. And as I was listening to your sound for the past couple of weeks, and and doing my research and checking you out, like you grew very quickly, and your sound is continuing to evolve. Do you have any major DJs that inspire you currently? And who are they?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I would say like the whole experts-only label from John Summit. It's it's very like my sound, you know, like it has a lot of uh kind of like futuristic sounds that are really cool, but just very underground and sexy, which which I really enjoy. Um, I love that whole label, so yeah, stuff like that. Definitely a future label I want to shoot for.
SPEAKER_03John Summit, if you're listening, Gaines is the one. That's it. That's really, really cool.
Mexico Talks Nocturnal Wonderland And Quick Mix
SPEAKER_03So, something I like to do, um, I like to do something I call the quick mix. It's a rapid fire, little playful questions. Um, so would you join me for the quick mix? Okay, cool. So I wrote some questions down, so I'm gonna go ahead and just um read off of them. Um, but so sun, sunrise or a 2 a.m. warehouse set. The 2 a.m. warehouse set. Of course. Um USB or vinyl? USB. Um headphones, one ear or both? Both. Um house pool party or dark underground. Dark underground for sure. Of course, it's more sexy. Um coffee before your set or a shot of tequila? Tequila, shot of tequila. Of course, tequila is a bad. Um so I'm not gonna ask this, so I was gonna say favorite place you played. I'll skip it, not that one. Um, so if you had one artist that you could go back to back with, who would it be? That's a great question. Oh, it'd probably be odd mob, to be honest. Yeah, very good. Yeah. Because y'all sound the same, or because you could vibe the most? I think you're awesome.
SPEAKER_02I think a mixture of both, but I think he's like a funny dude. Like he is his online persona is hilarious, and I would love to like just meet up and plan a stuff. I think it would be hilarious. Let's make it happen, guys.
SPEAKER_03Um, okay, favorite cheat meal. Oh, that's a great one. Uh, in and out. In and out for sure. You know, you haven't had Whataburger yet. I have, I have, I have. Okay, good. Well, yeah, okay, good. I like Whataburger. Houston, Dallas. Which one? Where did you have it? Uh, both. Okay, cool. See? Yeah. I mean, okay. Yeah. Um, okay, now finish the sentence. Life is more fun when you stop caring about all the rules that everyone wants to set on you. I love that. That's amazing. So, thank you so much for joining me. I'm so excited here you're set right now. And let's go dance and have fun. Thank you for joining me. Oh, yeah. Thank you for having me. Thank you, guys. We'll catch you next time. Bye. Sweet.