Mike Music on Clubhouse

Bio

Not many words can sum up the powerhouse of talent that encompasses MikeMusic: musician, producer, entrepreneur, but most importantly a deejay that transcends genres. As a purveyor of eclectic beats and soul tapping sounds, he instinctively knows the perfect soundtrack for any celebration. To witness MikeMusic on the turntables is to take a ride through his mixed spectrum of musical influences. “I’m an experience,” he says, a bold yet accurate summation of over a decade of rocking parties. He likens his deejaying approach to one of his favorite songs, Queens’ Bohemian Rhapsody: “All the dynamics and complexities of it -- from the time and key changes, harmonies, highs and lows -- it’s a musical rollercoaster that gives a sense of euphoria. That’s what I want people to feel when they listen to me.”

The story behind his moniker is as unique as his varied musical tastes. At the age of 17, he toured with a merengue band as a trumpet player. In the Latin music industry, many musicians are known by their first name followed by their instrument. However, he often filled in for other band members as a keyboardist, bassist and Latin percussionist. He was soon dubbed by one of his band mates as “MikeMusic” because he “could play everything.” The name endured and is now synonymous with his talent to deejay a multitude of genres.

While continuing his pursuit of deejaying, MikeMusic attended some of the most prestigious institutes for musical training in New York City, including Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts. And under the tutelage of professional musician Dr. Aaron Flagg, he was able to further surpass his natural talent on the trumpet as a student at The Julliard School. Being exposed concurrently to classical, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, rock, pop, house, Caribbean and Latin music has provided MikeMusic with a higher level of musical appreciation than most. Not only does he play songs to keep people on the dance floor with party favorites, but he also sets out to teach the crowd about new music they may not have heard before. A fortunate few may even get a chance to experience watching him play an instrument while deejaying. “If you look at my musical library you’ll find tracks from John Coltrane, Teddy Pendergrass and George Gershwin along with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Buju Banton, A Tribe Called Quest and Juan Luis Guerra,” he says. “Not many people can say that they are as well-versed in so many genres and that is the key to what sets me apart.” One of the highlights of MikeMusic’s career trajectory was when he was approached to deejay a concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Sharing the same bill with India.Arie, Talib Kweli and Luke James is surely one of many proud moments to follow.

“Music is my passion. It’s in my soul. I want to take my listeners on a journey, whether it’s through my trumpet or through the speakers, or through vinyl or mp3," he says. "There’s no better feeling than when someone comes up to me after a gig and tells me about the nostalgic emotion they felt because of a song I played, or that I introduced them to a new song that will be one of their favorites from now on. Those are the moments I live for.”