Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Monteiro.
Derek, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Originally from Massachusetts, I come from a big Portuguese family where music, food, and dancing were a big part of my upbringing. I didn’t know dancing in a Portuguese folk group as a child would benefit me later in life. Always on the hunt for Chicago house, booty house, hip hop, and dancehall records, I would tag along with my brother’s friends and cousins to go record shopping, and it was in 98’ when they took me to my first rave. Felix da Housecat was headlining that night, and it blew my mind! Not realizing how much that experience would affect me, we would travel every weekend, driving up 6 hours to hear dj’s play all up and down the east coast.
I landed in LaLa Land on my 20th bday to help my cousin flip houses. Honestly, it was like the gates of heaven opened when she asked me to come out and work for her. I quickly developed friendships with a bunch of professional dancers which resulted in me taking their classes, eventually booking some amazing gigs as a dancer. I mean who doesn’t watch a Janet Jackson tour and dream of being a dancer? It ended up becoming such an incredible part of my life.
My DJ career started to take off after a few years living in LA and I found myself having residencies all over the city. I’ve been fortunate enough to work some amazing events, like playing at the Playboy Mansion, The Greek Theater, numerous celebrity house parties, The Oscars and Golden Globes after parties, and events for brands like Mercedes Benz, MAC Makeup, and Sony. Silly amount of clubs, pools, hotels, undergrounds events, and traveling abroad to Jakarta, Bali, and Argentina. Recently, I’ve been learning how to produce my own music. The goal is to share my love of music and make people dance around the world. It’s been a wild ride and looking forward to where music will take me next.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been a fun ride, maybe too much fun. It’s been a long road hustling nonstop to build my name and build trusting relationships over the past 15 years. I can honestly say my life in LA has been like one looooong weekend. Many nights have been lost in the sauce and after many years, it started to build up and take its toll. Recently, I’ve decided to quit drinking to focus on my work and clear my mind. Over drinking was definitely a challenge and happy for the new path I’ve set myself on. A little downtime to reboot the system is always a good idea.
Tell us about your business. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
A DJ’s job is to create a proper vibe for the event. I think being able to read a room is a strong asset. Also creating a full tilt boogie dance party is always the goal. I think my love for dancing plays a big part in creating a certain energy and delivering that is what has kept me working all these years.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
There are too many proud moments and amazing people I’ve gotten to meet and work with. Opening for Derrick Carter and Felix da Housecat a few years back, and having Felix give me props on my set and song selection was proper motivation and a reassurance that I’ve been on the right track. Also, back up dancing for Britney Spears’ infamous “Gimme More” MTV Video Music Awards performance was a dance career highlight and absolute killer moment!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soundcloud.com/dj-derek-monteiro
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Jonathan Tantype Photography
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