Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Rojas.
Hi Danny, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started learning and practicing DJ’ing at the age of six with my Dad who introduced me to the craft. My parents were big into the late 90s early 2000s music/club scene, with my Dad headlining various nightclubs throughout LA. My mom was a huge DJ AM fan (My biggest influence) playing his mixes all the time, she added AM mixes along with some old-school Richard Vission and Bad Boy Bill tracks to my iPod shuffle and I was hooked. Through my parents, my love for DJ’ing was born.
At the age of 13, I started mixing seriously which eventually led to me DJ’ing my high school dances at Don Bosco Tech and mobile Dj’ing. In 2020, during my first year of college at Cal State LA, I became a DJ for the campus station Golden Eagle Radio. When quarantine hit this provided an opportunity to practice and focus on my passion for DJ battling. At that time, through Golden Eagle Radio, I met DJ Vinnie Mack who put me on to the Power106 Street Team in 2021. In November of that year, I attended ComplexCon in Long Beach where I was discovered by DJ Atrak at the Fools Gold booth and handpicked to compete as a 2021 Goldie Awards semifinalist. Since then, I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from several key figures in the industry, including my current mentor DJ E-Man. My goal as a DJ is to become an on-air mixer for Power106 and become a world finalist for DMC.
When I am not working Power106 Street Team events, I spend my weekends DJ’ing for various nightclubs throughout the greater Los Angeles area and would love to branch out and one day become as big as my role model DJ AM.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, my parents had me at the age of 18, so my upbringing was not the easiest but my mom who has always been my number one supporter, taught me to appreciate my successes and never forget how hard I’ve worked to get where I am today. In school, one of the biggest stereotypes I face as a student in STEM is not being taken seriously because I am a DJ, my peers often assume I am not as driven before they get to know me. In the DJ industry, I am not taken as seriously because of my age. I feel I have to work twice as hard to make a name for myself in all aspects of my life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently in my senior year at California State University, Los Angeles majoring in Computer Information Systems. I have had a passion for computer science and computer hardware and technology, building computers since the age of 10. This has contributed to my knowledge of audio engineering which comes in handy at my gigs and is key in my journey with turntablism which includes modding various DJ equipment such as my turntables and mixers. These skills have also helped me grow at Power106 because I am able to contribute to various projects throughout the station.
I am most proud of the progress I have made since I started at Power106. Being 21 and the youngest DJ in the group, I have grown in my mixing and radio DJ capabilities, as well as party rocking. I have gone from opening most of my club sets to headlining various events, and that makes me proud to see the progress I have made in such a short time.
My scratching/trick mixing skills set me apart from others, as not many DJs in my generation are into turntablism. This is a craft of mine that is ever-evolving, and one of my main goals is to win a worldwide DJ battle using these skills.
What does success mean to you?
DJ AM said it best, “Find something you love so much, you’d do it for free, then find someone to pay you for it.”
My definition of success is being in a position where I can do what I love for a living and being able to work alongside the people I have always looked up to and consider my idols.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamdannyrojas
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@djdannyrojas8473
- Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/djdannyrojas/
Image Credits
Personal Photo provided by: Pedro Carrera Instagram: @kidcarrera Dragonfly Club Photo (neon sign): Brent Baker Instagram: @savagevideoproduction
