Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Massio of VENICE BEACH

We recently had the chance to connect with Massio and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Massio, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
The record label RYTHMICA has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. What once felt like a distant dream is now a full reality—a label that moves across borders and dancefloors worldwide, carried by artists and supported by some of the scene’s most respected selectors.

While the music has found its way into sets from top-tier DJs, the true heartbeat of RYTHMICA lives behind the scenes. Discovering talent, shaping sound, and building releases from the ground up—curation, artistic direction, honest feedback, remix selection, and narrative—is where my real passion exists. Each EP is approached as a complete body of work rather than a collection of tracks, with the intention of connecting artists, ideas, and moments into something cohesive and lasting.

Shows, traveling, and producing will always be part of the journey, but for the label, the focus remains on intention over exposure. Supporting emerging and established artists, refining their vision, and releasing music with purpose is what fuels my pride in RYTHMICA and keeps me genuinely excited.
Curation isn’t secondary—it’s the statement.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Who is MASSIO? a DJ and producer born and raised in Baja California and now based in Los Angeles. I’ve spent over 20 years behind the decks, coming up during the last era when DJing was learned the hard way—on vinyl, without screens, sync buttons, or shortcuts. I was fortunate to be surrounded by and learn from old-school international pioneers who taught me the fundamentals: timing, patience, and how to truly listen. That period grounded me and shaped my approach to DJing from the very beginning.

Back then, dance music was still misunderstood and often pushed to the margins, which forced me to see DJing as more than just mixing tracks. For me, it became about storytelling, building emotion, tension, and flow throughout a set. That mindset is something I still carry today, even while using modern technology. The tools may have changed, but the intention and discipline remain the same.

That vision naturally led to the creation of RYTHMICA, a record label born from my passion for curation and artistic direction. Beyond releasing music, the label is about developing artists, shaping sound, and building complete bodies of work. Whether I’m DJing, producing, or working behind the scenes, my focus is always on intention over exposure and creating music that connects on a deeper level—on and beyond the dancefloor.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who to be, I was—and still am—a civil engineer with a deep passion for the environment and sustainable buildings. Long before stages, late nights, and travel became part of my life, my focus was on problem-solving, responsibility, and creating a positive impact by helping reduce carbon footprints and support developers and clients in building more responsibly.

To this day, engineering remains an essential part of who I am. It keeps me grounded. It puts me in check when the noise gets loud, when the travel and nightlife become distractions, and when it’s easy to lose perspective. That side of my life gives me structure, clarity, and a reminder of what truly matters.

Over the years, I’ve managed to build these two careers simultaneously—something I never imagined possible 20 years ago. What’s surprised me most is how much they feed each other. The discipline, routine, professionalism, planning, and problem-solving I learned as an engineer now shape how I approach music, business, and creativity. Showing up prepared, staying focused, setting long-term goals, and working with intention are principles I apply equally to both worlds.

Before expectations, labels, or industries defined me, I was someone driven by curiosity, structure, and purpose. Blending these two paths has allowed me to grow without losing myself—and to move forward with clarity, balance, and impact.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would encourage myself to step forward and go all in. When you’re young, your goals aren’t always clear, and that uncertainty can hold you back. But over time, clarity comes, and with it, stronger decision making and a deeper sense of purpose. I’d remind myself to trust that process and stay committed to building the brand and the label, even when progress feels slow or when certain life experiences still need to unfold before the next chapter reveals itself.

I’d also tell my younger self to learn as much as possible, as early as possible. Not just music production, but everything that surrounds the reality of being an artist—marketing, branding, business, contracts, and strategy. Attend seminars, ask questions, study the industry, and understand how the ecosystem works. The earlier you build those skills, the more control you gain over your creative path.

Most importantly, I’d emphasize growth with intention. Keep learning, stay curious, and don’t wait for permission to evolve. The foundation you build early on is what allows you to move forward with confidence later.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Today, with technology evolving so quickly and social media playing such a big role, it can feel like you need to check every box to succeed. And while I understand that visibility, branding, and content are now part of the equation, I still believe the foundation starts in the studio. Mastering music production and truly understanding how to make music should come first.

Once that skill set is solid and deeply developed, everything else becomes more natural—and more fun. At that point, you can experiment, be playful, build a persona, and engage creatively on social platforms in a way that feels authentic. The issue I see is that many artists skip the foundation and aim straight for visibility. Wanting to be internet-famous isn’t wrong, but when the core musical skills aren’t there, the value behind the project often feels hollow.

There’s a growing pattern in the industry where artists are built around image while relying heavily on ghost production to carry the music. They may succeed in the short term, but for me, the real value—and long-term sustainability—starts with ownership of the craft. Everything begins in the studio. If you can truly dominate that space, the rest becomes an extension of the work, not a substitute for it.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would definitely stop trying to chase trends that don’t resonate with my sound and vision. Sometimes we get too distracted by social media and by what others are doing, and we end up stopping believing in ourselves. We start doubting our path and chasing trends that don’t necessarily fit who we are.

I would step back from that and focus on what truly feels right in the moment. If that happens to align with a trend, that’s fine, but following a trend blindly is something I would consciously avoid and move away from.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.massiomusik.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/massiomusik/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@massiomusik
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/massio
• Other: https://www.beatport.com/artist/massio/286369

Image Credits
pictures by Framework & https://www.instagram.com/highaboveproductions/ and Deep LA