Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Chang.
Hi Alexis, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Alexis Chang, also known as Lexos or DJ Lexos, and I’m a multi-hyphenate creative. I’m a DJ, music producer, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, engineer, and photographer based between LA, NYC, and CT. I started performing and producing at a young age, studying classical and contemporary piano as well as jazz guitar. My Jamaican and Korean identity has undoubtedly contributed to my love for a wide range of genres—growing up, I was exposed to reggae, Jamaican dub, soul music, alternative, hip hop, classic rock, and more—thanks to my parents and family. Over time, I’ve built my own sound that’s rooted in versatility—mixing genres like Hip Hop, R&B, Jersey Club, Afrobeats, Neo-Soul, and Alternative.
Between 8th and 9th grade, I took a medical leave gap year to focus on my health, as I’ve grown up with chronic eczema. During that time, I’m so grateful to have had the space to pour into my art and interests. At 14, I started posting beat-making tutorials on YouTube, which gained some traction and led me to sell my custom-produced beats online to various artists, from hip hop rappers to R&B singers. I loved blending softer elements like my jazz/neo-soul guitar and ukulele with harder hip-hop drums to create my own unique, innovative sound.
For the last four years, I’ve built up my independent DJ career and music brand while studying music production at Occidental College. Right before I turned 21, I launched my own company, Lexos Entertainment LLC, where I offer everything from DJ services and lessons to custom beats, mixing and mastering services, photography services and music production lessons.
In June 2023, I moved to Brooklyn, New York, to pursue and build my DJ career. While I was there, I met an incredible amount of queer, BIPOC, creative, and genuine friends who truly showed me what community was, and the power that community holds. I moved there knowing almost no one my age, but ended the summer with some of the most supportive friends I’ve ever met. This was my first summer being 21 and actually able to experience nightlife spaces that thrive on community and creativity, and as a result, during this time, I was introduced to things like event planning, using CDJs, and playing back-to-back sets with other DJs.
Now, as I prepare to graduate college with a degree in Music Production this May, I plan to stay in LA and continue building my career on the foundation I’ve established so far. I also plan to maintain my bicoastal lifestyle by returning home to NYC and CT, where I’m excited to continue fostering my career and building community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest obstacles I’ve faced in my DJ career has simply been making a name for myself and standing out amongst so many others chasing the same dream as me. From the beginning, I—and the people in my life—knew my talent and potential, but the process of getting others to see it was often a long and challenging one. To overcome this, I focused on small, attainable goals: playing every event I could, whether paid or unpaid, locally or in unfamiliar spaces, and always giving the best performance I could every time. Each performance helped me get closer to my next opportunity, allowed me to meet new people, and gave me exposure in one way or another.
In this industry, consistency is everything. It’s so important to stay committed, even when things feel slow or stagnant, and to throw yourself into situations that push you to learn and grow. Social media has also been a key tool for me in building my presence. You never really know who’s watching, and it can never hurt to have examples of your work ready to present when you meet new people.
Overall though, I would say the biggest challenge I’ve faced has been dealing with DJ technical difficulties during my sets. At this point, I’ve come to expect these challenges and have trained myself to stay calm when they arise, but in the beginning, technical difficulties felt like the end of the world and were extremely anxiety-inducing. Over time though, with more exposure to these situations, I’ve learned how to troubleshoot and handle issues more confidently, making them just another part of the job.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Through my DJ sets and mixes, I aim to create energetic and euphoric spaces where people can dance, feel free, find community, and be themselves unapologetically.
As a music producer and composer, I always hope to bring something fresh to the table. I’m especially drawn to exploring a variety of rhythms in my production—building layers that make people want to move! I’m heavily inspired by artists and producers like Missy Elliott and Timbaland, who’ve always pushed rhythmic boundaries. Whether it’s hip hop, Jersey Club, bounce, Afrobeats, or Amapiano, I want my music to feel as satisfying in people’s ears as those genres feel to me. Every time I produce, I aim to create something new and uniquely mine through intricate drum patterns, rich vocal textures and harmonies, and layered instrumentation that makes my sound feel alive and distinct.
Similarly, through my photography, I aim to capture the energy and joy of each event I attend. I especially love photographing people dancing, spinning, moving, laughing, and just fully in their element. It’s important to me that my work, whether it’s sonic or visual, celebrates motion, joy, and authenticity.
Some of my biggest inspirations when it comes to embracing my versatility as an artist are Tierra Whack, Doechii, SZA, and Amaarae. I admire all of them deeply as powerful women of color who consistently break boundaries with the music they share, and never box themselves into one genre. Their fearlessness and confidence in their own creativity reminds me to stay expansive, to keep experimenting, and to trust that there’s strength in being fluid.
In August 2020, I released my first original self-produced, written, mixed, and mastered song, “Inspired.” This past summer, I dropped my first demo tape EP, “Tha Lexos Demos” which is now out on all platforms and features seven tracks that showcase my skills in production, writing, engineering, and overall versatility. The tape ends with a track of freestyles from my voice memos, full of song snippets that I plan to release in my full album.
Links to my work can be found here!
linktr.ee/alexischang
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
As someone young in the music industry, there have definitely been times that felt overwhelming as I’ve navigated things in real time—from DJ technical difficulties to writing contracts for selling my beats. I’ve always found immense value in learning from those around me with more experience, and I’ve been so lucky to find mentorship in several of my DJ friends, who have truly become like family to me. Most notably, in LA, my friends Tay.Hudson, Like, JxHoney, Nos, and S.Dot, as well as female DJs like You Wavy Fox, Zoobiana, and DJ Spinelli in NYC, who have really inspired and influenced the way I move through the industry as a 23-year-old.
They’ve helped me find my way through stepping up and learning things like using CDJs to troubleshooting technical issues, and have shown me the ins and outs of the DJ/music/nightlife scene. Even more than just the technical skills, though, these friends have made me feel so looked out for and supported as someone young, helping me feel less alone in an industry that can often feel overwhelming. Knowing people like them makes the industry feel much smaller, all because of that sense of community. Through their guidance and simply by sharing space with them by attending and showing up for their performances, I’ve learned so much and felt incredibly supported. I’m forever grateful for the sense of community and family they’ve given me.
Pricing:
- DJ Services – $100-$250/hr
- Recording/Engineering Services – $100/hr
- Photography Services – $100/hr
- DJ Lessons – $60/hr
- Music Production Lessons – $50/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/alexischang
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexooozzz/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoccidentalnews/posts/alexis-chang-senior-widely-known-by-students-as-dj-lexos-was-first-introduced-to/954799523329982/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-chang-b2a526207/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/alexischang
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/alexischang
Image Credits
Jules Monstera, jpeg.zen (Zenobia)
