Today we’d like to introduce you to Fernando Alves
Hi Fernando, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been passionate about music for 17 years, but my journey began in a small town in Brazil. I still remember the day I stumbled upon a music video that completely captivated me. I was flipping through TV channels at home when I saw what I thought was an incredible video game with cool animations: palm trees, a little guy riding a giant dragonfly, and someone snowboarding on the Golden Gate Bridge. The music playing with it was captivating. It wasn’t a video game at all, though—it was MTV, and the video was “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. That moment changed everything for me.
Fast forward, I learned guitar and joined a band, but like most people, I followed the traditional route of life. I finished high school, graduated from college, landed an internship, and later got that dream job. I climbed the ladder, earned promotions, got my own place, and life seemed pretty set. But the more I sat in my office, the more I felt out of place. It was like something in my soul was telling me I didn’t belong there.
At 23 or 24, it hit me. I don’t even know what exactly triggered it, but one day I just knew I had to make a big change. I left my family, my friends, and everything familiar behind to pursue music in Los Angeles. I packed up and started over, enrolling in a music program without knowing exactly how things would turn out.
It wasn’t an easy ride, but here I am five years later, and life’s been a wild adventure. I spent a good amount of time busking at places like the 3rd Street Promenade, doing live looping with my guitar for hours on end. Some days, I’d try my luck in front of Trader Joe’s on Hollywood and Vine, and on one crazy day, someone tipped me $100. Those moments were part of the grind that taught me resilience.
At the same time, being in the army taught me a lot about discipline and mental toughness. I brought that mindset into my music hustle—whether it was surviving the rough patches or navigating LA during the pandemic.
Now, I’m doing what I love most: DJing while playing guitar live. It’s the best of both worlds for me, combining my passion for guitar and my love for creating live experiences. Looking back, it’s been a journey full of highs, lows, and a lot of unexpected twists, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Los Angeles has given me friends, unforgettable life experiences, and a second chance at living the life I was meant to live. And even though my mom and grandpa still cry sometimes, they’re proud of the path I’ve taken. I’ve never felt more alive and more in tune with my purpose.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Balancing my studies with chasing my music career outside of the classroom was my first real challenge when I got to LA. I had to spend about four hours a day on the metro just to get to work, and to make ends meet, I had to seriously cut back on expenses. For a long time, I survived on the same meals every day—eggs, ground turkey, and spinach. I was doing whatever I could to save money, but it wasn’t sustainable for long.
Things got even tougher during the pandemic. I had a promising contract lined up with a signed artist, but when COVID hit, that deal fell apart, and I suddenly had no funds to keep myself afloat. My parents in Brazil lost their jobs around the same time, so there was no financial safety net for me to lean on. My dad almost died of COVID, and there was a point when I was mentally prepared to go back to Brazil and leave all my efforts behind. It felt like everything I’d worked for was slipping away.
To get through that dark time, I started going on daily hikes to the Berlin Forest near Griffith Observatory. I’d pray and listen to the same song that gave me hope and faith that things would turn around. It became my daily ritual—one of the only things that kept me grounded.
To add to the chaos, someone did a hit-and-run on my car, which was a total loss. Without a car, I couldn’t get to school or work on my music career, and I thought I’d hit rock bottom. For over a year after the accident, I ended up sleeping in a friend’s kitchen because I couldn’t afford rent. Despite all of this, for some reason, I managed to stay optimistic.
What really kept me going during that time were the lessons I learned from books like Man’s Search for Meaning and the philosophy I studied—stoicism and Taoism. That knowledge helped me stay mentally resilient through it all. Looking back now, I’m grateful for those experiences. They made me stronger and gave me the confidence to know that if things ever go wrong again, I’ll find a way to figure it out.
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?
I’m currently diving deep into a project that focuses on spinning Amapiano, a stunning sub-genre of house music. It’s got this slower tempo, heavily influenced by African culture in its sound and lyrics, which I find amazing. My goal is to get this beautiful craft in front of as many people as possible, whether through live recorded mixes on my YouTube channel or during my live sets around Los Angeles.
When it comes to my professional work, I mostly DJ for restaurants, cafes, and corporate events. My sweet spot is creating a balance between laid-back and energetic vibes—nothing too intense, just enough to keep people moving, whether they’re chilling, working, or hanging out. I’ve noticed that in these types of venues, people don’t want overly upbeat tracks but do enjoy music that sets the mood while they do their own thing. That’s what I love—curating a soundtrack that complements the atmosphere.
Another type of event I really enjoy is weddings. I’ve DJed at over 50, and it’s always a fun challenge to build a playlist for such an important day. That’s when I can bring out the bangers I’ve been saving from my more mellow gigs. The main goal at weddings is to get people on the dance floor and make sure they’re having the time of their lives.
What I believe sets me apart as a DJ is my background with guitar and music production. At most of the events I work, I bring my electric guitar, and any time there is an opportunity for a nice guitar solo, I’ll do it! People really appreciate this touch of authenticity. As a music theory nerd, my mixes are very thoughtful. I am always thinking about the right tempo and the right key to mix in. I see every song as a building block of a beautiful soundscape, so I have to piece them together in the best possible way.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I have so many people to thank for helping me along the way. First and foremost, my parents deserve the biggest credit for supporting me, even though they were heartbroken when I left to pursue my career. My sister also had my back, helping me out financially when things got really tough. Then there’s every single person who believed in me and my music, from those who dropped a few bucks in my tip jar while I was busking in Santa Monica and Hollywood, to the ones who stopped and smiled while I played.
I also want to give a shout-out to my friends Jason, Amos, and Jerome, who stuck by me when life was hitting hard, and my friend John, who introduced me to the incredible world of DJing. I’m also grateful to Rob and Andy from Second Song for giving me the opportunity to take that craft to the next level and put it into practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.djvento.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ventomusik/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@VENTOMUSIK
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dj-vento-los-angeles
