We recently had the chance to connect with Ayla Simone and have shared our conversation below.
Ayla, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Energy, 100%. You can feel it before a word is even said—it’s that vibe that fills a room, the drop in a track that gets everyone moving in sync. Intelligence is important as well, but it’s not just about textbooks—emotional intelligence is just as real. It’s about knowing yourself and how to connect with people from a positive place, and keeping the flow right. That’s what makes everything come alive.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My sound is house-forward with hip hop roots. I learned to DJ on vinyl and worked my way through many genres, which taught me how to read a room and mix for the vibe in front of me. I love discovering new combinations and challenging myself. Learning one style of DJing was not enough for my creative hunger. My schedule is diverse, sometimes it’s open format and hip hop sets, other times it’s pure house. That mix lets my creativity run wild, though these days you’ll hear me leaning into tech house, deep house, indie dance, and Afro house.
Along the way, I’ve held residencies at Omnia San Diego and W Hotels, and worked as an entertainment curator for multiple venues. I’ve played major Hard Rock Hotel events—from New Year’s Eve and Halloween to pool parties—and I keep a regular presence in San Diego at The Office in North Park (second and fourth Fridays) and as a resident at the Rooftop Bar at Mission Pacific Resort in Oceanside, recently named the #1 resort in the U.S. by Travel + Leisure.
This month I’m heading to Las Vegas, September 18–22, with shows at Bel-Aire Lounge at Durango Casino & Resort, Gatsby’s Lounge at Resorts World, and Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay (full schedule at djaylasimone.com). Whether it’s a rooftop, a poolside stage, or a late-night lounge, I always aim to create moments where the music and the crowd lock into one.
I’m also diving deeper into production with tracks that reflect different sides of me as an artist. I will be releasing some new music soon: “Focus” and “Back At It” (vocal house), “Que Rico” (tech house with Afro-Latino rhythms), “Froze” (a harder gangster-tech house cut), and “Flaunting” It (vocal house). Each one is built to move bodies, but also to leave an imprint beyond the dance floor
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
Both of my parents. They instilled confidence and self-reliance in me early on, and they led by example—working hard, business-minded, and with integrity. My mom taught me resilience and strong decision-making; she’s run multiple businesses throughout life, while carrying herself with style and grace. My dad shaped my entrepreneurial mindset—he’d share stories from his own ventures, bring me to his work for experience, and pass down lessons from both successes and failures. Together, their influence gave me the resilience to chase my own path in music and to see work as something you can shape with passion and purpose.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
As a teenager, I started channeling my struggles into art, music, and dance—music literally saved me. Many grounded days and nights were spent writing lyrics or painting. Other kids might have thought it was strange that I spray-painted graffiti art on hats and wore them to school, but for me, it was self-expression, a way to turn angst into something creative. I also wrote poetry, performed spoken word, and made my first DJ mixes. I’m grateful for the school art programs that gave me those outlets—they help kids transform pain into personal power.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Equality, unity, love. This is a big world, yet we are all connected, no matter how divided we feel at times.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’ve never been one to follow the script. I was born to create, and that doesn’t fit neatly into anyone’s predetermined path. For me, it’s about carving my own lane and turning that into something undeniable. This isn’t what I was told to do—it’s what I have to do
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.djaylasimone.com
- Instagram: djaylasimone
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djaylasimone
Image Credits
Mac Nguyen for many of the dj shots
