Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayla Simone.
Ayla, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
From a young age, I loved to sing, dance and write music. I was captivated by talented DJs around me as a teen after I was invited to perform my music on a radio show on 88.5FM KGNU. Seeing DJ’s mix & scratch live in the studio each week really inspired me to try my hand at it. What I loved is that they were playing music with an intelligent message all while skillfully mixing and layering the tracks. Something ignited for me inside and I felt a strong pull towards creating my own expression of this sound. Seeing this passion, one of my friends at the time, agreed to mentor and teach me the fundamentals of DJing. From there, I practiced every day with the dream of one day performing on the radio, concerts and clubs. I made constant trips to the record store to find new music, curating my sound.
At 18 years old I began playing sets on 88.5FM in Boulder / Denver as well as opening sets at local concerts. Once I turned 21, I was able to play at clubs and began my career back in my hometown of San Diego. One of my first residencies was at Firehouse Pacific Beach with SDCM Group and DJhere Productions, they gave me my start in SD and were a great company to work for. The founder, Matt Spencer, is a creative genius and a great curator of talent. I played consistently at the Hard Rock hotel, Andaz and Stingaree (now Omnia) and also with Fortune 421 at their pool parties and club events in San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Miami. Since then I’ve worked at a good amount of national/international clubs and held residencies including Omnia San Diego, W hotel, Hard Rock Hotels, and Lex Nightclub in Nevada with IAG Entertainment. Some other venues I’ve played at in Southern California are Pool House, Oxford, Parq, Bassmnt, Sidebar, The Office Bar NP, Time Nightclub OC, Avalon, and Deep House Brunch DTLA. My career has taken me to perform in many cities including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Vegas, Houston, Dallas, Cabo, Zurich Switzerland, Costa Rica and Canada. DJing and business have always been a passion for me, it’s been almost second nature to put my all into this craft and truly monetize it. I’ve made a point to be professional, consistent, bring good vibes to the room and deliver a unique sound. Now years later, I am still playing music, doing what I love.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road hasn’t been easy. There are many different aspects to this business that need to run smoothly for success to happen. There have been times I’ve been told “No” or my talents have been overlooked. There were moments when I wanted to give up completely. But every time I started to walk away, my passion for music always pulled me back. I’m glad that I never gave up because each year I’ve leveled up and had some great learning experiences along the way.
Tell us more about your work.
I am a DJ and marketing specialist. I mainly perform at clubs, bars, lounges, luxury hotels, concerts, festivals, pool parties and corporate events. I play DJ sets and also help to curate event concepts with my clients. My work is about creating and sustaining an atmosphere at events. I help bring diversity to fill diverse market needs. Specializing in dance music, Hip Hop, House, Nu Disco and R&B, my style can be both electronic and eclectic with hip hop influences. What sets me apart is my musical versatility, technical skillset, and stage presence. I like to read the room and deliver a set that will get the crowd dancing and socializing. DJ’s control the vibe in the room and its important to build trust with your crowd and take them on a journey. I generally bring a theme to my mixing of blending classic music to the current age adding Hip hop and House influences. Remixes, throwbacks, and current hits find a place in my sets. I am most proud of being a consistently booked female DJ in this industry, hopefully inspiring other women to express their talents. I aim to provide a positive, uplifting music experience for my guests every time I play a show.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m a big fan of the law of attraction. Having a positive attitude and visualizing my goals are what seem to work best in attracting what I want to achieve. There have been times that great opportunities arose and I was able to run with those moments letting my talents shine. While other times nothing seemed to go right. However, everything seems to happen in cycles, and luck favors the prepared. So after some initial stumbles, I’ve learned to recognize the right timing to move forward. The more time I take to visualize my goals, the more often opportunities seem to come my way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.djaylasimone.com
- Email: contact@djaylasimone.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/@djaylasimone
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/@djaylasimone
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/@djaylasimone
- Other: www.soundcloud.com/djaylasimone
Image Credit:
Ivan S. Harris, Global BPM Studio, Rick Ward Images, Gaslamp District Media, Turning Stone Casino, Night Nation Run
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