Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikaelo Aguilar.
Mikaelo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in the Philippines before immigrating to San Diego, where music became both my creative outlet and a way to build community. What started as producing electronic music eventually grew into a bigger question: how can shared experiences help people connect with themselves and each other?
That question led me to create We The Moment, a creative studio that designs community-centered experiences through music, conversation, and culture. Whether it’s a listening event, a dance gathering, or an experimental social concept, the goal is always the same: to create spaces where people feel a greater sense of belonging and possibility.
Alongside We The Moment, I continue to release music as Qolaj and work across event production and creative direction. While the projects may look different on the surface, they’re all connected by a belief that joy, curiosity, and human connection can be intentionally designed.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. Like many immigrants, one of my biggest challenges was assimilation. Learning to navigate a new culture while trying to hold onto my own identity wasn’t always easy. As a Filipino creative working in spaces where representation was limited, I also experienced moments where racial inequality made me question whether I truly belonged.
At the same time, I’ve had an ongoing journey with mental health. There were periods where depression made it difficult to create, connect, or even imagine a future. Looking back, those experiences have become some of my greatest teachers. They deepened my empathy and shaped the kind of work I want to make.
Today, We The Moment is, in many ways, a response to those struggles. It’s an attempt to create the kinds of spaces I wish I’d had: places where people can experience joy, feel a sense of belonging, and realize they don’t have to navigate life alone.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We The Moment is a creative studio that designs experiences centered on human connection. We use music, conversation, and participatory events to help people connect with themselves, each other, and their communities. Rather than creating events for passive audiences, we create opportunities for people to become active participants in shared experiences.
What sets us apart is that we treat community itself as a creative medium. A DJ set, a listening session, a grief gathering, or a social experiment all become ways of exploring what it means to belong. We believe that meaningful connection doesn’t happen by accident. It can be intentionally designed.
I’m most proud that our work invites people who often feel left out of traditional nightlife and community spaces. Whether someone is an introvert, new to a city, or simply looking for something more intentional, we want them to feel like they have a place here.
Ultimately, We The Moment isn’t just about producing events. It’s about cultivating a culture where curiosity, joy, and connection become everyday practices. If people leave one of our experiences feeling a little more open to themselves and to others than when they arrived, we’ve done our job.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People often assume I’m in the business of throwing parties, but I’m actually much more interested in designing human behavior. Music just happens to be my favorite medium.
I think of art as a form of world-building. Every project, event, or song is an opportunity to prototype the kind of world I want to live in, one where people feel more connected, more curious, and more alive. Many of the experiences I create begin as social experiments disguised as gatherings.
I also spend a lot of time studying psychology, community building, and the science of connection. So while people may see a DJ behind the decks, I’m usually thinking like an experience designer, asking how every detail can help shape culture and bring people closer to themselves and one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: miko@wethe.studio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/we.the.moment/
Image Credits
Katerina Vo
Nic Roc
