DJ Luna: Getting Signed to Every Blue Moon And Trusting That Everything Happens For A Reason
DJ Luna, aka Mikaela, is a Miami native confidently mixing up the male-dominated music scene. After being discovered by MMG's Wale through social media, she was signed to his music label Every Blue Moon and has been blessing underground music lovers with dope mixes on SoundCloud over the past year. DJ Luna is determined to be a part of the shift in bringing culture to the city, and is in the works of spinning at some of Miami's most famous hot spots. If you're in need of a confirmation that "everything happens for a reason" continue reading this amazing interview to learn about how a serendipitous discovery changed her life! Vibe out to DJ Luna's popular playlist series Moonshine, and check out her most recent collaborative project with Wale Before I SHiNE when in need of a mood booster!
Is your name Luna?
Nope, it's actually Mikaela.
Do you prefer to go by Luna or Mikaela?
I feel like I'm starting to have to go by Luna because I can introduce myself as Mika or Mikaela and people are going to hear DJ Luna and they don't know that it's the same person.
Did you grow up in Miami?
Yeah. I was originally born in New Orleans but came here when I was 3.
Where did the name Luna come from?
One day Wale and I were brainstorming DJ names and used his record label Every Blue Moon (EBM) as inspiration. Moon in Spanish is luna and since I'm part Hispanic and from Miami, it made sense for me.
Are you collaborating with Wale or are you signed to his label?
I'm signed to his label, but I do my own shows here in Miami since he lives between D.C, Seattle, and L.A.
I'd love to know how that evolved!
A lot of people are like "wait, how did that happen?" and it sounds insane but the short answer to that is social media; he reached out to me on Twitter.
Did he stumble across something on Soundcloud or did someone pass along your name?
Do you want the short story or the long version?
I think most people want to know the long version!
Well, I already had a social media personality that people associated with music on Twitter. I only ever tweeted about music and projects that I liked and disliked, so I built up a fan base of people that wanted to come to me for new music and opinions on releases. One day some random guy DM'd me a link to one of his songs and a paragraph underneath. In it he talked about how it would be his dream to work with Wale and that he was from Nigeria (Wale is Nigerian) and I was like that's cool, but what does that have to do with me? Then he told me that he noticed Wale followed me and that's why he reached out. That is when I thought "Wale follows me?!". I wasn't even following him! I went to his page to make sure it was verified and when I realized it was I started freaking out!
Did you immediately reach out to him?
I decided not to DM him because that's what anyone would do, instead, I waited for him to reach out. I continued to tweet and blog about music and two weeks later I woke up to a DM from him saying that he loved my enthusiasm and wanted to play his new music for me. I responded to him by saying "alright, but I'm not going to gas you up".
That was a clever response! What came after that?
He asked "if you had one dream as far as the music industry goes, what would it be?" and I gave him a bit of my life story and told him that I had never considered the music industry as being a career or realistic. I mean, I work in real estate. I love music but at the time wasn't trying to do "anything with it". I went to LA to visit and vibe out at the studio and he came to Miami a few times but we hadn't really decided what exactly I was going to do for his label, we were just certain that we were going to work together. One day he finally came to me and suggested that I become a DJ and I was like...OK. It was his idea, I had never even thought about it.I took a 6-week course at Scratch Academy in Wynwood and touched my first turntable on my birthday October 29th.That's insane! How long ago did this all transpire?Almost a year ago.
Are you looking to stay in Miami?
Yeah, for now, I don't want to leave. I'm comfortable here and I feel like I'm meeting a lot of people here. It would be stupid for me to just move now and have to start over in a new city. I could always fly somewhere if I need to.
That's an interesting perspective. Since Miami is still on the come up in the Arts, people are getting antsy because they're having to choose on whether to stay and build it up from the bottom or go somewhere and just infiltrate whatever is already there.
I'd rather be in a city that's building its foundation right now so I can be known as part of that. Why am I going to go to a city that's already poppin'? I think that's making it easy for yourself. I'd rather work on Miami's build-up. I've been here for a long time, so I've seen Miami go from nothing music-wise except The Legends to now having Miami artists on the XXL voting list. Miami has come a long way in the last 5 years and I think it's only going to get better from here. Creatives are gaining confidence now because they're seeing other people from Miami come up, it encourages other people to explore what they're scared of. I'd like to say that I was "lucky" but I think this was all meant to be. So many people hate on social media and I'm like "yo, Twitter changed my life". If you use social media stupidly then it's not going to work in your favor, you've gotta be smart with it.
Are there any female influencers that you look up to in Miami?
Look up to I can't say, but respect, definitely. I respect YesJulz for what she was able to do here. She was able to make Miami hers. There weren't any events with her name that weren't poppin'. I can't say that I look up to her because I'm not trying to be an event host but I respect her for putting Miami on the map.
Have any women reached out to you for guidance?
I've had a few girls reach out to me to teach them how to DJ, but none of them were serious. If there are any girls that want to learn I'm willing to teach them because I know how intimidating it can be to learn being surrounded by around all males.
Do you feel respected in your field?
I feel more respected simply because I'm willing to do it. People always say that they never meet female DJs and there are a lot of us, but I guess not enough for people to not be surprised when I tell them what I do.
Have you had any instances where being a woman has seemed to be a disadvantage?
I had one instance. I was recently at a video shoot for the new song Trap Trap Trap from Rick Ross' new album and was approached by the owner of KOD and his Director of Operations to DJ at his club. When I went to the club to observe how it was all done I realized there's a lot of MC'ing that needs to be done, and I know that nobody is going to take my voice seriously. At the strip club, they're always yelling on the mic and I can't do that, so yeah...that has been the only disadvantage I've encountered, but I don't actually see it like that.
Did you turn down the gig?
I didn't, but I just can't do it yet. I need to find a male MC to work alongside me to make it work.
You've gotta put out a project that people like and then follow-up it up with something even better.
What are your long term goals?
I'd really like to be a tour DJ and travel around for months at a time opening up for artists that I really like, but if I begin having weekly events I won't be able to do both so I have to figure what I'm going to do.
What is your preferred genre? Is it hip-hop?
Actually no. I feel like I can mix anything. I didn't really get into hip-hop until three years ago. I grew up on classic soul, 70s rock, and R&B so I have a vast library. I mean hip-hop is cool, but you're never going to catch me playing top 100 hits and I feel like that's maybe one of the main reasons I wouldn't want to work a club because that's what you have to play. When I play hip-hop it's always throwbacks.
I'm sure you bring out a lot of nostalgia in people playing those kinds of records!
Yeah, I do! My goal is to play the songs that most people have forgotten about but still love.
What's a habit that you contribute to your success?
Consistency. I feel like no matter what I do I am very consistent with it and people recognize that. You've gotta put out a project that people like and then follow-up it up with something even better
.How do you know what's better than the last?
I trust myself. There have been times where I sell myself short or am too hard on myself but for the most part, I know what works. I'm definitely my own toughest critic.
If you could write a short message to your fellow millennials about pursuing their dreams what would it be?
Never underestimate the power of consistency, and continue to level your shit up. Work on finding a balance between consistency and progression. For the women out there who want to become DJ's and need help or advice DM me, I'm so down to help you! I've had female DJs like Spinelli and CoffinText help me along the way so I'd love to be that for someone else.
Do you have any projects in the works?
Yeah! I have a project already done and I'm super excited about it, but it doesn't have an official release date yet and I can't really say much about it until Wale gives me the go ahead so you will have to stay tuned for it.
Are there any events coming up that we can catch you at?
My next gig is going to be in Miami on 4/20 for the Stoner Girl Diary all girls event!