STEVE AOKI

‘Do the work, develop your sound and forget about money’Iconic Grammy-nominated international producer/DJ Steve Aoki is Artist Ambassador for the Midem Talent Exporter 2021 programme. He will feature in an exclusive fireside talk with Matt Medved, co-founder and CEO of nft and founder of Billboard Dance, called The Career Path Of A Multi-Hyphenate Artist: A Conversation With Steve Aoki. After the live session Aoki will meet the 12 selected artists and answer their questions. The session will be available, November 17, on Musician and entrepreneur Steve Aoki midem.com. Gary Smith reports

WITH a career spanning over 25 years, Grammy-nominated international producer/DJ, Steve Aoki has gone from artist to inspiring electronic dance music entrepreneur. Founder of the trendsetting record label, events/lifestyle company and apparel line, Dim Mak, Aoki admits to being excited about his new role: “Midem is such a great organisation and it’s an honour to be part of that. Plus, it’s important to give something back by helping the next generation, and I couldn’t ask for a better way to dive into mentoring. And the music industry always needs new blood.” One thing he’ll be sharing is the need to be open to musical diversity: “Growing as an artist is all about opening up your musical horizons, being open to new ideas and different sounds and approaches. As someone who travels a lot, one of the things I love most about that is the opportunity to hear music from wherever I happen to be. I just love it when I hear something that stops me in my tracks. And you will encounter great music absolutely everywhere,” he says. Aoki was first inspired to pick up an instrument after going to see local punk bands as a teenager. “As a kid I went to see The Unbroken and Mean Season in a local club and that was my lightbulb moment. The combination of their energy and the liberating nature of the punk/DIY ethic sparked something in me that helped me to find my path, as well as a community of like-minded brothers and sisters. It made me believe that I could do this music thing and, to be honest, if I hadn’t gone to that show and seen those bands, I might not have started learning to play.” Aoki has sustained a 25-year career in music and says he has definitely learned a thing or two along the way. Long-term success is a rare phenomenon in the music industry, so how would he advise newcomers on building longevity into their career plans? “If a young, aspiring artist approached me for advice, I‘d say that, above all else, you need two things: patience and self-belief,” he says. “Patience is so important because nothing comes easy, and it’s essential to invest time and energy in developing your craft.” Of course, every artist wants to be successful immediately, but usually it just doesn’t work out that way. “First you have to do the work, develop your own sound, and forget about money, it comes when it comes. If you don’t want to do it for the love of it, if it’s not in your heart, you will struggle,” he says. “And self-belief is crucial in helping you to get through the times when you’re rejected, because it will happen. At that point, your overriding desire to make your music is the thing that gets you through and keeps you going.” n

“If it’s not in your heart, you will struggle”