Athleisure Mag #6 Jun 2016

Whether he's on the stage or in the studio - DJ, producer, musical director and sound ambassador DJ Drez is about the journey into sound.

By cutting and composing original tracks his sounds assist the body's movements when dancing or doing yoga asana.

He integrates elements of hiphop, world music, soul, funk, jazz, and reggae into his signature sound. He has worked with a number of top artists, including KRS 1, Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray, as well as brands that include Adidas, X Games, and ABC to name a few. We talked with Drez to find out more about his style, his recent solo work and Alpine Swift.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How is a Yoga DJ different then other DJs that we're familiar with?

DJ DREZ: I actually don’t consider myself a “yoga DJ.” In that I dj all kinds of music in many different kinds of venues which include everything from a hip hop club and world music festivals to yoga studios and yoga festivals.

I do play a huge range of world music that is appropriate for a practice. I think the fact that I practice yoga and have many related spiritual practices adds to my ability to connect the students and teacher in any given environment.

If anything, that's what makes me a very good “yoga DJ.” AM: What music do you focus on for yoga?

DJ DREZ: I play a lot of instrumental world music. I also produce specifically for the practice and again I draw upon my own experiences on the mat. Practicing yoga has helped me tremendously in how I am able to support students and teachers sonically. It is actually a careful play of energy between us all. I never have a set play list and instead let the music flow organically with what is actually happening in the room.

AM: What styles of music do you play/produce?

DJ DREZ: I come from a hip hop, soul, jazz and world background. So this always heavily influences anything I play and produce. You can hear my roots in the music I play. Even if it has elements of Africa or India you can feel the hip