Steve Aoki: Biohacking to Become The Ultimate Entertainer | TUH #009

I always want to make a show that's unique to me. The Guinness Book of World Records, Most traveled musician on the planet. Having you in my life for the last couple years has really allowed me to go, wow, this is how I can optimize even further the ability to share these experiences that is the core of being the ultimate human. Everyone's like, damn, you're tired. How are you going to do the show? I'm like, don't worry, just watch what happens. Ultimate human.

Hey guys, welcome back to the Ultimate Human podcast. I'm your host, Gary Brecker, human biologist, where we go down the road of everything. Anti aging, longevity, biohacking and everything in between. Today we got a really, really special guest. The entire podcast could really be the intro to this man's life. All the accomplishments he's had, his, his absolute stratospheric rise to stardom and his ability to maintain his level of dominance in a very competitive injury industry for a very long period of time. He's a two time Grammy nominated producer, DJ Electric, electronic dance music entrepreneur and founder of the trend setting record label events lifestyle company and apparel line dimok. Dimok Records has been the launchpad for some seminal acts like the Chain Smokers, Block Party, the Bloody Beetroots and the Gossip the. I mean these are things that when I did some research for this podcast, I was absolutely blown away. He started Dimmach in 1996 in a college dorm room. The rumor is that he named it from to pay homage to his childhood superhero, Bruce Lee. His career has boasted some incredible genre discography that includes seven studio albums, collaborations with Little Uzi Vert, Maluma, bts, Linkin Park, Lewis Tomlinson amongst many, many, many others. Born in Miami, grew up in California, Newport beach, went to UC Santa Barbara. He actually graduated with two degrees, two BA degrees, one in feminist studies and the other in sociology. In college he produced this is hilarious. He produced do it Yourself records and ran underground concerts out of his living room. So this has just been in his blood for a long time. And a little fun fact. His, his father, Rocky Aoki was a former Olympic wrestler and founded the restaurant chain Benihana. So I could not be more proud to bring to the pod. Bring to the Ultimate Human podcast my good friend Steve Aoki. Welcome to the podcast, brother.

Thank you, thank you. It's su.

It's super to be here and this room, I, I wish we could actually show some images of this room, but I mean this is the coolest studio I've ever been in in my Life.

Appreciate that.

I mean, so tell me about this place.

I mean it's, well, it's got a name, so I call it the Neon Future Cave.

Okay.

And it's when I moved to Vegas, you know, it was important that I build out a studio and I was looking for studios outside of my home.

Okay.

But then I found the ultimate home which turned into my compound creative space. And, and then I saw at the basement level, the bunker level of the house.

Yeah.

It's like. Oh, that's the cave.

Yeah.

Cave down here.

Yeah. Yeah.

This entire house is a giant man cave.

Yeah, it really is.

You really feel like you're 13 again running around here. I mean, not only all the biohacking stuff, the hole plunges, the pools, the saunas, the red light therapy, the pmf, the oxygen, I mean he has it all. Which is why I'm a huge fan of yours and been part of this journey with you, which has just been amazing. But I mean he's got the foam pad launches in there, he's got a gym, he's got every arcade game known to mankind. Like if you want to ride the pandemic out, this is the place.

This is the best house for that. This is absolutely the best house. We had activities from like 9am till 12am so the pandemic didn't bother you at all? Because my family also, my, my mom lives around the corner.

Yeah.

So my mom and my sister live around the corner. And, and then my girlfriend at the time, she just ended up moving here from LA because it was just. There's nothing to do in la.

Yeah.

So we just had like breath work for an hour, then yoga, then meditation, then cold plunges, then sauna.

Yeah.

Then like we eat healthy. We, we, we just like did like the healthiest routine as a family. But it'd be like six of us lying on the ground doing breath work and then we'd get into meditation pose and then we just.

It's so awesome.

It was actually a really, really fun time.

Crazy, fun facts about this house. I mean it's the deepest pool in the state of Nevada. Maybe even in the country.

Yeah. Yeah. Because, well, it's like, it's usually like for the 10ft deep, Olympic size pools. Yeah, they, they only go to like 10 to 12ft deep.

Even when they're diving off the high board.

Yeah.

Off the 30, 33ft, 10, 10 meter high board. And here it's like 22ft. 21, 22ft. And so it's a lot less than a 10 meter. But I had the, The. The ability to. To go further. So I was like, let's go. Let's go four more feet further. Cause it was at 12, and they're like, okay, good. We haven't hit this stone that you can't break. Breakthrough.

Yeah.

And which you can find in various parts of Las Vegas. And we're like, let's just make a 16. So I could do, like, you know, my. Like just like, you know, scuba diving. Yeah.

Really? I mean, all your eardrums down there.

Yeah.

And then you turn the water feature into a cold plunge. Right. What was that? It was. It was actually just a water feature.

Yeah. So, like, I. I hate you having useless space. You know, at least that's like. Yeah. It was a great space thing for just something to see. But I'm like, this will be a great, you know, not necessarily Jacuzzi. I don't even use Jacuzzi. But this be a great cold feature. A cold, cold plunge feature, because it holds 20 people at least.

Yeah.

And I have my solo tanks, which are great.

Yeah.

But the, the party. I call it the party plunge.

Yeah.

That is a party plunge.

Yeah.

What's the highest number of people that you've had in the cold plunge out there? Because I've seen some social media.

Yeah, yeah, right? Yeah. I threw Steve O. In there. But like, Thanksgiving, that was a funny one because we had 23 people come over to Thanksgiving. I got all 23 in the cold plunge.

Oh, my God.

And they had no idea. They come. They come to have dinner. They're wearing like, you know, their Thanksgiving nice clothes. Like some, like, you know, like my. My little niece, 12 get down in their underwear. I'm like, guys, after we eat at like 11pm but, you know, it's Thanksgiving, so. Yeah, it's cold in Vegas at night. I'm like, it doesn't matter how cold is because it's much colder in the cold plunge. And I would convince everyone, and we all. We did like two rounds. One was 13 people and the other was 10.

Yeah.

And. And everyone did it, so that's pretty. That's.

That's so cool, man. And I love how into the biohacking you are. When we first met and we started our journey together, you know, this. This guy is super into his blood biomarkers. He's super into, you know, the functionality of different biohacking equipment. We talked about red light therapy for hours, PEMF mats, the oxygen tanks, because he just wanted to know everything. I was really. I. I love your intellectual curiosity.

Yeah.

You're, you have a childlike fascination with biohacking, and I assume that childlike fascination is what's transcended you in the music industry.

I, I, I attribute my success to my curiosity.

Wow.

That's, that's a big part of the, the reason why I feel like that I've risen to any level of success that I've had so far because I'm curious. And then I engage that curiosity.

Yeah.

And, and I arm it and I, and I really dive in there and I'm, and I might not be the expert, but I, I do my best to learn.

You want to know, you want to push the boundaries.

Yeah, yeah. And never go in there with an ego and just always, like, walk in humbly into these new cultures or new communities.

Right.

And learn from, like, you know, all the incredible people that you meet in these different worlds.

Right.

And, and then find what's applicable to your life and, and, and also be of service. You know, like, you walk into these different worlds and you want to be of service the best you can. And the best way I'm of service is through my music. So I've been lucky to be able to, to, you know, talk to different scientists like yourself and different, in different worlds that really help my life and enrich my life.

Yeah.

Whether it's in business, entrepreneurship, obviously music, fashion, art, whatever. That, like, that really pulls on me.

Right.

That really, like, like has that child.

You're kind of like, all in.

Yeah.

I, I think, I think intellectual curiosity is like the greatest attribute that someone can possess, especially in, in medicine. You know, in, in my field, I think the intellectually curious practitioners are really the ones that are trying to act in the best interest of the patient. And it's probably that intellectual curiosity that just lets you show up over and over and over and over again for so many years.

The most exciting parts of what, what interests me because the curiosity is also imaginative.

Yeah.

So it's like, like I'm always interested in what we can't accomplish or what we can't do and how can we get there. Like, I always say, like, my, you know, my foundation, Aoki foundation, sits in the middle between science fiction and science fact.

Yeah.

Because, like, that's, that's where I'm really interested. I'm really interested in the scientists and researchers that are like, this was science fiction, but we are doing what we can to make it science fact. And, and how do we get there? And, and the ones that have already historically done that, those ones, I'm like, yo, can I talk to you. Can we do something? Can I help you? Can I help like, you know, like all the people that, that are interested in what I'm doing.

Right.

Help, you know, you raise money into whatever you're doing in the field of brain research, whatever it might be.

Yeah.

And that's what, you know, for those of you that are not familiar with the Aoki foundation, it's, it's geared towards brain health. And you know, he lost somebody very close to him to brain cancer. And I was at the impetus for investing and trying to back non pharmaceutical backed companies that are sort of leading the science in brain health.

So for me, the big kind of moment that a lot of things changed in my life as far as like this is even previous to me starting the foundation, uh, me just understanding health and nutrition was really just under, like understanding what death was like.

Yeah.

My first, the, the first death in my life that really traumatically hit me was my father passing away 15 years ago.

Right.

So when I saw him die and I was this 15 years ago, I was, I was 30 and up until that time, you know, I was, I was very punk rock lifestyle. So like live fast, die young, go hard and party and, and just live in the moment. But like you're not thinking about the next day.

Right.

You know?

Yes.

You're, you're taking whatever the moment has to offer.

Right, right.

And, and, and I didn't think about nutrition even though I was like vegan or vegetarian for 15 years. It was not for nutrition or health reasons. It was more for ethical reasons. But.

Right.

Regardless of the fact that that death rocked my inner core and made me question a lot of things about life and what's important life. And then I started thinking about the people I love that are alive. Like, what can I learn from this death that I can actually help? You know, my mom, who's, you know, she's, she's 80 now, but you know, at the time she was, you know, six, I guess, 65. Right. So, but like I was just thinking about life and how do I live my life in a different way? How can I change my course? And then that led me down, you know, like, you know, eventually it led me down like my, my serious interest in health, nutrition, biohacking.

Yeah.

You know, and, and then, and then later on into, you know, Aoki foundation and what I can do with brain research, brain science and, and my fascination with the brain.

Yeah.

And, and the, and the foundation is, I know it's brain research, brain science, but you're specifically trying to find those people that are like you said, between. Somewhere between fact and fiction, somewhere between science and science fiction. They're trying to make science fiction fact. I love that description. So what are some of the innovative things that the foundation is, is funding right now? Like what, what if they're listening to this would be exciting to know about the foundation and their research on brain health. I love the term, you know, mental fitness. I hear mental illness.

Yeah, I love that. One of the main studies that we're focusing on is, is a study on heat therapy on patients that, that have severe depression.

Wow.

And, and we, we actually funded this woman Dr. Mason out of San Francisco who I met through Rhonda Patrick who's you know, obviously she's, she's studied a lot on, on, on heat exposure, on cold exposure. Met and I met her through Joe Rogan who you know is also as we, we both know, all very curious about this whole super curious this whole realm. And you know, so eventually I, I found this, I met this doctor and she was telling me she's doing this research and I told her I'd fund it for her.

Right.

And, and the, the studies showed so far from, from what she's able to accomplish with her. I don't know how many patients she's had is that it's. And I like, I definitely like, I know I, I don't want to, I don't want to say wrong information but from what I understand 100 of the non control study that, that were. She was able to raise the heat in their body. Right. Not their brain, but the body to raise it to, to this fever like temperatures like 103 degrees.

Wow.

So it's a very dangerous temperature.

Right.

But she, you know, it's like a head out sauna.

Okay.

So she's not, yeah. She's not healing the brain but she's heating the body.

Right.

That it, it had like a hundred percent of the, the patients had had the results she's looking for.

You mean remiss of symptoms from depression?

Yeah. Just for like this, for like very long period of time.

Yeah.

With no drugs, no like prescription drugs. So I don't want to give away, give out the wrong information, but whatever we're doing is actually showing incredible research that, that this heat, this like you know, having heat exposure to the body actually does something with the brain that, that, that helps with depression in a, in a really big way. So I'm really happy that we're able to fund her and, and see some of the results there.

I would Love to dig into that. See, now I'm intellectually curious and now I want to see the research because I want to know exactly what that pathway might be. You know, there, there, there's hordes of evidence now that is coming out on depression that is disproving the old serotonin hypothesis, right. That low ser causes depression and high serotonin is the absence of depression. It's not that simple of a seesaw. And it's, it's amazing to me when we start tapping back into the body's resources to heal itself.

Right.

Things like platelet rich plasma, you know, taking your own platelets and spinning them down and putting them into the site of injury and having, you know, healing.

Right.

And I'm a huge fan of research that uses the body as the chemical factory to try to find a fix to a solution.

Right.

So I've kind of always believed that disease and pathology doesn't really exist the way that we think it does today, that it really is nutrient deficiencies or deficiencies in the human body. So that's really fascinating. So you, you started this foundation into what, 2012?

Yeah, so 2012, we started. It's a while ago, man. I know, I know it's crazy because I, I don't realize sometimes you don't think about how long something's been started from, you know, when you're just going along the road. But yeah, it started out because I, in the beginning I just wanted to, to engage my fans at my shows. Really it was, I had this whole mission, the party with a purpose. So when you come by a ticket at my show, I donate $1 from every ticket to a crowdsourcing fund that would go towards, you know, different areas of need.

Right.

And then it later on became, well, the main, the main area of focus for me is the human brain because I really believe that, you know, there's so much that's undiscovered there. There's so many things that if we learn and understand. Yeah. If we're really, if we're really funding the right researchers and scientists that can dive into the brain more, we could do more of what I'm saying, take some of these science fact, science fiction ideas and, and, and have them become science facts so that we can apply in our life.

Yeah.

Like, you know, like, you know, I think the main thing is, you know, how do we extend our life as far as possible and not just our.

And not just our lifespan, but our health span? I mean, and that's why, you know, I, like I said, I Love this term mental fitness.

Right.

I mean, we think about becoming fit physically, but we don't think about becoming fit mentally. You know, what are the things that are not just able to heal and repair the brain, but what are things that actually can feed the brain and make it really, really healthy? And I know that you, you do a lot to take care of your own brain. I know that you're into meditation. You know, you, you. A little fun fact. I mean, Steve won a Guinness Book of World Records for, for the most traveled musician in a year. Is that right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

300 shows in, in one year.

I mean, it's. So here's the craziest award. Yeah.

To win ever. That is so random.

This is like, this is like the, the kind of funny part about it. So I won that award as the most traveled musician in one calendar year based on one website, bandsintown, that documented 168 shows at this many miles traveled.

Right, right.

But I really did 300 that year. But, but bands in town didn't document the other ones because for whatever reason, they didn't put it in the site. And Guinness Book World Records is like, we can only adjudicate from this website. No, I beat that number. But in order to get the record, I had to just go with.

Right.

What was on the site.

Wouldn't it be funny if you like, resubmitted the same information and broke your own world record?

Yeah, yeah. I mean, I should have done that. But like, yes, you have it. You're like, okay, I'm good.

Yeah.

And there's not a lot of people going, I'm going to, I'm going break that milestone. It's not like the four minute mile or something, you know what I mean? But, but so on the, you know, foundation of that kind of travel, you know, it really begs the question, you know, what are you doing for your, for your mind? I mean, I know a lot of what you're doing. We've worked together and I, you know, I'll say without disclosing any health information, your blood work is perfect. We just went over it for this.

Podcast and I mean, I appreciate you so much.

And he's always so curious about him. Like, dude, what are you expecting. Expected to see in here? It's, it gets, it goes from better to best to better to best. I mean, and, and we actually just talked about it.

We're.

We're getting ready to slide him onto a younger scale because some of the markers for liver, lungs, pancreas, kidneys, some of these Immune markers are so good that you're. You're literally beginning to age in reverse.

I appreciate that. Yeah. And, like, this is the kind of information that. That gets me excited.

Yeah.

It's. It's like, it's really. I really gamify everything.

Yeah.

And when I gamify it. Yeah. So, like, my whole, like, my. I have challenges with, like, whether it's like, shows or music or whatever I'm doing. I need a challenge.

Yeah.

I need, like a deadline to goal and. And I need to gamify it because you zero in.

You're like, what is that? How can I move that number?

Yeah, exactly. And it's like, okay, this is what I had before. This is what I could do to make that number.

Yeah.

So, I mean, I'm a gamer at heart. You know, I've been gaming since I was a little kid. And you always want to level up your character, but leveling up your character, like your fate character in game, but leveling up, like you.

Yeah.

I mean, that's the best character you can level up.

Yeah.

And we're literally, because of your help and the data. And I'm a big data guy.

Right, Right.

Just like in gaming, it's like your XP and your. And your hp, it's like, this is my way of leveling up me. But I need you and a scientist to come in and show me the data so I know what my real HP is.

Yeah.

You know.

Yeah.

Well, my real XP is what my real power is.

You know, I love working with clients like you because you're, you're coachable, you listen, you're, you're curious, and, and every time we, you know, we get together, it's like, you're like, I can't wait to see the data. I can't wait to see the day. Like, you were itching to see the data. Like, I actually tried to walk away from the table. He's like, hey, by the way, can we go over my shit? So it's awesome. And I think if more people would actually be into the data in their own bodies, you know, even gamify it.

Yeah.

It makes it so much easier to play this health game.

Yeah.

Because you have, you have some things that you're striving for. Not just, I'm going to try to eat clean and, you know, drink more water, but, like, I'm going to try to get this number down into the optimal range, and I'm going to try to get this up into the optimal range.

That's like. So I like some of this stuff, I talk to other people. I'm like, you just gotta make it fun.

Yeah.

You know, some they don't realize that, like, it's. Oh, but it's. It's like, you think, oh, it's too boring. I. I don't know. Like, I already just eat healthy. I'm good.

Right.

Like, but if, you know, like, the. The details and you could fine tune them, you. You can, you can have a better performance at your show. You can. You can have more quality life. Because I think of quality life as more energy. I want to have more energy through the day.

Oh, amen.

I want to have more creativity while I'm in that space. Space.

Yeah.

And actually, that space is not just being in the studio.

Right.

A creativity happens all day, and it's about being able to capture that. And, and those moments of capturing that have led to hits, have led to, like, big successes in my life. And if I wasn't able to capture it because I was so bogged down or I was so, you know, just like, like in a zombie state because I. Lacking energy and I don't have the resources and all I could. If, if only I could have done XYZ from a specialist like you that can help guide me going, well, this is what you do if you're lacking this or deficient here.

Right.

Like, you know, so, like, having you in my life for the last couple of years has really allowed me to go, wow, this is how I can optimize even further.

Thank you.

Because it's more. Life is more exciting that way.

Yeah, yeah, it really is. So I want to talk about some of the, you know, that. The habits that. So you were, you know, rock star balls out, you know, live life to the fullest, burn the candle at both ends. You have a catastrophic tropic event in your life, Rattles your cage. You take a step back and you're like, this is not the direction I want to go. And from that time, like, what are. What are some of your travel hacks? What are some of the things that you're doing on the road to maintain that level of insanity? I actually was watching your Instagram this week, and you did three shows in one day.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm in five cities in seven days, and I think I'm a baller in one day. So I was about to post about my difficult travel schedule, and I saw your. And I was like, man, this guy is like blowing the doors off me.

Yeah. So, I mean, a big thing is just like, resets. It's like mini resets. Having these like, moments to just to find your balance again.

Yeah.

Because you can't just be in red the whole time. And, and you. And you definitely can't do it artificially.

Right.

So if you're doing it off, like certain other things, stimulants, alcohol. Yeah, whatever, it might be like, eventually, like your body just can't sustain that.

Right.

So I just, like, there's certain things. It's like first of all, it's mindset. Right. So I really think of myself as an athlete.

Wow.

So I'm always in competition. So when you're always in competition, if you're actually an athlete in competition, you are. You have to focus on what you need to be efficient in so that you, you know, like, everything has to be for this.

You like, embrace it. You're like, yeah, do this.

Exactly.

So like third show, bring it on. Give me a four show.

I always say that.

Yeah.

You know, I did five shows in, in 40 hours and I was like, we could definitely do six.

You know, your team is like, no, Steve, no, no.

But my team's also on the same kind of regiment. Like, like, you know, like, they, they drink, they have fun, whatever. You know, I don't, I don't like limit their level of fun, of what they think is fun.

Right.

But you know, as long as they're within a certain, as long as they're performing. Yeah, yeah. Boundary of like, responsibility. But for the most part, like, we all like. No, they know at the level of the pace that we move.

Right.

And I mean, to be honest with you, they're interchange. They interchange so that they can like, I go full scale.

Right.

200, 250 shows a year. And then I have teams that change in and out so they have time to rest. I just keep going.

You're just balls out.

And, and, and there's a couple things, obviously, like, you know, I need my time to reset my meditation. Meditation is really important. And, and there's, there's different devices to actually see if you're meditating. Like, I have a device that I wear on my head and it actually.

Checks for theta waves.

Yeah, it checks if like, it gives you. It gamifies things. Once again.

Yeah.

On like, okay, you're. You' data waves really went down here. So you have like high level efficiency on meditation. So I can just know I can like, learn how to meditate better so I can get my brain to this very, very, very low state that I needed to go. And obviously the sleep is the hardest Part. But, yeah, I, you know, I got my whoop data, so I'm always looking at my REM and deep. And although it's minimal.

Right.

You know, if I was to show you it was pretty scary how low it is, it. It's. It somehow allows me to be able to deal with the jet lag and the traveling and. And all that. And then the most important thing is the music. Like, the. Like. Like this, like, playing a show is my true love. The stage is where I'm destined to be. Literally. It's like.

Yeah, because you put on a show.

Like I meant to be.

You don't play and step back and wave your hands in the air. You're up on the table, you're caking people, which we're gonna get to in a second, too. I gotta know, like, what the impetus was behind that. But, you know, you're caking people, you're jumping around. I mean, you're singing into the mic. Like, you're so present for these shows. It's. It's fascinating to me to watch an athlete that can dominate a sport for 10 years, 12 years. It's fascinating to me to see somebody that actually can stay at a level, you know, the upper 1% and cruise at that level and maintain and not burn out for so many decades. And so you're driving to some of the points, you're curious, you gamify everything. But I often talk about the. The frequency and the energy that we get from other people.

Absolutely.

You get absolutely. From these crowds.

It's, It's. It's like. I actually want to see more of a study. Yeah, I heard there's.

There is too.

I think there is a study of something to do with. Because, like, one of my shows, and you definitely want to put this in the video, but there's. There's a. There's a video of me clapping.

Yeah.

In Chile.

Yeah.

Clapping. And then there's, like, I don't know how many, like 100,000 people clapping at the same time. So, like, this moment of complete, like, being in sync with this many people doing the same action, the same motion, and the same energy that's being produced there. There's something cosmic happening, and I'd love to see more research behind that because I don't want to get too metaphysical, because I'm very scientific with a lot of this stuff, but there's something quantum happening.

Well, there's a.

Certainly.

Yeah, there's something quantum, for sure. Like, I. I mean, I've never. I've never been in Front of the kinds of crowds you have. But sometimes when I'm on big stages and I feel super connected to the crowd and. And. And there's like an interaction you get, like, you get high from.

Oh, the highs.

You're just like. And the high is like a level of, like, mental clarity and alertness and happiness. And you're like, I don't want to be anywhere but right here in this one moment.

Like. Like, for example, I could be like, you know, when I do these three shows in a day or, you know, like these, you know, all these different cities in the jet lag.

No.

Yes, I do. I'm human. I get tired.

Right.

I get tired right before the show and. But I know I never, like, before, you know, I'm like. I learned, like, different things before. I would grab the Red Bull and take a sip, and I would take, like, one sip, you know, because I really try to take the minimum dosage I need from, like, anything, like, artificial.

Right.

I don't touch anything anymore, really. I literally just like, I'm okay. Everyone's like, damn, you're tired. How are you going to do the show? I'm like, don't worry. Just watch what happens. I'm like, my Watch what happens. Literally wakes up on its own. On its own. It's a complete natural. It's like, it's. It's. I'm so alert, so connected in that moment. And yes, like, after the show, I do, like. Yeah. I do ride this adrenaline. And then when adrenaline drops, my body just immediately, like, get me to a bed before I crash out, like, wherever I'm at. Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm the same because I will sleep anywhere, you know, like.

Yeah.

So it's. It's incredible. Like you said, there. There is like this natural high that's so much higher than any drug. Any artificial external upper.

Yeah.

That they. That it can't come close because it's mixed with. With, you know, serotonin, endorphins, like the, like all, like the happy feelings going on your brain and this.

Yeah.

And the connecting.

Yeah.

Which I realized, this is what I love to do is I love to connect with strangers.

Yeah.

With my music.

Amazing.

You know, and I talked about that during COVID It's like during COVID we connected with family with familiar faces.

Right, Right.

And we're. But really, as a species, we want to connect with people we don't know.

Right.

And that's why gatherings are. You can't take them away.

Right.

You can't take away a gathering. You can't take away a sporting event. You can't take away a festival music events. Because we want to be around people we don't know experiencing a high.

Yeah.

And it's like, it. I. I get to conduct that. And I remember I was talking about on stage.

Yeah.

To a crowd. I'm like, I care so deeply to connect with. With this, with all of you. I don't know. And to, like, turn that into something that I know.

Yeah.

To make it, like a real connection. And when that. When that really does happen, just like you said.

Yeah.

When you're at the stage and you finally connect, the high gets higher.

It's insane.

Elevates you.

You're almost disappointed when the show ends. Like, Like, Yeah. You're like stages. And I see my, you know, clock go down. And again, it's a fraction of what you're experiencing. But, you know, my clock goes down and I'm like, God, I really didn't do it. I could go like another two hours. Like, I'm just. I have so much to share, and you guys are receiving it so well. And. And it just is that.

It's.

That it's that high. And maybe that's a piece of what keeps you creative because you're not just doing the same show over and over and over. Like, you're creating new music and you're creating a new experience, and no two crowds are probably the same.

No. Right.

Yeah.

So you get different energy from.

Right.

From. From each one. But when it's really on, it's got to be the best thing in the world. Like, there's nothing that replaces.

There's nothing that comes close to that high.

Yeah.

It's just. I mean, I don't. I've never done, like, you know, cocaine. I've never done mdma. I've never done, like, the, you know, certain popular drugs that. That are the uppers that. That get you really high.

Right.

I've done, like, you know, lots of coffee and stuff like that, you know, but. And I've drank myself silly to, you know, like, that's. That's a high as well.

Smoked weed.

Smoke weed a little bit. But that's. That. That actually is not a high for me.

Right.

That's like. That's like a internal suck in. It's not really. Yeah. It's just like I sucked into myself. I'm like, you know, like, it's like, what happens to your dick when you go to the cold place? Like. Like, I'm just like a turtle into a little ball. Like, what Do I do. So I was like, this isn't really for me, but, But I mean, this, it's. I'm sure for other people, but for me it was. Didn't give me the high that. But regardless of what the. Like, it just. I can't imagine there'd be a greater high, you know?

Yeah, no, I can't.

I can't either.

And that's why, you know, sometimes I, I want people to experience things like cold plunging and, and, and, you know, red light inference on us and breath work because it's a different kind of stimulus and high for your body. And when you learn for that to be your drug of choice, then ever, all the benefits are positive.

Yeah.

Right.

And. But that's definitely my addiction.

Yeah.

I mean, it's the crowd. It's. Yeah, yeah. And I, like, I said, I'm like, I've, I've. I'm meant to be a performer. I'm meant to be on the stage.

Yeah.

And I feel so naturally myself when I'm, When I'm, When I'm able to communicate at that level.

You know, there's, there's actually a law in physics, it's called constructive interference. And you might know this as a musician, but it says that if two frequencies of equal wavelength meet, the size of the frequency doubles, the size of the wave doubles. So two waves of equal wavelength meet, then the size of the wave doubles. Which for the people that believe in the universal law of attraction, this is some physical proof that it exists. Right. It means you can get energy from conversation, you can get energy from, from other people. Like, I'm getting energy from this conversation. Like, I'm amped right now. I'm like, I'm really like, seriously, I'm enjoying this, this interview. It doesn't feel like work to me. And, and when you're performing, I bet the frequency coming from that crowd.

Yeah. It's like, has. Yeah, it really is. And yeah, obviously, just like anything, a great conversation to a great reception, receptive crowd.

Yeah.

It's like it just keeps bouncing back and forth and it just keeps growing.

Yeah.

You know, I mean, like, there's like, it's difficult to play my music to a dead crowd.

Oh, driving crazy.

But like.

Well, there's destructive interference too, which is opposite wavelengths.

I mean, like when I first started DJing, you know, it, it was a different story. You know, like, I'm trying to play everywhere.

You showed me a picture out in the hallway of you playing to five people.

Yeah, yeah.

So like, there's been, I Think you made five bucks that.

Yeah.

So, I mean, in those cases, it's like I'm hoping those five people, I'm like, like, at least pay attention. At least like, give me your attention, you know, like, because I. Because I could see. I could see like right into your pupils. Like, I could see everything. Like, I won't let you, I won't let you, like, talk to someone.

Thank you, all of you, for coming to the show.

I'm like, I know all of your first names. Yeah.

Though to go from doing this in your college dorm room to five people, literally, as you said, sleeping on a beer soaked floor to where you are now. I mean, to you, do you look back and, and, and just think, there's so many times that I almost gave this up? Or did you always know in your heart this is my purpose?

Okay. So when I was playing in my college apartment, it really was my apartment.

I wish we could cut to this picture out there because first of all.

You look like you're 12.

And I.

Think you're actually singing into a microphone.

Yeah, Yeah. I used to sing in a band too. Yeah. Yeah. So. Because my first, my first evolution of music was, was, was rock, was like, you know, punk.

Yeah.

Playing guitar, playing bass, singing. I played all the different instruments.

Awesome.

And, and you know, we, we always played in front of like literally five to 40 people. 40 is a lot.

Wow.

Yeah, that was. 40 is like, oh my God, this is crazy. You know, so. And we toured all over. I toured the United States by the time I was 21, like 14 times.

Wow.

Playing to five to 40 people.

How could you.

Making gas? I mean, we, we would either like, we, we would either just put all the money in the gas or we. And we always stayed, we never stayed in hotels. So the 14 tours, I never stayed in a hotel. We'd always stay at a fan's house. That would allow us to stay there or in the van or a friend's house.

No.

So at the end of the show, I'll be like, hey, if there's a house we can crash, you know, that'll be great. So one of the five, like, might feel guilty enough.

You said that to a crowd now. Hey guys, thank you for, for coming tonight. By the way, if anybody has a couch, I can sleep on about 31, 000 offers.

Yeah.

So I mean, obviously on those tours, when you're, when you're doing it, you're not. We're not doing it for the money, right? Yeah, we're doing. Because we love playing music I love making music, writing music, recording these records and hoping that, like, maybe wine knows a lyric or two.

Right.

Like, listen to my. Because actually back then.

Oh, you were playing your own. You weren't playing cover bands.

No, no, no. We played only our own music.

Wow.

And we only released it on vinyl. Oh, my God. Yeah. So the, like, it was only like, limited to like 500 copies that you'd have to actually buy the vinyl and drop the needle and read the lyric sheet to even know the music because it wasn't available digitally or on CD or on. On cassette.

Wow.

So it was like you really had to discover this kind of stuff. And so of course, you're only playing to, you know, a dozen people at a time and they're $3 a ticket. Yes, exactly. So, like, I. I like the boot camp of that life of touring.

Yeah.

It really set me up to become the Guinness Book of World Records, most traveled musician on the planet.

Right.

Because I was already touring with my band, you know, like, driving to city to city, playing in front of whoever would show up and loving every minute of it.

Wow.

And showering once a month or. And. But like, we were like, pouring our hearts and sweating our faces off and, you know, at these living rooms and basements that we could find to play.

Yeah.

And so when later on, you know, to my. My next evolution of in music was becoming a dj.

Yeah.

Then, you know, I was like, wow, I get to actually stay in some shitty motel this time.

Yeah, yeah.

And like, you know, you, like, instead of getting paid, you got the shitty motel and you got. You got a drink tab, you know, I'm like, sweet.

Oh, yes.

You know, that's a score. Yeah. Like you. And maybe like, you know, some money, you know, maybe a meal. But like, so it starts off there, but, like, that's a major upgrade, you know?

Yeah.

So, like, everything. Because I was lucky, I think that this boot camp lifestyle, like, understanding what it's like to love what you do at the core principle, because that really tests you there. That's. That's like, stayed with me through, you know, like, all the touring that I do now because everything is. It's so much nicer. Even though I hit the road so hard, I. My, my, like, I'm just. I'm a soldier in this kind of way, you know?

Right.

So if, like, there's an artist that blows up off a song, which is. Most DJs blow up. It's like you have to make the music and then you dj and their first. Their first understanding of what tour life is, is the DJ life. You. You already are eating caviar at the top from the get go.

Right.

You know.

Right.

So for the people that are in bands, especially punk bands.

Yeah.

I literally like, like give all my respect to. Because they really are they truly doing it for the love.

Yeah.

And they are. They're living a hardened life. You know, they're like punk rockers, like, you know, doing whatever they do just to have fun and.

Right.

And.

And they're going from small crowd to small crowd and.

And yeah.

And just happen and then be famous but then come home and having to work as at a bar. At a bar, being a bartender or you know, doing whatever job they can find.

Yeah.

In their home. And then three months later they go back out on the road, come back still broke.

Yeah.

Because that's like 90% of. Of musicians are like.

Yeah, yeah.

I mean the tour just play pays for the tour.

Right.

And doesn't actually feed the lifestyle.

Yeah.

So when you're on the road and you're, you know, you're going show to show to show and you're traveling the way that you are and you're, you know, winning Guinness Book of world record for the most travel musician, which I still think is just mind numbing. What are some of the hacks that you do? You said that you meditate, but I mean, when and where and how do you find time for it? Are you doing it in your hotel room?

Yeah, so I. I do it everywhere. I actually do it a lot on. On transportation, so cars, plane. I like, the plane is like my. That's like where I just sit back.

Close your eyes.

Exactly.

You start to. And how do you get yourself into that meditative state? I mean, if you're somebody that's never meditated, I mean, what does that look like?

Yeah, I mean, for me, it's like, it's just finding. I find a center. I have like when I meditate, you know, people. Different ways to meditate. I got to meditate through transcendental meditation. I was like the first real lessons of meditation I took.

Right.

In 2015, I had a vocal cord surgery.

Okay.

So I couldn't talk for a month.

Whoa.

Yeah. So that like. So before I got the surgery, I actually got a coach, like a life coach, because I thought I would go crazy.

Right.

Because you can't express yourself and you're get stuck in your head and you're like. You feel stuck in, like caged.

I didn't know that.

Yeah.

So I was like, I need to Talk to someone to, like, help me through it. And one of the things they suggested was fill up your time with things that can help you. And so what I did was, like, the. I just started creating a schedule of things I wanted to learn and to better myself. So I. I was like. I did meditation. Like, I got a meditation teacher. And I know it's uncommon, but I just got one. They came in two hours a day for. For, like, two weeks. And then we just spoke to you. Yeah, yeah. No, just meditate with them, and we'd meditate, and we just get into the rhythm. Just like anything, you know, you find.

The center, and you just. You just focus your mind on it and.

Yeah. So what I've done now before, like, with tms, you have a word that's given to you, and you, like, repeat that word. So there's that form of meditation that the TM uses. Another form is follow your breath. Work or breathing. Right. For me, I follow. I have, like, this image in my head. It's literally a point with a triangle balancing at the top of the point and a triangle that's holding the point. Wow. So it's like. It's like two mountain peaks with, like, this. This really. I think about this. Like, this. This circular orb that is so powerful, it can hold two mountains balanced between two mountains. So I just think about this. This in my. When I close my eyes and I see the pattern and I just focus on the. The circle.

Like, focus on that orb.

Yeah.

With your eyes closed.

Yeah. And then. And then I. You know, as being a data person, I want to just make sure, like, I'm not. Just not. I'm just thinking about this. You know, I want to see. Like, hopefully I'm doing something. So then, you know, I wear the device and make sure that I'm actually, you know, getting to this lower state.

Are you getting that information in real time or you get it afterwards and you say, okay, I was focused and I got into theta.

Yeah.

For that.

There's two devices, like, I've used. There's one from Japan called V. Okay. And the other one. I forgot the name of the other one, actually. Let me. Let me find out.

And so these are. These are measuring your theta wave.

Yeah, exactly. What. What it is measuring. But it's.

But when it's. Is it accurate enough that when you. When you look at it and it says you've had a good meditation, you also feel like you've had a good meditation? Because that's. Sometimes the things with the aura watches and that or the orings. And the, and the whoops is like, you can go, man, I feel pretty good this morning. Then you look at your aura and you're like, oh, actually, I don't. I really had a shitty night's sleep, you know?

Yeah, I know. I, I get so see that. That's, that's like, one thing I have to be careful with because I get so obsessed with the data.

Yeah.

That it's like, Steve, you had a really shitty night sleep.

You're really, you are really tired.

Yeah, no, that was gonna suck.

Definitely affects me. And, and, and it kind of. It, like, really scared me a bit. So I, that's why I, like, I used to wear the aura ring, and that showed very conservative REM sleep. It scared the living like hell out of me. Like, just. It scared me a lot because I was getting like 10 minutes of REM, like 30 minutes of REM, right. And I'd sleep for seven hours.

Yeah.

And then the, and your brain foundation's like, stephen, that's really bad.

Well, I, I, I share the data with Matthew Walker, and he was like, you, if, if you were like a close family member, I would tell you, you really desperately need to fix this, or else you're going to have severe brain issues in the future. And, and then I, I wear the whoop at the same time, and the whoop gives me different data. And I have an Apple watch that gives me very similar data to the whoop, which I'm assuming is because it's on the wrist.

Yeah.

Versus the finger.

Right.

And the whoop gives me more. Remember, I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna take this off. And I still. Even if it's like the more honest.

One, like, into therapy level here, we need to dive into this dude. So now he's device serving. He's like, you know what? I'm not actually gonna change my sleep. I'm gonna change my device to tell you which one.

Yeah. I'm not saying the aura doesn't work. I'm just saying, like, the whoop shows I get better rem. So I'm like, this at least allows me to, like, live my life, even though data is important. Right. So.

No, it is. I mean, if you can't measure it, you can't change it.

Right.

You can't fix it. So, you know, by being at least, you know, where you stand. But I think a lot of that's probably made up by meditation because, you know, theta wave REM sleep. Is that that part of this sleep where the Brain is repairing and detoxifying, eliminating waste, dividing, and. And it's doing all of those things to, to heal itself. And there's evidence that that happens in meditation, too. So it's probably a good way for you to offset, you know, the lack of.

Yeah, the lack of sleep, I think all those little mini mini breaks that I. I use at time to completely drop. And another thing I learned is there's this app called True Diagnostic which checks your. Your biological age, and it shows that my biological age is 33, and I'm on the top percentile in my age group.

I was actually, without knowing that data, telling you that tonight too, that you were moving into the 30s, remember?

Yeah. Yeah, you did.

And you. And you told me about the true, true Diagnostics. So it shows you that, you know, what do you say to those people that say, I just don't want to know. I don't want to know what's going on in my blood work. I don't want to know what's going on in my genes or if my bacteria is off in my. In my gut.

It's like, it's like, if you don't understand a baseline of where you're at, then you can't improve.

Right.

So it's like, if, if you don't want to improve, then that's okay. You know, everyone's different. Like, so I actually know a few people close to me that don't want any of that information because it gives them too much anxiety. I'm like, it's okay, but you won't understand what your baseline is. So you can improve.

Right.

To be a more optimal human, to be the ultimate human.

That one's going viral. Cut that one up, Max.

I mean, like, I. I care. It's like truly care about being the ultimate human. Like, I really gamify it so I can have fun with it.

Yeah.

And I could be a better person. And I can, you know, like, just give better shows. Give better. Like, have my quality of life engaged more.

Yeah.

And I want to live. And the most important thing is I just love life.

Yeah.

That's the end of it. Like, I love to.

Yes, I do, too. I always say, man, I keep telling my stuff on ground, but I always say, like, I wake up in the morning and I'm like, yeah, another day. Like, I. I don't like sleeping. Not because I actually don't like to sleep. I enjoy sleeping, but I don't like to not be awake.

Yeah.

Yeah. The same way.

Yeah.

Before literally that way.

And other people they're like, they don't get that.

No, no. I, I, I used to be like that. I used to hate sleep because I needed to, I wanted to be awake to, to do more.

To experience.

Yeah, to experience as much as possible.

Yeah.

Like, I thought that was the most important. Then I started realizing I like fogginess of certain memory. I'm like, that's because I'm not sleeping.

Yeah.

So memories are part of your experiences. So, yeah. Like, you know, I started changing like the, you know, putting the sleep as a major tenant of what's important to my, you know, what's important to me.

Right.

But I think the basis of all this, the basis of this data and this gamification, all this stuff that I do and touring so much, whatever it is, is that I just love life.

Yeah.

I really, truly love life. And I love spending it with strangers as well as spending with people that are very close to me.

Right.

And, and that's that, that's that, that balance is, is something I'm working on because I've, I like, follow this addiction to be on the road. And I come home and I see my mom and I just give her a big hug and I'm like, I.

Just never want to let her go to your mom. I see that, man.

And. Yeah, and it's heartwarming. And it's, but it's like, not enough time.

Right.

You know, like, you know, and then you're like that when you're in those moments, you're like, I need to balance that more. So that's one thing I'm, you know, maybe I have to gamify that.

Start measuring the amount of time you spend with your mom. Get it, get it. Get a chart.

Yeah.

So, you know, on this massive, you know, journey, this, this, this career, you know, they, sometimes they say being like the lead rhino in the herd is difficult because there's no one to follow. So who are you following or who is inspiring you and what is keeping you inspired to just continue to create and, and to make music and actually try to deliver a better experience for.

Your audience, I think it's okay. So there's different people inspire me and different worlds because I'm involved in a lot that, that really pull my curiosity and then allow me to create in those spaces.

Yeah.

And in music, it's, you know, it's, it's, you know, there's, I mean, there's, there's tons of DJs and artists out there, and the great thing about EDM and the, the music culture that I'm part of is that there's not like, beefs really. Everyone gets along generally because, you know.

Like, no, I, I, I work with a lot of DJs. You guys all speak highly of each other. It's really kind of an interesting, it's.

The most harmonious music community I've ever experienced out of all the communities.

That's what I would say.

Yeah, Yeah, I agree. Everyone, like, like, because a DJ's, you know, nature is to play other music. So if, like, if you're, you're, you're like, competition is, makes a banging record.

Yeah.

That would like, essentially like, well, it's your competition. You can't support that.

Right.

You play that.

Right.

It helps you.

Yeah.

So like when you support your, your contemporaries, you support your colleagues or your competition, you know that, that could be your competition.

Yeah.

Like it, it like benefits your show and, and then they get excited and then like, you know, your ideas, like, you know, can I make a record that other DJs will play?

That's so funny that you say that because I, I just had Cedric Gervais on the podcast and he said almost those exact words. He said, I've made my greatest music when I was just trying to make music for my friends. Just wanted to make music that my friends would want to play. Yeah, like that other DJs would want to play. And, and you know, his, his Grammy Award winning song, he said he just was making that in hopes that his friends would just play his music.

Yeah, it's true. The songs that everyone plays, that then that eventually becomes part of culture.

Right.

You know, those are the songs that, that live the test of time. They become your legacy. And then for me there's also this, this, the pursuit to tell story that is, that creates almost like a shell to not be played by other DJs, which is a problem because I care so much about storytelling.

Oh.

So, like, you know, I have a whole series called Neon Future. I did four albums of Neon Future and, and I did a comic book series with Tom Bilyeu around Neon Future. And I did an NFT project. Like I was just building this whole world. And each album had scientists and, and people in science on each album to really bridge the two worlds together of science and music.

Wow.

Yeah. I had Ray Kurzweil on a song. I had J.J. abrams on a song. Bill Nye. I had Brian Johnson before Blueprint when he was just doing. So what's that?

What did they do on the song?

I just record them. Like, really? Yeah, really. So we could do a song. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, that's easy. We could do a song. I. Because like, you know, with.

Dude, I'd love to do a song. That would be so cool.

With Brian. We. I. I was at Colonel just, he was showing me all the brain technology he's working on, which is really exciting. He's. You, like, can test the age of, of your brain.

Wow.

With his, with his non invasive headgear. So. Which I'm excited to check out because the one I looked at was like five years ago.

Wow.

So he's advanced far further on that. And back then he was still doing the leading research on brain technology.

Wow.

And I'm big in the brain. So I met him and I, I just recorded him. I was like, talk about a neon future. What does the future look like for you? And then, you know, he, he went into what that was. I asked Bill Nye the same thing.

And you just played those vocals.

I just, I just use the vocals and then I would write music under it. So, like, they didn't have to write any music. Like. Right. You just have to talk about your version of the future. But Neon Future has. Since, you know, I've tabled it because I've created a whole new IP called HeroQuest, which, you know, this is here.

Which is the tour you're on now.

Yeah, exactly. So I have like two albums. Second album dropping November 17th. But. But, you know, doesn't mean that it doesn't like, eliminate the fact that we're going to do a song. We're going to do a song.

All right, awesome.

Yeah. Yeah, we'll do something. Yeah, for sure.

That's so cool.

Yeah.

Do a song and if it becomes a smash, it, you know, maybe I'll start.

Yeah. This will be your first. I don't know if this will be your first Spotify song.

Yeah, it'll definitely be my Spotify, so.

Right. For sure. Let's do it.

Dude, that's so cool. So, you know, so you, you're, you're, you know, you're out on the road, you meditate, you know, you've, you're, you're gamifying your health. And like, how much has that impacted your ability to keep up that pace?

It just, I mean, there's a lot. So there's meditation, there's. There's diet. Diet is a big one too, you know, like, and it's really tough to be on the road to have like the diet that I want because I am an impulse eater.

Yeah.

Like, I just eat what's in front of me.

Yeah.

So the ways I can control that is by just making sure my writer is a clean writer. So when I go into the dressing room, I have like my vegetable tray, I have my water or, you know, whatever like the basics are. And of course, like, there's the party stuff.

Right.

You know, the drinks and everything else.

Right.

And that's for everyone.

Right.

We have, you know what, you know, if anyone wants to come and enjoy themselves. But I have like my impulse bites if I need it. Ah. My little energy bites.

So, so, so your crew knows that this is what we put around you.

Yeah, exactly. So I have that around me as well as, well, my hotel.

Right.

And I just, I. I just have like a very restrictive diet. I try not to eat too much on the road. And plus like before a show, I don't like to have a big meal anyways.

Right.

So I try to be efficient, try to eat like, you know, non processed foods. And that's been a game changer. That's a, that's a game changer.

Game changer.

Yeah. Not eating, like, I hope you guys.

Are listening to this. Yeah.

It's a huge thing. So not. Not having junk food, having. Eating as as much non processed foods as I possibly can, I can't control that entirely. But I, I try to do my best with that and meditation, these little resets, naps whenever I can. And, and like, you know, I just, I don't, I don't get sloshed.

Yeah.

You know, I think that's one of the main things is before up to 2009, it was part of my shtick to like be like downing a Grey goose while I'm DJing. And, and it's like the best way for me explain is like this. It's like literally like so at a club and you're at a party and it's like raging when you do that, people go crazy. Right. So it was like always like, oh, that's my shtick. Because I always like, was like, I was consistent with the theme.

Yeah.

And then at one point I had a raft and I was writing on a raft. So I was thinking about like, I got to entertain these motherfuckers out there.

You're entertaining yourself.

Yeah.

Let's be honest.

Yeah. So when I'm doing that, I'm like, no longer. I don't even see the crowd anymore. They don't exist. I'm just like lost in my own, like crazy place. And I. When I stopped doing that in 2009, I stopped. I'm like, I can't do this anymore. It's not sustainable.

Right.

That's when I started thinking, like, about the crowd. That's where I started thinking about, like, different ways to entertain them and not myself. Just like you said.

Yes.

And that's when the cake, you know, the cake idea came out.

Is that where it came from? What was the impetus for that? Where you're like, I'm actually gonna start smashing people.

Okay. So the impetus was. Was Coachella. 2009, I had my first time. I had a stage where I was like, okay, I have a really big crowd. I played. 2007, I did. That was my first time playing. And it was kind of like a tough show for me because of, like, just technical issues. But it was really eye opening. 2009, I was like, okay, now I'm prepared to be able to put on a show. I'm not just a DJ anymore, I'm an entertainer. That's how I started mentally thinking. So at these different moments of the show, it's almost like a play. I'm going to do this. I'm going to do this. I'm going to jump in the crowd here. I have like, you know, I have like these girls that help me make these crazy outfits. They're going to jump on the stage with me. We're going to shoot, like, shoot water with super soakers in the crowd. And then here's a really interesting idea. We're going to get a raft out, four of them, and we're going to just jump on the raft and raft on the crowd.

Wow.

I did that. And then all of a sudden, I'm in.

You put the song on?

Yeah, I put a song.

Like, it's a seven minute song. I got to be back to the fucking booth by.

No, it's three minutes.

Three minutes.

And then the song ends. Like half the time the song ends.

And you're like, got to give me back.

I'm just like. Like a sailor in, like, I'm like a pirate. Just going like pointing and then pushing me forward. Yeah. So that's happened a million times when this song just ends and I'm just like, guys, I got to get back on stage.

Yeah, yeah.

But anyways, that was my thing. I got on the COVID of another cover. I got in Rolling Stone magazine. Like, Paul McCartney was in the page. And then there's a picture, small picture of me. So it was a big deal. 2009, like, who's this Asian guy on a. On a rap? That's a DJ playing at Coachella.

Yeah.

So then I started thinking, like, then I did every show, right? So then I was like, I got to be consistent with this thing. And. And then I started like, dude, that's. Yeah. Just having fun with that. I did that for three years. And then 2011. Ish. Then I was like, I gotta come up with something new.

Right.

And then I was like, oh, if I cake someone at a show, I wonder how that would go. So I went to a bakery. And then, you know, and this is like, by the way, up until this point, I'm traveling totally alone.

Wow.

So I'm doing, like, in 2010, 2011, I'm doing 250, 300 shows, but I'm doing it totally alone.

You're traveling by yourself and just show myself. Plugging in all your.

And plugging everything in, like, every. Like, I never thought about having a Tour manager until 2011, midway through.

Wow.

Because, like, it was just. I was playing bigger shows, and actually I had a long talk with. With Skrillex at the time. We were playing a show together.

Yeah.

And he had a tour manager, and. And he's like, I don't know why you don't have a tour manager. It just makes life so much easier. And then he broke it down for me, and then I was like, you know what? You're right. I'm gonna. I'm gonna do that. I'm actually gonna bring someone out on the road with me. I never thought about that before.

Right.

But anyways, in 2011, I was like, oh, let's. Let's see how this would go. And I got the local guy to film.

Yeah.

And I. I just brought the cake. I was like, showing the crowd, like, the cake and.

Yeah.

And this, like, crowd's completely confused.

Yeah.

You're like, someone's birthday.

Yeah.

They're like, what's he doing?

And then, like, there's, you know, at every show, it was always like that, but it's always like, without a doubt. It happens every time. There's always one person at the very least that's like, please cake me.

Yes, dude.

Because it's my birthday and.

Yeah.

And I just want it. I'm just so, like, like, like, lit right now. I want this on my face. And. And then, like, I started caking people and we started filming it, you know? Sorry. It started going viral.

Pre.

Pre Instagram.

Major viral now.

Yeah. And then. Yeah. So it's 13 years later, and I've, you know, cake, like, now I cake, like, 10. Do 10 cakes a show.

Yeah.

So you do 10 cakes a show. Yeah. So it's like over. Over 20, 000 people have caked at this point. It's just now, you know, I retired doing. I retired doing the boat because I used to have a boat, and I used to have an inflatable bed.

Inflatable mattress.

Yeah. So I have this inflatable mattress, and then I would climb to, like, the second, like, you know, the balconies. You know, dive off the balconies into this inflatable mattress and. Yeah, because, like, you know, like, I. I'm a punk rocker, so.

Yeah.

Come from, like, a world in punk rock and hardcore where people would do the most insane stage jobs in the crowd.

Wow.

Oh, if you stage dive onto an inflatable mattress.

Yeah.

At least you're spreading the inertia.

Exactly. So. And then I eventually retired all that. And then. But the cakes, I never retired because I did for. For a short stint, like, in 2015, I wrote a whole, like, to cake or not to cake? Four page kind of, I don't know, Memoirs. Yeah. Yeah. Kind of like, why I gonna retire the cake? And I put it up in the Daily Beast. Like, it was a whole, like, it was a whole statement of why I'm retiring the cake.

Yeah.

And I retired for, like a year. But everyone's demanding the cake, dude.

Really?

And I just was like, okay, I'm bringing it back.

Really?

Back in 2016 or something like that. And I just haven't gone back since. Let's just. It's just.

Dude, it's so awesome because I actually see. I mean, somebody did like a montage of probably 20 or 30 cakes I. I saw on Instagram or Tick Tock or maybe it was something somebody sent. Sent to me. It was. It was hilarious. But every single one of them was like, yeah, yeah. People were like, begging for it. And you're pretty accurate now. I mean, you're like a major league pitcher now. You don't miss. You never whiff.

No, no. I mean, I mean, that's. That's like. Anything is experience, you know.

It'S like a piece of plywood.

Yeah.

The wind.

And you got to make sure that it doesn't hit them sideways.

Got to hit them. I. I got it all down.

Yeah.

It's just like when you see so.

Perfect in slow motion, it's like. Yeah, it's a fire.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, That's. That's video. That's the video right there. But just like anything when you watch, like, you know, someone doing a remarkable throw.

Yeah.

You Know, football or in baseball. Like, how do they judge, Engage it with all that and you're, you know, it's. I mean, experience ever gets really pissed.

Off and be like, fucking through a.

Cat in my face.

Dude, what's the matter with you, bro?

I think, I think.

Here's some music.

The problem is, is like, now Steve Aoki is synonymous with cake. That's the problem. It's like, it's a good and bad thing.

Yeah.

Cake whisper.

I definitely have the Cake Whisperer. For sure. Yeah.

Have they gotten cheaper and cheaper? I mean, are they just straight whipped cream now or.

Oh, no, it's like some of these cakes are like. I mean, they're pretty, pretty grandiose cakes. I mean.

Yeah.

I mean, the bakers come to my show, really, they're excited to take pictures of me and they tell me, like, we spent two weeks making these cakes. I mean, because we have a really. We have a six page cake writer. So the cake writer, it's. It's like the promoter has to adhere to this cake writer and sign off.

There's a dimension.

Yeah, it's just everything. It's like the, the material, the ingredients.

Yeah.

You know, there's a lot less cake. To be honest. That's kind of. No pun intended. Yeah, it's not, it's not that much cake in the cake.

Yeah. Yeah.

And because it's too heavy.

I mean.

Yeah.

Really?

Exactly. It's. It's more explosive and it's just, it's just a mess. Yeah, it's just a total explosive mess.

You know, I think that's just so awesome that you're still having fun with it. Is that part of, like, that part of putting on the show? And I said this before we got on, like, you know, I watch your shows. I mean, you're on the DJ booth, you're throwing cakes. I mean, you're engaged, you're grabbing the microphone. I mean, you're, you're super in that moment for them. And I think at some point that's got to contribute with why people love to see your shows live so much.

I. I always want to make a show that's. That's unique to me. So they're like, oh, we want to, we want to, like, go to see a Steve Aoki show that was a Steve Aoki experience instead of just any ordinary dj. So that's, it's like, that's the difficult part is how do you create something that is unique to your show.

Yeah.

As a performer, because whether you're a dj, whether you're a rapper or singer or band.

We all.

We're all trying to do something that's unique to unique our experience. And just saying, hey, ho, Right. Sit down, jump up, everyone do a mosh pit, you know?

Right.

Those are things that are historic with all music and big live shows and.

And. And I'm sure you follow other artists and. And what have you, but are there any artists that you would just love to collaborate with?

There's a lot. The list. The list is really long. I mean, because.

And they're all different genres for different reasons.

See. Yeah, exactly. So because I crossed so many genres.

Yeah.

This is actually like, like increasingly. Increasingly getting bigger and bigger. And when I get into a new genre that I haven't. Haven't collaborated with before, then as I collaborate with those artists in that genre, it opens me up to a whole plethora of, you know.

Yeah.

New. New followers, new people, new listeners.

And not just like, who are like, the big. The big movers and shakers in that space, but the. The next one's coming up because that's what excites me as well.

Right.

I want to work with the next ones coming.

That vocal that's, like, about to break.

Yeah. Getting the artist that's, like, you know, is bubbling and, like, you want to work with them before they break because, like, I. I'm an ANR at the end of the day.

Right.

Like, I think with everything I've ever done that's, you know, I always say curiosity is a big part of my success.

Yeah.

Being an ANR is also a big part of my success. And the A R is in everything. It's in being an entrepreneur. You have to, like, know which. Which, you know, companies to invest into.

Right.

And put your time into which as a record label owner, which bands to. To, like, focus your energy and. And.

Yeah.

And you want them to blow up and scale up so you have.