Artist Spotlight: Steve Aoki

Even for those unfamiliar with the world of EDM, the name Steve Aoki should ring a bell. Aoki has been shaking up the world of dance music for years, notably with his habit of throwing cakes. The 41 year old DJ has headlined some of the largest music festivals on the planet, such as Tomorrowland, EDC Las Vegas, and Ultra Miami. And he famously plays an average of 250 shows per year.

Aoki comes from an interesting family. His father, Rocky Aoki, moved to the USA as a wrestler before opening hibachi restaurant chain Benihana, and was known for racing high speed power boats and flying across the Atlantic in a hot air balloon. His sister, Devon Aoki, is an actress who notably played Suki in 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Prior to his interest in EDM, Aoki was an active member in LA’s underground punk rock scene. After founding his label, Dim Mak Records, Aoki became interested in electronic music and began producing his own songs. Aoki has also been featured in multiple video games and TV shows, and in 2105 was the main subject in the Netflix documentary “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead,” which chronicled his life and tour.

Aoki is known for his electric stage persona, throwing cakes, spraying champagne, and crowd surfing during his shows. Having won a number of industry awards, such as Best DJ of the Year by Paper Magazine, Aoki was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Dance/Electronic album for his album Wonderland.

Later this month, Aoki is headlining Houston’s Freaky Deaky music festival, and is playing an after-party at The Spire Club on Sunday October 27^th.