DJ Alex Acosta is a sensational Mexican DJ with a unique and energetic sound that has taken the world by storm. Acosta has been in the music industry for 20 years. Playing at the hottest venues in New York, Miami, L.A., Sao Paulo, Madrid, Barcelona, Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok, to name a few.
Acosta is also an original music producer with many of his remixes reaching the top 15 on the charts. He is also a resident DJ at VIVA in New York and will be appearing there on Saturday.
When and why did you become a DJ?
I became a DJ 20 years ago. The club’s DJ didn’t show up. I was working at the restaurant around that time, as a cook. One of my co-workers told the club manager about me, that I liked music and I was good at mixing, but of course I had never even DJ’d in my life before. So I was told to go home, grab my stuff, came back, and I was thrown there, to a crowd of 1,800 people who I had to play for. After that night, it became my first residency, playing every weekend for the next four and half years. I had no professional experience. I had played before at some house parties for some friends, but that was it.
What do you like best about being a DJ?
To step into a DJ booth is a unique experience. All your problems, all your aches, everything just goes away, and an unexplainable connection between one and the crowd gets created. On top of that, to travel to cities that you never thought you’d visit, to see new cultures, try new foods, learn about local architecture, and more important, to see people enjoy my music, so that for one moment they all forget everything, and we only exist as DJ + people + club—it’s an amazing experience.
Do you have a favorite party that you have done recently?
To tell you one in particular is to lessen the others. However, I can tell you that gCircuit’s Songkran Closing party in Bangkok, Thailand, was just everything.
What kind of music do you produce?
My music genre is very broad. My main brand is Alex Acosta, where I produce tribal and drums with vocal styles, and in some cases I also add some techno to it. But at the same time I also have other projects, such as Bad Element, fully focused on techno. And one more called ComfortFM, which is chill out. And as a musician, I do produce pop music for some artists.
DJs have become headliners, sometimes even more popular than performers. Why do you think that is?
The thing is that a DJ will never get stuck in one sound. In my case, I’m always looking for what’s coming next, exploring new music, new releases, all promo pools that are sent by several labels, and to see what’s the direction that it is taking, and to start implementing them into my own sound. That’s what makes it evolve and for it to never sound the same.
Do you personally have a favorite type of music?
I love tribal. But at the same time I love house and techno. I love ‘90s music, but what I really listen to on a daily basis, and what you’ll find on my phone, is chill out music, lounge and ambient.
Tell us about VIVA.
VIVA is unique. To play in New York, it’s big challenge for every DJ. And that’s because it’s the center of the music world, and people ask a lot from you. VIVA is one of those stages where they can love you or they can ask you to get off the stage. And that’s what I love, because for a DJ it’s a challenge, to come there and do a great job. VIVA’s magic is unique, and it cannot be found anywhere else in the world, because it’s everything: audio + lights + visuals. And more important, and crowd that gives themselves to you, and one to them. Also, on my personal side, VIVA has been one of the places where I have premiered some of my original tracks, and they end up becoming big successes in sales and charts (such as “Tribe Drums 1, 2, 3”).
What is your favorite place to perform?
VIVA (New York), SongKran (Thailand), Babel (Guadalajara).
Do you have a favorite DJ, one who inspires you?
Antoine Clamaran inspired me a lot as far as my tribal sound. Mauro Picotto’s sound inspired me on my techno side. They both are the main ones whom I always look up to. But overall, there are several DJs and producers who I follow and learn from them.
Anything else that you want to promote?
Yes, to follow me on my social networks (facebook.com/AlexAcostaMusic) and my official website, alexacostamx.com, where you’ll link up to all my other social networks and see upcoming tour dates and more. Also, I’m looking forward to coming to Mykonos in August to play at Xlsior, and that I’ll see everyone this weekend at VIVA Saturdays! It’s been too long (since March!), so see you all there. Looking forward dropping all the new stuff I’ve prepared over the past couple of months for you to hear it!
