Eric Mulvin: 00:00
Welcome to the Unfinished Business Podcast. I’m your host, Eric Mulvin, and this is the show where we sit down with CEOs, leaders, visionaries, and creatives talking about what they’re doing with their business, their organization, their leadership, or their creativity. Because it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve accomplished. Even someone like DJ Khaled still has stuff that he wants to get done and he has some unfinished business. So we explore those topics today on unfinished business with Eric Mulvin.

Theme Song: 00:26
Unfinished business. Listen close, and you’ll learn why.

Eric Mulvin: 00:50
This episode is brought to you by Pac Biz Outsourcing. At Pac Biz, we help software, e-commerce, NEMT, and taxi companies outsource their customer support and back office tasks with a dedicated team in the Philippines. These are full-time remote staff who work as part of your team, handling calls, emails, chat support, and admin tasks so you could improve support, scale faster, and keep costs under control. For example, one client cut out over $600,000 a year in payroll by switching key support roles like dispatch to Pac Biz Teams. So if you’re trying to lower costs or scale support, visit pac-biz.com to learn more or give us a call Monday through Friday during our business hours at 480-771-3009. All right. Today I’m excited to introduce you guys to our next guest. He has been at the Nexus of Music, Fashion, and Nightlife as the go-to DJ for music, entertainment moguls, fashion icons, cultural trend centers, Hollywood’s prestigious nightclubs, and LA’s hottest radio stations like Power 106 and Cali 93.9. One of LA’s finest audio selectors and performers is exactly what you’d expect when experiencing a live performance by our guest today. Truly an LA native that has been digging through the crates of vinyl since 2002. He has been a staple in the nightlife industry performing at Hollywood and LA’s hottest venues with its upbeat style and rhythm to entertain by intuitively reading a crowd with a strong MC presence that is a clear representation of his successful radio career. Los Angeles is proud to have such a creative audio selector and tastemaker on the airways playing for radio stations like Power 106, Cali 93.9, and KDay 93.5, always bringing the newest in music and entertainment tech to his community online and on the air. Few have dedicated themselves to Mattress Master, such a craft bringing a bachelor’s degree in sound design and engineering from LA’s prestigious Art Institute of California to the industry with a creative and intuitive energy that has captured the interest to collaborate with such individuals like Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Aventura, Wissen and Yandel, Don Omar, Nas, The Game, Warren G, Kendrick Lamar, and DJ Quick. It is certain that he is a professional in music and entertainment. Ladies and gentlemen, please help me. Welcome, Luigi Norrell, aka DJ, LuiJay. What’s up? Welcome to the show.

DJ LuiJay: 03:30
Wow, man. Thank you so much. Man, that was a really crazy introduction. I like that. That is a crazy one. I was hearing like, wow, it it sounds different when somebody’s saying it and then somebody reading it. So I enjoyed that. That was pretty cool, man. Thank you so much for that.

Eric Mulvin: 03:44
Yeah, no, absolutely. Oh, it’s an honor to have you here. And man, what a what a list of accomplishments. There’s a lot to talk about today, so I’m excited about it.

DJ LuiJay: 03:53
Shoot. I to be honest with you, I’m just excited right now. I know this is an amazing uh opportunity for me to be here and you know in your show, Eric. And there’s a lot of things that I’m very excited for just because I have so many projects that are already going out and they’re coming up and and throughout this whole entire year, man, I can’t wait to jump into them and see what type of questions you got for me.

Eric Mulvin: 04:14
Yeah, absolutely. Well, I love starting at the beginning because it kind of makes logical sense here. Okay. And so talk to me a little bit about like how you got to this position. Like your music, your mixes, people are here across all all over LA every day.

DJ LuiJay: 04:33
Right, right. So let me jump in real quick. So usually I like to kind of start off with like how I started and everything, but I I kind of want to skip that just because there’s I feel like there’s so many of myself out there and how I started, but I will just give you a really quick brief. I started when I was eight years old. I was at a family function, and obviously in that family function, I was the only kid there, and everyone else were teenagers. So and then I just I I I was just looking at this DJ at that house party, and it just got my attention. And ever since then, you know, I always wanted to see, you know, tell my parents that I I I feel like I want to be a DJ. You know, and obviously your parents always tell you, Oh, that’s nice, that’s cute, you know, uh, you have to get a real career. And and I’m just like, okay. And I did. I actually went and you know, went to school, studied, have some some degrees here and there, but I’ve always had a passion for music. I’ve always had a passion to entertain. I always had this like motive of energy to just give to people, especially when they’re feeling down. So I’m the type of person that when walks into a room, there’s like light and energy just coming to you, right? And I’m not a lot of people have told me that, and and and I’m like, okay, cool. But I just I just know for a fact because I’m that type of person. I want to bring that vibe. Like I want to be that person in the room, be like, hey, if you don’t have DJ LuiJay in your room, then I don’t know what you’re doing. Yeah. You know, because you you need that energy and vibe, you know, for the atmosphere to keep going. So that’s that’s that’s the level that I went into to the point that I want to say when I was 21, that’s when I went professional in my career as a DJ. And you know, I I I started in getting into radio, I want to say, towards the end of 2006, beginning of 2007, that’s when my whole radio career started going up. And ever since then, man, just been grinding. So I’ve been I’ve been hustling, grinding on the streets, meeting people, opening up opportunities for me to DJ. And it just got to the point that when I got into Hollywood in the Hollywood scene, that’s when it actually opened up a lot of doors for me. Meeting a lot of artists, managers, agencies, record labels, stuff like that. So, and it’s it’s just it’s just been a good journey for me. It doesn’t mean that I stop there, I just keep going just because obviously throughout the uh I want to say genres of music, uh, at the end of the day, like I want to say what decades of of certain genres of music going into, you always have different management, diff different businesses that come in. Some businesses that you thought it was 10, 20 years ago, they’re not there anymore. It changed completely. So you’re always trying to either change your style of thinking, making sure how you can be better yourself, seeing with all this new technology that’s coming up, especially with AI now, you know. So it’s it’s it’s it’s crazy, man. And I and I love it. I I love new changes. I I I adapt to new change. I kind of get bored when it’s just the same thing. Like I like new new things all the time. So I feel like that’s the the the the way that DJ LuiJay’s been going. And I I just been, you know, I just been doing me and I’ve been successful in my way. So all right.

Eric Mulvin: 08:05
Awesome. Well, thanks for walking through that. Yeah, because I know you got a lot to talk about. I could I could spend a lot of time on the the background, but we’ve got a lot to cover here. So you touched on a bunch of stuff, and one of the things you mentioned and what we like to talk about on the show is AI. So we can start there. Let’s talk a little bit about AI. Now, there’s a lot of parallels, and I know you you’re also a business owner. We’ll also cover that in a moment, but just looking at your DJ career, you know, a lot of the stuff you talked about are the same challenges that business owners have to face. Yes, right? Like for me, I’ve I’ve got a call center, and who’s to say that in 10 years that’s still gonna exist with AI? Maybe, maybe not, depends on who you talk to. And same thing with you, you know, you gotta adapt the technology, music industry, the radio stations have changed so much. And so what’s going on with AI and and music? Because we got like a AI-made song on our theme song here. So it’s like getting out there in the world, it’s changing things. What are you seeing out there?

DJ LuiJay: 09:04
So I don’t I don’t mind it. I know a lot of people kind of dislike it, hate it, they just don’t want it. Because they they it it thinks that they take out the whole creativity. And it permanently it probably does. What I like about to use AI is to certain things that I feel like if I can’t have somebody do it or whatever the case is, it can kind of help me, right? But at the end of the day, it’s the human creativity that is still giving it to AI. You know, not just telling AI because you just have something in your mind because of other people’s creativity, that’s the only thing that I kind of don’t like. Because they’re like, oh, if that person did it like this, well, let me tell AI that I want to do it this way, and then have the credit, right? To be like, hey, I did it all on my knowing that it was AI that did it, right? I don’t mind having a little bit, because I I do utilize AI to my advantage and to my benefit, but certain things that I wanted to, yeah, you know, that is really helpful. And I give credit to and I tell people, hey, AI helped me on certain things, but at the end of the day, I did everything else that I had to do on my end. You know, it’s kind of like a boost, right? Like when you have a car and you’re just like, hey man, I want to go a little bit faster, and you have like a turbo or a kit or boost something that it would just get you on. I feel like that’s what it is with AI a little bit. It just gives you that little lift and boost, but at the same time, everything is on you though. Yes. You know, and then you tell people that, you know, and then peop I feel like people can respect it. People can be like, oh, he uses AI a little bit here and there, but then obviously other people they just they they don’t like it. For me, I’ve heard songs from AI that people tell me, hey man, I just created this. And and obviously they’re not producers or anything like that. They were just messing around with AI. Yeah. And then they give it to me, and I’m like, bro, who’s this chick? Bro, who made this song? He was like, bro, everything was just AI. And I’m like, wow. You know, it it so in my hand, I’m like, AI has uh obviously evolved huge to the point that it can be a human being or a person. You know, but it just takes out, I want to say, like, the fundamentals, the passion, the feeling, the emotion, you know, that goes into something, you know. So, and then obviously that’s when an artist or somebody that creates that song goes out into public and does all the interviews and tells them, you know, this is how I felt. These are my expressions of this song, you know, and that’s what adds to that, right? But when you have with AI, like, who would you ask these questions? You know what I mean? Like, oh, we just made it just to make it for you guys to have fun. Yeah. Cool. But it’s just like, do we hear a song that you would like to hear 20, 30, 40 years ago? You know, so that’s that’s that’s the main thing for me for AI. Well, you you bring up a good point.

Eric Mulvin: 11:55
I like what you’re saying, because it’s like there’s a big difference between it giving you a boost and being the thing that’s driving the car. Right. And I think that’s a lot of people they get confused, or they’re they’re like, yeah, I could go make a song with AI. Like, when you got AI helping you out, and I think you’re at the top of your game trying to get that boost, it’s a lot different than like AI, make the song for me. Make it doing everything. Like, you I feel like you’re losing the soul. I mean, I see it in even like documents from my team in the email, or they gotta put something together, something that they write up, and it’s all AI. Just there’s something missing. I don’t know.

DJ LuiJay: 12:32
Right. And and again, AI is cool, but then people that are trying to save money are not hiring other people that are really mastered on what they do. Obviously, they’re just like, you know, I’d rather just go with AI because it’s gonna save me a couple of bucks than me hiring this producer or hire me this person that does this or whatever it is in the music industry that you’re just like, yeah, I just can’t afford it, so I’m gonna just do it with AI, right? And then that’s how you they want to get the credit and think that somebody else was behind it, but at the end of the day, AI did everything. So there’s there’s there’s that pop there there’s that pass too that you know, you’re just like, man, I w I wish I can have that producer or I wish I can have that composer, or I wish I could have that guy that does all the lyrics, but I can’t afford them. So I don’t just have AI that is for free or pay the whole you know twenty dollars subscription, you know, and you know, you’ll be like, all right, cool, and then you go with that. You know, so it’s it’s I feel like it’s it’s just like right there, right? I feel like it hasn’t hit there yet, but it’s gonna get to the point that, like you said, AI can pretty much take over the whole call set. You know what I mean? And I’m I’m and I’ve already heard from other people that they’ve been doing it already. You just tell them, like, hey, any phone calls that they get, these are the the what is it like triggers of of of sayings that hey, I’m having trouble with this or that. You just tell AI this is what’s gonna happen, and then boom, and they just run with that. So it’s it’s I feel like it’s gonna be wild for the next 10 years that it’s coming up. So yeah. I’m looking forward to it though. You know, I’m just I’m trying to see like what’s going on, but you just you just gotta open, you know, your eyes, your ears, like everything to be like, yo, be ready.

Eric Mulvin: 14:11
Yeah. Well, it’s interesting. You know, one of the stations you’ve done work with, I was listening to Power 106 driving in, and they were talking about Super Bowl-winning football coach who just came out and was like, Yeah, we’re using some chat GPT to help coaching the team and the perception, even on the radio, like I think they’re thinking, Oh, make me some plays, you know, like draw up the plays. Like, there’s so many different ways that AI could help and assist with that boost, not doing the actual work, but it’s this interesting observation for like people on the outside when all they know is oh, I could make a song with AI. Like, no, it’s maybe it’s helping me with this one part of this lyric that I need help with, or or the process here. I like for me, we’re using it for video editing. I’m like, hey, I want to do this special effect. How do I do it? Then it tells me step by step, that’s a lot different than AI make the podcast for me. So, right, right, of course.

DJ LuiJay: 15:04
See, and that’s different. Yeah, you know, you need some help, fine. And sometimes you can get it right there, just like on YouTube. You know, before AI came, people will go on YouTube real quick and be like, hey, how can I do this or how can I do that, right? Besides going to a school and paying all these a bunch of like money, you’re like, yo, I just need it just for this little thing right here. You know, so and that’s that’s what I’m saying. Like, it’s a very useful tool for stuff like that. Yeah. But when you wanted to just like AI complete everything for me, and then you just sit back and just like and then you want to take the credit and have the flowers, like, yeah, I did all that. That’s what I’m saying. Like, nah, bro, it does, it doesn’t work like that.

Eric Mulvin: 15:40
And that’s why I think the AI call center thing is not gonna work for you either. No, it’s not. You still need some people.

DJ LuiJay: 15:46
Yeah, you need it, man. I I even to this day, when you call somebody, you have to have a machine like customer service. Yeah, give me to somebody. I want to speak with somebody.

Eric Mulvin: 15:56
Then you’re talking to the AI bot that sounds like a person, but it’s like, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I want to take things back a little bit. Actually, I looking into your story a bit, I had just with my wife, we were just watching this Netflix show on Lil John. Okay, and I did not realize how much of his background was like tied to being a DJ. Yes, which I mean, yeah, you kind of look at his music, it makes sense. He’s always like, you know, yelling on the song and stuff, but I didn’t realize like I was like, dang, this is almost like you and how you’re starting out, like starting out in the party scene out here in LA. Yeah. So I mean, talk a little bit about that. And like I I know you talked about your background, but like I think that’s this is how you got your start out here.

DJ LuiJay: 16:38
I I I like Lil John’s and Ludacris, because they both started as DJs in radio jobs too. Well, Ludacris more on the radio side, and then obviously Lil John on the on the DJ side, but both of them had that same vision like my my myself, just because I’m creating music too. I’m actually I I just released today. Just today, July 24th, 2026, to be exact, at 9 a.m. You can go check it out on YouTube. Sorry, I’m promoting myself right now. Uh but yeah, so usually what happens is because you already have an audience, you have signatures of yourself that people already identify as you. Like people tell me that I’m like the Fat Man Scoop Latino. Okay, you know, like you said in the beginning of the show, one of my biggest idols is DJ Khaled. So I want to be DJ Khaled, but Balatino style. You know, instead of saying another one, otra más, you know. So that’s that’s so the the whole vision of that is making sure, like, what else do you want besides just as a DJ? Right? Because you will get to the point that once you get you start getting older, you start noticing things, you know, you’re not just gonna be that DJ that DJ’s in a club. You know, you want to make like, yo, man, if I’m a DJ in the club, it’s because I’m gonna be DJing my own music. You know, and I’m gonna be put out there. And and you know, you’re gonna be doing bigger clubs, bigger concerts, bigger festivals, you know, trying to travel around the world just you know, because of your signature of who you are and the sound that you’re providing to the world. So that’s one of the main things that I I I enjoy looking up, and that’s good that you actually went on Netflix and saw that because I’m trying to create one too. Okay. Soon I’ll be having my own Documentry as well.

Eric Mulvin: 18:30
Oh, nice. All right. There’s a lot of stuff to look out for for him. And then uh we’ll get the links out. It’ll be it’s in the show notes in the comments, so you can link to his uh video. Don’t wait till after the interview though. Don’t watch it yet. I know. But watch this first, and then after. There you go. But I mean, for you, was it what did you always know that making music was gonna be part of your journey?

DJ LuiJay: 18:51
Or where did you it has, bro? Throughout my whole career, obviously, I when I was not there yet, I’ve always I’ve always told people to survive here in this industry, you always have to have a job. Because how are you gonna support yourself? You know, how are you gonna invest in yourself? You know, you need capital in everything you want to do in life. So that’s the business part now. Like if you’re seeing yourself as my brand, DJ LuiJay, how can I take that if I don’t have an agency trying to represent me, or if I don’t have a record label trying to invest in me? You know, you need all these things, and thank God, because of me being in this industry and looking at everybody, how they’ve done and stuff like that. I’m like, all right, I still need to have my nine to five job in order to support myself, pay my bills, make sure that whatever money I have, I invested into my brand and to get to the level that I need to be at. So that’s very, very important. Anyone that’s watching this or is trying to start off their business, you know, just make sure that you have capital and that you’re investing little by little and that you know that once your brand or business starts popping off, that you can be like, hey, you know what? I can leave my job and then have my brand business be a nine to five, and probably more than that, because once you’re a business owner, man, there is no nine to five. It’s 24-7. Oh my God. Yeah, it is the truth. Yeah, that’s that’s that’s what it is.

Eric Mulvin: 20:21
So but you’re fortunate enough that your nine to five is also your dream job, too, right?

DJ LuiJay: 20:26
Yeah, yeah. Well, like I said, I I I have a I have a love and a passion what I do. I I I tell people like I don’t have a Monday to Friday, like I have a Monday to Sunday. Like my Friday can probably be a Monday or a Wednesday. Saturday can be on a Tuesday or Thursday. You know what I mean? But I it’s just that there’s always events, but when you get to that level though, you know, you will have those opportunities. But in the meantime, you’re still knocking on doors and trying to see how I can be to the top with all these big brands. You know, so that’s that that’s what I’m saying. Like, you know, when I was when I was starting, I was like, man, I’m always seeing people going to parties from Monday to Sunday. But that’s because the brands are the ones that are making those type of parties, you know. So it’s just again trying to meet these people. Like, and when I say brands, I’m talking about like Nike, Don Julio, you know, like just those type of brands that wants to be in these type of like scenarios with like athletes, celebrities, all that stuff, that they’re always doing events from Monday to Sunday. You know, so once you get to that level, bro, you you made it. And you’re the one that’s DJing too. So that’s map props to all those people that are doing it. So very true, very true.

Eric Mulvin: 21:36
All right. So people out there doing the 95 and trying to take off in their business, but you’ve been while you’re doing the 95, you’re also all these opportunities have been coming up. And I have this concept that I’ve always thought about, and I’m curious how like how you feel about this that when you’re out grinding like the way you are, once in a lifetime, opportunities happen like every six months. Would you agree? Of course.

DJ LuiJay: 22:01
Yeah, I agree. I agree on that. And I’m going to tell you why. And one opportunity happened to me that even to today’s day, I’m just like, man, I wish I would have gotten it, but I was still young. I was, I want to say I was 21. And an opportunity happened that, you know, they were trying to hire me in Las Vegas. And obviously I lived in LA at the time. And I still and I still do. But at that time when I was 21, and they offered me that opportunity to DJ in Las Vegas, they were going to pay me, and this was, I want to say 2004 or 5. They were going to pay me like $5,000 a month. And it was a one-year contract. And obviously they were telling me, so you’ll DJ two to three times out of the week. And then from there, you can do whatever you want. So if I would have known today the stuff that I know in my head, oh my gosh, bro. I would have been like, yes, give me that. Because once I have that and I have income that I can support myself, I would have networked and actually gone and knocked other people’s doors to be like, hey man, I’m a DJ here. I work here. How can I get to you? Can we do something? Man, I feel like I would have blown up already in Las Vegas, bro.

Eric Mulvin: 23:23
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 23:24
But because again, I didn’t have a mentor, I didn’t have a coach, I didn’t have anybody telling me these things. And obviously I didn’t know anybody for me to share what somebody just told me, like, hey, I have this deal. What do you think should I do? Should I take it or not? I just took it upon and said, no, I’m okay. You know, and then I just did what I had to do, right? But I feel like if I would have done that, I would have boosted me really up real quick.

Eric Mulvin: 23:50
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 23:50
But I feel like I always say, God has something for you, and I probab I think I wasn’t ready. If God I wasn’t, because I probably would have ruined myself. Being in Vegas with that much money? Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So I’m like, I mean, I I always I I always feel like, hey, you know what? If God says no or whatever, because I’m a very strong believer in that. I’m not a religious person, but I do see signs. So I just felt like I wasn’t ready. So and and again, when I see doors that are closing or anything, other doors might open, and those doors are the ones that are are truly ones that you really want. You know, so again, you have to kind of read the signs that that happens to your life. So cool.

Eric Mulvin: 24:31
Thank you for sharing that. Because like the point I want to make for people is like you might have had that one opportunity. So what? Like, just because it came in wet, you still like keep growing and keep going at it. Yeah. Because it’s gonna happen again and it’ll happen. It’ll keep happening, you know. Like, oh, I got viral one time, and now like I’m relying on this video that blew up like two years ago. Like, no, there’s another one right around the corner. You just gotta keep keep working.

DJ LuiJay: 24:56
So I feel like on that point, because I I I know what you’re saying, and it goes down to music when you have the one-hit wonders, and it’s fine when you know how to invest your music, I mean your your your money. Right? Like if you have that one hit wonder and they’re giving you millions for that one-hit wonder, like know how to manage that and to the point that you know how to invest and have that money just coming into your household when you’re sleeping or whatever.

Eric Mulvin: 25:24
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 25:24
Because a lot of people what they do is they get that money, they spend it all, and then they’re back to day one, right? And if you felt like that creation that you did only once and that you cannot do again, then obviously you already know your right to your own destiny. But if you’re very creative and you like to do this, you know, you’re gonna keep doing it and doing it and doing it and repeating it, and even doing it better. Like if you did that one and you that you thought that now was good, like oh, you best believe me. You gotta wait for the other one. Yeah. And then the other one, you know, and that’s what DJ Callis is. Another one. Another one. You know what I mean?

Eric Mulvin: 25:58
So cool. So you’ve branched out quite a bit now, you know, going from DJ to now you’re before we hit record here, you’re talking about other businesses you started. Actually, what I wanted to touch on was before I realized that you have other businesses, you’ve created a business around just your DJ brand.

DJ LuiJay: 26:21
Yes. Yeah. So touching on that, yeah, because I remember you were telling me. So the great opportunities that I’ve had was to meet with certain people that are business owners that gave me opportunity just because they saw that not only I’m a DJ, but I’m a very I’m a I’m a business person myself. So I have a lot of associates. I have business uh partners. One of them is security company. So I have a small account, but I have a security company that we’re starting to establish on a very big worldwide one. That’s the vision that I want. But obviously, we got to start small, right? That’s one business that I have. Obviously, my my my DJ brand that’s under that, that I hire DJs for like Inseneras, weddings, any other events that I can do, I I actually give one to my other uh other DJs that I I feel like they’re in the the same level as myself, that are trustworthy, and that are professional. Just because the clients, how they meet me, I feel like they want to have the same person, right? And if somebody’s gonna represent you, you know, you gotta make sure that they’re on top of their game. So that’s one. Another thing is that I’m trying to create like my own record label, you know, seeing talented people trying to establish like a school, not here, but in my motherland. I’m from Ecuador. So I’m trying to establish something out there for like, you know, anybody that’s a musician, that wants to be a DJ, or that’s artist, like artist or creativity. Like I wanna I want to build like a school out there. So I’m surrounded with certain people that see the vision and they like what I’m I’m saying, and obviously I just want to give back, right? I I I’m not the type of person that just wants to take, take, take, take. I want to give. And I’ve always been a giver too, besides you seeing me like all like this exclusive and all whatever I wear. But I I I like to be part of the hood just because I grew up in the hood. You know, so I want to give back, and I and I see a lot of talent there, you know, and when you see something like that, man, and and you try to like change their life and and for them to kind of see the bigger picture, just because I again knowing that I grew up in the hood, I I saw a lot of people that were talented, but they just made wrong decisions and choices in life that either they’re not here now or they’re in prison or stuff like that. So that’s very big for me. Community. Community, it’s just it’s so big for me just because even to today’s day, when people invite me to go places and they’re like, hey man, we don’t have a budget, we don’t have this, and I’m like, hey, I would love to give my time to the community because that’s very that’s powerful in giving an impact for these kids or for anybody that’s out there for them to take it, you know, and being with all these other, you know, millionaires that I don’t mind, but some of these millionaires, man, they they’re crazy.

Eric Mulvin: 29:17
Well, I mean, I think we both uh we both built up our careers from scratch, like came from from nothing. My parents didn’t, like my dad was a blue-collar worker. She didn’t work at first, she’s you know from the Philippines, and then she worked in the school cafeteria, my middle school cafeteria. So I feel like we probably could relate to some of the yes, you know, you’re in a room full of people, and like, man, these people do not know the struggle that we had to go through growing up that really shaped like who we are. Of course. So it’s that’s cool though that you’re able to turn that around into like, hey, I need to give these other people opportunities there.

DJ LuiJay: 29:51
So yeah, because I I feel like when I was growing up and doing what I like, I always wanted an opportunity, but because they see you, you know, and especially like again, I I I I don’t want to bring like the whole racial thing and everything, but people do see, like, you know, hey, you’re brown, you’re Latino, you’re this, you’re that, you know, they have this impression in their head already because probably of whatever experience that they had that you’re gonna be that same person, right? Until you prove them wrong and they’re like, oh man, you’re a different, you’re a different breed, you know. But again, it’s just the person of itself, you know, and just making sure, like, hey, I want you to trust me, and knowing that the only thing that we have is our word to stick with that and not screw it up.

Eric Mulvin: 30:37
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 30:38
Because once you do that, you your word is nothing no more. And your accountability is down. Like, you know what I mean? So that’s those those things right there, man. I I always tell people, like, you have to you have to like make sure that if if you say something, go through with it. Yeah, you know, so just because those opportunities are are the ones that you’re saying that are the most important ones, that is gonna like reshape your whole entire life, and you screw it, like man.

Eric Mulvin: 31:05
Yeah, it’s gonna be hard to come back sometimes.

DJ LuiJay: 31:08
Because those are once in a lifetime, man. Like when I say the once in a lifetime, not the one that the story that I say, but that one that says, hey, there’s million dollars involved, like, bro, you gotta be on point. Yeah.

Eric Mulvin: 31:21
I got you, man. I there’s a a big new account we’re we’re bringing on for our call center. I jumped on an airplane and flew out to Florida to meet with them. I’m like, this, I’m not, I’m not messing this one up. Like, I’m gonna handle this every step of the way. But yeah, and that’s for me, and that’s actually interesting. I just went through that like two, three weeks ago. That’s the first time I’ve ever flown out to a business to try to earn their business. So being able to recognize that though, yeah. And I’m like, oh, we can’t screw this up. Like, I gotta make sure everything is perfect because yeah, the those there are those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that come and go, and you’ll you’ll get more, but there’s some that are like, man, you cannot mess this up. So, yeah, good point.

DJ LuiJay: 32:04
Yep, yep.

Eric Mulvin: 32:05
So, but no, I I I know we talked a little bit about the racial stuff. I mean, I I’ve experienced discrimination in my life as well. I’m kind of surprised that you got you went through that being in LA. I just assume LA is so cultural. I don’t know, maybe it’s a Hollywood thing, but like, how did you experience like what what was your experience like?

DJ LuiJay: 32:25
So, even even to today’s day, even in in radio, just because how talented you are, how skillful you are, there’s always people that play favoritism. And especially those people that are on top, they already have their people. So knowing that you might be in the same company or in the same team, they always have like, yeah, we’ll just have you here, but I’m gonna take care of these other people here. And not not not not ashaming these people here, but I’m like, bro, like if you would have gotten me, I would have probably even taken this team to a higher level. You know, because I see them, yes, they can be talented or skillful, but sometimes they don’t have both. And when I say both, it’s because you’re surrounded of everything, business-wise. Not only doing your DJing stuff, like you know how to involve, like, hey, I can do this, but I can help you in doing that, so we can get this, and we can get revenue, and we get more, you know, marketing and advertisement and get more exposure and doing all these things that people don’t think about, you know, and I’m just like, I can help and all that. But they’re just like they take they listen, but it just goes to the other hand, and they’re like, and then they just have their own little crew, and then you’re just like, all right. So then it makes you think like, alright, how can I overpass them to the point that I’m not trying to disrespect them or do anything like that, but I feel like I can’t you you’re like hitting a wall.

Eric Mulvin: 33:56
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 33:56
So how can I go over them side? Like, how can I do or go under them to the point that I’m like, alright, I need to go across so whoever is higher than you can understand, like I’m trying to do something good for you guys. Yeah. It’s not that I’m just trying to like put myself better and be like, hey, I’m like, nah, man. Like, I’m trying to be as a team and I want everybody else to climb and for everybody to out to break bread. You know, but when I don’t see somebody like that, you know, even to today’s day, I’m always hungry, bro. Like knowing that I’ve made it, but doesn’t mean that I’m a stop there. Like, I’m very ambitious at what I want, and I have a vision about a lot of things. And I always think bit. Because that’s what you want. Yeah. You know, you just don’t want to be like, oh, I made it to radio, I’m good. Naha, that’s not me. Like I made it there, great. I want more to like, you know, let me let me take it to another level. What else can I do? You know what I mean? Like I want to utilize my my my style to the point that you know I’m it’s just so hard because again, I’m always thinking about things, even when I’m in like downtime, like I’m I’m always thinking about other things. Uh I’m talking to people, to a point that that’s why I don’t have relationships, just because, you know, it’s just it’s just tough, man. Like my industry and then my lifestyle that I have, like, it’s just it’s hard, man. It’s really is. But yeah, it’s at the same time. At the same time, though, like I feel like, you know, it’s it’s good. I celebrate it even when I have like accomplishments, you know, achievements that I’ve I’ve hit, like goals that I’ve hit, like I’m like, yo. Like I I you always have to like understand that, you know, you gotta cheer for those things, even the small ones. You know, go celebrate and be like, hey man, you did it. All right, what’s the next step? You know, because if you don’t do that, man, if you don’t celebrate the even the small things that you’ve done, because you’re trying to aim to the big one, like it’s not gonna motivate you to do anything.

Eric Mulvin: 35:42
No, that’s a great point. It’s it’s one of the things I need to always work on. It’s and I think a lot of business people can relate to that because you’re always like, What’s the goal? What’s the goal? Like, never like this last week. I I mean I took my team aside and I was like, I I probably could do more to celebrate, but I’m like, guys, like this was amazing because I had everyone presenting to that big company, right? Right. And you know, just that was a little more celebration than I normally do. But I it is all about the journey. And if all you do is getting to the top, and then that’s when you celebrate, you missed out all the fun parts along the way that you know that to to recognize that success. So thank you for bringing that up because that’s a that’s a problem a lot of business owners struggle with.

DJ LuiJay: 36:26
Right, man. And and again, you cannot make it to the top if you don’t have an amazing team. Yeah. Right? So you have to have initiative to the team to the point that, hey, man, I appreciate you guys. Because if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be where I’m at. Because it doesn’t take one, it takes the whole village for you to actually take you to the top.

Eric Mulvin: 36:47
One million percent. Yeah, for sure. Especially in business, unless you’re like a solopreneur. But I love this example because you know, people look at you as a DJ, they don’t think about there’s other people behind the scenes. You got other DJs that back you up that that represent the brand that could fill in and go to a quince in Yeta, so that you’re not able to go. And then not to mention all the other there’s a lot of people behind the scenes, all your business associates. So there’s so much that people don’t realize is there, and they just like people hear the song on the radio and they think, oh, she’s just doing it all by herself.

DJ LuiJay: 37:22
Right, and they have and they have a HT behind that. You know what I mean? Like that people don’t want it, the you know, the spotlight or anything like that, you know. But as an artist, as a DJ or somebody that’s actually being represented or having that face, to at least recognize the people that are behind you, supporting you and helping you, give them the flowers, be like, hey, thank you so much for getting me where I need to be at. Because if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be where I’m at. So, and that’s having a really solid team that believes in the vision as well. So when you have your team that you’re hiring, make sure that they believe in that vision of whatever you’re trying to push, because you can have somebody that is just there to collect a check, and then there’s somebody there to be like, yo, I mess with this guy, man. I’m gonna take it to the top. I’m gonna help you get up there, bro. To the point that you’re like, once you’re up there, like help whatever dreams they have. You know, because I’ve always tell people, you never you you don’t want to work with somebody for the rest of your life. Like you want to be your own boss. But it’s okay if you don’t want to take that responsibility, but at least make sure that your boss is taking care of you if for your retirement, yeah and all those things, right? So it’s vice versa thing. So that’s that’s that’s how I see my vision. Cool.

Eric Mulvin: 38:40
Well, you talked about the support and your team, and I know in your story, you had somewhere, somewhere along the way, you had mentioned in the past interview about your family helped you get your first DJ equipment, right? So, how critical was your family’s support? Because somewhere along the way, they had to believe you in some, like, I know you’re maybe when you were like seven or eight, you’re like, I want to be a DJ, and they’re like, Yeah, right. But now at some point along the way, they’re like, Okay, we’ll give him some stuff. Like, I there’s some potential here. What what happened there?

DJ LuiJay: 39:12
So when I was 13, my mom took me to a store called La Curaçao. I don’t know if you if if you don’t know what a curacao is, like it’s like a really Latin, I want to say like JC Penny mixed with Ross and Coles, all that all together. That back then used to be like Radio Shack, Tower, Wreckers, like really old school stuff, all it together in one, but it was like for Latinos. So there was this small equipment called the brand Gemini, and it was CDJs that just came out. And I was like, Mom, can you buy me this? And it was like $400. And so my mom bought it for me, and then from there I started DJing in these CDJs with a mixer, and I was just starting to practice, and I had my first quinceera, you know, and that’s because it was small, it’s not like a professional quince nera, very small and everything, and then bro, I had a hundred people dancing, you know, and I was like, okay. And then my mom sighed too. She’s like, dang, you’re really good. And to the point that when I turned 16, 17 years old, that’s when my mom told my uncle, and my uncle was the one that gave me 20K to actually buy everything professional. Dang equipment, lighting, sound, all these things to go that route and doing weddings and guintas. To the point that that’s when I said when I was 21, that’s when I went pro. So it it took that, you know, for other people to believe, and then my mom actually being, I feel like my like marketer or PR to get endorsements and you know, like money from people, and then obviously telling them, hey, you should hear him out. And then them coming out and seeing me to the point that they to today’s day, they always tell me, like, I remember since you were a kid, you were always been, you know, this person, and and and I appreciate that. And I and and that’s always good to be reminded, right? Like, and I always remind myself where I come from, you know. So I always try to humble myself, you know, just because yeah, it it could get you into your head, especially when you’re really up there. And when you have people that are really like, you know, not all there, but they’re just so excited to be there, and you just look at them like, hey man, nah, I’m good. Don’t talk to me. You know, and just like, wait, okay, what’s up? Yeah, like I I take I take back and I’m like, no, no, no, come on, come back. Like, I’m sorry, I apologize. It’s just, you know, it’s just it gets it gets to that artist level. Like you’re just like, hey, I don’t need to talk to anybody right now.

Theme Song: 41:49
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 41:49
But you know, I I I try my best, man, because sometimes it just depends on the mood, situations that’s happening to your life, that you cannot, you know, be very happy all the time. Like, you know, you’re you you you have your own emotions too. Like you go through something or whatever the case is. You know, and I try to, whatever if it’s professionalism or like, for example, like here, you know, you never know like if something would have happened at home, like one of my family members passed away or whatever, and then I have to play this, like, hey, I’m happy. Yeah. And then you know, walk out of here, and I’m just like, sorry, man, I just I hope I did it very well, you know. But situations like that, you know. So I I feel like that’s that’s that’s one of the ways that how to handle things to the point that, hey, your family looks at you and you’re like, hey, I admire you, you’re doing what you do, and I’m very glad that I invested in you. So again, knowing what you’re investing in, then you’d just be like, I did something good. Because I’m pretty sure a lot of people invest and they do something bad, and you’re like, dang.

Eric Mulvin: 42:51
I wonder how many people out there listening, like, man, I gave my my nephew some money. I didn’t see anything coming.

DJ LuiJay: 42:56
But you bro, I mean again. So even though that I’ve done so much in my life, I teach as well, DJs, kids, teenagers, and adults. And I always tell these people start off with something small, yeah, don’t go all out. What they do, they go all out. They get all the equipment, they get all the big expensive equipment. They have it there for like three, four months, and then I try to call them and be like, hey, how you doing? I’m like, Oh, I sold them, or I gave them away, and I’m like because they try to go too complicated.

Eric Mulvin: 43:31
It’s like you gotta look at all these you got all these inputs coming in now, you’re trying to do all this stuff, like start simple.

DJ LuiJay: 43:37
I tell people I’m like, these DJs that you see that are so big and huge, they started the same way as myself. Small, try to learn. It’s not like you’re gonna like be a professional DJ one day to the other. Yeah. Like there’s process to these things. Like it’s gonna take you at least a year to perfect what type of sound you are. How are you gonna push yourself? Who are you gonna be? Are you trying to mimic somebody? Are you trying to be somebody? Like, you know, all these things come into play. Like, and then you just like, once you already that out, then you could be like, all right, I feel like I am. This is the person that I’m gonna be, and we’re gonna go through this journey. And that’s how you start, man.

Eric Mulvin: 44:22
Oh, that’s good advice. And I there’s a thing I had to teach at a conference back in that was right before COVID, and it was in Tennessee, which was disappointing because I had spent all this money to like talk to all these business leaders, and then like COVID happened like two weeks later. So but I taught this thing called uh design thinking principles, and I was like, this makes so much sense. So now it’s like something I do, but you start out small and you do like little baby tests, and then eventually you grow it to something big. And too many times in business and in careers, you know, we try to jump into the big thing without like you like for this podcast is a good example. We’re on episode 23, and I just like for the first time we’re using a bunch of new equipment that I brought in, but I made the investment after using my the same equipment I’ve had for years, and now it’s like okay, now it’s time to like I now I know what equipment to buy. If I’d have done that in the beginning, I’d have had a bunch of stuff I probably could have used. So of course, yeah. So yeah, there’s a lot of parallel.

DJ LuiJay: 45:23
Number 23, man. Michael Jordan style right there. Yeah, yeah. Braun James right there. Yep. So I like that.

Eric Mulvin: 45:32
Yeah, but starting out small and then going big. Now you’re starting a bunch of ventures and you’re kind of you’re taking that same concept as well. Yeah. Starting out small and going bigger. So, what are like the music thing though? Like, where in your journey along the way did that come in? Because I think you said you kind of always knew you wanted to do music, right?

DJ LuiJay: 45:53
So I’ve I’ve always been hesitant to put music out there. A lot of people would be like, hey man, when are you gonna put your own music? When are you gonna do this? When are you gonna do that? And I’m just like, I feel like I wasn’t ready. So, and then you’re never ready though. Like you might think that you’re ready, but you’re never ready. And then sometimes you again, you have to take that risk. And to the point that I’m like, all right, if I’m gonna take this risk, at least I need to perfect the sound and the style and energy that provides me and the artist that I’m gonna be bringing, that I’m gonna be pushing to be like, yeah, this is me. You know, and then from there just like hope for the best and make sure that people love it, enjoy it. Obviously, you’re gonna have your critics, you’re gonna have your haters, you’re gonna have a lot of things. But at the end of the day, you made sure that you’re putting this with so much faith and and happiness for people to enjoy. You know, you’re not just putting it there just to floss and be like, hey man, this is what I did. What you doing? You know, you’re doing it out there just because you want it for the whole world to listen to and enjoy. You know, so that’s why I did this, my first song that I did that came out today. So this is your first song that you’re my first song ever. Obviously, I’ve made remixes, I made I haven’t made a complete song, but I have like, you know, done produced like other tracks that are already made, but with like different beats and stuff like that. But this one’s actually like from scratch, you know, that we all sit down. I I told my producer, like, this is how the this is how we’re gonna do it. I told the artist, like, okay, this is how you know what you’re gonna do, like what you’re gonna write, but this is how the vibe’s gonna be. And then boom, it just became magical, and I’m just like, all right, cool. Same thing, like making the music video. You know, I obviously they had a vision on how certain things was, and I’m like, okay, well, let me take you so people when they see this video, they get to know like we’re in LA County, and especially in downtown LA. So it’s showing them signatures of certain spots. So people can be like, oh man, I know that spot.

Eric Mulvin: 48:05
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 48:06
Or somebody’s like, oh, I’ve been through there. Or other people be like, Man, I can’t wait to go to LA to be into these spots. You know, so I always had that mindset that you want to give more of when it comes out to visuals. And then for sound, you want to make sure that this is more fun. Because my so the song that I created is more like a merengue house. So it’s if people know like merengue, like it’s a fast beat and something for the summer that people just love to, you know, party to. So that was my thing of okay, I’m a party guy because I love to party. Yeah. And I want to have that energy that when people see me, you’re like, yeah, that’s the Oijay right there. You know, automatically, boom. So, and that’s that’s that’s what I want, like, you know, to deliver that message of what am I and what am I putting into this songs? So I do have another one coming up, you know, that was a reggaeton song. Okay. So, but you know, we’ll stay tuned for the next podcast.

Eric Mulvin: 49:04
Well, that’s cool though. I mean, I’m I’m excited to be talking to you about this when your song just literally came out today. I know, that’s crazy. That’s wild. So tell tell us can you tell us more about the song? Like what what’s it about?

DJ LuiJay: 49:17
Yeah, yeah. So obviously the the the song, again, it’s it’s a party song. The lyrics is pretty wild. It’s about, you know, the the man uh pleasing the wife, the wife is trying to like, you know, party. And obviously, you know, it’s called from in Spanish de lunes a viernes, uh, partying from Monday to Friday, and you know, and then coming out Saturday and then Sunday, and then doing it all over again the lunar viernes, and it’s just you know, very basic song. It’s more like a pop, a pop meeting in house, and it’s is it for me, it’s very enjoyable. I’ve already been sending it this whole morning to a lot of people, and everybody’s loving it. So, and obviously, when we’re done, you know, like to show it to you. Oh, of course. And then uh we can put it out there in the link too so they can see it if they like.

Eric Mulvin: 50:04
Well, we’re gonna end the show with the song, if that’s okay. Yeah, yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 50:07
That’ll be perfect. And then, yeah, I I I hope you guys enjoy it. I enjoy it. I’ve been repeating it all the time, knowing that I already had it, but because it just came out, like it’s just it’s something that it, you know, that you’ve actually made that is just gonna stay out there in the world of digital, that you know, it will be something that if they type in DJ LuiJay, boom, that stuff will come out. So that’s that’s that’s very awesome. Just like your your episodes, you know what I mean? Like your podcast that you deliver to the you know to the cloud, and then they put Eric Mulvin like, boom, you’re gonna be popping out, you know. So and it’s cool because for your family, for your generation of you know, kids, grandkids, stuff like that, they get to see what you created and what you’ve done, you know, that’s your legacy.

Eric Mulvin: 50:52
So yeah, no, that’s that’s awesome. And yeah, all your your legacy is growing, you know. You went from the DJ to the music thing, and I love the mu the name fits, you know, it that you don’t have to change it up at all, or you know, everything is already there. Yeah, but yeah, what was the big inspiration behind going to the music? Because like I I think with being a DJ, and I I I learned this a bit more listening to like the Netflix stuff with Lil’ John, and I’ve seen other shows, like you’re helping bring new artists to the crowd sometimes, right?

DJ LuiJay: 51:27
Yes, yes, and that’s tough, especially in this industry nowadays. Back then, when I was starting, you know, it was pretty cool because I feel like people appreciated music. I feel like this generation now, and especially when I go DJ at middle schools and high school, they don’t appreciate music anymore. And and when I say that, it’s because when I play tracks, kids write, like they just tell me, like, all right, next, next, in like 30 to like 40 seconds of a song. And I’m just like, don’t you enjoy at least a minute and a half? Yeah. Like, you know, hear the chorus, the melody, like, you know, at least one rap or whatever song, you know, a verse. Like they don’t, they’re like, nah. Like they just like right away, like, change, change, change. And I feel like how we’re changing, it’s like how social media is too. Yeah. But you’re looking at it’s just like you’re just skipping, skipping, skipping. Like, it’s just so fast. Like we’re just evolving so quickly to a point that people are not appreciating certain things in like in time.

Eric Mulvin: 52:40
So that’s an interesting observation that you have. Because I mean, I hear that obviously you hear a lot about like the younger generation with TikTok, Instagram. I mean, we have it ourselves too, where it’s just like scroll, scroll. You only give a video a couple seconds and move on to the next one. But it’s even impacting the kids to the point where even how they listen to music is changing.

DJ LuiJay: 53:00
That’s yeah, yeah. And and it’s surprisingly, right? Like when I hear, I want to say like one in a million. When I hear a child like, oh, I like the 90s or or or the 2000s, I look at that, I’m like, you talk, bro. I’m like, bro, you talking to me. Like that’s my generation. Like, I listen to that stuff. You know, and for somebody to say that like, oh, I I appreciate that. Like, that’s so good. Like, that’s music. And I’m like, I’m gonna be like, I appreciate you listening to music like that. Because yeah, like I I I I to to this day, I feel like the 2000s, like, if they would have like break today, like it’ll be awesome. Because like, no offense to the like the the the the the producers, the beats are so amazing, but some of these artists and rappers, man, they they put some crap out there sometimes, man. And I’m just like, like, I like the beat, but I’m just like, what are you saying? Yeah, oh I know, man.

Eric Mulvin: 53:51
We’re we’re about the same age, so we’ll probably have similar opinions on the case.

DJ LuiJay: 53:55
But again, I have respect for the art, for the creativity, right, and all that, but I’m just like, did you just put that because you just wanted to make money and you’re just living at the moment? Or are you gonna put something out there that that album or that track is gonna be legendary, that people are gonna be like in the next 10, 20 years, be like, man, I I love that track. You know, that they could still listen to and come back. Even like when I hear commercials, you know, when they play certain songs, and I’m just like, oh man, they’re still going through those songs because those are legendary songs, and you’re like, yo, I want to use this. I’m on one of my commercials.

Eric Mulvin: 54:32
Yeah, maybe one day you two could end up on a pharmacy commercial for some.

Eric Mulvin: 54:37
I keep saying all of our music, and they’re turning it into like drug commercials for pharmacy. I’m like, man, another one? They remix this to this drug?

DJ LuiJay: 54:45
What yeah, so you know, and again, that’s that’s that’s remedy. Yeah. Now that comes in.

Eric Mulvin: 54:50
So and amazing from like something that they created 10, 15, 20 years ago, they’re still making revenue off of it, which is awesome.

DJ LuiJay: 54:58
So, yeah, and again, and I feel like I can that’s like a really huge topic to get into when you make music, because a lot of people they think, oh, I want just my music to be like on all platforms and everything. You never know that anybody that picks up that song for a movie, for a commercial, the royalties that you can get from that, and then it just comes, it just keeps coming and coming and coming and never stops. Because once it’s out there, that’s it. So, but obviously that’s a whole different conversation. I’m not getting that, but I’m just letting you know, like, you know, people need to be more creative and just not push and be like, hey, I want to just play here, or I want to be just in California or New York. Like, nah, man, you gotta think bigger. You gotta think worldwide. Like, if you put that song, you never know you might blow up somewhere in Europe, yeah, or in South America or in Asia or in Africa. You know, just don’t always just put yourself like, oh man, I want to blow up in New York, I want to blow up in California. Like, nah, it doesn’t work like that.

Eric Mulvin: 55:55
Well, yeah, it’s true. You never know, like for me and my business, even half of my business comes from outside of the US. Like 25% of my business comes from the UK. And it’s like, I would have never imagined I’d be running this international thing. I thought, oh, I’m gonna have all my customers here. You you don’t know where life takes you.

DJ LuiJay: 56:12
Yeah, you know, and then from there, once you start blowing up from outside, guess what? Now you got people knocking nails out here and be like, oh, now you want to mess with me. But again, that’s how business works. Yeah, you know, so and you just keep going.

Eric Mulvin: 56:28
All right. Another little bit of a different direction here, and I know it was in the intro. You have a bachelor’s degree in music, which I think I was surprised to hear that I don’t know how many people are DJs and also got like the educational background to go with it. So, what inspired you to go pursue the education side of things and how has that helped you in your career?

DJ LuiJay: 56:50
I feel like that right there was something that you know a lot of people when they tap into music, I’ve always been a huge educator. Like, I like education, just because again, that helps you a lot in life, and then plus it just gives you a lot a bigger boost in somebody else, especially when you when you’re talking about professionalism, right? Like if I want to apply for the radio station or certain companies, obviously I’m gonna outshine somebody that can be talented, right, but doesn’t have the resume that a business that they look at. So I taught myself in ways that I can have an EPK for stuff like this, but when it comes down to a professional setting in business, I have a resume that I can show. Cover later, all that stuff. That you will go for an interview at work or stuff like that. So I I will send that, and obviously those people we admire because they’re like, oh man, not only that he has a resume, but he has a degree in something. And I just wanted to just master myself, you know, and be a better person for myself. And it’s just cool to just say, like, hey man, like, yeah, I can I can be this DJ with a slang and everything, but at the same time, I can be in a setting of of professionalism and just like, you know, give my input here and there, whatever the case is, and know that I can be helpful just because I’ve learned and I’m experienced and I went to school and I got something. You know what I mean? I’ve always felt like you going to school, it’s a commitment and sacrifice of whatever years you’ve gone. Because again, a lot of people can be talking crap about why you go to school if you can do this and less. We understand that. But you doing that every day, going to school, doing that tells me that you are very persistent on what you really want and to finish what you started. A lot of people start, don’t finish, yeah, and then forget, and then they’re just jumping over the place. That tells me the type of person that you are. Especially when they say about your credit, how good your credit is, right? That’s because how responsible you are on certain things. So that’s why I see as a person, if you went to school for three, four, five, six years, that already tells me the type of person that you are. Because not a lot of people can do that. A lot of people just like stop and choke and be like, yo, I want to do this. To the point that if you’re one of those people from like, you know, Facebook or you know, what is it, from Apple, like those guys that you know they went to college, but because their mindset was just so smart that they just did it on themselves, like that’s one in a million. Yeah. You know what I mean? But not everybody is like that.

Eric Mulvin: 59:51
You know, the other 999,000.

DJ LuiJay: 59:53
Yeah, like bro, like, you know, they they they once you see that and then you just you see how their lifestyle, whatever there is, and like probably should have just stick to school, and I’m pretty sure you would you would have done better. But you know, but I I I I that’s the one thing I like when people go to school and they graduate, like, you know, I give math props to them because it’s hard. You know, because life still hits you, but you still gotta do what you gotta do, you know, and then once that accomplished accomplishment comes in, bro, you’re good. Yeah, you know, you’re you’re proud for yourself. You’re like, yo, I got this degree. Knowing that you probably not use it, utilize it to the point because you’ll probably do something else. Yeah. But at least that tells you the commitment that what what what you can do, you know what I mean? And and the commitment that you’re telling the other person that’s trying to hire you, they’re like, all right, he went to school for this much. Pretty sure I can probably have him for four years here working for me. Yeah.

Eric Mulvin: 01:00:48
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 01:00:48
You know, so that’s that’s how I look at it. So and I’m pretty sure a lot of business people look at stuff like that too. Oh, yeah, for sure.

Eric Mulvin: 01:00:54
Yeah. And the the education theme though that I see is pretty strong because like with that your background, and then you’re also wanting to start a school in Ecuador. Why where did that come from? Where do you where does why did education become so important?

DJ LuiJay: 01:01:09
Well, um in my background, especially like my dad’s side and my mom, they all they all have degrees. My mom has a degree in accounting. Shout out to my my brother in and in Ecuador. He just graduated from university as a surgical surgeon. He’s a doctor. So my two sisters are attorneys. My brother, he’s about to graduate in com in computers, science, stuff like that. So everybody’s just like very, you know, educated and has degrees, right? That’s one thing that I had to like do as well.

Eric Mulvin: 01:01:48
Like, I’m just like, the family pressure was on you.

DJ LuiJay: 01:01:51
You know, so I I I had to do something, you know. I’m like, well, at least let me master myself in that, and especially in sound, because I love sound. Like frequencies for me, especially for ear, like it has to be on point. You know, when I don’t hear something that is very like appealing and very gentle or anything, like, bruh, like this is all wrong. You got the ear for it. Yeah, yeah. So, and then again, I just feel like education is very important, just because one, you know, you can’t be ignorant or literate about certain things, you know. You you you always have to educate yourself in something. You know, you if you’re gonna touch a laptop, you’re not just gonna be pressing buttons, like you gotta educate yourself on what it is, right? On really small things. So I always felt like you know, learn the process of what you’re gonna get yourself into. And I’m not saying to do four years, eight years, you know, something big, but you know, you have certain schools there that you can do, like, you know, less than six months. You know, that’s always important because one, you get to know the industry that you’re getting yourself into, and then two, the experience that you’re gonna get that probably school doesn’t teach, or you didn’t learn it, you’re gonna learn it there. And that helps more because then now you can teach it to somebody else of the experiences that we had. So that’s one major thing for me that I want to give that to that school that I want to build in Ecuador. Yeah. Just because again, I get to share all that. So when somebody gets to those situations, they’ll be like, oh man, my teacher, my instructor, or whoever it was that shared this with me, this opportunity is coming now, or this situation is coming right now, I know how to handle it. You know, so you won’t have to do the struggle because I already did it for you.

Eric Mulvin: 01:03:34
Yep, yep. Yeah. So I know I I see that a lot in the Philippines too. I mean, we’ll probably see the same thing. You go back and you’re like, man, there’s so much potential here. Yes, so much talent. It just they don’t have the they don’t have opportunities, of course.

DJ LuiJay: 01:03:47
Yeah, like all that stuff. Yeah, yeah. They and again, we’re we’re talking about third world countries here. You know, they’re not like the US or any other that are on top of certain things, you know. But as long as that I can help and give back to my motherland, like, why not? You know, I appreciate this country, of course, the U.S., because it’s gotten me to where I need to be at. You know, I’m I’m always gonna be uh grateful for that, but at the same time, I’m like, hey, you know what? I was born in Ecuador, so I I want to at least give back. You know, knowing that I give back here all the time, I want to at least give back over there and be a part of something even bigger. Because I I do want to be part of that whole country too. Like being in the government and doing all that stuff, man. So I that you know, there’s the but that’s more down the line. But that’s that’s the goal, man. Okay, okay.

Eric Mulvin: 01:04:37
So right now you’re you’re working on your business journey, the music journey. What are you doing with business as far as like how are you educating yourself there and getting yourself the background?

DJ LuiJay: 01:04:48
So I feel like in that in that type of industry in business, I’m just more like, let me utilize my expertise to help, and then have other business partners handle what they’re good at.

Eric Mulvin: 01:05:04
Okay.

DJ LuiJay: 01:05:04
So like when I go in there, I’m very good at marketing and advertising. So every brand or business needs that because at the end of the day, you need sales.

Eric Mulvin: 01:05:15
Yep.

DJ LuiJay: 01:05:16
At the end of the day, you need that person to go talk to, negotiate, and close a deal.

Eric Mulvin: 01:05:21
Yep.

DJ LuiJay: 01:05:22
That’s where I come in. You know what I mean? I’m good at that. So I tell people, like, I see something, like, that’s my investment of my time and the people that I’ve networked. Obviously, me being the radio, it gives you a lot of opportunities for you to connect with and share and be like, hey man, I got this. Do you think we can work something together? Can we collaborate on certain things? Can we do something? We can do business together, you know? That’s when I come in. So that’s that’s that’s that puts me in these type of situations that I’m with these big, you know, bosses. Because I at the end of the day, like I feel like they’re big. But they appreciate me because they’re like, You’re you’re big too, because we need that asset that you’re in that we can’t get from somebody else. Yep.

Eric Mulvin: 01:06:09
So we all need each other.

Eric Mulvin: 01:06:12
We can’t do this on our own, that’s for sure. Exactly.

Eric Mulvin: 01:06:14
So that’s sitting a big boardroom and try to make these decisions, but you still need to work with other people in the real world to know. Of course.

DJ LuiJay: 01:06:21
So yeah, that’s that’s that’s the whole in like you know, me getting into. Because at the end of the day, like I said, I’m I’m tapping in with a lot of things, but I’m still need to push my brand that I that I I I win, and that’s DJ LuiJay. So obviously, me pushing that brand and getting higher and higher, I’m meeting bigger people, bigger investors, yeah, people that are there that you know I can be like, oh, I know who I need to connect you with. That I can just be like, yo man, I got found this person, blah blah. I know you guys can connect because I feel like you have that same energy like this guy, and I know you’re gonna get that, and it’s happened. So I’m like, I’m like the connection of people, like, oh, I can connect you with this person because this I feel like this you guys would do business, and then boom, it happens. So that’s I’m I feel like I’m like that bridge.

Eric Mulvin: 01:07:05
Mm-hmm. Yeah, and that’s so critical, man. I love people like you in my life because I mean that I was I’m also like that too. Probably I could do a lot better. I do meet a lot of people, and I am yeah, I’m always trying to connect people to other people too. You get so much out of it. Like you it’s fun to see what can come out of those connections, right? And that they’re able to collaborate and turn into something, you know, and maybe you could step in and work with them later in the future, even so.

DJ LuiJay: 01:07:32
And obviously, sometimes when that happens, because there’s an etiquette when you do business and if it blows up, they still want you to be a part of it because if it wasn’t for you, that business wouldn’t grow.

Eric Mulvin: 01:07:43
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 01:07:44
You know, so and I always appreciate that. You know, I don’t appreciate when somebody’s trying to take advantage of you or steal connections from you. You know, that happens too. And so that right there, I don’t I don’t like at all. And I don’t like doing business with them. And if I knew the other person that did that, that didn’t go and tell me about, hey man, this guy’s trying to go, you know, behind you, like I don’t even want to uh do business with that person either. Because again, if there’s an etiquette on how to do business and how to respect one another and not go overboard or jump somebody or stuff like that, you know.

Eric Mulvin: 01:08:17
So that’s very true. And I’m curious, you know, because like for me, I I went to school for business, but I started my own business from scratch, and I’ve had to learn those lessons painfully along the way. I mean, is that the same for you too? Like, you did did you have a mentor that’s like teaching you how to look out for that stuff or is this personal experience?

DJ LuiJay: 01:08:36
I I have I have never dealt with that until I got coached and I got mentored to the point that they’ve done it to me. Oh, you know, when I was like being so helpful, because I’m a very helpful person. Like I I care about like when somebody comes out and be like, hey man, I need this, I’m like, alright, cool, I got you.

Theme Song: 01:08:53
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 01:08:53
And then to the point that, you know, I get screwed, or you know, they stab me in the back, and I’m like, and then that other person that we were so cool went with that person to do business and then pushes me off, and then I’m like, wow. So both of you. Yeah, you know, and then to the point that he’s coming back to be like, hey man, I’m sorry, blah blah blah. Can we work? I’m like, nah, man. Like, I’m good. I don’t do business like that. You know, that’s that’s the type of person, and when those type of people know the same level, they will come to you and be like, hey man, this person’s trying to do this, this, and this, and this. I’m like, oh really? Don’t worry, brother, and I apologize. And I tell him, like, hey man, what you doing? I told you to tell me because again, they have respect and they only want to deal with certain people. And that’s it. If you go around or anything, like I have to either tell him for him to be like cool, connect us, it’s doing a group chat, boom boom, for that woman, and that’s it. Because they don’t be like that from anything else, like I ain’t trying to do it until you tell me to. You know, so those are the little things that are etiquette that you like you have to respect. Yeah.

Eric Mulvin: 01:09:57
No, it’s a good I trying to educate people here on the show that are maybe newer in business, and you know, those are the things that you have to learn to deal with, unfortunately. I because I’m like that too, where I’m like, I’m probably overly giving, and then sometimes, yeah, people take advantage of it, and you just gotta build a little bit of a guard up and yeah, yeah, and that and that’s it.

DJ LuiJay: 01:10:16
Yeah, you know, at the end of the day, like again, if it wasn’t for you, because of the connections, how you got there, you know, opportunities that they’re like, hey, I got invited to this place, I got invited to that, you know, like right now, how I met you, I got invited somewhere, and that’s how I met you. You know what I mean? And that’s because of my boy Andre. Shout out to Andre, shout out to Andre. So, but again, you know, it’s just those opportunities that you know, if it wasn’t for Andre that, you know, told you, hey man, you guys should do something, blah, blah, blah, and then boom, now we’re here, right? But because if it wasn’t for him, and knowing that if I would have been there, I probably would have seen you, but nothing would have happened.

Eric Mulvin: 01:10:51
Exactly. Yeah, so yep. And this is it’s fun in business when or just in life, you know, where like these connections like turn into more connections and turn into more connections, and then of course, you see where it ends up. So it’s it’s cool. I love it. I love it. So let’s see what I’m trying to think of anything else I could ask you about. Because uh, you know, we end the show with this big question, and you’ve been kind of answering it throughout the whole show already. So I’m like, man, what are you gonna say that’s different? Maybe you got something down there that you haven’t shared yet. But like, what are you most excited about for the next like? I mean, your career’s been growing and growing and growing. Is 2026 like the year for you, or do you think like you’re building up to something big next year? Or well, how do you feel about where you’re at right now?

DJ LuiJay: 01:11:42
That question I will answer because I am working something huge. I don’t want to say too much, but I will let you know the vision that I have. So, me and some other business partners, we just created a brand called Equanation. And I’m trying to tap into all my Ecuadorians from California to New York, Miami, Chicago, Nevada, Boston, all the United States in two one and making sure that we take care of all those people that come into this country and tapping into Ecuador. And I want to make sure that we create a bigger, broader broadcast in ways that about education, resources, radio, TV, festivals, events, like everything to represent our cult our culture, our food, our brand, like everything out here in Ecuador. So it’s gonna take a lot, but I already have a lot of people involved, and stay tuned for that.

Eric Mulvin: 01:12:52
Oh, okay, okay. So that’s a fun one that’s coming up. Yeah. Anything like uh with the the music that you’re working on now, where do you see that going?

DJ LuiJay: 01:13:03
What do you Oh the well the music it’s it’s it’s gonna be going, man. It’s gonna be gonna be going a lot. I am planning hopefully by next year to put an album just like DJ Khaled. Okay, with a lot of songs, a lot of features, and uh stuff like that. So I feel like we’ll be good.

Eric Mulvin: 01:13:22
Cool. And then you’d mentioned I love making music videos, even though like I’m not a musician person at all, but I do the video stuff. And you were when you’re talking about your song, you’re also talking about the music video, like they go hand in hand. Right. So what like how important is the video for you? Like, is that all like is every song you come out with gonna have a video, a visual?

DJ LuiJay: 01:13:47
I feel like it should have a video, just because one the song, you can hear it, right? But when you put a video into that song, it just speaks different volumes that to the point they’re like, oh, okay. You know, because a lot of things can be interpreted differently, right? Because you you you might say something in the song or whatever, but then you see it on the video, you’re like, oh, this is what he meant. You know, because there’s a lot of scenarios and certain things that a mind can go and be like, oh, he’s talking about this. But then when you show a video, like, oh, he was talking about this.

Eric Mulvin: 01:14:22
Yeah.

DJ LuiJay: 01:14:22
Then you’re like, I got it all wrong. Knowing that it could probably be that too, but you know, it could be a lot of things. Yeah. You know, so I I I feel like a video is always important just because one visual represents you, people get to see you, get to see a lot of things, right? And you’re just exposing yourself. So again, you doing this is exposing yourself. So you’re putting yourself out there. A lot of people don’t like that, you know. But I feel like you’re you’re in the spotlight and you wanna you wanna be that way, you know what I mean? You wanna know who Eric is, you know? So in the same way, like I’m like, I’ve I’ve been doing this a lot to a point that you know what, I want to be on video too. Just because again, I’ve I’ve I performed a lot. I’ve I’ve back in the days that wasn’t crypto, it was staples. You know, the biggest the biggest crowd that I had was 50,000 people at the staples, you know, center. And you know, I would like to get back to doing that again. You know, so but at the same time I want to record it now. You know, because back then I it was just living at that time and at that moment. I didn’t have like people recording. I’m pretty sure people recorded it, but like something very professional, like the doctor nature, like to have something out there and be like, yo, this is gonna be there for the rest of life. Yeah, you know, so that’s that’s that’s the goal now that I wanna I want to make sure that I if I record, I like to put good stuff out there, not just because I took a selfie or anything. Like you can only see that on my stories. Yeah. But if I really want to put something out there, like it has to be on point, like it has to be legit. So I’ve always had that mindset.

Eric Mulvin: 01:15:57
Cool. Well, with that mindset and the where it’s taken you, it’s amazing how far you’ve gone in your career. And so I think that leads us to kind of the last question here. So the show is unfinished business. And so we always like to ask our guests, like, what what’s a big unfinished business for you? And like you talked about a lot of things you want to do. Maybe you’ve covered it all already, but what’s that big goal that you have in your career? What’s something that you want to be able to see done in your lifetime?

DJ LuiJay: 01:16:27
I feel like in in my lifetime that I want all those things that I just said that are unfinished, and it’s a lot of things you know, I would like to see, especially before I leave this earth, to make sure that I have accomplished all of it. And I feel like I will. And I know I am. Those are key words. Because you have to make sure you have to manifest, right? Mm-hmm that I am gonna finish those things no matter what and how I’m gonna do it. I don’t know, but there’s like there’s that there’s that saying, right? There’s a there’s a way, there’s a will for it. I just I just have to. I I I feel like that’s what God you know brought me here to this earth to get to where I need to be at. And my main concern is to make sure that I share all the knowledge and wealth that I can give back to the people. So that’s me the main thing that I need to I want to do in life. So I haven’t done it yet. So and that’s my unfinished business. But once I get it to their man, I can’t wait to be back and be like, look at all these beautiful things.

Eric Mulvin: 01:17:40
Yeah, we’ll have to do we’ll do a live recording in Ecuador and show the school and uh Bro, yes, yes.

DJ LuiJay: 01:17:47
That’s that’s gonna be major, major key right there, man. And that’s motivation now because now I’m putting it out here, and if I haven’t done it, they’re gonna be like, Luigi, I remember you were at Eric’s podcast, and you haven’t done that. So, see, I love what I love what I’m listening, what I’m hearing, and what I’m gonna be seeing for the next five, ten years. So awesome, man.

Eric Mulvin: 01:18:08
Well, thank you so much for being here and sharing some of your story, your journey, your perspective on everything. It was really awesome to hear all that. Thanks for being on the show.

DJ LuiJay: 01:18:17
And love it, brother. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Eric Mulvin: 01:18:19
For people to follow you, like because you’re coming out with music, you’re coming out with businesses, you’re you’re doing a lot. So, where what’s the best place to connect?

DJ LuiJay: 01:18:27
So, DJ Luijay, that’s on my social media. I mean, then obviously DJLuijay.com. So very simple DJ L U I J A Y dot com.

Eric Mulvin: 01:18:39
All right, and if it’s okay with you, can we put the music video to end the show? Of course.

DJ LuiJay: 01:18:44
Okay, stay tuned to that.

Eric Mulvin: 01:18:45
It’s gonna be very hype. So we normally end with our theme song, but today, special episode, we’re gonna end it with his music video. And so thanks for thanks again for being on, and uh, congrats on your music venture. Can’t wait to see where you take it. And uh hopefully I’ll be uh dancing to some of your music in Apple.

DJ LuiJay: 01:19:03
Of course, man. You got to next couple weeks, maybe.

Eric Mulvin: 01:19:09
There we go. All right. Well, if you love what you heard today, you want to hear more stories from incredible people like this, then please make sure you subscribe to our podcast, Unfinished Business with Eric Mulvin, which you could do on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, anywhere where you listen to podcasts, and follow us online at Biz with Eric on social media where you can find clips and hear from amazing guests like uh DJ LuiJay here. So, all right, until next time, thank you guys for watching. We’ll catch you guys on the next episode. See ya.