My Exclusive Interview With Kayristin

The party doesn't start until Kayristin walks in. As a DJ, it's her job to keep the energy flowing with electrifying sets and exclusive remixes—and now that she's branching out into original music, you don't have to see her in person to enjoy her heart-stopping beats. Her love for music, passion for adventure, and fun, bombastic personality make Kayristin a natural entertainer, and as you read this in-depth interview, you'll realize how much work goes into these sets that seem like a spur-of-the-moment celebration.

1. As someone with no DJing experience, let's start with the basics: what exactly does a DJ do? What are your responsibilities during a set? How do you build a playlist that's fun and entertaining for the crowd?

We curate a vibe for the venue and make people want to dance! The responsibilities of a DJ are to read the room and feel what the vibe is so everyone can dance and have a good time. I usually build playlists based on my set time and what music I’ve been into recently.

I like to play a mix of bass and house energy to keep the crowd on their toes. I have so much music on my drive, so if I need to change the vibe, it’s really easy to do. I keep my playlists as different vibes, so it’s easy to set the right mood when I am just freestyling with nothing planned.

2. In my (extremely limited) clubbing experience, I've noticed that DJs adjust and remix songs to make them even more explosive. What kinds of tricks and techniques do you use to turn up the energy during your set? Likewise, what tips do you have for your fellow DJs?

Personally, my mixing style allows for full songs to play out, but if the energy needs to be a bit faster, I can mix at the breakdown. Remixing is done way before I ever play live. I make my own remixes and original tracks that make my sets unique. My tips for other DJs would be to take the time to add cue points to your tracks and set loop markers so everything is fast and streamlined for when you play live.

3. What kinds of software and equipment do you use during your set? Do you bring your own equipment, or do you use what the venue provides?

I use Rekordbox for my DJing. This program involves a lot of work behind the scenes before I ever step in front of a deck. I don’t normally bring my own equipment, but I use either compact disc jockeys (CDJs) or XDJs where I can plug directly into the equipment to play, no computer required.

4. How did you become a DJ and producer? What do you love about your job, and what draws you to dance music in general? Who are your favorite artists to play at sets?

My love for music really drew me into the DJ world. I love finding good music and wanting to share it with others, so DJing felt like the natural next step. I am very passionate about music and the rave culture as well.

I had a mentor who taught me his techniques, and he also tried to teach me production too, but ultimately I watched YouTube videos and took some Ableton classes that were offered by a local collective. Just messing around in the program was also a good way to learn.

My introduction to EDM and the culture was pretty funny. I met someone on an airplane, and his music on his headphones sounded really cool. We started talking, and he told me he would take me to a rave when we both got back to the island.

He kept that promise. I ended up at a warehouse rave in Kaka'ako (Honolulu) with my roommates, and we all discovered it; the rest is history. My next show was Afrojack at Wet'n'Wild Hawaii!

I don’t always have a favorite artist I play live because I love playing obscure music that no one has ever heard before. But some of my favorite artists to play live are MCHALE, GRiZ, LUKE ALEXANDER, WELKER (mostly smaller artists!)

5. Out of all your original songs, which one is your favorite? What was the recording and production process like? How did you infuse it with as much ear candy as possible?

This is a really hard question, but I think my favorite has always been "Can I Hit Your Vape?" One of my first tracks I released. I had the idea for this song at the beginning of my production days, and I knew it would be fun to make and so relatable. I reached out to someone with a bunch of song ideas, and she loved that one and started running with the idea and sent me a ton of vocals for it.

I got to work and finished the track that night. I decided I wanted laser sounds in the song to stand out, and it’s just such a fun track, and I play it in every set!

6. When you're playing a set, do you get caught up in the atmosphere, like a runner experiencing a "runner's high"? Has working as a DJ given you a different perspective on club culture? Which is more enjoyable: being a DJ or dancing in the crowd?

Yes, absolutely; they call it a flow state. I am also a fire dancer, which is almost completely flow. It’s super fun! When I am not DJing, I prefer to be spinning my LED dragon staff in the crowd or on stage. I prefer being the DJ if I am going to be at the club; it did low-key ruin the experience a bit as a patron because DJing is a bit addictive and it is so much fun!

I often think that I could do a better job than the current DJ. I hear mistakes and just get easily annoyed by things that never bothered me before. Sometimes, it’s hard to just relax.

7. Now that you're transitioning to music production, what kind of career are you interested in? Do you want to release more original music or produce for different artists, or both? How has your DJ career helped you succeed as a producer?

My main goal as a producer is to travel and play music festivals! I moved to San Diego from Oahu, Hawaii so I could follow this dream. I needed to network on the mainland to make the connections I need to play more festivals. So far, I have played quite a few. This year alone, I played three and booked five (two were canceled at the last minute.) Overall, I think I have played 10 festivals, with many more to come as I keep expanding my sound and network.

I have been releasing mostly original music, with a few remixes. I actually find it harder to make remixes because that song already exists in your head. I don’t plan on ghost producing for other people at all. I am focused on my own projects, but I am always down to collaborate.

I don’t think DJing has helped my career as a producer really, but they clearly overlap, and I play my own songs live all the time.

8. When you're remixing an existing song, how do you put your own spin on it? Do you have any production techniques that make it uniquely "yours"?

When I remix a song, I try to keep the vibe of the song while also putting my own spin on it. I like to add vocal stutters and these sounds called a Reese bass. I am still discovering my unique sound, but it’s all part of the fun!

9. Similarly, what makes you want to remix a specific track in particular? Do you choose songs because you feel like your sets (and the music industry in general) could use a dance version of that track?

Personally, I prefer to make original tracks, but when it comes to remixing, I sometimes hear a song and realize it’s dope, but it could be better, and I make note of it. I look online to see if a good remix already exists, and if one doesn’t, then I start working on it.

Another thing I do is find a cool popular song and see what it would sound like if I put a spin on it. I don’t normally remix songs that I think are already good enough. I wanna make songs better! I have remixed other dance music songs as well as music I think the world needs.

My latest remix I actually started last year and finally released it the other day. It’s a remix of "Love Potion No. 9," which is an oldie! Another song I think I remixed really well was "On My Mind" by Diplo and Sidepiece. They made a VIP version, but I hated the drop, so I made my own version, and it SLAPS!

My most downloaded song is "PURRR" by Slayyyter with over 300 downloads, and my most played song is my "Lost" edit by Vintage Culture and Gabss with over 100k plays. Both of those songs are great but needed a little something extra!

10. What are some of your favorite club and festival memories? If you had to choose a favorite gig, what would it be?

Okay, some of my favorite set memories would be: my Impromptu Art Car set at the Texas Eclipse Festival. That moment was my first introduction to art cars, and I ended up playing twice that weekend. I had a huge crowd and finally felt seen for my music!

I would say another great moment would be when I got to play RENEW, which was a SSBD/Almost Nakey event in San Diego at Fit Social. That was a really cool event, and I feel like I played one of my best sets ever! It was an honor to open for Big Gigantic and DJ Susan and be a part of an opening party for my favorite festival.

When promoters trust me as a female artist to do my best and give me a proper stage and time to showcase what I've got, it makes me extremely happy because I know what I can do if someone would just trust me to do it.

To keep the party going, you can check out Kayristin's website, follow her on Instagram, Threads, YouTube and TikTok, and stream her tracks on Spotify, Tidal, SoundCloud, Amazon Music and Apple Music.