ML - Vegas Magazine

Vegas - 2016 - Issue 6 - Winter - #INSTA-Vegas

Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.

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88  VEGASMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAESAR SEBASTIAN STEVE AOKI | MUSICIAN/PRODUCER @steveaoki Social media platforms seem to bend to Steve Aoki's will, since one of the most social of all international DJs was doing grassroots social media of his own long before the likes of Instagram. "Even in the MySpace days, I was throwing parties so I could DJ; I was on the ground, passing out flyers. I'm about the dissemination of information," he adds. "That information was music, a new release on my label [Dim Mak Records, which he founded in 1996]. I was passionate about exposing Bloc Party to the world; party after party I'd give out CDs to people I knew. It starts with a genuine interest in how you present things." In the Inst-era, Aoki says, "The presentation you give to people is as important as what's inside." That's why his multimillion-follower social media presence is heavy on pictorial narrative. "You have to explain the story—the backstory and the labor that went into what they're getting." About his posts, he says, "I'm not selling things all the time. I'm showcasing different parts of my culture." Most memorable moment: "I was lucky enough to sit eye-view at the final presidential debate. And then I raced over to Hillary's rally in North Las Vegas, and I got a selfie with her and Bill. It was so cool and of-the-moment. I garnered over 100,000 likes, and I made a big deal of that on Snapchat." Most frequent comment: "Usually where they're from: 'Come to Guatemala! Come to Istanbul! Come to Jakarta!' The community that follows me is worldwide." Secret skill: "Recharging on a five-minute nap. I'll sleep anywhere. There's no shame to the game. And I can do it in any vehicle you can imagine. I try to get my team to follow the same protocol so we can all reschedule." Favorite local hangout: "I love Izakaya Go: You have to go to these little guys off the Strip, in these strip malls undercover." Zen and the art of Vegas: "Local spots that are important for me have healthy options. I go to Protein House, Greens and Proteins, and Fruits & Roots is actually in my rider. When I travel their juices are always in my fridge ready to go." 90 minutes in Vegas: "I'd go to Oracle, a gymnastics place where Cirque gymnasts train. I trained there and it was pretty amazing." Most inspirational place: "My studio—it's in my house. You can see it on Instagram at #neonfuturecave." For more on Aoki's best of Vegas, go to vegasmagazine.com.

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