A big personality gets an artist noticed, but once the bookings grow and management enters the picture: music becomes a business. The same qualities that opened doors can become something others want to package, polish, or control. Artists must decide when to trust their instincts, when to expand their team, and which parts of themselves are nonnegotiable.
In this artist interview, Miami DJ Aqua and I explore the confidence behind his larger-than-life personality. From DJ etiquette to trusting his instincts, and refusing to idolize fame, Aqua shares what it means to build a career without betraying himself.
DR.KYSE: You have a a larger than life personality in a scene where some artists commit to being edgy or mysterious. Were you always this comfortable being fully yourself, or did you have to grow into not caring whether people thought you were “too much”?
AQUA: I definitely had to grow into not caring about what people thought. Being raised by Caribbean parents, there was always this sense of being a little more reserved and not drawing too much attention to yourself. As I got older, I became a lot more comfortable taking up space and just being fully myself, even if that reads as “too much” to some people.
DR.KYSE: I love that many of us get to grow into our actual self as adults. Sometimes it’s easier said than done though. The confidence to be bold and unapologetic requires a lot of self-awareness to avoid internalizing other people’s idea of “too much”. What does “too much” actually mean to you? And when you look back on a moment and think, “Okay, maybe that was too much,” how do you handle it?
AQUA: To me, being “too much” is more about not knowing how to move in certain situations or not being able to read the room. I think everyone has moments they can look back on and learn from, and I’m no different. Growing up Haitian, being “soumoun” was always looked down upon. It’s basically someone who can’t read the room, inserts themselves where they don’t need to be, or tries to force their way into getting what they want. I think that shaped my idea of what being “too much” actually means. It’s not about being expressive or having a big personality. It’s about lacking awareness of the people and situation around you.
In DJ spaces, you see that kind of behavior sometimes. A DJ might come up during someone else’s set and try to jump on the decks, or talk down about other DJs because they think they have the best taste in music and no one else does. To me, that’s soumoun behavior. It’s less about confidence and more about not knowing when to fall back and respect the space you’re in. Sometimes you just have to let people cook!
DR.KYSE: Right! I’ve had many conversations with other DJs about DJ etiquette. It sounds like something many DJ’s are learning to navigate because on one hand, they want to address things in the moment and nip that bad behavior in the bud, but on the other hand, they don’t want to be perceived as rude and hard to work with by the bookers. It’s a battle between being assertive and trying not to be labeled a rude personality.
Speaking of personality, another thing I’ve spoken to DJ’s about is the pressure to stay on brand. Like once DJs go viral or become known for a sound or a style, sometimes there’s pressure to lean into it harder instead of publicly evolving. How do you make sure your personality stays real and doesn’t turn into a persona you feel obligated to perform?
AQUA: I’ve always been true to myself, so I don’t feel like I’m putting on a character when I DJ. I never want to feel like I have to perform a version of myself just because people responded to it.
DR.KYSE: To be able to remain the same person behind the decks that you are offstage, is powerful and empowering. Without naming names, have you ever met other DJs who are completely different people once they get behind the decks?
AQUA: Honestly, I think DJs are pretty much the same people onstage that they are offstage. The energy might be bigger behind the decks because you’re performing and feeding off a crowd, but I don’t think your personality suddenly changes.
DR.KYSE: Do you think there’s a relationship between personality and stage presence at all?
AQUA: I think stage presence is interesting because it doesn’t always have to mirror your everyday personality. Sometimes it amplifies a part of you that doesn’t come out anywhere else. For me, though, I’ve never really wanted Aqua to feel like a character I put on. The energy might be heightened when I’m playing, but it’s still me. My personality, the way I move, the humor, the intensity, even the weirdness in my music all come from the same place.
DR.KYSE: I love that perspective. That authenticity is really foundational in not losing yourself as an artist. Let’s talk a little about your community. As a DJ, you’re in a scene where friendships, dating, hookups, and business can all overlap. Has being so connected changed how you decide who gets access to the real you versus the public version of you?
AQUA: I’ve definitely become much more selective about who I let into my circle. Being social has taught me that being friendly or connected with someone doesn’t necessarily mean they need full access to me. I’ve learned to be more intentional about who I trust with the more personal parts of me.
DR.KYSE: Intentionality and discernment! A lot of people want access to community without necessarily emotionally investing in it. To me, community means more than just collaboration. What does real community mean to you? What do you expect from your community, and what are some expectations that you think are unrealistic?
AQUA: I think my understanding of community gradually grew through meeting so many amazing DJs, selectors, and producers across different scenes and cities. I’ve met people whose taste I really admire, people who have put me onto music, people I’ve learned from just by watching how they move, and people I genuinely appreciate outside of just music.
I think we should be able to expect a certain level of respect, support, and consideration from our community. That doesn’t mean everyone has to be close friends, but I do think there should be some sense that we’re contributing to the same space and that how we treat each other matters.
DR.KYSE: I agree! Also, in some ways, I think the dance music community should be treated like a corporate professional space. Here me out: whether you’re a promoter curating the crowd for the dance floor, a vendor offering unique merch, the light technician melting faces with lasers, or the DJ in the booth: we all play a part in creating an experience where people can dance, let loose, and feel a part of something. Being able to respect, support, and trust one another is key to creating an experience that people want to come back to. How did you learn to trust your own instincts behind the decks instead of adjusting yourself to what the promoter or other DJs wanted?
AQUA: I’ve always trusted myself and my taste that’s ultimately what makes me who I am as a person. I’m confident in what I like and in the story I want to tell when I’m DJing, I’ve never felt the need to shape myself around what other DJs, promoters, or even the crowd might expect from me. Of course I’m reading the room, but I’m not letting the room dictate who I am or what I play.
DR.KYSE: DJing puts your taste, confidence, and personality on display in real time. I recently watched an interview where a DJ talked about preparing heavily for his sets because, most of the time, we only get an hour to show an audience who we are. The DJ interviewing him seemed more comfortable showing up and figuring it out in the moment. Where do you fall on that spectrum? Are you a preparation DJ or a trust-yourself-and-see-where-the-room-goes DJ?
AQUA: I prepare a little, but I mostly trust myself and read the room. I’ll have an idea of some tracks I might want to play or a direction I could take, but I don’t like planning too much because you never really know what a crowd is going to respond to until you’re there.
One time I was booked to DJ a Haitian Flag Day event, and when I got there, I realized none of my konpa, rabòday, or rara was on the USB I had with me. Obviously, that was the music everyone was expecting to hear, so for a second I had to figure out what I was going to do. But I was already there, and I trusted myself to play house music and make it work.
That moment really sums up how I DJ. Even when something doesn’t go according to plan, I don’t panic. I trust my taste, I trust my instincts, and I figure out how to work with what I have. A lot of DJing is being present and confident enough to make a decision and commit to it. The set wasn’t what anyone, including me, expected going into it, but I made it my own. And the crowd enjoyed it.
DR.KYSE: That’s so professionally of you. Even in a moment where you weren’t physically prepared with the genre, you were emotionally prepared to play your set and get the dance floor moving. Which makes sense why you were recently signed by a manager. What a big career shift! As your career continues to advance, do you ever worry that success will require you to become filtered? What parts of your personality are non negotiable?
AQUA: Possibly, but I think that’s something I’ll just have to figure out as I grow. What’s non negotiable for me is being able to do what I do and be who I am. I never want success to come at the cost of filtering out the parts of my personality that make me feel like myself.
DR.KYSE: It’s important to stay mindful of the possibility, but as you’re saying, it’s also really important to be present with your reality. It sounds like you’ve built your foundational confidence as a DJ, so having a manger is only enhancing your path instead of shifting it. What would you tell another DJ who thinks a manager is the missing piece in their career? What should actually be in place before someone else starts helping an artist shape their brand and direction?
AQUA: A manager isn’t necessarily the missing piece. You should already have a clear sense of who you are, what your sound is, and where you want to go before bringing someone else in. They can help guide you, open doors, and handle the business aspect , but they shouldn’t be creating your identity for you. I think you need to have your own direction first, otherwise it’s easy to let someone else shape you into what they think will work.
DR.KYSE: Yes and unfortunately, if you’re influenced to shift based off what someone else thinks will work, keeping up with that image will burn you out because it’s not authentic. Many people say they won’t change for success, until an opportunity land in front of them and they take the bait. Has there ever been a moment where you considered it?
AQUA: I wouldn’t change who I am for success. Success that requires me to betray myself doesn’t feel like success at all. Frankly, it feels unbiblical. And I’m not interested in idolizing fame.
DR.KYSE: I know that’s right! It’s all about aligning with what’s real to you. That mindset is exactly what burnout fears. It’s easy to betray yourself when your values aren’t clear.
How did you know your manager understood you and could represent you and this mindset, rather than them simply seeing something marketable in you? How important was it to you that your manager understood you as the artist and the person, beyond the business opportunity?
AQUA: For me, management has to go beyond just seeing opportunity. A manager should understand your taste, your goals, your boundaries, and what actually makes sense for you long term. From the beginning, my manager had an understanding of who I was, what I wanted to do musically, and how I wanted to present myself. But I also think that’s something you keep learning over time. Someone can recognize that you’re marketable and still not fully understand you as an artist.
DR.KYSE: Amazing insights. Thank you for sharing your experiences and values as an artist. Is there anything you’re currently working on or recently released?
AQUA: I’m currently working on music and continuing to develop my sound. I’m being intentional about what I put out! I’d rather take my time and make sure whatever I release really feels like me.
DR.KYSE: Where can people find you and your work online?
AQUA: Here are the links:
Soundcloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/Oz88AaCnGAL7zJUI6Q
https://www.instagram.com/aqua__phase?stkn=MTF5YTRxMzh4NXg2Mw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Behind every artist is a story that doesn’t always make it to the dancefloor. These conversations are a reminder that sustainability, identity, and mental health are just as important as the music itself. Stay tuned for the next artist interview. Check out the last artist interview if you haven’t already.