A national championship ring on one hand, a turntable on the other. That’s the unexpected arc of DJ Nasty Nate, who traded Auburn football practices for late nights in Honolulu’s Chinatown and found a craft worth building from the ground up.
We dive into the real playbook for breaking into Hawaiʻi’s DJ scene—no clout chasing, no gimmicks. Nate walked us through how showing up to clubs and venues, listening before asking, and introducing himself with aloha opened doors faster than any pitch. He breaks down the differences between Birmingham’s trap-heavy nights and Oʻahu’s genre-blending crowds, why Latin sets became his biggest learning curve, and how he balances new heat with the familiar records people forgot they love. From reggae to R&B to hip hop to reggaeton, he treats each night like a puzzle: peak, reset, send folks to the bar, and bring them back without burning the room out.
We also get into the craft. Nate still practices on turntables to keep his ear honest, avoids repeating the previous DJ’s set, and builds crates as a foundation before freestyling where the crowd leads. He shares candid thoughts on timeless R&B versus TikTok-fast trends, why some songs will outlive the news cycle. The community piece matters too: Hawaiʻi’s collaborative culture, Scratcher Hawaiʻi, and Bay Area ties that prove sharing shine doesn’t dim your own.
Offstage, Nate coaches at UFC Gym Kailua with a functional fitness focus—helping clients move better, feel stronger, and build sustainable habits. The mindset that earned him a scholarship at Auburn now powers long nights, consistent practice, and a growing party brand with DJ Marknado. He’s building Much Loved into a traveling R&B experience while keeping Hawaiʻi as home base, investing in social content, and wearing all seven hats modern DJs need.
If you care about crowd reading, set building, vinyl respect, or how to enter a tight-knit market the right way, this conversation is packed with examples and honest advice. Hit play, subscribe for more Above the Bridge stories, and drop a comment with the one song that never fails in your city.
