Photo Credit: Mpu Dinani Jeremy Roueche (aka DJ Roueche) has made his presence felt not only on a national scale, but an international one as well. Roueche is currently the DJ for the Los Angeles Lakers and AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. As if that wasn't enough, he has also brought music to the beach volleyball games at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. We recently sat down with Jeremy to discuss his career, his motivation and his future.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m the DJ for the Los Angeles Lakers and AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour. Born and raised in Virginia just outside of Washington D.C. Virginia is part of the South, but I was also only 5 hours away from New York, so my early musical influences came from all over the east coast. I moved to Los Angeles at 20 years old and it's been my home ever since.

How did you get started DJing?

While still living in Virginia, a good friend of mine was a DJ and one day he asked me if I’d like to help him out at one of his gigs. This was back in the day when the DJ equipment was huge and your music wasn’t on a laptop or USB stick. I had no idea I would be able to make a career out of it, but I knew DJing was going to be a major part of my life from that moment on. And I didn’t play ONE song at that gig. Just helped my friend setup and tear down his equipment.

What do you love most about being a DJ?

Making other people happy is always a great feeling. There are times when I’m DJing and I see a look on a persons face where I can tell that the only thing that matters in their life at that moment is the song that’s playing.

A good friend of mine, who’s seen/heard me DJ countless times and can probably predict what songs I’m gonna play, was at one of my gigs where I played a remix of Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap. After the gig, he told me that he wasn’t expecting that song but when it came on, he realized that he and everyone else in the club, NEEDED that song at that exact moment. It’s those types of moments that I love.

How did you get involved with Koss?

I’m fortunate to be friends with a Milwaukee native, DJ Shawna. I’ve been aware of Koss for years, but it was DJ Shawna who really turned me on to the brand. I’m on airplanes a lot for my gigs and I gotta say, the Noise Cancelling QZBuds have been a game changer for me.

If you weren’t a DJ, what else would you be doing?

Music Producer. I currently produce music with another DJ/Producer friend of my mine, under the name The Suicide Doors. We have a new single coming out soon with more projects to follow. But if being involved with music wasn’t an option for me, I honestly don’t know what else I’d be doing. Working a job I don’t like in a cubical somewhere? Being a DJ/Music Producer is all I’ve ever wanted to be since I moved to California.

What has been your biggest triumph?

Making a career out of playing music. I didn’t know any full-time DJs growing up and I had no idea one could make a living at it. I've been DJing for 20+ years and I still get asked what else I do besides DJing to make money. I’m proud and privileged that I can say I’m a Professional DJ and it’s taken me around the world more than once.

What has been your biggest tribulation?

Producing music. I played the drums a little bit growing up but I don’t know how to read music or tell you the key a song is in. So getting the sounds/ideas that are in my head into my laptop has be extremely frustrating, but also the most rewarding.

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

I’m EXTREMELY uncomfortable performing in front of people, being the center of attention and public speaking. ALL things DJs have to be able to do. Haha.

You grew up in Virginia, now you live in Los Angeles, the obvious question - East Coast or West Coast?

Let’s be honest, the West Coast has better weather. With that being said, I definitely miss the season changes on the East Coast. Driving through the Shenandoah Mountains when all the leaves are changing colors is an amazing sight. However, I’ll take hanging out on the beach over scraping ice off my car windshield any day.

How has music shaped who you are?

Music is everything. It can evoke every emotion and even time travel. We all have at least one song that every time is comes on it takes you to the place where you first heard it. It’s also helped mold me into the person I am today. Being able to travel all over the United States and the world, I’ve been fortunate to see how other people live and experience cultures outside of my little Los Angeles bubble. It’s given me a perspective on life that I never would have had without music.

What does the next 10 years look like for DJ Roueche?

Producing music with The Suicide Doors is a big focus for me. We’ve made a plan that over the next 10 years we’ll be performing our original music at festivals, touring the world, producing music for other artists and still DJing big events. I also hope along the way I can do something to help the education system in our country. I don’t know how that manifests itself yet, but I believe that with a well educated population, we would cure a lot of the problems we have in our country. You can follow DJ Roueche on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud. Photo Credit: Mpu Dinani