Inside the World of Mike Taylor: A Conversation on Music, DJing, and Career Milestones

BLURRED CULTURE: You recently performed for a massive crowd where Mark Zuckerberg was in attendance—how does that feel, and does it change how you approach your sets knowing who’s in the audience?

MIKE TAYLOR: Yeah, that was at the Chase Center in SF, where the Golden State Warriors play. It was an absolute blast to rock another arena. I used to pretend I was on a stage like that when I was a kid, so to actually live it out is surreal. I wrote the theme song for The Acquired Podcast, and this was a live taping in front of a sold-out crowd. Sharing the stage with folks like Mark Zuckerberg and Daniel Ek, the founder and CEO of Spotify, was wild. As far as my approach goes, though, I don’t really change it based on who’s in the crowd. I put the same heart and energy into every show, whether it’s two people or 50,000—trust me, you should see me at rehearsals!

BC: Your sound is known for blending genres seamlessly. How do you decide which elements to pull from different styles when creating a new track or remix?

MIKE: I don’t really “decide”—I just channel. To me, thinking in terms of genre feels limiting, like putting things in boxes. I make the music I want to hear and pull from whatever inspires me at the time. It’s an endless, ever-growing well of influences. That’s how I live and how I create—just flowing with what feels right.

BC: What’s been the most surprising reaction you’ve had from an audience during one of your sets? For you, is there a difference between playing a DJ set and performing your own music?

MIKE: The most surprising reaction is always seeing someone genuinely moved by the music. It never gets old knowing that something I created in a room with friends, from an honest place, can touch someone out there. That’s always mind-blowing. DJing and performing my own music are definitely different vibes. DJing is about curating energy in a space, while performing my music feels more personal—like I’m sharing parts of myself with the crowd.

BC: How do you stay grounded while playing for such large crowds and high-profile events?

MIKE: For me, it’s simple—I don’t overthink it. I love being on stage, whether the crowd is big or small. I also don’t see myself as being on a pedestal, showcasing my “talents” (I say talents sarcastically). It’s about community and creating a shared energy. I see it as an exchange, and we’re all in it together.

BC: A lot of DJs travel constantly. How do you stay creative and productive on the road?

MIKE: My brain is always on, and I find inspiration everywhere. Everything around me makes me want to create—it’s like a constant stream of ideas, haha.

BC: What’s your go-to routine for prepping before a big show or festival set?

MIKE: If I’m singing, I do the usual vocal rest and warm-ups. My performances are high-energy, so I also focus on cardio and breath control. For DJing, I don’t plan my sets—I read the crowd in the moment. My prep is mostly organizing music and making edits to tracks so I can drop them whenever the vibe calls for it.

BC: Social media has become a huge part of a DJ’s life. How do you balance the pressure to constantly share content with the need to focus on your art?

MIKE: Honestly, I’m not great at balancing it yet. I’m doing my best, but social media is still something I’m figuring out, haha.

BC: You’ve collaborated with a wide variety of artists. Who has been the most interesting person to work with, and why?

MIKE: That’s a tough one, but I’d have to say Unlike Pluto. The second time we met, we worked on a song for a few hours, and that ended up being my most successful track, “Everything Black.” It just went certified Gold in the U.S. this year and has over 1 billion streams across all platforms, with over 300 million on Spotify alone. I still can’t wrap my head around that.

BC: Is there a moment in your career that you look back on and think, “This was when I knew I’d made it?”

MIKE: That feeling changes every few years, honestly, haha. But to this day, I don’t feel like I’ve “made it.” I’m always moving the goalposts, and I like it that way. Once I started making a living solely from music, that was definitely a milestone, but I’ve still got so much I want to accomplish. I still feel like an up-and-coming artist in a lot of ways.

BC: The electronic music scene evolves quickly. How do you stay ahead of the curve without losing your unique sound?

MIKE: I don’t think about staying ahead of trends. I’m just a songwriter at the core, and I make songs that feel right. The sound comes naturally from whatever we’re vibing with that day.

BC: What kind of legacy do you hope to leave in the world of DJing and music production?

MIKE: When it comes to DJing, I’m not sure about a “legacy.” But with my music, I hope to contribute to the ongoing conversation around Black art and queer art. I want to add to the lineage of artists who paved the way before me and, hopefully, become a part of that foundation for future artists to build on.

BC: You’ve played everything from intimate venues to massive festivals. How do you approach each set differently based on the size and type of crowd?

MIKE: My experience DJing helps a lot here. It’s all about reading the room and adjusting to the energy of the space. I have a lot of songs to choose from, so it’s easy to mix things up. I mean, I’m definitely not going to drop an EDM banger in a small, intimate venue, haha.

BC: What’s next for Mike Taylor? Any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re particularly excited about?

MIKE: I took a break from my artist projects for a few years. I was burned out, tired of the industry, and needed a reset. During that time, I focused on DJing and growing in that area—plus, you know, we had that time we don’t speak of when the world shut down, haha. But now I’m back and ready to go. I’ve been working on a ton of new music—solo stuff, more DJ collaborations, and I never stopped working with Unlike Pluto. We’re finally ready to release some follow-up music to “Everything Black,” and I’m excited for people to hear what’s coming next.