DJ's (from top left to bottom right): Yo Colombo, KICKIT, All Day Ray, Dopez, Helios + La Moon
As Austin rapidly grows, it can be difficult to find and build community. I aimed to discover a means to unite local DJs, each contributing their own unique sazón to the ATX music scene.
With this in mind, I coordinated a photoshoot with my good friend and extremely talented photographer Jay Ybarra during this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month. We featured and partnered with DJs whose ethnic backgrounds span from Mexico, Colombia and Puerto Rico.
As we honor HHM we can’t forget how integral music is to the celebration. I wanted to intentionally recognize some of the dopest DJs I know, all of their hard work and how we bring the party to anywhere we spin.
I was able to connect with J. Colunga's Body and Paint and his beautiful lowrider QVO, a classic Chevy Impala with a teal body and emerald green top for the photo shoot. For decades Mr. Colunga has hosted a car meetup on Sundays in East Austin, Chicano Park.
REP YOUR FLAG
From the Bori squad to my Mexican fam I loved seeing us all standing proudly holding our banderas. Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate our roots as well as the contributions of Hispanic Americans to culture, history and achievements of the US.
I plan to turn this project into a monthly meet up following Hispanic Heritage Month to ensure empowerment, community, and retention of the DJ community in Austin.
Fellow DJs - stay tuned for details on November's meetup via my Instagram. If you're interested in participating feel free to shoot me an email - info@thedjhelios.com
I also want to thank the featured DJs for their time and talents as they keep the local music and entertainment industry strong, diverse and vibrant.
Now for the fun part. Below you'll find stunning portraits of each DJ with an attached bio of their highlights, their story and their style. Read up on us, follow us on socials but most importantly book one of us for your next event!
From sound engineer turned DJ, Helios has been a prominent presence in the music and entertainment industry for the past decade. She possesses diverse talents - spinning for renowned names such as Espolòn and La Colombe in Texas, at massive corporate conferences in Las Vegas, as well as gracing the decks of nightclubs in Mexico City.
DJ Helios coined the term “Hype You Up (HYU)” to describe her mixes and DJ style, blending high energy tracks and crafting seamless transitions between genres, decades and artists. She loves the universality of music and how people can celebrate community, cultura and life on the dance floor. Helios fuses beats and pulls inspiration from her Mexican roots, her love of hip hop, reggaeton, house, r&b and funky edits.
She strives to pave a path forward for up and coming female DJs and audio engineers, particularly women of color. Helios loves partnering with local brands and businesses like Frida Friday ATX, _OFCOLOR and M.A.S. Cultura - whose mission is to empower underrepresented communities.
DJ KICKIT is an energetic open-format DJ from Austin, Texas. Born in Mexico, DJ KICKIT has a strong-rooted background in Latino culture and pride. Her first love of music stems from the age of four as a former drummer, violinist, rapper, and on-air personality.
Her mixing style of blending classic hip-hop, funk, and Latino favorites has been recognized throughout the country. She was recently featured on DJCITY Latino and Pitbull’s Globalization on SiriusXM with the legendary DJ Laz on his segment LIVE FROM THE 305. In 2018, her tribute mix to Hip-Hop group A Tribe Called Quest was on rotation during the “A Cypher in Queens” exhibition in New York and received an honorary mention by sculpture artist Sherwin Banfield.
She continues performing throughout Austin, Texas including the Austin City Limits Festival, and was recently awarded a Proclamation by the City of Austin, declaring May 17th as “DJ KICKIT Day.” Lastly, DJ KICKIT launched a podcast discussing topics within the DJ community entitled Scratch Theory of Tejas. From Austin to New York & Miami, and across the globe, you can’t miss a chance to dance to KICKIT’s music selection of badass beats.
DJ la Moon's journey through music began in the vibrant streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico. From her earliest memories, she held a profound love for music, a passion that would ultimately shape her bumpin’ cosmic sound. Her magnetic presence behind the decks soon transcended borders, From the sultry beaches of Miami to the bustling metropolis of New York, her beats left an indelible mark.
La Moon is renowned as "La Reina del Perreo", a title bestowed upon her by ardent supporters enamored with her explosive Reggaeton/Perreo DJ sets.
Based in Austin, Texas, she graces the stages of the city's most renowned venues - Mala Vida, especially at the adorable pink Perreo haven, "Rosa Mami," witnesses her electrifying sets that ignite the dance floor with an infectious energy. In 2023, DJ la Moon took SXSW by storm, delivering a show-stopping performance at McDonald's "Spotlight Dorado" event. Her magnetic presence and unparalleled skill also shone at Austin's prestigious club, Superstition, on Selena Night, leaving the audience in awe.
All Day Ray, an Austin-based DJ and producer with a global musical footprint spanning over 15 years, hailing from Philadelphia but deeply connected to his Puerto Rican heritage, Ray’s musical journey is a fusion of cultural roots and personal passions.
His early exposure to music came from his father’s eclectic record collection, which ignited his love for diverse musical genres. Following in the footsteps of his family’s musical legacy, Ray’s youth was punctuated by the rhythmic beats of congas and drums. However, it was the turntables that ultimately became Ray’s instrument of choice.
Born and raised in Southern California (San Diego) DJ Yo Colombo is a first generation American with parents immigrating from Colombia & Chile. His love for DJing began a little over 10yrs ago as he began as a club/event promoter in the San Diego nightlife scene.
With a special love for R&B he was a founding member of the San Diego chapter of “Cuffin - All things RnB” party and creator of Austin, TX's “RCK The Boat - An R&B Affair”.
Now residing in Austin, TX he continues to rock crowds as well creating new and exciting events for the public. Not limited by any genre, and with a heavy tie to his cultural roots, you can see Colombo always taking chances with new sounds and mind blowing mixes.
David “Dopez” Lopez has been playing with records and turntables since he was sixteen years old. Originally from San Antonio, he learned how to DJ using YouTube tutorials which eventually landed him as a two-time DMC US finalist and has won an array of DJ battles before he was twenty one. The technical aspect of scratching and quick mixing really appealed to him and gained him notoriety at a national level. He currently runs a weekly throwback party called “NowY2K” at local dance club “Barbarella” every Thursday night since 2021 and DJs full time around Austin playing a variety of DJ sets and genres depending on what he’s booked for. From open-format contemporary hip-hop, to 90s deep house, and to digging in the crates for an all vinyl set, there’s nothing he can’t handle. He’s currently working on releasing original music and maintaining his local presence in the Austin music scene and is looking to take his talents nationwide.
Credits -
Photographer - Jay Ybarra
Creative Directors - Jay Ybarra, DJ Helios
Featured DJs - Yo Colombo, KICKIT, All Day Ray, Dopez, Helios + La Moon
Car - J. Colunga's Body and Paint / QVO
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