Thee Mike B on DJ AM, Ed Banger, & How French Electro Took Over LA

In this conversation, Thee Mike B speaks with ON AIR about leaving film school at NYU to chase music, the moment that made him want to be a DJ, and how French electro changed everything. They discuss DJ AM's genius for breaking genre boundaries, the rise of Ed Banger Records and the open, sharing culture it fostered, and the shift from physical crates to Serato that reshaped how DJs work. Thee Mike B also pays tribute to the late DJ Mehdi, runs through his all-time Ed Banger classics, and reveals his very reasonable rider.Who is Thee Mike B:Born and raised in Los Angeles, Thee Mike B — aka Mike Brillstein — has spent over 25 years at the center of West Coast underground culture, earning his stripes from late-night rave map points to festival main stages. Co-founder of the legendary Banana Split Sundays alongside DJ AM and Steve Aoki, he helped break Lady Gaga, Kesha, and AC Slater before the world caught on, and set the template for the open, no-VIP-list party ethos that defines LA nightlife at its best. A 2011 "Best Club DJ" honoree from Los Angeles Magazine, he's played Coachella, Portola, and Hard, held down a residency at Silver Lake institution The Friend, and currently runs his monthly I Feel Love at Club Tee Gee. His production project La Boix with Salva continues to release club-ready material on labels including Turbo, Relief, Brobot, and Rekids.Follow Thee Mike BInstagram: @theemikebdjFollow Stereo PunksInstagram: @stereo.punks