Toney Handsome on DJ Branding, Leon Thomas & Why Women Run Nightlife | Creative Ambiance Ep. 96

In this episode of Creative Ambiance, we sit down with Toney Handsome, the genre-defying DJ from Long Beach who’s carved a lane across hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music. As the official DJ for Leon Thomas, and a close collaborator with artists like Ty Dolla $ign, Channel Tres, Kaytranada, and Wax Motif, Toney shares how he’s built a career rooted in taste, versatility, and authenticity. We talk about what makes a party unforgettable, why DJs need to treat themselves like brands, and the importance of curating your own scene (like his signature event, Had To Be There). Plus, we get into Pisces energy, the state of music in 2025, and why it’s okay to like both Kendrick and Drake. Creative Ambiance Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sosupersam/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@creativeambiance Twitter: https://twitter.com/ambiancepodcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rMRH8DVAWKrRGjdMkVMfk?si=0FHGGaYyRFWpEVRyqX0p7w Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambiance/id1466436193 Toney Handsome Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toneyhandsome/ Website: https://linktr.ee/Toneyhandsome SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/toneyhandsome 0:00 Intro 3:00 Balancing Hip Hop & EDM 11:00 Is Stems Bad for DJs? 15:00 Tastefulness 20:00 Admiration for other DJs 30:00 Treating Yourself Like a Brand 42:00 Leon Thomas 46:00 Sports & Music 53:00 Life Outside of Music 1:03:30 Had to Be There Party 1:15:30 2025 & Beyond 1:26:00 Pisces Energy 1:29:00 Closing