RB Exclusive Interview: HoneyLuv

HoneyLuv is an LA-based house DJ worth keeping an eye on! With roots in hip-hop and having grown up in a musical Mecca like Cleveland, Ohio, HoneyLuv has a unique flair that makes her sound standout amongst the rest. She’s toured with artists like Kaytranada and taken the stage at iconic venues and festivals such as Brooklyn Mirage and EDC Las Vegas. Next up: Tempe, Arizona! We had the chance to chat with HoneyLuv before her upcoming performance at Sunbar with J. Worra. Check it out!

For your new fans, tell us a little bit about your background. How did you begin making music?

Well my love for making music started when I was in high school. I would make beats with my portable studio and Casio piano. I would write lyrics and go into my closet to record them and honestly, out of that, My first song I ever made was a Hip Hop song called, “ Buy You the World,” but it will never see the light of day, because it’s on a very old laptop.

Unfortunately, at that time making music didn’t really go too far because I was a full-time basketball player and that was my main focus. So it wasn’t till I moved to LA, that music had found its way back into my life and I’m so happy that it did. I eventually enrolled myself into the Los Angeles recording school and also had mentors like Ant LaRock showing me the ropes as well and just giving me the full breakdown about what goes into making a house track.

How did your transition from making hip-hop and R&B to house and techno come about? 

I went into DJing wanting to do House music because of the music my mother would play when I was younger and the fact that we were big fans of Calvin Harris & Kygo. I really didn’t know anyone in the house scene at that time of me starting to DJ but I knew so many people in the hip hop world. So, it was easy for me to get in and spin in those parties. It wasn’t till I started reaching out to mutual friends and them inviting me out to events or me reaching out to promoters, that I started to get just a slither of my foot in the door. Covid actually helped me make that full transition into the house scene because I was able to showcase myself to the world as a house DJ. Platforms like Femme House created by LP Giobbi, definitely helped give me that boost of credibility as well. 

Did growing up in Cleveland influence your sound at all? 

I would say the music that was played around me while growing up in Cleveland, definitely had a major influence. When you have greats like the late Gerald Levert, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, all coming out of Cleveland; The music just has so much soul and that is the heart of it all. So with my sound, I am finding ways to put all that I have in heart into my music.

You made your Insomniac Records debut last month with “Your Tongue.” How has the response been so far? What was it like working with the Insomniac team? 

The response has been absolutely amazing. So many people are jamming it out all over the world and that truly makes my heart smile. The insomniac team has been so supportive with my career and I’m truly happy with the creativity we are bringing to the table. I really do appreciate them taking a chance on me because that’s all I needed, was an opportunity and Insomniac gave that to me. So it’s all love.

I know you’ve been working on some new tunes. Anything you can tell us about?

Yes, so much grooviness is floating around right now and it’s an amazing process. I have my next single coming out in April on Chris Lakes label, Black Book. So I’m super pumped to see how it will do. It’s been going crazy on the dance floor, which always certifies if it’s a groover or not.

March is Women’s Month. What advice would you give to other women aspiring to break through in the music industry?

As I always say, be true to yourself. Don’t try to be like anyone but you. Authenticity goes way further than anything that isn’t. Be consistent and self motivated because if this is something you really want, it’s not going to be easy, so you have to be dedicated to it; Eat, sleep, and breathe this life, as I like to say. Finally, just work hard, have a work ethic that sets you apart and be confident in it all.

You’ve been named an Artist to Watch in 2022! What are your goals for this year? What are you looking forward to most?

My goals this year is to play overseas, especially in Ibiza. I want to continue to make space for more women in the dance industry, especially for women who look like me. Lastly, I want to have a track that hits number 1 and honestly, with how everything is going right now, anything is possible.

You can see HoneyLuv this Friday, March 11th, 2022 at Sunbar in Tempe AZ. Grab tickets here!

Connect with HoneyLuv: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify