DJ-Producer HoneyLuv On Taking Risks, Chasing Dreams, & the Joys of House Music
What do you get when a woman from Ohio walks into a radio station and becomes a renowned DJ? This was only the start for house music DJ-producer HoneyLuv. She is known for taking risks and making iconic career jumps from initially playing college basketball to becoming a Navy sailor to her current career as an electronic music artist in L.A.
HoneyLuv is the embodiment of what taking life-changing risks can successfully become. She teaches us that we all have endless potential to make our dreams come true – all it takes is a leap of faith and maybe a pitstop in D.C.
EDITION recently sat down with the trailblazer to talk career jumps, risk-taking, and the joys of house music.
See more: Aluna Defines Diversity for Dance Music
You moved from Ohio to L.A. Did you ever get those moments where you felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz? How did it feel taking those first steps towards your dream?
Honestly, there was a pitstop in between for me going from Ohio to L.A. I had gone to D.C., which opened my eyes to so much stuff that I had never even witnessed when I was in Ohio. There were different cultures, different clubs, and food. So, D.C. helped prepare me for what L.A. was going to be. By the time I did go to L.A., I was a freshman on the scene. I knew a little bit but didn't know too much. I knew L.A. was the place where a lot of people would go to chase their dreams. Going to L.A., we got told in the military, that's where I was going. Something inside me was like, ‘Something's going to happen.’ I didn't know what it was or what it could be. I felt that something was going to happen because I was the only person out of my whole squadron in that graduating class in the military that got orders to go to L.A.
Incredible. Where has been the most memorable place you've played?
The most memorable place right now would have to be New York, where I'm currently. I played at the Brooklyn Mirage. The New York culture is amazing. I'm obsessed with it. The crowd at the Brooklyn Mirage at that time was probably one of the biggest crowds I had played. The feel, energy, and being able to bounce minds off of theirs were magical. That’s probably the most memorable place I've played. I think the show sold out. So, it was crazy.
I know you made your debut on Dash Radio. Now that you have your own radio show called House of Honey, can you tell me more about that? Is that a passion project for you?
I’m currently not doing it now. During the pandemic, our studio had shut down. But in the process, when I was doing that, it was basically me trying to introduce my friends to house music and tell them about the culture. It came from Black people and just trying to get them more into it as I was and just trying to spread the word. So that was really what my mission was, but hopefully, I can bring back another radio show in the future do the same thing.
Who would be a dream person you would have come on your show?
I would have to be Honey Dijon, for sure. I’d love to have my good friend MK and my other good friend Roland Clark. I want to highlight all the people in dance music, especially females and POC, and LGBT people.
Very cool. Your music is heavily based on house genres. How did you first get into that?
Through my mother. When I was younger, she would always play classics like Frankie Knuckles and CeCe Peniston. At the time, I really didn't appreciate it. But as I got older, I definitely did. So, I have to say my mother introduced me to all different types of music.
So, you have gone from a basketball player to a U.S. Navy sailor to your current career as a DJ and producer. Do you have any plans to add another job to your resume?
There’s an actor credit in there as well. Before I got to DJing, I was doing background work in LA. So, I do have some IMDb cred around there, but hopefully, I get to get back into it later on in the year and hopefully probably some fashion modeling as well.
Who would you want to walk for?
I would love to walk a Louis Vuitton show, Burberry, or Off-White.
That would be insane. So, what inspires you the most as an artist? Is there a story behind your name?
When I was in freshman, I got my name from an R&B singer who was really popular in the ‘90s. He’s not too popular now, but he had a song called “Honey Love.” Ever since I was a freshman in high school, I had listened to that song, and I absolutely loved it. So, I changed my name on Twitter to that. It stuck with me until now. R&B culture definitely inspires me so much. It’s all I listen to.
Any advice for someone that wants to make a fresh start in a career or move across the States to chase their dream?
Honestly, you got to take the risk. If you don't take risks, things don't happen. You have to feel uncomfortable because being comfortable, you're not going to go anywhere because you're not forcing yourself or challenging yourself to do something different. So, you have to be consistent with it and believe in yourself and believe in the universe and speak positivity into it, and things will definitely happen.
HoneyLuv will perform at multiple top-tier parties during Miami Music Week! See dates and venues below.
3/23 - DJ Mag Pool Party at Sagamore Hotel
3/25 - MK & Friends at National Hotel
3/27 - Chris Lake's Black Book Records showcase at Space Park Miami
