DJ Mal-Ski had a night he’ll never forget when he was invited to perform alongside Stevie Wonder at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). In this exclusive interview, he shares the incredible story of how he landed this dream gig and the unforgettable experience of working with one of music’s greatest icons.

Read the full interview below to hear more about Mal-Ski’s story and his advice for DJs looking to find a successful career in music.

Walk us through how it went down when you were asked to perform at the DNC. What was going through your mind?!

I’m at my daughter’s basketball practice and Stevie (Wonder) called and said, “Come to the studio.” He wanted to work on something. He said he wanted me to remix his song “Higher Ground” into more of a DJ/dance version for an event. So, I got to the studio and he told me it was for the DNC. Of course, I was like “WHOOAAAA.”

I was excited to be remixing a song that he’d be performing on such a huge stage. Then I overheard him on the phone telling someone his plans, and heard him say, “Yeh it’s just me and Mal-Ski coming…” WOW! I stepped out the studio into the bathroom and just lifted my arms and worshiped God for a quick minute by myself. Fixed my face, came back in the studio, and he said “We’re gonna do something fresh and new.” That was a moment for me.

The last time we spoke to you, you told us how you initially met Stevie and went out on tour with him. Can you tell us anything about your personal relationship with Stevie Wonder before the DNC?

All I can say is Stevie is like a father figure/mentor/boss/hilarious Uncle, all at the same time. He will tell me an incredibly funny story that has me cracking up, and then two seconds later, check me for not giving my best or showing enough of God’s love through what I do.

How did you prepare for that performance?

We rehearsed how it would go at the studio, spoke more about it on the plane, and then tweaked a few things once we got to the United Center. He decided he wanted to add more to the staging so that it would look bigger, so he got dancers from the Debbie Allen School of Dance, and he got Adam Blackstone and Rob Gueringer to play on the track and rock out with us.

What did your DJ rider or setup look like for that night? 

My rider/setup was 2x CDJ 3000s and a Pioneer DJ DJM S-11.

Has anything changed since that night? Are you getting more phone calls?

Absolutely! When Stevie Wonder calls your name on live TV, things happen. Calls haven’t stopped coming in. It’s a tremendous blessing!

What does an average day look like for Mal-Ski?

Mornings are centered around my family. My life revolves around my family. My youngest daughter is a hooper, so there’s basketball practice and such. My oldest daughter is a gymnast, so there’s gymnastics practice. And my wife is my everything, so there’s that.

Afternoons and evenings are either in the studio producing new music for artists like Miles Minnick and Ashley Imani (check them out please!), and pretty much every night is full of events, clubs, parties, etc.

What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working? Any unexpected hobbies?

My favorite thing to do when I’m not working outside of spending time with my family is playing golf. Yes, I’m A REAL GOLFER. So, if you’re reading this, and you want the smoke…I’m taking all fades (laughs). But you might wanna look up my handicap first.

Tell us what’s coming up next for you. Any projects, tours, or releases?

As for producing, I just released a song with Ashley Imani called “IT’S ME” that’s doing really well, and I also just released a song with Miles Minnick called “My God Ain’t Done,” which as of today is #3 Trending on Instagram and #9 Trending on TikTok. I have three more crazy releases coming before the year is up. They are fire!

As for touring, I’m currently the official DJ for the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), the LA Sparks (WNBA), and the USC Trojans, and they are all in season. I am also the official DJ for the MONSTER JAM Stadium tour in the fall, so come rock out with the most amazing monster trucks and drivers in the world!

Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your younger self if you had the chance?

Knowing what I know now if I could go back to Long Beach or Rialto and give little Mal-Ski some advice, it would be this: Yes, you are different. That’s God’s intention for you. DON’T WASTE TIME TRYING TO FIT IN. Embrace it, and make money off it!! God didn’t make a mistake with you! He broke the mold! So, trust GOD, chase PURPOSE, and INVEST in what you wanna see.

Any final words for the DJs out there?

DJs! My family! Don’t let these promoters or social media make you think you have to mimic or copy someone else’s style to be relevant. And don’t let them make you think that you have to take someone else’s route to be successful. You DON’T. Be unapologetically who God made YOU! And when they come asking for yo sauce, AND THEY WILL, charge double for it!!

Follow DJ Mal-Ski on Instagram and TikTok to keep up with his music and tour dates.