Biography
Who is Steve Aoki?
Early life and education
Born in Miami on November 30, 1977, he grew up in Newport Beach, California. He attended Newport Harbor High School, graduating in 1995. During his time there, he participated in varsity badminton. He later enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
At this institution, he earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees, focusing on sociology and women's studies. While attending college, he began producing his own music. He organized underground concerts within his student housing cooperative. This venue eventually earned the nickname The Pickle Patch. During his college years, he was also active in student politics, founding a chapter of the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League on campus.
Founding Dim Mak Records
In 1996, while in his early twenties, Steve Aoki established his own record label, Dim Mak Records. He chose this name as a tribute to his childhood hero, Bruce Lee, with the term translating to the touch of death. The label became a platform for various electro house artists.
Over the years, the company released music from groups like Bloc Party, The Kills, and Klaxons. He also collaborated with Blake Miller of the band Moving Units to create remixes under the name Weird Science. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he remained active in various bands, including This Machine Kills and The Fire Next Time. His label work helped define his early trajectory in the music industry.
Musical career and albums
Steve Aoki gained significant attention as a producer and DJ. His debut studio album, Wonderland, arrived in 2012. This project featured various vocalists and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance/Electronica Album. In 2014, he released the first part of his two-part album series, Neon Future I. This album reached the number one spot on the United States Dance/Electronic Albums chart. He followed this with Neon Future II, which also saw chart success.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated with many well-known artists. His list of partners includes Linkin Park, BTS, Fall Out Boy, and Iggy Azalea. These collaborations span multiple genres and have appeared in various films and commercials. His track A Light That Never Comes with Linkin Park especially appeared in the film The Expendables 3. He is also known for extensive touring. In 2012, reports designated him as the highest-grossing electronic dance music artist in North America for touring. He often incorporates acrobatic stunts into his performances, such as crowd surfing and throwing cake at his audience.
Family and personal life
He is the son of Hiroaki Aoki, who founded the restaurant chain Benihana. He has several siblings, including the model and actress Devon Aoki. In 2019, he published a memoir titled Blue: The Color of Noise, which details his life and career. Beyond his music, he founded the Steve Aoki Charitable Fund. This organization focuses on raising money for humanitarian relief groups around the world.
In his personal life, he is married to Sasha Sofine. He has one child named Rocky77 Aoki. He also maintains an interest in collecting. His work continues to span music production, club DJing, and acting.
Birthday and age
Steve Aoki was born on November 30, 1977, which makes Steve 48 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Steve shares the date with 22 other famous people.
Explore more
