First and Ten with DJ Yoshi
One of my favorite activities is connecting and introducing people who need to meet each other. My standing philosophy is that good people need to meet good people.
I am excited to introduce you to my friend, DJ Yoshi, a highly skilled and renowned DJ who has not only made a significant impact on the sports and music industries but has also shown immense strength and resilience in overcoming personal challenges.
DJ Yoshi has carved out a name for himself with his exceptional mixing skills and diverse musical tastes. He works with several teams and leagues including the Big 10, many major sports events including NFL, USFL, NHL and Army Black Knights football. With a deep passion for various genres, DJ Yoshi has the innate ability to create electrifying sets that leave crowds in awe. His performances are known for their high energy, seamless transitions, and an uncanny ability to read the crowd and create an unforgettable experience.
However, DJ Yoshi's journey has not been without its challenges. He faced a difficult period in his life when he suffered a heart attack, which tested his physical and mental strength. Despite this setback, DJ Yoshi demonstrated remarkable courage and determination in his recovery process. He not only focused on regaining his health but also used his experience to inspire others, spreading awareness about the importance of self-care and the pursuit of one's passions. He discusses hit heart attack in his youtube video HERE.
Beyond his professional achievements, DJ Yoshi is a warm and compassionate individual. He has a genuine and infectious personality that instantly connects with those around him. This is why he has been chosen as the premiere participant of our “1st and 10” Q&A. Enjoy this brief Q&A about DJ Yoshi, his work with Army Football (West Point) and some of his music selections.
Other than your opener, is there a signature song that Army fans look forward to hearing during a game?
Tsunami - Opening Kickoff AND a pivotal 4th quarter moment that I choose
Does Army lean more heavily toward a specific genre of music?
Lately the players have been on a UK hip hop trend while the fans enjoy pop and rock hits.
Do you get music recommendations from fans? If so, what do you do with them?
I bounce them off of marketing and other sports DJ's to see if they're playing the tracks at their events.
What's your favorite sports event or game that you've personally worked?
NFL's 10 Year Anniversary Game for 9/11. It was my first game DJ'ing in the NFL in 2011. It was the Cowboys vs. the Jets. We had live segments from Ground Zero, Five for Fighting singing the halftime show and Lady A performing the national anthem. With military fly overs and pyro, it was an incredibly timed show that was produced by Rich Gentile.
How many times do your players request music from you?
My clients rarely request songs these days. From Football to Basketball, pro sports to college, they've come to appreciate my ability to mix in tracks for everyone.
What is your hobby outside of sports that most people wouldn't know you are into?
Photography and Golf. I'm a 4 handicap in golf, and I'm a traveling photographer. My clients are mostly headshot and lifestyle shoots... with some landscape sprinkled in.
How do you keep the energy level up during game, and what are some techniques you use to do so?
Directing a game is like scoring a movie and similar to how I format a club set. You can't keep taking people higher and higher... You'll eventually peak and then you'll plateau or decline. I like to use music and my voice in a way that engages the crowd... From sing along segments to on-camera hits where they can see what I'm doing. I'll sing or dance along with the tracks. I'll also bring the energy up, then down, then back up again. It's been my formula that works... but when it's time to just keep going up and up during a break that isn't game related, I'll mix a sing along track with a current banger or even remix a track on the fly.
Is there a song, played in stadium, that you never want to hear again?
Who Let the Dogs Out... I just can't!
What do you play when a home team loses?
Lately it's been a lo-fi instrumental during PA followed by something uplifting
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest music trends and what's popular among athletes and fans?
Music: I'm serviced by most record labels. Artists and their management also send me music to review and play. I'm a member of DJ City and Headliner so that helps when seeing what other club DJ's are playing. I speak with people in general who are in music or radio to see what their playlists are like. And my younger cousins and their friends, The kids who are in their late teens and early 20's who can break down what's going on.
DJ Yoshi’s top 5 tracks fans will hear at an Army, B1G Ten Football or MLB LLWSC Game:
1. Tsunami
2. The Power of the Darkside (this track has been my go to banger for about 10 years. High Energy EDM and fans from all of my clients have asked me what it is and where I got it)
3. A-ha - Take On Me - JUST TRY IT. Fans go absolutely bonkers during sing along
4. My Own Worst Enemy - HUGE Sing along track that I love to play. 1 game with the Devils, we started it during a break, and the crowd was really into it that day. we kept bringing it back at different points of the song when there was a stoppage in play
5. Mr. Brightside - I posted a video from when I dropped this at B1G Ten back in 2016 or so. I brought dowon the volume so the crowd could sing with each other.... it was beautiful to hear