Q&A: Chizzle

Open format DJ & Producer, Miami-based Chizzle is known for his high-energy sets & is truly a force to be reckoned with. Chizzle studies the audience & seamlessly blends every genre from hip-hop, electro, latin, house, & current hits across the nation & internationally.

Chizzle has earned his place as one of the most in-demand open-format DJs playing over 250 shows a year. He has played coast to coast across top nightclubs including LIV (Miami), E11even (Miami), 1Oak (NYC & Tokyo), Avalon Mohegan (CT), Hyde Beach (Miami), Underground (Chicago), Summit (Austin), Daer (FTL) & Lex (Reno). Chizzle’s unique style has propelled him to showcase his skills in nightlife entertainment across the nation & internationally in New York, Tokyo, Osaka Japan, Vegas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Austin, Sacramento, Reno, OKC, Nashville, & D.C.

Chizzle has been a supporting act for artists including Drake, Diplo, Dillon Francis, RL Grime, Gucci Mane, Cheat Codes, DJ Diesel (Shaq), Travis Scott, A-Trak, Chris Brown, Tory Lanez, Borgeous, ASAP Ferg, Cash Cash, Loud Luxury, Carnage, Vice, Craze, Jazzy Jeff, French Montana, Nas, Future, Nora En Pure, and others. His remixes have been played on the biggest stages including Ultra & EDC by top universal talent including Marshmello, Tiesto, Diplo, The Chainsmokers, & Major Lazer.

Performing internationally has led Chizzle to play in front of high-profile celebrities on a nightly basis. His corporate client list ranges from Sports Illustrated, Tiffany & Co, Soul Cycle, Equinox, Hugo Boss, Footlocker, Champs Lululemon, Victoria Secret, Disney, EA Sports, JP Morgan, IMax, & Redbull.

Chizzle’s remixes & custom music edits are featured regularly on Diplo & Friends, XM Radio’s Pitbull’s Globalization and every DJ record pool in the world including DJ City, Headliner Music Club, Club Killers, & BPM Supreme. Chizzle’s live mixes have gained much attention, which led him to become a live guest DJ mixer on Miami’s top party radio station, Power 96.5.

This momentum has led him to become the official tour DJ for recording artist Austin Mahone. This has given Chizzle the opportunity to perform internationally in-front of crowds of 60,000+ in Europe, & Asia. Chizzle is truly a force to be reckoned with &paving the way to be one the elite open-format DJ’s in the world.

We recently sat down with Chizzle to get an insight on what it’s like to be him and how he got to where he is.

How did you get started as DJ/Producer?
I attended school at UCF and joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. I bought a pair of turntables, a Numark mixer that my mom bought me as a going away gift at Best Buy the night before Summer B semester of college started. $300 was a lot for my mom at the time but she knew it was what I really wanted. I started practicing in my dorm room on campus, DJ’d the fraternity parties, pool parties, and started to grow in the UCF college scene.

How did you get the name Chizzle?
My real name is Chad. My buddy Trevor sat behind me in class and would be like “Chizzle Chad”, I was looking for a nickname it just hit with the CH, and I ran with it ever since.

Describe a typical working day for you?
I wake up, always do some fitness in the morning to get my mind right. Hit the gym, do some cardio, yoga, stretching, and listen to music to keep my mind set for the day. Then I go eat, and get on the grind, handle day to day business things. Work on music, edit photos and videos until it’s showtime at night.

What do you like to do for fun?
I love fitness, I love to laugh, listen to music, be creative, I love food, and love to travel and just see the world

What is something many people don’t know about you?
I have my doctorate degree in pharmacy, my PharmD. I spent about 9 years in college.

If you had to start a tour tomorrow and bring in any three DJs, who would you bring on tour?
Crespo, Iron Lyon, and Prankstisci; in no particular order. My 3 best friends who I consider my brothers.

What is it like being Austin Mahone’s DJ?
It’s a life changing experience, to travel the world, do shows. But more importantly, Austin is one of my closest friends and somebody who I can always count on to be there for me. True family to me.

Who are you listening too right now?
I listen to everything. Dance, hip-hop, R&B. My favorite artists are Tory Lanez, Kanye West, The Weeknd, DVSN, Fisher, and Timmy Trumpet.

You’re a successful DJ/Producer who has traveled the world, many people would say you’ve already made it. What else is left for you to accomplish?
Consistency play at LIV, Vegas, and top venues across the country.

Where is one place you’ve always wanted to play?
LIV was always the dream, and I’ve been blessed to play there 3 times. Truly grateful for the opportunity.

What artist have you’ve always wanted to do a collab with?
Tory Lanez, I truly feel he’s the most talented artist in the world.

What is advice you can give to up-and-coming DJ/Producers?
Stay focused, create your own lane, think outside the box, and don’t listen to any haters. Keep moving forward.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Being the biggest open-format DJ in the world.

Follow Chizzle
Website: chizzlethedj.com
Facebook: facebook.com/djchizzle
Twitter: @djchizzle
Instagram: @djchizzle
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/djchizzle
Mixcloud: mixcloud.com/djchizzle