Meet Myraan Mays | Internationally-signed DJ, Producer and Label Executive

We had the good fortune of connecting with Myraan Mays and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Myraan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting Las Olas and its parent creative agency, DATIES, stemmed from my desire to position my brother, Ramoan (SRRMN), my circle of creatives and the larger ecosystem of artists across the eastern seaboard in front of more fruitful performance, representation and economic opportunities.

Being an artist isn’t easy – I’ve lived some of the best and worst parts of being a full-time artist. From creative blocks and lack of resources to playing on stages you never imagined art could take you, doing it alone and having no one by your side to share memories with, confide stresses to and celebrate wins isn’t fun. I started DATIES and its subsidiary networks to solve this issue, working to connect creatives and the community better to foster a supportive ecosystem that builds a brighter, sustainable future for us as artists.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been a DJ for 6 years and made my 2nd anniversary in electronic music production this past March. Over my time as a musician, my DJ sets, and production style has changed dramatically, from focusing on what I felt people would want to hear and when to now telling a story with my sets and music production that expresses how I feel and what I seek to communicate with my audiences. It took a lot of time to get to this point, and it wasn’t easy, but this singular factor sets me apart, and the authenticity of my approach has helped me craft my distinctive tribe of fans and followers.

Getting to where I am today took a lot, from time and resources to monetary means; this was and is a challenging journey. But that’s what makes the success so fruitful. Overcoming adversities in my life as an artist required a strong team composed of friends and family to lean on in times of hardship, the ability to adapt and pivot based on life and its natural changes, and constant reminders that everything will be okay. Of course, this journey would only be complete with failures, which taught me humility. Everyone fails; it’s normal – how you recover from your losses matters. My story isn’t meant to be one of 100% glitz and glam – it’s intended to demonstrate the best and worst parts of being a creative entrepreneur, and most importantly, it’s meant to be relatable.

Today, I’m most excited about the future of my music production career and the success of my label, Las Olas Records and its parent agency, DATIES. I’m reaching new listeners and touching unfamiliar stages globally; Las Olas is continuing to attract the attention of more artists and labels; and DATIES is working in lockstep with a business accelerator program on a community-organization platform for artists in New York and South Florida, connecting them to financial and performance opportunities to help them build a more sustainable career.

The future is bright for my team and me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man, I’ve been based in New York for some time now, but South Florida is my birthplace and first home. For a week-long trip, you have time to experience some of everything.

For starters, traversing Las Olas and the surrounding area can take up your evening for a few days. I love seafood – they’ve got to try the Lobster Bar Sea Grille or Del Frisco’s. For artists, there are plenty of galleries, including the New River Fine Arts Gallery. Or, head up to FATVillage for plenty of people watching, jumping bars like Rhythm & Vine and artsy sightseeing. If you’re heading further south, you can’t go wrong visiting Wynwood in Miami.

If you’re like me, I find stepping away from the club scene the most fun and being in nature, though you can find plenty of that venturing to Miami, South or Fort Lauderdale beach. Visiting the area would only be complete with seeing the Everglades. And you can’t forget some of the area’s great nature spots, such as the Tree Tops and Markham Park. You’d likely find me biking through either or producing some music on the beach.

There’s so much to do in South Florida; the opportunities are truly endless. There’s something for the nature lover, the partygoer and the sightseer. The most important thing is that you get out and explore, period!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friends and family deserve more credit than I can put into words – they have influenced almost everything I’ve done today. My Las Olas partner and brother, Ramoan (SRRMN), inspired me to begin producing house music when I listened to his recent album, The Black Priest Gospel. Also, he encouraged me to go full-force with Las Olas and make our presence down south when we kept getting declined by record labels in the northeast. Today, both of us are internationally recognized and signed artists with records peaking on respective top 100 charts.

My mother and grandmother have always been my biggest supporters and cheered me on in my journey as a musician and an entrepreneur. To this, my grandmother knows my DJ schedule better than I sometimes do. Following the success of one of my other brothers, Arren (a.k.a. A+ the CEO), pushed me to deepen my knowledge of music and the art of DJing, allowing me to expand my craft, reach new horizons and define who DJ BLVD truly is.

This is a shoutout to those folks in my life who have consistently brought out the best in me – I appreciate you more than you can imagine.

Website: http://d-mmc.us

Instagram: http://instagram.com/byDJBLVD

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myraanmays/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byDJBLVD