louie vega
For Louie, nothing feels forced or manufactured. Whether he’s describing hours in the studio with Msaki or the shared history
Brothers, the stories aren’t just about music, they’re about trust. These are not names stacked for clout; they’re relationships
history, and an almost familial ease. that carry weight,
Hearing him talk, you sense why it works. The bond with Msaki is imme- diate, rooted in the honesty of her songwriting and the way her voice slips into Vega’s rhythms as if it was always meant to be there. With The Martinez Brothers, it’s blood-deep, a Bronx and Puerto Rican kinship that translates into grooves that already feel lived-in. Capriati adds another layer, tying back to Naples, to memories of “Angels of Love” parties, to the way scenes travel across generations.
with The Martinez
That’s why these collaborations don’t read as “features” in the modern in- dustry sense. They feel seamless, as if Louie is extending his own world to accommodate others who are already part of its DNA. It’s genuine. And in a time when dance music is full of quick pairings designed to trend, Louie’s choices remind us of what collabora- tion should be: organic, fearless, and born of a shared pulse.
What becomes clear when Louie talks about working with Msaki, The Marti- nez Brothers, or Joseph Capriati is that collaboration is more than recording sessions. It is a rehearsal for the stage, an exchange that finds its full power in front of an audience. The studio may be where ideas are born, but the dan- cefloor is where they breathe.
That duality defines Vega’s career: the ability to sculpt a night as a DJ and, at the same time, to command an entire band as a conductor. The roles demand different energies, but both come from the same instinct, the same trust in connection.
“The Elements Of Life Band gives me lots of adrenaline, sometimes they want me to DJ after a live show and I just can’t. That sound and energy is a different dimension. But DJing, there is nothing like it as well, to be able to play records and speak and connect through your music is an art in its own. I love the best of both worlds.”
PHOTOGRAPHY: CONNOR BAKER, @BONMK1 & GLITTERBOX
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