From Marquee to the Masses: DJ Savi on 2AM Chronicles
- Written by Adriana Bolanos
THE DJ To Know…
At 2 a.m. in Los Angeles, the lights are coming on and the night is already winding down. But for DJ Savi, a veteran of the late-night circuit, that’s where the contrast begins. “2 a.m. in LA, you’re scrambling for what’s next. But in New York, it’s prime time. In Miami, you’re probably just finishing dinner,” he says, grinning. That fluid understanding of nightlife across cities is exactly what makes Savi so adaptable.
Born from a love of performance and an early stint in acting, Savi’s journey into music wasn’t meticulously planned, it was instinctual. A natural behind the decks, he built his name not only through high-energy sets but through an ability to pivot across genres in real-time. “I’m known for switching it up mid-set. I read the room and let the crowd guide me,” he explains. “One night it’s tech house, the next it’s drum and bass, hip hop, and EDM all in 90 minutes. And somehow it just works.”
The turning point came in 2013 during spring break in Las Vegas. Savi was opening for none other than Avicii at Marquee. But when the headliner was delayed, Savi was told to extend his set. “They were like, ‘Start playing like you’re headlining.’ So I sent it.” The crowd erupted, and the moment ultimately landed him a residency at Marquee for four years. “Avicii was the GOAT. That night changed my life.”
Not all of Savi’s big moments come under glittering lights or exclusive clubs. One of his most memorable gigs? A rave in a skatepark in Arqueta, California. “I had no expectations. But the community there…they just loved dance music. I played for over three hours,” he recalls.
Savi is also one of the few DJs openly experimenting with AI. On tour, he created a personalized intro track for each city by altering a Loop Mag cover star, Jaden Bojsen, and David Guetta track using AI tools. “I’d pitch the instrumental, change the vocals, and drop the venue name into the chorus. When people heard their city in the track, they lost it. It was a new kind of connection.”
In 2023, Savi won Insomniac’s prestigious Discovery Project, earning a slot at EDC Las Vegas, a bucket-list moment. “It was surreal. Goosebumps. I could hear every stage while I was performing. I really tried to soak it in.”
It was a career highlight, but it came on the heels of heartbreak. Savi had poured years into a duo project called Lost Like Us. A live electronic act that gained early momentum but dissolved when his partner abruptly quit. “I put my heart and soul into that. I was devastated,” he says. “But I learned a lot. About myself. About what I want to say as an artist.”
Now, Savi is forging ahead solo, channeling that emotional residue into new music like Wasting Time With You, inspired by the hollowness of L.A.’s dating scene. “I went out one night, tried to meet someone new, it sucked,” he says. “I realized how much I missed having someone real. That song came from that frustration.”
Despite the rise of influencer-DJs, Savi’s not here for the gimmicks. “Some people are in it for content or clout. But this is still art to me. It deserves respect.” He laments the shift from genuine connection to curated moments. “People are so busy filming for their story, they’re not even at the show. I get it, we need content too. But man, don’t miss the moment.”
From chaotic megaclubs like Omnia San Diego to guilty pleasure end-of-show moments like Taylor Swift’s Love Story, Savi has stayed grounded through change. He dreams of acting again someday, but for now, music is the mission. “I have so much to say still,” he says. “And I’m going to get it all out.”
Where the industry’s headed next is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain: he’s not just spinning tracks, he’s chasing connections. And for those willing to dance like they mean it, he’s got the soundtrack.
