Whether he's on the stage or in the studio - DJ, producer, musical director and sound ambassador DJ Drez is about the journey into sound. By cutting and composing original tracks his sounds assist the body's movements when dancing or doing yoga asana.

He integrates elements of hiphop, world music, soul, funk, jazz, and reggae into his signature sound. He has worked with a number of top artists, including KRS 1, Black Eyed Peas and Macy Gray, as well as brands that include Adidas, X Games, and ABC to name a few. We talked with Drez to find out more about his style, his recent solo work and Alpine Swift.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How is a Yoga DJ different then other DJs that we're familiar with?

DJ DREZ: I actually don’t consider myself a “yoga DJ.” In that I dj all kinds of music in many different kinds of venues which include everything from a hip hop club and world music festivals to yoga studios and yoga festivals. I do play a huge range of world music that is appropriate for a practice. I think the fact that I practice yoga and have many related spiritual practices adds to my ability to connect the students and teacher in any given environment. If anything, that's what makes me a very good “yoga DJ.”

AM: What music do you focus on for yoga?

DJ DREZ: I play a lot of instrumental world music. I also produce specifically for the practice and again I draw upon my own experiences on the mat. Practicing yoga has helped me tremendously in how I am able to support students and teachers sonically. It is actually a careful play of energy between us all. I never have a set play list and instead let the music flow organically with what is actually happening in the room.

AM: What styles of music do you play/produce?

DJ DREZ: I come from a hip hop, soul, jazz and world background. So this always heavily influences anything I play and produce. You can hear my roots in the music I play. Even if it has elements of Africa or India you can feel the hip hop and soul, Vice Versa.

AM: 'Alpine Swift' recently dropped. What was its inspiration?

DJ DREZ: My literal travels, my mind travels, my family and my art. I realized how often I am on a plane, train or in a car. Starring out of a window. Meditating or imagining. Always in flight to create and do what I love, which is make and share music. My art. Traveling has been a big part of my career and journey, with pockets of touching down here and there. I wondered if there was a bird like that, always in flight and Alpine Swift came to mind. Did you know that bird can fly for hours, days, and months, while sleeping, and eating mid-flight. Its not by choice for me, but part of the unglamorous road I have to walk in order to do what I love to do and make a living. Now can you imagine what that feels like sometimes? Can you imagine what that might sound like? Alpine Swift.

AM: What other artists have you worked with and do you have a genre you like to work in?

DJ DREZ: I love working with my wife Marti Nikko. She is an amazing singer and we released an album last year called Dreaming in Sanskrit which is a sweet, boomin' mantra album supported by hip hop and reggae beats. It's really something special. We have already started working on its follow-up. I also work with many MCs, singers and some super fresh musicians. I really enjoy collaborating with others.

AM: What's your favorite music to listen to?

DJ DREZ: Thats difficult to answer. That's like asking which child do you love more. I love what I love, especially what is really done well. I don’t worry about boundaries and categories so much. If it sounds good, is well made and moves me then I can listen to it. I do come across music that sometimes isn't for me, but I can appreciate i because it's well done. No matter what, it has to have soul.

AM: With your busy schedule (solo projects, collaborations) of being a family man, working with a number of artists and sought after organizations, how do you stay grounded and balanced?

DJ DREZ: Yoga, mantra, breath, good nourishing food and great yummy sex! Those are all super important. I wouldn’t be able to work it at this level without those practices supporting me.

AM: When you're not working - what do you when you have time for yourself?

DJ DREZ: I try to spend my off-time with my family and in nature. I nurture them and they also nurture me. It's one of the reasons i do what I do. They inspire me to be the best me. Nature supports these qualities too, helping me to feel the earth under my feet. To be in quiet when I am alone and with them. I even hear my son differently in nature. So we try and take many nature walks and spend a lot of my off time at the beach or hiking up our mountain. Included in this are practices of yoga, mantra, breath, good nourishing food and great yummy sex!

1. Sound Ambassador - Anahata Ether

2. Bombay Dub Orchestra - Dust (Pigment of Your Imagination Mix)

3. Marti Nikko - I Am Love {Plum Mood edit)

4. Sound Ambassador - Anahata

5. Moby - Memory Gospel

6. Bonobo - Terrapin

7. DJ Drez - Light Me Up

8. Trevor Hall - Who Ya Gonna Turn To

9. DJ Drez - Sugar Drop 77

10. Domonic Dean Breaux - Morning