Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kyle Estabillo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kyle, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I think the simplest and most straightforward answer is that I was committed and obsessed with this. There were nights I literally couldn’t sleep because I’d imagine someone else in my exact position, out there making music, practicing DJing, or networking—doing something while I was asleep. I didn’t like that feeling. So I’d get up and make music, work on my branding, or do whatever would help me advance as an artist.

Be obsessed and be dedicated.

Kyle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve always been drawn to the creative scene growing up. As the youngest of three brothers, I watched my older siblings excel in basketball, both being highly athletic and talented in the sport. I tried to follow in their footsteps, but never really found myself in the spotlight.

After being cut from the high school freshman basketball team, I started searching for new paths where I could truly “shine.” That’s when I turned to theater, and for a couple of years, I immersed myself in it. I even landed the lead role in a play called Stage Door and performed as a background dancer in a few musicals.

During this time, I also got into hip-hop and dreamt of becoming a rapper. I adopted the stage name “Kyree,” which was a nod to my basketball background and the NBA player Kyrie Irving. I decided to spell it with two E’s to represent my full name, Kyle Eric Coronado Estabillo—the E’s standing for “Eric Estabillo.”

While pursuing a hobby as a rapper under the name Kyree, I slowly realized I didn’t have the voice for it, though I still loved writing music. I just hadn’t found my niche yet.

Everything changed in 2017 when I attended my first rave, where Jauz performed at Bill Graham. A friend, knowing I wasn’t into electronic music at the time, bought me a ticket and insisted I give it a chance. I remember telling him, “This is my first and last rave.” He laughed and said, “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”

As soon as we entered the venue, my perspective completely shifted. The energy from the crowd, the sense of community, and the PLUR culture (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect) all resonated with me. I was hooked.

By my third rave, I found myself asking, “How do I make this a part of my life forever?” I looked up at the stage, saw Ghastly performing, and knew exactly what I had to do.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I first entered the industry, I knew absolutely nothing, and people took advantage of me left and right. Essentially, they’d use me to promote their shows by saying, “You might get to play if you sell enough tickets.” But the catch was, you wouldn’t know if you were playing until just a few hours before the show. Most of the time, no matter how many tickets you sold, you wouldn’t get to play because “the veteran promoters” had hierarchy over you.

This was all while I was part of a collective—which I won’t name, but if you know, you know. Being in this collective was practically a full-time job without any pay.

Yes, you’d sell tickets, and they wouldn’t give you a single dime or any real exposure. One week, you might do well in ticket sales, but if the next week didn’t go as well, they’d treat you like dog shit.

They had shows every weekend and expected you to be at each one. I understand that being part of the nightlife is essential in this industry, but when they gave me grief for prioritizing family over promoting, I knew I had to get out.

When I was trying to leave, the owner personally called me (something he never did) and said, “You’re the best bass house DJ I have; I don’t want to lose you.” It worked on me and I thought things would change. But a few months later, it was the same old story. I finally got out by telling them I was quitting music, though I knew I just needed to bet on myself to get shows. In the end, I got the last laugh..

Have you ever had to pivot?

This is a quick story, but to me, it was very pivotal.

When I first started DJing, I didn’t produce music. Within my first year, one of my old friends told me, “You aren’t going to be anything but an opener if you don’t start producing your own music.”

That statement sparked a fire in me, and I began learning FL Studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/kyreemusic?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAab8dRDf6F5Lhszz7N0meIIcfzMxOwTbxYPmJ_W7Mu81sOLGZtESN7hMpMQ_aem_6SloK_5_7rBy3esgAye_DQ
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kyreemusic/profilecard/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kyreemusic?si=_htANO6vzaIDi1fY
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/6N7MaH1CgnUhPiD46

Image Credits

Michael Muse
Niko Ramirez