Meet David Cruz | DJ David Cruz

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

Hi David, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Art runs deep in my family. My brother and father are both visual artists — my brother paints murals, including pieces displayed at Rice University, and my father is a self-taught CAD designer who started back when everything was drawn by hand, before computers even entered that space.

I’ve always had the musical ear. “I can pick out the samples in a track, hear the counts and loops — it’s just how my brain works.” Naturally, I wanted to share that gift and play music for the masses… so I set out to do exactly that.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a DJ — I just didn’t know where to start. Then I met DJ Salserin, who not only taught me the ropes but threw me straight into the deep end. Before I even knew how to mix, he had me playing in a nightclub, standing right beside me, showing me how to beatmatch in front of a live crowd. That was back in ’99 or 2000.

It wasn’t easy. I went through plenty of failures, learning how to read a crowd, program a night, and build an atmosphere from nothing — skills that only come through trial and error. These days, I see a lot of young DJs expecting gigs to be handed to them, but back then we had to grind to earn every slot. That’s just the nature of how technology has sped things up.

When I started, I wanted to be a hip-hop DJ more than anything. But as a Latino, I found myself splitting my nights between hip-hop sets and deeply rooted Latin events. That versatility became my edge, setting me apart from other DJs at the time. Nowadays, if you’re not versatile, you’re probably not getting booked.

I consider myself a true open-format DJ, and one thing I’ll proudly say about Houston — we’ve got some of the best Open-Format DJs on the planet today.

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?
When it comes to eating in Houston, I’ve got a few go-to spots — and if we’re adding a little hookah to the mix, La Pasha is the move. This city’s a food capital, so sushi is a must — Kata Robata or AKA are both top-tier. For something unique, I’d say hit Pacha Nikkei for that incredible Peruvian fusion.

If we’re talking burgers, it’s either Rodeo Goat or Trill Burgers — no contest. And BBQ? That’s gotta be Blood Bros BBQ or Pinkerton’s. Honestly, there are a million more places I could name, but trust me — “Food in Houston is an experience you don’t skip.”

These days, I’m big on a good cocktail, so I’ll hit spots like Refuge or The Kennedy. As for nightclubs — well, that’s what I do for a living, so I try to avoid them when I’m not working… but it doesn’t always work out that way.

You’ve also gotta check out the breweries around town, catch a game at the arenas, and don’t sleep on the sports bars here — “In Houston, we don’t just watch the game, we make it an event.”

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve been rocking crowds for nearly 27 years — starting here in Houston and eventually taking my music around the world. Over the years, I’ve explored every corner of the industry, from private events to some of the biggest nightclubs, and from local radio to SiriusXM satellite radio.

I’m especially grateful to the promoters who’ve kept me busy for more than 16 years. A huge shout-out to Impresario, one of the longest-running nightlife promotion companies in Texas; Culture Beat; and DJ Playboy for always putting me on major events. And of course, much respect to Lee Rios for his unforgettable events across the state.

Instagram: @itsdjdavidcruz

Twitter: @itsdjdavidcruz

Facebook: https://facebook.com/djdavidcruz