Meet Nima Cheraghi | Co-Founder of This Is Dance Music, Artist & Songwriter

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

Hi Nima, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Working in the music industry is not for the faint of heart. Like most jobs in the greater entertainment industry, you have to really love what you’re in. I’m working from when I wake to when I sleep. I dream about music. It’s within me 24/7.

The work is often not glamorous as well. For the few moments of euphoria I experience when creating records or hosting music events, there are thousands of hours spent to make it happen.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
For me, everything start in the metal music scene in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I joined my first band at 11 years old and started playing shows. I also started producing and mixing at 15 for bands in the city. One of the bands I started in high school did pretty well at a local and regional scale. Those years were the foundation of my songwriting and performative experience.

In college, I fell in love with hip-hop and worked with local artist to produce their beats and mix their records. By the time I graduated, I thought I was going to become a beat producer.

But in late 2019, I went to a concert and experienced severe acute hearing loss. I lost 60% of my hearing. Then COVID hit. I went into a depression, thinking I would never be able to make music like I used to.

It was really important I took the time to grieve my hearing loss, because I came out of COVID realizing nothing would make me happy except betting everything into music. I applied to University of Southern California’s Master’s in Music Industry program, got in, and moved to LA in 2022. It was in Los Angeles where my passion for music re-surged from experience the LA dance music scene.

Moving to LA was a massive risk, but I know it was incredibly worth it because I met my good friend and business partner, Jorge Duarte. He’s an incredible DJ, and we’ve combined our expertise to build our dance music record label, This Is Dance Music. We have huge goals for this label, and we intend to be an important change agent in the industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m taking them to all the underground dance events; the events at spaces that are open until the sun rises. Of course, I have to take them to a This Is Dance Music event.

Then I’m taking them to the various personal food essentials; Panini Kabob Grill, Hama Sushi, Adrian’s Tacos, and Tanghuogongfu. For some unique finer food experiences: Crossroads, Baar Baar, Bevel, and Bastia.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this to my mother and father, both of which blessed me with their best qualities and allowed me to nuture my love for music.

Website: https://thisisdancemusic.co

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thisisnimz

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisnima/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisisnimz

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thisisdancemusicTM

Image Credits
Meimei Shi