Meet Zuly Negro

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

Hi Zuly, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
After high school, I pursued a degree in cellular/molecular biology with the goal of landing a well-paying job. I also worked on campus, which meant I was at school for 10-12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week (no balance of anything whatsoever). Music was always my study companion—whether it was classical pieces, solo piano gems, lofi beats, hip hop, SoundCloud finds, or Soulection Radio, I needed background music to focus. As someone who can get distracted easily and used to say yes to everything, structure (school) was essential for me to stay on track and accomplish my goals.

I eventually built a career in Quality Assurance/Control within the dietary supplement industry, where I continue to thrive in my 9-5. One thing I’ve always been good at, though, is knowing when to turn off work/school mode. The code-switch is so real—I can be fully locked into my professional role during the day, but once I’m off the clock, I’m off. That separation has been key in allowing me to explore my creative/authentic side without work bleeding into my personal passions.
That’s why, when I felt like something was missing—like certain sides of my authentic self weren’t being fully expressed—I decided to spend my evenings learning something exciting and completely outside my comfort zone: DJing. I didn’t approach it with an ROI mindset or worry about how much of my time it would take up—I just knew I loved music and dancing, so I went for it, hoping to build community along the way, too.

Now, I balance my 9-5 with DJing on the side. I’ve learned the foundations of the craft (shoutout to BJIOS), and I get completely lost in rabbit holes while curating sets, downloading music, learning a new genre or a “new” trick. It’s time well spent, and I genuinely love every moment of it. Most of my joy from DJing comes from watching people dance and enjoy themselves, especially during cherished life moments, grooving to their favorite tunes or some they’ve never heard of before.

For me, balance is about intentionally structuring my days, weeks, and months around what I want to be doing and where I desire to be in the future. Stability in my career has helped me structure my time and my days better. Of course, some tasks feel tedious—whether it’s at work, organizing my music library, planning travel/camping trips, or even going to the gym—but I set up my schedule so that everything has its time and place. That way, even the mundane tasks feel purposeful, and I can fully enjoy the things that bring me joy while being able to “switch-off” my other modes. It is important for me to stay open and flexible as well, as anything can happen within a blink of an eye that may require a pivot or rest. This evolution in my balance has helped me become a multi-faceted person without straying away from my authentic self.

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.
I think what sets me apart is that I actually like and prioritize my “sit in the office 9-5,” which can be rare in the DJ world. Everything I learned in university applies here, and I get to work autonomously while leading a small team. Most DJs have creative jobs that intertwine with the industry, using music, fashion, and design to stand out. I’m not a fashionista, but I LOVE a good time with good people! In my extra time, I curate mixes, prep for events, and just have fun with music, while trying to perfect the craft.

My journey wasn’t easy. Growing up in the San Fernando Valley as the eldest child of immigrant parents, I had to navigate everything—language, school, and entrepreneurship—on my own. I was the first in my family to earn a science degree and now also start a side hustle. Since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to experience everything that life has to offer, and I was just delusional enough to believe I could do it all. I overcame challenges through community, leaning on friends and family to simply listen and support me. I also took a lot of risks—always with a plan but flexible enough to embrace change. Trusting my intuition and keeping my faith strong made all the difference. Even when I was alone, I always knew and felt protected.

I want people to know it’s never too late to chase what feels true to them, even if they don’t fully understand it at first. Invest in yourself, keep your cup full so you can pour into others from a place of strength. Be kind, set boundaries, support your community, and have fun, be silly. I loosely live by “Here for a good time, not a long time,” and I admire those who have truly seized life to what rings true to them. Those are my kind of people, and I’m here to curate authentic, unforgettable moments with them all. My brand is simply about authenticity, community, and the audacity to just go for something you think you might be interested in.

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 would take them on a beautiful hike, either in Palos Verdes, Malibu Creek, Temescal, or Runyon to Hollywood Sign. I’m not even entirely sure if these trails are still open since January 🙁
Manhattan / Hermosa Beach
A Subsuelo / Soulection / or any of the many Hip Hop and Latin events in LA.
A nice dinner at places like Cha Cha Cha’s and explore the Arts District.
Amoeba Music / Fingerprints / The Last Bookstore
Museums around downtown.
Pop Ups & Farmers Markets.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Parents: They continue to give me all of their love & support the best way they could and know how to. Although sometimes I felt a bit misunderstood on both sides, or simply loved to rebel, they have always been there to pick me up and love me hard, whenever, no matter what and continue to do so.

Books: Life Principles by Ray Dalio / Atomic Habits by James Clear / The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer / The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest → GAME CHANGERS

Love for music: Family! Friends, and Soulection Radio

DJing + Community: Beat Junkie Institute of Sound + Friends

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__zulybby/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuly-negro/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djzulyyy

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

Other: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923250818300111

Image Credits
Oscar Moreno
Ingrid Gonzalez