DJ’n Latin Weddings with Dre Ovalle – E130

Welcome everybody to the Wedding Songs Podcast. I am Matt Campbell and Latin weddings is something that I don’t talk about very much on the podcast.

So I wanted to bring an expert in to help me out. Today we have Dre Ovalle, a DJ from New Jersey. Welcome to the show. Dre. Hey, thank you for having me. Awesome. Thanks for being on the show.

Memorable Wedding Moments

I’m going to start the way I start every podcast, can you talk about a memorable or heartwarming wedding moment? I guess one of the most memorable moments I had at a wedding was, this was maybe like a decade ago. I DJed a, well, first of all, I met this couple. they found me online and they loved everything I did. Then they added me on Instagram. And over time we kind of became friends.

Then the day of the wedding, they had my little name plaque on a table. So I got to sit down with all the other guests and their friends. It wasn’t like a vendor table. It was like, I was part of the family, and it wasn’t awkward. It wasn’t like, I tried to finish up my meal and then go back to my area and get back to work.

It was kind of like, I sat there and I talked to them for a few minutes and I got to know everyone and it was pretty awesome, but at the end of the wedding, they gave me an envelope and that was my tip then they gave me another envelope and I’m like what in the world is this and they said openly that one And they’re like, okay, so I opened it And they gave me, two, tickets to go see the band Lamb of God on my big metal head.

So they gave me my tip and my two concert tickets and I thought that was one of the most unique and most memorable thing that anyone has ever done for me at a wedding.

That’s so awesome. You know, it’s great that they’re making you part of the family. So one side question that I have, because you’re sitting down with the family, I’m guessing they didn’t expect you to live mix at that moment.

I guess they knew how DJs worked or they’ve been to plenty of weddings already. I just had a pre-played playlist or something for dinner and they just let that play. And they said, Dre, just come hang out and have dinner with us, and once it’s time to rock and we know what you do and just get to it after that.

Yeah, I think so many people forget the relationships that we create, so many DJs that I’ve had on the show, it’s like they become family. They’re following on Facebook, and they’re even having kids. All these things through the years are a special relationship for sure.

Meet Dre

So Dre, can you talk a little bit about yourself and introduce yourself to our listeners? Sure. again, my name is DJ Dre Ovalle. I’m based out of, Central Jersey, and, all over the tri state area, New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, wherever I’m needed. I primarily do weddings nowadays, but I started out as a rave DJ. I did a lot of underground warehouse parties when I was younger.

then I transitioned to more, club work, casino type of work. Then from that, I transitioned over to, DJing weddings and I learned how to MC, a big shout out to someone we were talking about earlier, Gregg Hollmann, a good friend of mine early in my career. he showed me a lot, regarding the wedding industry, if you will. But yeah, I started from a rave DJ to a club DJ and now finally a wedding DJ.

So what do you like best then? I think I’m so far gone from the raves and the clubs. I totally prefer, weddings nowadays. It’s just far more, rewarding and I love doing it, every weekend. Cause this is what I do every weekend. So, yeah, I think at this stage and age of my life. I totally prefer, doing weddings. I had my fun time doing all the other stuff, but I’m, too old. I don’t know.

Festival-Like Weddings

So let me ask you because I see this more and more common. I see the festival vibes being brought into the weddings. Are you seeing that as well?

Oh, absolutely. And, I feel like couples like hiring someone that, doesn’t play that type of music, but that actually was part of that scene when it was big, like, let’s say a few 10 years ago when EDM just blew up and whatnot.

I was in that scene way before that even blew up. So, for couples to hire someone that understands that subculture, be it electronic music or even let’s say, I’m sure you’ve noticed, a lot of modern weddings, they want an emo throwback set in those weddings. And again, I’m a big metalhead.

I grew up in that, those subcultures. So, again, I know what the hits were, but I also know those deep tracks that get people, going because I was part of that subculture when it was big at the moment.

Booking Latin Weddings

That’s cool. Today we’re going to be talking about Latin music and Latin weddings, of course. How have you been successful in booking Latin weddings? So I’ve been very successful at it, but for starters, most of my Latin weddings are hybrid weddings where you have one person from some Latin American country and then someone else from another country.

What I mean by that, let’s say I get Dominican and Polish couples. I get, Puerto Rican and Trini. I get Mexican and some American kid that grew up on heavy metal or something. So, that’s my bread and butter. If you will, there’s more hybrid weddings, not just all Latin weddings. I do those, but most of my success comes from, multicultural, couples that need someone who is an expert in both, if you will, and most of my success, I feel comes from word of mouth to, a lot of my colleagues in the area when they come across a couple, a Latin couple or something like that.

They know Dre can handle this. So let him do it. but also social media, I’m really big into social media. Sometimes I take breaks, but a lot of my leads come from social media. I’m big on posting a minimum of three times a week. and I make these cool transitions where I transition between English and Spanish music or different genres.

And people see those and they’re like, Oh, well, that’s pretty cool. Can we set up a call? To talk about possibly DJing our wedding and then after that I’m in once I get those DMs, I know I’m in, and I’m confident I can persuade them that I’m the right person for the wedding.

So yeah, most of my success comes from word of mouth and social media. That’s fascinating that you say that because I always come from a background of SEO and building your websites so what percentage would you say that you book from that social media platform?

Oh, I would say 50 percent maybe. I totally agree with you. SEO and all that are very important. That’s something I’m still learning. trying to understand to how to get more bookings straight from Google, SEO, or whatnot. But as far as like what I get from word of mouth or just people finding me online to someone DM me on Instagram, I’ll say 50%. That’s pretty sizable. That’s pretty awesome. Yeah.

Unique Latin Wedding Moments

So are there unique moments of a Latin wedding that every DJ should know? I think one of the most unique moments in Latin weddings, I think would be the Hora Loca or the crazy hour. Hora Loca is for those that don’t know, it’s 45 minutes to an hour, a party devoted to just going all out at the party.

The thing between those is that I noticed that every culture does this differently. So the more Americanized Latin weddings, they do the high EDM, the glow sticks, the CO2 cannons, the sparklers, the more Caribbean, Hora Loca, they do the more carnival type of theme or like masquerade type of theme.

And then the more South. Central American ones. Those are the ones that have, the giant LED robot and they have Goku from Dragon Ball Z, a clown, and Pikachu dancing in the middle of the dance room. It makes no sense whatsoever. There’s no theme to it, but it’s just a bunch of randomness on the dance floor.

so yeah, I think that’s one of the most, unique. I guess things when it comes to Latin weddings and just understanding, where your couple or your crowd are coming from, cause each Hora Loca is going to be different.

Does Heritage Dictate Music Style

Let’s get more into music then does the heritage of the couple in the family dictate the type of music? Oh yeah, absolutely. I always ask, where are you from? Usually, I can tell just by talking to them just by dialect. So let’s say, if they are more from, Let’s say Mexico, you play more Banda, Nortena, et cetera.

If they are more from the Caribbeans, or Caribbean islands you play more salsa, merengue, bachata, tipico, that’s big with Dominicans. And if you play more for like South or Central Americans, you play more meringue or Cumbia. So yeah, it totally depends on the region they’re from and it’s important to know where they’re from so you know the correct music to play for those type of crowds.

I think that’s so important just because you have to know where they’re coming from and exactly what you said to know what styles of music.

Latin Music Styles

So, besides the common genres like salsas and meringues, and bachatas, are there any regional Latin music styles you recommend DJs to be familiar with?

Oh yeah, let’s say Cumbia, Cumbia is a big one, you won’t play Mexican Cumbia to someone that’s from South America, because they just won’t understand it.

you won’t play típico for someone who’s not out of the Dominican Republic, because again, they did not grow up on that they don’t understand it. And even like Latin rock, Latin rock, you can only play that for South or Central Americans. You can’t play that for people from Puerto Rico or the Dominican Republic or anything like that because they didn’t grow up on that.

They don’t know the songs. So, yeah, absolutely., the genres depend again on where they’re from what culture they grew up on, and where they’re from.

Understanding Latin Music

One thing that I want to clarify that you said is, that they wouldn’t understand it, is that the language, what do you mean by that? Oh, so yeah, they will understand the language, it’s all in the same language, it’s just they didn’t grow up on those type of genres, or they’ll just go over their head, like, they’ll just hear it, and they’re like, alright, cool, it’s a song, but it’s not something that’s gonna get them hype, or they’re gonna sing along to it, or whatnot. But it’s all the same language, yeah.

I just wanted to clarify that just because it’s kind of the same thing, in Las Vegas, you could have J pop, you could have pop, you could have country. If you’re not into country, like many couples, depending on the location in the country, it’s the same thing.

So exactly, exactly. Yup. Yup. It’s very important to know, regions and areas and whatnot. Yep. Yep. Awesome.

Latin Song Meanings

That’s fascinating. So many Latin radio hits are explicit. How important is knowing the meaning behind some of the Latin songs for weddings? So this one, it depends on, put it this way. For me, for hybrid weddings, where you have American and Spanish, music at a wedding, those types of weddings, I find they’re more forgiving with the explicit language primarily, maybe because they know a lot of the English-speaking crowd, they’re not going to understand what the songs are saying. But when you play to a crowd, that’s like 90%, Hispanic or Latino, Yeah, you kind of want to stick to clean versions just because, again, you don’t want to offend anyone.

“Pepas” by Farruko

But I know why it is. But yeah, when I play for hybrid crowds doesn’t really matter when I play for a like full on Hispanic Latinos. Yeah, it definitely matters. Yeah, it’s funny that one of the most popular songs is Pepas and it’s like do people really know what this song’s about Yeah, and people request that song all the time But literally I’m not sure if you know about the artists of that song But that song it got so popular for him that he actually transformed, he realized his mistake, I guess, for creating the song and he ended up being a devoted Christian and he didn’t want to play that song ever again, like perform that song because he felt, it influenced the young crowd too much because it was such a hit.

So, instead of performing his songs, he started, preaching about, the word of God at his concerts, and people did not like that. So his career kind of tanked after that, because of him doing that, and I think he’s trying to revive his career right now, but, yeah, most people don’t realize what that song is about.

It’s just a party. It’s just a fist-pumping party hit, but for the most part, yeah. Most people don’t know what that song is about.

Explicit Lyrics

I have a really hard time when I’m researching Latin music, looking at the charts and saying, okay, what songs do I want to add to my song list? And then I even go as far as I’m in Google to translate these lyrics. What is this about? And it’s like, Oh my gosh, this is, I can’t have this song.

I wish I had an example of this. I should have pulled one up, but yeah, it’s crazy. Yeah. Talking about it, it gets pretty raunchy sometimes, but Hey, not to say that English-speaking pop music, isn’t the same as well. So that’s true. Yeah. Yeah.

Keeping High Energy During Reception

So when you’re DJing Latin weddings or fusion weddings, how can a DJ keep the energy high throughout the reception, even for those that are unfamiliar with the music?

I guess my tip for that was to follow the BPM. Like if you aren’t familiar with the songs, or the genres, just try to shoot for the high. BPMs and what I mean by that music in the 140s to 160 BPM and that’s that would be stuff like puntasome merengue some típico some norteños, you know, You won’t play Punta for a crowd from South America and you won’t play Tipico for a crowd that’s from Central America.

But if there’s one advice I would give is, yeah, stick to the BPM and stick to merengue. I don’t know why we as Latinos, Hispanics, whatever, we all have our differences as far as genres or music, but merengue, I feel like that’s the one Like yeah certain songs it depends on certain songs, but merengue is like the one style we can all agree.

It’s party time and We’re gonna have a good time So yeah, just go for the higher bpm and if you aren’t familiar with the genres stick to merengue And just go all of that. That’s, that would be my advice if you want to keep the energy up at a, at wedding or, or any Latin-based event.

Reggaeton

I hear a lot of buzzwords in the industry and one of them is reggaeton. What is your thought of that style of music for a wide variety of shows?

So for reggaeton, I would play that for anyone from the Caribbean, any Americanized, Latinos, Central American, or South America. you want to play more, I guess more South American reggaeton, like Colombian reggaeton.

I myself grew up in the era when reggaeton blew up. So for me, I love playing reggaeton because it’s stuff I grew up on and, it’s my, I guess my generation’s music. but yeah, a lot of it is, is raunchy. a lot of it is, has explicit language. So it’s important to, to keep in mind, if you have a clean version, try to stick with the clean version.

But, yeah, I grew up on that stuff. So I love playing that stuff. I love it. Great, great tips there. You know, it’s funny, you were talking about that style of music and one of the people that everybody thinks of is Bad Bunny. And I read recently, probably within the last six months, how Peso Pluma has taken over Bad Bunny and its popularity in Mexico.

So that really takes me into every DJ who knows the crossover hits by Bad Bunny, Selena, and tracks like Mi Gente.

Guaranteed Party Tracks

Can you share any of your favorite go-to Latin wedding songs that always get the crowd going crazy? So I guess for salsa, I would play, again, this depends on the crowd, but I will play, Lalo Rodriguez, Ven Devórame Otra Vez. That song is a song I remember my mother playing when I was cleaning the house when I was a kid. and I feel like any Americanized Latino, when they hear that song, they don’t know the name of the song, but when they hear it, they’re transported instantly to being a kid. and you’re like, whoa, what was the name of this song?

I totally remember hearing this. So that’s a crossover here or a big crossover. hit as far as salsa. if you’re playing more for a Mexican crowd, I will play Tucanazo or Lachona. Everyone’s heard Lachona. if you’re playing more for, you know, a South American crowd, you want to play more cumbia.

Lastly, I think the one song that I think, again, like Merengue, the one song we all can agree that gets everyone moving is La Dueña, the, the, the swing. That song, I don’t know what is it about, but it doesn’t matter what region you’re from. That song comes on and everyone dances.

And that’s the only song I can think of at the top of my head. That can get any Latino up and dancing. That’s like the only one I’m sure you’ve seen online on forums, people asking like, Hey, what song will it get? You know, everyone up on the dance floor and not every song applies to everyone, but that’s the only song I could think of that can anyone, any Latino up and dancing, even, people that don’t understand the language or, Americans, or, or does anyone, you play that song, they just try to vibe to it, try to dance with, they don’t know what it’s saying. But people dance to that song. And I don’t know why it’s the fast pace. It’s the, I don’t know what it is, but that song gets everyone up and dancing.

Music Format

Thanks for the tip. I love the song suggestions. And it’s particularly that one, just because like you said, it gets everybody dancing. So when you’re talking about the format of your Latin wedding, you know, typically I would think most DJs start with the older stuff and then move to the newer stuff.

Are you finding yourself doing the same thing as well? Oh yeah, I always try to do that, especially at weddings, try to cater more to the older folks and then tire them out and then get the younger folks to start playing the reggaeton and the dembow and all that, the more modern hits, later throughout the night, because also most older crowds don’t want to hear, again, the raunchiness or the explicit lyrics in those songs, so yeah, kind of save that for the last, Hour of the wedding. I got through all the hits, all the songs that everyone recognizes. Now it’s time to jump into stuff that you probably hear at a club or something, a Latin club.

I love it. It’s funny that that really transcends cultures. That’s how we’ve been DJing because I agree. You have to keep everybody happy and the couples have to keep that in mind too, when they’re planning any tips for you and what you want to play.

What NOT To Do

What tips would you give to DJs not to do at a Latin wedding? I guess just not walk in with a game plan, especially if you don’t know the language. the couple where they’re from, that way you get a better idea of what to play. And you don’t necessarily need to be so direct, like, hey, like, hey, where you from?

Just, I guess ask them, in your initial call, ask them, how did you meet. Tell me a little bit about the type of music that you want. And then based off those answers, the songs that they give you or their background or where they met, that gives you a little, an an insight into, where they’re from, their background, how they grew up. So yeah, just walk in with a game plan and make sure you know where your couple’s from. So you’re not, you’re not, you’re not lost the day of the wedding.

That goes for, I think any wedding getting to know your couple for sure. But I think it’s definitely more important just to like you said, get an idea of the style of music that you should be playing from where they’re from.

Yep. I think we forget about that. How many, especially being in Vegas, we have so many cultures here. It could be the Greek wedding or, that goes across the board getting to know because the part of the country that you’re in is going to determine the style of music that you play. Yep. Yep. Totally agree. Yep.

No Rompas Mi Corazon

When you’re talking about Latin music, it’s funny, I’ve been to one Quince before and one of the songs that they played was a Spanish version of Achy Breaky Heart. Is that in your playlist?

I know what you’re talking about, but that song, you only play it for a Mexican crowd because anyone else would just go over people’s heads. but I know exactly what you’re talking about. I think that’s so important. And it hits home exactly what we’re talking about, that you have to know your crowd and you have to play to what they like. And, that goes for any DJ, for any crowd.

Final Tips DJing Latin Weddings

Is there something that we missed today that you want to share about Latin weddings and Latin music? I guess, don’t be afraid to do these type of events, especially if you’re still early in your career. I would say just take the risk and just learn the music.

Accept the party. Sometimes I’ve seen on forums, DJ is asking like, Hey, I’m playing a Colombian wedding. Can you recommend some songs? Then some people are always going to respond, and give the gig to someone that actually understands the music. And I completely understand that. But I also feel like part of being a DJ is growing and learning other cultures and other music.

So, if you’re early in your career and You’re not afraid to take risks yet, take the gig, just do your homework, learn the music and over time you too will become, proficient regardless if you speak the language or not, you’ll understand the music, you know what to play. so yeah, just take the risk and take the gig if, if you want to learn, more about Latino weddings or just any wedding from around the world.

Yeah, it reminds me of the speaking world, if you want to learn about a topic, speak about it. And I think it’s the same kind of thing. If you want to learn the music, then you have to DJ it. And I would even hit home to that, knowing more than just the Americanized popular hits, the Selena’s, the Bad Bunnies, the Mark Anthony’s, Go beyond that and get to know your couples and what’s popular for them. Even if you may not understand the music, I think so important just to know those hits.

Oh, absolutely. And it will also keep you busier cause you’re not just in one little bubble. You can branch out to other types of events or weddings. And next thing you know, you’re doing three or four weddings a week.

If you, if you want, or you can. by yourself, just because you, you’re not limited just to one language or one, demographic or one bubble, if you will. So yeah, totally. Yeah, totally agree.

Bilingual DJs

So a final question is how important do you think it is for a DJ to speak Spanish at a Latin wedding? This one depends on the couple.

 If they need someone that can speak Spanish and English just because they have, family members that don’t understand English or they’re more comfortable in their native language, then yeah, it’s important. But, yeah, it depends on the crowd, really, like, I don’t think it’s it’s super important.

But if a couple asked for, a bilingual MC, that’s super important. I think exactly what you said, the announcements, if your closest family only speak Spanish, then yeah, it has to be somebody that’s bilingual for sure. Exactly. Cause they’ll be lost halfway through the wedding.

They don’t know what’s going on or who’s going up to say a speech or something. So, yeah, that’s something I don’t really ask that question. It’s just something that’s brought on to me, like, Hey, we need a bilingual MC. And sometimes I ask, do you mean someone that can play? or bilingual MC/DJ and I asked him do you need you mean someone that can play English and Spanish music or someone who can play English and Spanish music and also speak Spanish and English, because I feel like most, Couples aren’t sure which one they need.

So it’s just it’s just a question. I always ask during our initial call. I love it. That’s such an awesome tip For every couple that’s listening.

Follow DJ Dre Ovalle

So where can listeners connect with you and follow along with your three posts on Instagram?

You can find me on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram at @DJDreOVALLE, you can add me, you can feel free to ask me anything, really, I’m, I’m always, willing to share information be it, you know, Latino weddings or Hispanic weddings, or even tech questions.

I come from the world of, AV. So I always get questions like, Hey, how do you, connect this and that, how do you do this? How do you set this up? so yeah, you can find me on pretty much any social media. Out there under DJ Dre Ovalle.

Awesome. Well, thanks Dre for being on the show.

You’re a wealth of information and hopefully, everybody got as much out of this as I did. My pleasure. I had a blast. Thanks everybody for listening. Stay tuned for next week with another episode of the Wedding Songs Podcast coming out every Thursday morning. Thanks for listening and have a great day.