Before they became Hollywood’s hottest new DJ duo — performing at the CAA pre-Oscar party and a Soho House Coachella bash — brothers Michael and Danny Fujikawa grew up in Santa Monica pursing their own musical interests.
They both ephemerally took piano lessons and attended Windward School, finding inspiration from underground hip-hop as well as the vast vinyl collection of their father. (Their grandfather, a thoracic surgeon, was one of the first Japanese-Americans to attend medical school in the U.S. and served Terminal Island before WWII; and their father was a prominent attorney whose relationship with Rebecca Dyer left them stepbrothers to Sara and Erin Foster.)
Michael headed off to college at NYU first, and during his sophomore year in 2002, he began DJing at trendy nightspots — Black and White, Lit Lounge, Downstairs at Niagara, Sway on Sundays and The Beatrice Inn. His eclectic tastes encompass multiple genres and eras, and he focused on curating a feeling as well as nostalgia. He once threw a party with Jonah Hill, and recalls a night when Phantom Planet’ Alex Greenwald climbed on the DJ booth and live-karaoke-ed.
Danny later joined his older brother at NYU — but even before he left, he was making instrumental electronic music, and producing for a hip-hop group in high school. While in New York, the brothers co-founded the indie band Chief (which released an album in 2010) and Danny would frequent the bars where Michael DJed, jumping in during his breaks.
Upon returning to L.A., Danny co-founded Lightwave Records and produced records for artists — including his longtime girlfriend and fiancé Kate Hudson, who released her 2024 debut album Glorious. Michael teaches visual art at his alma mater Wildwood, and both brothers reside in Pacific Palisades.
Around six years ago, they began DJing their family’s New Year’s Eve parties in Colorado. After being nudged by friends and family, they decided to do it professionally. Their style is unplanned: they read the room and feed off the energy, and just try to bring people together on the dance floor. Here, the Fuji Brothers discuss how their music career blossomed in L.A.
The Fuji BrothersCredit: Photos by Juliette Eisner
When did you both realize you had an interest in music?
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Michael: We started taking piano lessons when we were young but the teacher was pretty boring — very by the book. Danny used to whip up some beautiful compositions before he even learned about theory. CDs were a big thing. There was a Wherehouse music on Wilshire near our house that practically begged you to snatch a few used CDs when you popped in. Our CD collection was vast.
Danny: [I’ve] always been an avid music listener. Took piano at an early age and it didn’t stick. I played trumpet at Lincoln Middle School and somehow came across Acid, an old school loop-based free production software, but it wasn’t until the summer going into 9th grade that my real interest began in creating music. It was a lightbulb moment that felt more profound than it probably was. I was hearing orchestral music in my head and felt compelled to try to figure out how to record it. … At first, it was instrumental music and beats: Spending a lot of time digging through obscure records at record shops and sampling [them]. Recording with synths and mics and then teaching myself guitar and other instruments. It wasn’t until my 20s that I started working with computers using Ableton and then Pro Tools.
How did you come to start DJing together? Why are you such a good team?
Michael: I used to DJ in New York in the early aughts and Danny used to come in and score free beers. Danny would make music all day in his room on a computer, and then he’d come out of his little music dungeon and I’d play him music, and that cycle pretty much went on for 10 years. We also played in a band for the better part of our entire life, so there’s that too.
Danny: [We have a] strong brotherly musical connection.
How would you describe your music tastes?
Danny: Genre defenders, benders and blenders. I owe my broad tastes to my older brother driving carpool to Windward High School.
Michael: My first concert was Guns N’ Roses/Metallica at the Rose Bowl in 1992. Faith No More opened. [I] became obsessed by East Coast hip-hop in middle school. Classic rock on in our parents’ cars. My hippie friends introduced us to jammy shit in high school, but didn’t come around to the [Grateful] Dead till college. I remember listening to Marquee Moon and thinking that my Deadhead friends would love it.
Which are some of your favorite events you’ve DJed here?
Danny: We DJed at the Living Room and the sound was so good it made everything better.
Michael: We played a fashion party at the Beverly Hills Hotel that was pretty fun. There were some pretty freaky people in attendance. Freaky people enjoy our music. Business people can’t dance unless they’re wasted at a wedding, which is un-fun.
Where in L.A. will you go to hear live music? Which are some top concerts you’ve been to?
Danny: BlackBlack at The Three Clubs. Vagenius at Spaceland. Lavender Diamond at an early FYF [F Yeah Fest] warehouse in Echo Park. Deerhunter at the Echoplex. Cannibal Ox broke up the day before their show at the Roxy. I have a tattoo of their record on my arm. All of this is early 2000s. A lot of time spent at the Unknown Theater, both in the audience and playing with Chief. Much love to Haim and Dawes. Recently, I saw Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi at the Peppermint Club in [West] Hollywood and my old buddy Blake Mills and Kate [Hudson] got up there with them, and it was epic.
Michael: My favorite place to see music, art and people is the Brothers Marshall Surf Club and Community Center in Malibu. The Marshall Bros and the Fuji Bros go way back. We show up for each other. Their space survived the fires and despite much strife, they’re thriving and the community is thriving thanks to them. Mike D had his record release party there in April. Place is significant.
Where would you go to buy vinyl records? Music supplies and equipment?
Danny: Record Surplus when it was on Pico, Rhino Records and Fat Beats on Melrose. Craigslist for gear.
Michael: Chris V. [Vagnoni] over at Record Surplus is one of our best buds. He always hooks it up. His vinyl is so clean. Infinite stacks of music. He puts on pretty radical shows there too. Saw our pal Carlos Niño perform there with his trio recently. Dusty Records comes up on large stacks from time to time. He’s a great friend and resource if you’re looking for vinyl as well.
Which are some of your favorite bars and lounges in L.A.?
Danny: The Cock and Bull, which is now a Tacos Por Favor. The Cozy Inn. Really, anywhere where there’s a dart board or a pool table — but it’s rare these days, because I’m a dad of young children. And the extremely rare late night at the Golden Bull in the Santa Monica Canyon.
Michael: The Cozy Inn in Culver City is a home away from home. I DJed at the Mandrake on La Cienega for years — was such a great place. Good community. A shame it is no longer. Zebulon keeps the culture alive.
Which theaters here do you frequent to see a movie or a show?
Danny: 3rd Street Promenade born and raised.
Michael: American Cinematheque is pretty great. Before my wife and I had our child, we’d go see movies at the Los Feliz Theatre or at the Aero. The Aero’s our home theater. We grew up around the corner from the Aero when it gave second runs to big movies. They used to do double features there. Best one I ever saw was My Cousin Vinny and White Men Can’t Jump on the same ticket.
Which are your favorite cultural landmarks and secret gems in L.A.?
Danny: Top of the world — Topanga Canyon, Ray Miller Trail, Pt. Mugu. Other various secret trails in the Pacific Palisades. And Memorial Park, where I played little league baseball and now where I park when I walk my daughter into her elementary school. Gilbert’s El Indio.
Michael: The Museum of Jurassic Technology is our favorite. [It’s] always nice to peruse archaic sex toys and get a nice Moroccan tea on the roof top with the pigeons. Mostly, we just go to the beach. We are beach people. We like to go surfing. And my wife and I got married on top of Point Dume. Point Dume is pretty sacred. Santa Monica is sacred. Father’s Office used to be a bar before it was a burger place. A real nasty place on the North Side. Most of our childhood is gone or redone — the only constant is the beach and the hills.
What other creative ventures are you both pursuing, and what’s next for you?
Danny: Currently working with my new pal Young Jesus on some special tunes. [I’m] grateful to be inspired and creating music again.
Michael: My wife [documentary filmmaker Juliette Eisner] and I are making a documentary about the U.S. artistic swimming team on the road to the Olympics. These swimmers are next level. They’re light navy seal ballerinas. Full mermaidens. I’m writing a book too, but that’s a secret. Danny’s always making music and doing complex computing.