Exploring the Mind of Thrill-Seeking Artist proppaganda

1 day ago 6

Rising DJ and producer proppaganda swung by to chat about his latest adventure, where he performed over 11,000 feet up in the sky in Brazil, and what’s to come from him in 2026!

There are countless DJs and producers around the world who have found their way behind the decks over the past few decades, but few have gone beyond DJing at nightclubs and festivals. One of the artists who has opted to put his adventure-seeking nature front and center is proppaganda.

Since first entering the scene, propaganda has been on a mission to take fans on a literal journey. While he has a flurry of releases and standard performances under his belt, last year saw him take everything to the next level with the launch of Sonar Sessions, a new mix series that kicked off with an underwater performance surrounded by sharks. More recently, proppaganda decided to reach for the heavens by heading to Brazil for the launch of his Aerial Sessions series, taking flight in a hot-air balloon and reaching over 11,000 feet during the set.

These two performances were backed by curated soundscapes from proppaganda’s mind, offering everything from cinematic elements to driving techno grooves, and there’s plenty more to come. Before he dives too deep into the year, we caught up with this rising star to chat about his journey in the scene, his recent adventures, and where he’s heading next. Give his exclusive guest mix a spin and read on for the full conversation.

Stream EDMID Guest Mix [#] || proppaganda on SoundCloud:

Hi proppaganda! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today.

Thank you so much for thinking of me! I absolutely love sharing these stories since they’re some of my favorite memories yet.

You’ve been on a tear recently with some incredible sets, and we’ll get to that soon. But before we dig too far in, can you tell us about how the proppaganda project first came to life? When did you decide you wanted to take DJing to the next level?

I discovered my passion for performing live at the young age of 22 when I opened for Zeds Dead at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in front of 3,300 people for my first show in 2016. I was asked 26 days before the show to find DJs, help sell tickets, and promote the event because I knew so many people who would come from my hometown. So I signed myself up, learned how to DJ, sold hundreds of tickets, and then dropped out of college the next week to pursue music in LA. Since then, I’ve spent years polishing my productions, and in early 2025, I felt ready to finally share everything I worked on.

Last October, you took a trip down to Brazil and then took to the skies to perform at 11,200 feet in a hot air balloon. That experience looked incredible. Did you have some adrenaline pumping through you while you were DJing that high up?

Yes. Since I was very young, I’ve always done things that get my adrenaline pumping. I’ve broken many bones, had multiple surgeries, and always pushed the limits to essentially make myself and my friends laugh — or just really prove that we could do something. [Laughs]

My biggest fear used to be skydiving, and I conquered that when I jumped out of my first plane two years ago. I wanted to follow that up and face the fear again by base jumping off the platform when I was done playing. And now I’m addicted. I love overcoming and conquering things that push me to be stronger.

That mixtape helped launch your Aerial Sessions series, and earlier in the year, you debuted Sonar Sessions by diving to a shipwreck in the Bahamas to spin a set among sharks. What draws you to these jaw-dropping locations, and where do you plan to go next? Perhaps there will be a “Space Sessions” series at some point?

My best friend and his friends are professional shark wranglers, and they came up with the entire concept. I flew down and did my first dive with sharks in Jupiter, Florida, where they take people out on tours to see them. After my first dive, I was hooked because when you look an apex predator in the eyes in its element, it changes you. All of my “real-world” problems did not exist. You have to be present. Now I want to do multiple dives per year to experience that.

Unique performances aside, your music ranges in style as well, with your recent tunes “At The Tone,” “Countdown,” and “Takeoff” exploring everything from Latin house to techno. Where did your passion for genre diversity originate?

My intent for the project is always to create music based on the location we’re filming in and to express through music how I’m feeling on that given day. My sound might not be cohesive, but I hope people can appreciate that I’m just going to release art because it’s truly me, not something chasing hype or an algorithm. We want the music to complement the scenes perfectly, so it’s an unforgettable audio/visual experience.

As an artist who has quickly defined himself as a fearless creator in the scene, what would be your biggest piece of advice to someone looking to follow in your footsteps?

I would say make sure you do your research and work directly with professionals who truly know what they’re doing. We don’t need the “Uneducated DJ kills or hurts himself while filming set” headline. [Laughs] I’m also an open book, so I’d love to share any insight and encourage people to ask me anything. I’m happy to share my resources. I want people to make new and unique content. We’ve got to get out of the bedroom, take the Ableton files off the reels, and create. There are many things one can do on a low budget to be unique and new. The fans deserve it.

What’s one fun fact about you that fans might not know that you can share with us today?

I was adopted and raised by a family that let me do whatever I wanted with my life. That came with some very good and very challenging things. [Laughs] Good in the sense that I’ve truly had the blessing to do whatever I wanted in life, but it also came with a price due to a lack of direction and accountability. I wouldn’t trade a thing.

Since the sky doesn’t seem to be the limit for you anymore, what are some of the goals you hope to achieve this year? Is there anything we should be on the lookout for in 2026?

I’m eager to finally get outside and show people the live show and all of the years of music I’ve worked on. I do have some more stunt sets planned. I’m going to do one in a military plane in Egypt and call it “MAKE ART NOT WAR.” I’ll also be doing another balloon set on a greater scale, and then one more with a dramatic twist added to it.

Tons of new music – mainly originals and some remixes. Lots of storytelling and me sharing my journey.