Interview With Techibeats Founder Ricky Zona

21 years old from Leguna Beach, California, Ricky Zona has always been extremely passionate about one thing – MUSIC. His dream of Techibeats being successful has become a reality. His passion reaches thousands daily and his company employs more than 70 amazing coworkers nationwide. We were fortunate enough to get an interview with Ricky which can be found below.

Q:Descirbe Ricky Zona’s ambition?

I love talking about my self so this should be easy (kidding but really haha). I’m 21 and I refuse to slow down until I am satisfied at where I am in life. Which I’m never satisfied and I’m always looking to improve my company and my self as a person so slowing down really won’t be happening any time soon. The thing that drives me most is the people who thought my company was a joke and nothing could come out of it. I definitely like to prove people wrong and tell them how I feel straight up. This had made people love me or hate me and either way I’m fine with it haha.

Q:What are Ricky’s hopes and aspirations for the future?

Well right now our company just rolled out our new Record Label (Techibeats Records) which I have putting a lot of time and focus into with my partner Greg Sills. So far it has been very successful and we even charted #10 on Beatport’s Top 100 Electro House releases and #43 in Top 100 Releases over all with our first release with DSCO. We have also signed some other cool artists like AndDrop! And Gummy. We just recently released a single with one of my favorite dudes Myndset that is a real anthem called ‘25th Hour’. Like I said before, I am always looking to improve the company. My hopes and dreams for this company are very big and I know my team is ready for the big challenges ahead to get us to the top.

Q:What is the story behind Techibeats? How did the company start out and turn into what it is today?

Funny story actually. I started it as a homework assignment a little over a year ago. At this time I was just an ordinary college kid who likes to party and go out. After a week or two I brought on my roommates Greg Sills, Beau Noonan and my good friend from home Gabe Stansbury who lives in Arizona. We all shared the same passion in dance music. From there I decided to not just centralize in one location and instead get people involved all over the country to cover stories, write about music, represent the company ect. Now we have 65 people working for this company all over the U.S and even some other countries. To answer the second part of the question… The key to our recent success is due to 65 young adults who share the same passion and drive as my self. Without the entire team working together day in and day out you would not know about Techibeats.

Q:How does Techibeats separate itself from the competition?

Well there’s a couple things. We do BIG weekly interviews with the top artists in the industry. Secondly we DO NOT give away music for free. Thirdly we throw monthly events in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Another few things that separate us form the rest is obviously the record label, our very simple/modern web design and our work ethic.

Q:List some role models that inspired you?

My biggest role model would definitely have to be my dad. (sounds cheesy as hell I know haha) But it’s really the truth. He is where I got my work ethic from and drive. He is the most diverse entrepreuner I know haha. For example… He use to own a bottled water company and sold that, then went into real estate (killed it at that also) and now owns an all woman’s gym and a restaurant/bar. Another big role model that has come into my life not too long ago is my new partner Brett Ostro. The guy takes time out of his very busy schedule to help our company daily while producing TV shows and ect. He has so much knowledge in the industry and has been around it so long that everything he says I take a mental note of. Lastly, Jasmine Kwok works for insomniac and Spin agency, she has been big influence on me. I look up to her with great respect and I will always appreciate the help they she has given me.

Q:What motivates you to wake up and do what you do everyday?

Haters haha. Also the fact that every day presents new challenges and new goals that have to be accomplished. It’s not like im waking up and saying… “fuck I have to go work in a cubicle today.” Im running around town for meetings, making calls, sending TONS of emails all while playing music as loud as possible.

Q:What is something unique/interesting that most people wouldn’t know about Techibeats?

This also sounds cheesy but we are all really a family. I treat everyone in the company as I would want to be treated and treat them all as my friends. I have met SO many people I would consider a huge part of my life through this company and I wouldn’t give back this experience so far for anything. Who can say they work with 65 of their friends? No one and I think that’s the key to our success. We are a tight knit group of passionate, driven, young individuals and we all aren’t willing to stop until we make it to the top.

Q:Have you ever had a time of adversity or a time of uncertainty in life or with Techibeats that you had to overcome, if so, how did you overcome the situation and conquer the odds?

ALL THE TIME! Haha. I think what separates success from failure is how you over come those odds though we have faced people saying our company is a joke and of course the struggle of any start up company which is making money.

Q:Is Techibeats working on anything new for the future?

Always working on something special Proud to announce we will be having a stage at Snow Globe Festival for three days straight. Also we have a new 18+ event that is being rolled out in San Francisco called Detonate with our partners Mad Men Entertainment. New website in the works as well.

Q:Do you have any advice for aspiring Music Producers/Dj’s out there?

You don’t want to be like Avicii, you don’t want to be like David Guetta, you don’t want to be like Deadmau5. When producing be your self and you will stand out more from the crowd then following the trends the big producer/DJ’s create. No one wants to hear a song that sounds almost exactly like “Levels”. Also never giving up on your dreams, it’s not going to be over night success. You have to want it and stay hungry day in and day out.

Q:Would you like to make any shout outs?

Shout out to David Hasselhoff!

We want to thank Ricky for taking the time to chat with us, we look forward to his bright future with Techibeats. Be sure to check out Techibeats and show some love! You can follow them and also ricky on Twitter, Facebook, techibeats soundcloud, tumblr, vimeo, and techibeats.com