Voted "Best Club DJ" Miami New Times
Seasoned Disc Jockey/Drummer/Mix-Master brings more to the tables

Miami native Joe Eshkenazi, most famously known as DJ Joe Dert, believes that music comes from the soul, and luckily for him he has a constant stream of harmony flowing straight to his fingertips.  As a producer, drummer and international DJ, Eshkenazi’s devotion to adding versatility to the rhythms of the night has placed him at the forefront of his career and alongside iconic artists including Ozzy Ozbourne, DJ AM, Marilyn Manson and Korn.

Eshkenazi’s involvement with music began when he was just 12 years old.  Listening to rock bands like Metallica, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, he immediately felt a connection to drums.  He began paying close attention to the tempos, progressions and sequences of each song and eventually was able to systematically teach himself how to play along with some of the greatest rock hits.  A traumatic home invasion experience seven years later became the catalyst for Eshkenazi to really follow his dream in music and take the next step in his career.

After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Marketing and Business, Eshkenazi was approached by Miami “nu-metal” band ENDO to fill in as their drummer and complete the group in 2003.  With hard work came a recording deal with Columbia Records, representation by The William Morris Agency and The Firm, a U.S. tour with label mates System of a Down, a second tour with Megadeth, two albums, a platinum record placed on the “Daredevil” soundtrack and a slot at the Ozzfest Tour, one of rock’s highest honors.

Driven by his passion for music, Eshkenazi wanted to add another layer to his expertise and decided to take a brief hiatus from drumming and experiment with the technical side of music.  Knowing the basics of disc jockey work, he began spinning at Automatic Slims in Miami Beach and to this day credits his nights at the social destination for both helping him to evolve his industry aptitude and personal style, as well as developing his moniker “DJ Joe Dert.”

“I realized that I was meant to do this when I began my residency at Rokbar,” say Eshkenazi. “There is something so uplifting about having people on the dance floor until five in the morning – that was my motivation. It’s my responsibility to keep things progressive and fresh because if people leave before four, it means I am not working hard enough.”

Blending rock, hip-hop, old-school funk, house and electro with his signature mash-ups, Eshkenazi’s refreshing take on music instantly became in high demand by South Beach’s premier nightclubs and lounges including: The Forge, Set, Rokbar, Snatch & Suite, Wall at the W Hotel, Nikki Beach and contributing to the opening success of the prestigious club LIV at The Fontainebleau Hotel.  Additionally, international hotspots and celebrities, including Tom Cruise, Will and Jada Smith, Eva Longoria, Michael Bay, Kim Kardashian, Lance Armstrong, Nicole Richie and Matthew McConaughey, took notice of his eclectic offerings and secured him for events and residencies in Toronto, Los Angeles, Berlin, Boston, the Bahamas, Dallas, Majorca and New York. 2012 saw Eshkenazi expand his DJ journey to include residencies in Dubai, Europe, and Central America. Bringing his unique style of Open-Format djing to audiences from all walks of life.  

With the success of his career, Eshkenazi was inspired to push the envelope even further to redefine his place in music.  He collaborated with longtime friend DJ Affect to bring all his talents to the table, resulting in a live DJ and drumming performance dubbed “The Joe Dert Affect.”   

Eshkenazi has had the privilege to work with renowned talents in the rock and electronic industries including Ozzy Ozbourne, DJ AM, Marilyn Manson, Linkin Park, DJ Vice, Korn, Rob Zombie, Creed, Disturbed, David Guetta, Pete Tong, Evanescence, Cedric Gervais and many more.  Having mastered the art of entertaining and bringing cutting-edge style to sophisticated locations, Eshkenazi has gained the reputation as a diversified artist with the ability to adapt to his surroundings and really permeate life into an event.                                         Eshkenazi lives in Miami Beach, FL.



Followers of joeDert