Qolaj is a Filipino DJ, producer, and community space designer based in San Diego who thrives on disrupting the expected. His sound fuses deep basslines with jagged grooves, bending the rules of dance music to create dancefloor experiences that are raw, unpredictable, and unforgettable.

From his early days as a rock bassist to his evolution into electronic production, Qolaj has never followed the usual path. Since moving to the U.S. in 2015, he has carved his own lane in the Southern California underground scene, commanding warehouse parties, desert gatherings, and off-grid raves with a style that defies formula.

His boundary-pushing approach has earned international attention. In 2024, he won Beatport’s Global Remix Challenge for The Blessed Madonna and Kylie Minogue’s Edge of Saturday Night, with his remix officially released on Warner Music. His EP on PH7 Records further established him as an artist unafraid to break convention while still delivering undeniable grooves.

As one-half of Umbra Maze, an electronic rock project, Qolaj expands this ethos into high-intensity live performance, merging raw instrumentation with fierce musicality and powerful sound design. The project challenges the divide between live band energy and electronic depth, bringing a visceral, genre-defying edge to every show.

Beyond music, Qolaj is reimagining nightlife itself. His project Club Outliers flips the script on club culture, creating dance experiences for those who don’t feel at home in traditional nightlife. Through events like Halo-Halo House, a celebration of cultural mixing and creativity, and Hear Together, a gathering built on collective listening and emotional safety, Qolaj is building disruptive spaces where connection takes priority over clout.

Defiant, curious, and committed to reshaping culture, Qolaj blurs the line between artist and architect, designing sound, space, and community in ways that challenge the norm and invite people to live more fully.

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