Sexy, Nasty, Sweet: Roujeee Tunes

RT

Sexy, Nasty, Sweet

WRITTEN BY JOLIE TANNER ART BY SERENA BRUNO

MEET ROUJEEE TUNES

MIAMI’S HOTTEST DJ COLLECTIVE

Roujeee Tunes (emphasis on the three Es) has made a name for themselves as a Miami-based DJ collective. The trio is made up of Zunji (Natacia Zunjic), Miluhska (Miluhska Cordero), and Phoenix (Alyssa Lamas). While Miluhska was raised in Ecuador, all three were born in the 305 and now call Miami home. Strike had the chance to spend the afternoon at Natacia’s stunning seaside residence for a joint interview and styling session, and here’s how it went…

Q: So we know Roujeee Tunes is a Miami-based, badass female DJ collective, but what is it to you all? What purpose has it served in your personal lives?

A: “Honestly, Roujeee happened so organically, and it for sure contributes to who I am as a solo artist. It taught me how to work with others, and I feel like we’ve just gotten to know each other so much through this journey. I learn a lot from you guys. It’s genuinely made me a better person,” said Miluhska.

Natacia added, “It was my only outlet with music, in terms of playing live and stuff. It’s really fun because I get to do it with them. It started as a passion project, but it’s an outlet at the end of the day.”

“It’s so cheesy, but it’s like a sisterhood. We kind of did the opposite; we started the business, and then we became close friends. So it taught me a lot about running a business, but it was also the first outlet that allowed me to dive into music. And it made me realize that I want to do it solo too. So it’s helped me figure myself out,” said Alyssa. Q: What drove you all to form Roujeee Tunes? Where and when did this all begin?

A: “So it started in the pandemic. Alyssa and I started learning how to mix in college; we went to FSU together. And Milu was making music as a solo career on the side, kind of diving into it all,” started Natacia. “Yeah, I was going to music school. I had an idea and was like, I need help; I can’t just do this alone. And coincidentally, I posted something on my story of me at school in the studio, and she responded,” said Miluhska. “I called her because I made the title ‘Roujeee Tunes’ as a finsta. I was messing around with the branding and name as I was learning Illustrator. I saw her doing her thing and thought instead of doing this alone, just as a playlist, I could do it with somebody,” Natacia continued.

“I saw you and Alyssa doing playlists together and was like, let’s just call Alyssa. Super random,” Miluhska responded. “Nati and I were really into curating playlists in college, and we were always aux at the house parties,” Alyssa reminisced. “Like annoyingly too,” amended Natacia. The girls had a giggle before Alyssa added, “No, like we got there and were like, ‘When are they going to ask us to go on aux?’”

“What’s funny is that we didn’t even plan to be a trio. We just started doing playlists, making collaborative playlists with other artists, and then we started doing live streams. With the live streams, we’d do strict, separate set times,” said Miluhska. “And when we actually got booked to play, we realized real quick that separate and equal set times just weren’t working out. And then one day at the club, we were just like, ‘Let’s play together.’”

Q: Where did the name Roujeee come from?

“I just wanted to mess with branding and get a color palette. And what’s the first word I thought of? Roujeee. It also represents this fun side—Looney Tunes, playful, vibey kind of energy—which is reflected in Roujeee’s current branding. And ‘tunes’ is just an underutilized word that is so fire. It isn’t deep, but it all worked out for the better because it’s three Es representing each one of us. But no one gets it right,” Natacia answered.

Q: Describe your experience breaking into the Miami music scene. Was it more of a slow start or did things pick up rather quickly? And how was that adjustment?

“I feel like we started at a time when the Miami music scene was really starting to grow. In Miami, with the booster restrictions, clubs were still open. Space even created dancing pods. So getting started in conjunction with that, I feel, helped us gain traction really fast. And Milu also has a lot of connections, just a wider scope of people. So I feel like we got really lucky,” answered Alyssa. “And the progression was quick too. We started at DOM’S as a weekly residency,” Natacia commented.

“We were bringing our own table, our own DJ equipment. We didn’t get paid for like 6 weeks,” Alyssa reflected. “After DOM’S, we went 1-800[-Lucky] with Oscar G, a Miami legend. Then the next step was Do Not Sit [On The Furniture], and then we started doing more clubs. It was quick,” said Natacia.

“Nati and I have our 9-5 day jobs. Milu is dedicated to her pop-star alter ego. But it’s still very much a priority. We just didn’t initially expect it to become such a career, but it did. Like, we’re doing taxes. We have an LLC,” said Alyssa. “The most important thing is that it’s fun, and we want to keep it that way,” Miluhska wrapped up.

Q: What has been your biggest challenge as a trio?

“Oh, when we first started running a business,” started Alyssa. “We’ve all made each other cry. We were just figuring out how we communicated, and how we worked was all different. It’s like a relationship with learning how to communicate your needs.” “We had growing pains. We would fight,” Miluhska admitted. “We didn’t even know our roles yet. We were just going with the flow while trying to figure each other out.”

“Since we weren’t as tight and it all picked up so quickly, it was a weird transition. We had to get tight because financials were getting involved, and it reflected us personally, all while wanting to represent the mutual vision,” said Natacia.

Q: You perform as a group but also separately. How would you describe each other’s signature sounds or what you each uniquely bring to the collective?

The trio immediately burst out laughing. Natacia began, but Miluhska quickly said, “No, no, that was like back when I played afro-house. Don’t go there.” Alyssa laughed, “We used to say she brings the soul of the jungle.” “Every time I played, they’d just start doing Donkey Kong. I’m just a sucker for bongos and drums,” admitted Miluhska.

“I feel like every time we play together, we have one song that fits our stereotype. When we play with Roujeee, it’s different than when we play alone because we’re forced to expand our music library and try to match each other,” said Alyssa. “You have to read the room constantly and feel it out. I think we’re all very good at reading the room and making sure it’s what fits the vibe and not just what we want to play. We do, but in a tasteful way where we meet the crowd halfway,” Natacia finished.

Q: As DJs, who is your biggest inspiration?

The girls began to sound off names. For Miluhska, it’s Solomun and Peggy Gou. Jamie xx for Natacia. And Danny Daze, Nick León, Coffintexts, and Jonny From Space for Alyssa.

Q: You guys have taken on some rather iconic venues like III Points, Club Space and more, but what has your most memorable or favorite performing experience been so far and why?

“Our first time playing at ATV, for sure. That was our first club gig, and it was so much fun. We were so excited,” Miluhska answered. “And nervous,” added Alyssa. “Also, we were styled for our first gig at Space.” “Yeah, that club is why I started DJing,” agreed Miluhska. “But I loved that first gig so much because I feel like that was the first time we felt we belonged. Like this is what we’re supposed to be doing.”

“And we crushed it,” Natacia confirmed.

Q: Since your jobs revolve around the club scene, how has that affected what you all do for fun or on a night out for pleasure?

“I’m not easily satisfied anymore. I’m a lot pickier,” revealed Miluhska. Alyssa added, “You definitely have to choose what you want to use your energy on. Since I now work for Space, I go to the same venue every weekend and am friends with many of the DJs I was a fan of. I love to go see them; they’re awesome. But I went to a club in New York and was like, ‘Wow.’ It was so nice to wait in line, not know anyone, and be just a club-goer, ya know?”

“I’ve turned into such a homebody. I take a lot to leave my apartment because we do a lot of sh*t like that. And I work a lot. I don’t go out as much anymore; partying isn’t as fun; I’m more conscious of the music and the price of drinks,” Natacia laughed. “It’s good that at least one of us is like that. It’s a perfect balance,” Miluhska admitted. Q: What is a goal you have for Roujeee Tunes going forward? Large or small.

“I mean, we originally wanted this to be a collaborative music platform, and I think that it steered away from that once we started DJing because we were just focused on that. But the goal is to go back to those roots and make it a collaborative music platform, especially for women. And I eventually want Roujeee Records to be a thing,” said Miluhska. “I would also love for us to play in other places,” added Natacia. “Oh, global,” Miluhska agreed. “Obviously.”

“And I want to see us come out with a sickening merch line—something currently in the works,” Natacia hinted.

Q: Lastly, what’s one thing outside of Roujeee Tunes that your listeners likely don’t know about you?

“Personally, I love cooking. I love food,” revealed Natacia.

“I like writing and film photography. And I’m obsessed with skincare and holistic healing,” Alyssa said.

“Oh, I love writing,” agreed Miluhska. “I started writing poems, and that’s how I started writing music,” she concluded.