Makj — Mediated Wiki

{{Infobox musical artist | name = MAKJ | image = File:MAKJpressretouch-8.jpg | image_size = | landscape = yes | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Mackenzie Alexander Johnson | native_name = | native_name_lang = | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|06|25}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=MAKJ on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/makj/579326417 |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=Apple Music - Web Player |language=en-US}}</ref> | birth_place = San Luis Obispo, California, United States<ref>{{Cite web |title=MAKJ on Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/makj/579326417 |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=Apple Music - Web Player |language=en-US}}</ref> | origin = San Luis Obispo, California, United States | genre = {{hlist|House music|Dance music|Electro house}} | occupation = producer, DJ | instrument = | years_active = 2011–present | label = Kenz Records, Universal Records | associated_acts = | website = }}

'''Mackenzie Johnson''' (born June 25, 1990), known professionally as '''MAKJ''', is an American DJ and producer who’s been a driving force in electronic music since 2012. Breaking into the scene with solo releases and standout collaborations with artists like Hardwell, Steve Aoki, Timmy Trumpet and Deorro. MAKJ quickly became a festival favorite, performing at Electric Zoo, EDC, Coachella, and Tomorrow Lands main stage. In 2014, Billboard named him one of the “Top 10 Artists to Watch” at Ultra Music Festival, and he earned a spot on DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs list. Beyond the stage, MAKJ hosts Revolution Radio on Clear Channel’s Evolution channel, where he continues to showcase new talent and sounds shaping the future of dance music.

==Biography== Mackenzie Johnson was born in 1990 in San Luis Obispo, California. By his teens, he was living in China while pursuing a career as a professional race car driver. At age fifteen, he became interested in DJing, and he purchased a set of Technics 1200 Turntables.<ref name="facebookmakjw"/> By age 17, he had returned to the United States, where he found himself invited to perform at local events in his hometown. He had a number of lessons with DJ AM, who trained MAKJ on scratching.<ref name="facebookmakjw"/>

In late 2013, MAKJ embarked on his first major US tour, traveling the country with Bingo Players and Bassjackers.<ref name="facebookmakjw"/> After a time playing small venues, he began to attend festivals as well.<ref name="makjyvicemedia"/> Since 2013, he has performed at festivals such as Electric Zoo Festival, Voodoo Experience, Coachella, a main stage slot at TomorrowWorld, Northern Lights Festival, Euphoria Festival, Webster Hall, and Ruby Skye.<ref name="facebookmakjw"/> In March 2014, ''Billboard'' named him one of the Top 10 Artists to Watch at Ultra Music Festival.<ref name="makjxultra"/> He toured Europe in 2014 with his "Let’s Get Fucked Up Tour," then traveled North America with his "Peyote Tour." Plans for an Asian tour were also announced.<ref name="facebookmakjw"/>

He has released a number of singles as a solo artist since 2012, as well as a large number of collaborative singles. He has collaborated with artists such as Showtek, Lil Jon, and DJ Kura. In 2013, he released a collaborative single with Hardwell entitled "Countdown" which peaked at No. 1 on Beatport within three days. He has also released music on Hysteria Records, Doorn Records, Diffused Records, and Juicy Music, among others.<ref name="facebookmakjw"/> In late 2014, he released his track "Generic," which had earlier debuted at the Ultra Festival in Miami.<ref name="makjyvicemedia"/> Several of his original songs have charted in the Beatport Top 10.<ref name="makjyvicemedia"/> MAKJ has been a guest judge for the Campus DJ contest, and he is the host of a radio show on Clear Channel’s ''Evolution'' channel, with the show also streaming at iHeartRadio.<ref name="facebookmakjw"/>

==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" !Year !Award !Nominated work !Category !Result |- |rowspan="1"|2014 |rowspan="1"|''DJ Magazine'' Awards |Makj | Top 100 DJs (63rd) |{{Nom}} |- |}

==Singles==

===As lead artist=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2016/10/aria-chart-watch-391 |title=ARIA Chart Watch #391 |work=auspOp |date=October 22, 2016 |accessdate=April 5, 2020 |author1=Auspop }}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| BEL ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| FRA |- ! scope="row"| "Countdown" (with Hardwell) | rowspan="2"| 2013 | — || 28 || 41 | |- ! scope="row"| "Encore" (with Henry Fong) | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Let's Get F*cked Up" (with Lil Jon) | rowspan="2"| 2014 | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Derp" (with Bassjackers) | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Mad Max" | rowspan="2"| 2015 | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Black" (with Thomas Newson) | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Party Till We Die" (with Timmy Trumpet featuring Andrew W.K.) | 2016 | 46 || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Shakalaka" (with Steve Aoki, Deorro and Max Styler)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8461182/steve-aoki-deorro-makj-max-styler-shakala |title=Steve Aoki, Deorro, MakJ & Max Styler Mix Boom With Mariachi on 'Shakalaka': Listen |last=Bein |first=Kat |date=June 15, 2018 |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615215407/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/8461182/steve-aoki-deorro-makj-max-styler-shakala |archive-date=June 15, 2018 |accessdate=June 16, 2018}}</ref> | rowspan="4"| 2018 | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Knockout" (with Deorro and Quintino)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/in/album/knockout-single/1406474606 |title=Knockout – Single by Deorro, MAKJ & Quintino on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |date=July 20, 2018 |accessdate=July 21, 2018}}</ref> | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Bounce 2 This" (with Will K)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://musix.apple.com/us/album/bounce-2-this-single/1436050816 |title=Bounce 2 This – Single by MAKJ & WILL K on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |date=September 17, 2018 |accessdate=September 24, 2018}}</ref> | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Muñequita Linda"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/mu%C3%B1equita-linda-feat-yfn-lucci/1442728848|title=Muñequita Linda – Single by Juan Magán, Deorro & MAKJ|website=Apple Music|date=December 14, 2018|access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref> {{small|(with Juan Magán and Deorro, featuring YFN Lucci)}} | — || — || — | * RIAA: Gold {{small|(Latin)}}<ref name="RIAA">{{cite certification|region=United States|artist=MAKJ|access-date=January 27, 2022}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| "Fire" (with Linka & Mondello)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/makj-linka-mondello-fire |title=MAKJ and Linka & Mondello bring the heat with 'Fire' |last=Sunkel |first=Cameron |date=January 11, 2019 |website=EDM.com |accessdate=January 16, 2019}}</ref> | rowspan="6"| 2019 | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Grow Like This" (with Tropkillaz and Will K featuring Demarco)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/makj-tropkillaz-willk-demarco-grow-like-this |title=Makj joinsf orces with Tropkillaz, Will K and Demarco for 'Grow Like This' |date=May 28, 2019 |website=EDM.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612155046/https://edm.com/music-releases/makj-tropkillaz-willk-demarco-grow-like-this |archive-date=June 12, 2019 |accessdate=June 12, 2019}}</ref> | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Beast" (with Purari) | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Rave" (with Steve Aoki and Showtek featuring Kris Kiss)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dancingastronaut.com/2019/07/steve-aoki-makj-and-showtek-merge-for-mainstage-anthem-rave-featuring-kris-kiss/ |title=Steve Aoki, MAKJ, and Showtek merge for mainstage anthem 'Rave' featuring Kris Kiss |last=Sweeney |first=Farrell |date=1 July 2019 |website=Dancing Astronaut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190701231942/https://dancingastronaut.com/2019/07/steve-aoki-makj-and-showtek-merge-for-mainstage-anthem-rave-featuring-kris-kiss/ |archive-date=1 July 2019 |accessdate=25 July 2019}}</ref> | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Retumba" (with Deorro)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/deorro-makj-retumba |title=Deorro and MAKJ reunite for big room banger 'Retumba' |date=August 15, 2019 |work=EDM.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830095009/https://edm.com/music-releases/deorro-makj-retumba |archive-date=August 30, 2019 |accessdate=August 30, 2019 |author=Cameron, John}}</ref> | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Left Right" (with Hardwell and Deorro featuring Fatman Scoop)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youredm.com/2019/10/18/hardwell-drops-massive-new-collab-left-right-with-deorro-makj-and-fatman-scoop/ |title=Hardwell drops massive new collab 'Left Right' with Deorro, MAKJ, and Fatman Scoop |last=Meadow |first=Matthew |date=October 18, 2019 |website=Your EDM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102062559/https://www.youredm.com/2019/10/18/hardwell-drops-massive-new-collab-left-right-with-deorro-makj-and-fatman-scoop/ |archive-date=November 2, 2019 |accessdate=November 2, 2019}}</ref> | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Save Room For Us" (featuring Tinashe)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Elder|first1=Sajae|title=Tinashe drops new video for "Save Room For Us"|url=https://www.thefader.com/2020/02/16/tinashe-new-video-save-room-for-us|website=The Fader|accessdate=March 20, 2020|date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> | rowspan="3"| 2020 | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Green Light"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabrick |first=Mark |date=October 14, 2020 |title=MAKJ makes his Armada debut with 'Green Light' |url=https://www.youredm.com/2020/10/06/makj-makes-his-armada-debut-with-green-light/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019055018/https://www.youredm.com/2020/10/06/makj-makes-his-armada-debut-with-green-light/ |archive-date=October 19, 2020 |accessdate=October 19, 2020 |website=Your EDM}}</ref> | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Promises"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chiang |first=Nina |date=December 12, 2020 |title=MAKJ x JYYE – 'Promises' |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2020/12/makj-x-jyye-promises/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224165914/https://www.edmtunes.com/2020/12/makj-x-jyye-promises/ |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |accessdate=December 25, 2020 |website=EDM Tunes}}</ref> (with Jyye) | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Night Ends"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/night-ends-single/1555308988 |title=Night Ends - Single by MAKJ on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |accessdate=April 5, 2021}}</ref> | rowspan="2"| 2021 | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Scream It"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/scream-it-single/1577590181 |title=Scream It - Single by Bassjackers & MAKJ on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |accessdate=August 30, 2021}}</ref> (with Bassjackers) | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Club Sound"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/club-sound-single/1601254174 |title=Club Sound - Single by MAKJ on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |accessdate=March 6, 2022}}</ref> | rowspan="3"| 2022 | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "Beautiful Life"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-life-single/1604927586 |title=Beautiful Life - Single by MAKJ & Purari on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |accessdate=March 6, 2022}}</ref> (with Purari) | — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| "De La Sol"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/de-la-sol-single/1611348423 |title=De La Sol - Single by Bassjackers & Makj on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |accessdate=April 30, 2022}}</ref> (with Bassjackers) | — || — || — | |- | colspan="6" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |}

===Other singles===

* 2011: Parallax (with Kura and dBerrie) * 2012: Crunch * 2012: Croche * 2012: Galaxy / Old Memories (with Kura) * 2013: Conchy * 2013: Hold Up * 2013: Springen * 2013: Hakaka * 2013: Revolution (with M35) * 2014: GO (Showtek Edit) (with M35) * 2014: Generic * 2014: Ready (with Deorro) * 2015: Lose Your Mind (with Deorro) * 2015: Ante Up (with Deorro) * 2015: Get Whoa (featuring Fly Boi Keno) * 2015: On & On (with Kenze) * 2017: Knock Me Down (with Max Styler featuring Elayna Boynton) * 2017: Space Jam (with Michael Sparks featuring Fatman Scoop) * 2017: Too Far Gone (featuring Matthew Santos)

===Remixes=== * 2012: Nari & Milani featuring Maurizio Gubellini - Unbelievable (with Robbie Rivera) * 2012: Drop the Lime - No Sleep For The Wicked * 2013: Trinidad James - All Gold Everything * 2013: Nervo and Ivan Gough featuring Beverley Knight - Not Taking This No More * 2013: Federico Scavo and Robbie Rivera - Jump * 2013: Sound of Stereo - Zipper * 2013: Sandro Silva featuring Jack Miz - Let Go Tonight * 2014: Benny Benassi featuring Gary Go - Let This Last Forever * 2015: O.T. Genasis - CoCo * 2016: Rae Sremmurd - Black Beatles * 2016: Madly - Work Me * 2017: Ed Sheeran - Shape of You * 2017: Future - Mask Off * 2017: Steve Aoki featuring Lil Yachty and Migos - Night Call (with Steve Aoki) * 2019: Goody Grace featuring Blink-182 - Scumbag<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/scumbag-feat-blink-182-makj-remix-single/1489234859 |title=Scumbag (feat. blink-182) [MAKJ Remix] - Single by Goody Grace on Apple Music |website=iTunes Store |accessdate=26 December 2019}}</ref> * 2020: Winona Oak - He Don't Love Me<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/he-dont-love-me-makj-remix-single/1505668020 |title=He Don't Love Me (MAKJ Remix) - Single by Winona Oak on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |accessdate=12 May 2020}}</ref> * 2020: Rat City - I Just Wanna Dance<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tam |first=Michael |date=29 June 2020 |title=Rat City – 'I Just Wanna Dance' (MAKJ Remix) |url=https://www.edmtunes.com/2020/06/rat-city-i-just-wanna-dance-makj-remix/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707053708/https://www.edmtunes.com/2020/06/rat-city-i-just-wanna-dance-makj-remix/ |archive-date=7 July 2020 |accessdate=7 July 2020 |website=EDM Tunes}}</ref>

==Further reading== *{{cite news | title =Makj Makes a Beatport Hit with Pee Sample, Unleashes His Latest Track "Generic" | url =https://www.vice.com/en/article/makj-makes-a-beatport-hit-with-pee-sample-unleashes-his-latest-track-generic/ | publisher =Vice Media | date =December 4, 2014 | access-date =February 17, 2015 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150212235807/http://thump.vice.com/words/makj-makes-a-beatport-hit-with-pee-sample-unleashes-his-latest-track-generic | archive-date =February 12, 2015 | url-status =live }} *[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/makj-mn0003107098/discography Makj] at Allmusic *[http://www.discogs.com/artist/3403961-MAKJ Makj] at Discogs

== References == <references>

<ref name="makjyvicemedia">{{cite news | title =MAKJ Makes a Beatport Hit with Pee Sample, Unleashes His Latest Track "Generic" | first =Michelle | last =Lhooq | url =https://www.vice.com/en/article/makj-makes-a-beatport-hit-with-pee-sample-unleashes-his-latest-track-generic/ | newspaper = | publisher =Vice Media | date =December 4, 2014 | access-date =2015-02-02 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150212235807/http://thump.vice.com/words/makj-makes-a-beatport-hit-with-pee-sample-unleashes-his-latest-track-generic | archive-date =February 12, 2015 | url-status =live }}</ref>

<ref name="makjxultra"> {{cite news | title =Ultra Music Festival 2014: The Top 10 Artists To Watch | first =Zel | last =McCarthy | url =https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ultra-music-festival-2014-the-top-10-artists-to-watch-6029148/ |newspaper =Billboard | publisher = | date =March 28, 2014 | access-date = 2015-02-02 }}</ref> <ref name="facebookmakjw"> {{cite news | title =About MAKJ | url =https://www.facebook.com/MAKJOfficial/info?tab=page_info | publisher =Facebook | date = | accessdate = 2015-02-02 }}</ref> <!-- <ref name="">{{cite news | title = | first = | last = | url = | newspaper = | publisher = | date = | accessdate = 2014-07-06 }}</ref>

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</references>

==External links== *{{URL|djmakj.com}}

Category:Living people Category:1990 births Category:People from San Luis Obispo, California Category:American electronic musicians Category:Revealed Recordings artists Category:American electronic dance music DJs