Meet Izayah Christopher(Phayla)

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Izayah Christopher(Phayla) a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Izayah, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

This is an interesting question. I believe that any valuable trait is forged through experience, and throughout my upbringing, I encountered many situations that demanded resilience. I’m the youngest of three, with the sibling closest in age being ten years older than me. By the time I entered my teenage years, my siblings were young adults, and their lives often overshadowed mine. For good reason, of course—teenage angst doesn’t compare to raising children. On top of that, my mother struggled with mental health issues, so my family’s attention was understandably consumed elsewhere.

This lack of guidance during my formative years led me to develop a strong sense of independence that accelerated my maturity. I was working, paying for my own activities, and getting myself to school. And through it all, music was my refuge. I spent hours at night trying to emulate the sounds I found so captivating.

Fast forward to when I was eighteen: my family decided to move to Texas. By then, I had already made the decision to pursue music, so I declined the offer to go with them. It felt like a “sink or swim” moment, and I was determined to swim. Living on my own and figuring things out independently, with no safety net just over a thousand miles away, was incredibly challenging. But with my willpower and the support of a chosen family made up of amazing friends, I’ve made it to where I am today—and I couldn’t be more proud of how far I’ve come.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an LA-based DJ and producer known as Phayla, with a primary focus on Drum & Bass. However, I often explore other genres such as dubstep, breaks, jungle, footwork, and halftime. My sound focuses on a darker, minimalistic take on bass music. I write my own music and perform live, and I’ve been fortunate to experience some exciting momentum recently. I’ve had the opportunity to play alongside major promoters like System Error, Pirate Pandas, Bassrush, and Momentive. You can check my socials for a full list of upcoming gigs, as I have several lined up!

In addition to my personal brand, I’m involved in several collaborative projects. I’m a leader in the Subfactory bass collective, where we organize shows throughout Southern California. We’re currently hosting monthly events in Santa Ana that feature a unique two-room experience. These events are an opportunity for us to showcase some of the best local talent in various genres, and I’m particularly passionate about giving up-and-coming artists a platform. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to break into the scene, so it’s important to me to support emerging talent.

I’m also an active member of Momentive Recordings, an underground Drum & Bass label that focuses on futuristic sound design and technical aesthetics. Our next event is in downtown LA on June 28th.

Lastly, I’m involved with Uncommon Being, a clothing brand closely tied to the LA Drum & Bass scene. We produce high-quality apparel, and the brand is gaining recognition worldwide. We’re currently working on an exciting expansion that I can’t reveal just yet, but stay tuned—it’s going to be something special!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

If I were to offer three pieces of advice to someone early in their journey to develop and improve, they would be: community, authenticity, and consistency.

Community: Building a strong support network is crucial. You need a tribe of like-minded individuals who understand and share your vision. A community that lifts you up, encourages you, and motivates you will make the journey much easier. It’s a tough road, and it’s far harder if you try to go it alone.

Authenticity: Do what you love because you’re passionate about it. If your goal is purely commercial success, then sure, follow trends and chase what’s popular. But if you’re genuinely passionate about a particular style, pursue it relentlessly. I’ve had people tell me that minimal/soulful Drum & Bass wouldn’t get anywhere—and they look pretty silly now. Stick to your guns, don’t worry too much about the outcome, and enjoy the process. That’s why you started in the first place, right?

Consistency: Just show up. Whether it’s playing at a show, talking to people, or doing tasks that may not seem glamorous, your presence matters. I know I’m a great DJ, but much of my success has come from simply showing up and being there. Be willing to take on smaller jobs like handing out flyers or helping set up events. These tasks can help you build real, lasting relationships within the scene. Be genuine, and the opportunities will follow.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I think this is an important question because it’s easy to get overwhelmed in the music scene. Given the party lifestyle, it’s common to rely on vices to cope with stress. While those can be fun in moderation, healthy outlets are key to managing stress and improving mental clarity. For me, I’ve found relief through meditation and exercise.

Guided meditations are one of my favorite ways to decompress and find clarity. There are plenty of great options on YouTube, but I particularly recommend the app “Open.” As for exercise, it’s pretty straightforward, but for me, working out 3-4 times a week helps me reset. It gives me a chance to release pent-up energy and come back to my projects with a clearer, more focused mind.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photographers instagram handles:

@pegasuseye

@Eric.710

@kyleafx

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
Working hard in 2025: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that