He DJ'd for Jay-Z and Kanye — Now He's Rewiring Sound for Aman, Hyatt, and Jose Andrés

He DJ'd for Jay-Z and Kanye — Now He's Rewiring Sound for Aman, Hyatt, and Jose Andrés

April 28, 2026 · 59 min · Episode 356

About this episode

Vikas Sapra discusses his journey from DJing for celebrities to revolutionizing sound design in hospitality with Raina Music.

Explore Raina Music: https://rainamusic.com/ Connect with Vikas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikassapranyc/ Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybusekrus/ Apply to join the Journey Alliance: http://journey.com/alliance/ — In just a moment, you’ll meet Vikas Sapra—DJ, tech founder, and the guy who’s quietly rewiring how the world’s best hotels and restaurants think about sound. Vikas has played for A-list celebrities like Jay-Z and Kanye, just to name a few. He’s collaborated with Mark Ronson and Questlove. He’s the rare DJ who can play a rock set on Friday, an R&B crowd on Saturday, and a Brooklyn warehouse the weekend after that. And at every venue he’s played, the GM said the same thing: “Dude, take over our music. What does it take to get you full-time here?” Well, after the hundredth time of being asked, he did. And that’s how Raina was born. Today, Raina powers the sound in over 600 hospitality spaces—from Bishop’s Lodge in Santa Fe, to The Moxy in the East Village, to José Andrés’ restaurants, Tao Group’s rooftops, Auberge properties, and so much more. They’re a preferred vendor for Hyatt, and they’re doing something no one else is doing. They’re…

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