Today we’d like to introduce you to Francisco Reyes.
Hi Francisco , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Franky De Rey is more than an artist — he is the embodiment of transformation through music, discipline, and purpose. Rooted in the cultural heartbeat of Miami and inspired by a journey shaped by grief, resilience, and reinvention, Franky has emerged as one of the city’s most passionate rising forces in electronic music and community-driven experiences.
From humble beginnings in Philadelphia to commanding dance floors across the United States — including Denver, San Francisco, Houston, New York, Miami, including internationally in Barcelona and Ibiza. Franky has built a sound rooted in authenticity, movement, and emotional connection. His rise has never been accidental; it has been forged through relentless consistency, sacrifice, and unwavering belief in his vision.
2026 marks Franky’s strongest year yet. With performances at Factory Town alongside Insomniac Radio, Jolene Sound Room during Miami Race Weekend, Do Not Sit On The Furniture, and a upcoming debut at The Ground at Club Space plus his bi-weekly residency at Dom’s in Brickell, his presence within Miami’s music scene continues to expand through raw energy, creativity, and genuine connection with the crowd. Now, with a performance slated for FIFA’s Fan Festival, Franky prepares to step onto a global stage that reflects the magnitude of the movement he is creating.
But behind the music lies something deeper.
After enduring scoliosis, multiple hernia surgeries, and the devastating loss of his mother Elizabeth, Franky transformed pain into propulsion. Fitness became faith. Yoga became healing. Running became liberation. Wellness became a revolution of mind, body, and spirit. His philosophy is simple: vulnerability is not weakness — it is the blueprint for transformation. Franky represents a generation learning to confront pain honestly, embrace discipline, and evolve unapologetically.
This ethos extends beyond the DJ booth. Together with his manager Mariana Bellomo, Franky launched Gods Got Us Recordings — a label and creative platform dedicated to curating life-defining moments through music, community, faith, and art-forward experiences. Through collaborations such as the Beat Cartel partnership during Miami Music Week 2026 — transforming Empire Pizza Downtown (a local pizza shop) into a high-energy cultural experience alongside Houston label heads XTK & Soar — Franky continues to bridge underground music, creativity, and meaningful human connection.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. Honestly, I think I’ve lived through more adversity than most people I know. I experienced abuse as a child, watched my mother battle brain cancer, and eventually lost her when I was only 20 years old. That moment completely changed the trajectory of my life. Losing her at such a young age forced me to grow up fast, but it also became the catalyst that pushed me toward finding my purpose, my passion, and ultimately the drive behind everything I’m building today.
Music became my outlet and my escape. During my time as a transfer student at Rutgers University–Camden, I joined Tau Kappa Epsilon and became the fraternity’s resident DJ. That opened the door for me to break into the club scene in Philadelphia, starting with performances at NOTO Philadelphia. My very first show there was supposed to be just a 45-minute set — and for the first 20 minutes the club wasn’t even open yet because of delays. But I brought over 150 people to that event, and the promoter ended up giving me a residency from 2018 to 2021.
That opportunity allowed me to directly support artists like FISHER, Illenium, Malaa, and Two Friends. But balancing that sudden local recognition, nightlife culture, and college at a young age became overwhelming. During those early years, I became too reliant on alcohol/drugs and started making unhealthy decisions that slowly caused me to lose myself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Then during COVID, I hit the lowest point of my life. I had lost friendships, a relationship, my sense of purpose, and honestly didn’t feel like I had much left to live for. A close friend came over one day and introduced me to DMT. During that experience, I had what I can only describe as a complete spiritual breakthrough. I felt like something bigger than me was telling me that I needed to change my life or I was going to destroy myself.
From that moment forward, everything shifted. I stopped drinking alcohol for nine straight months, started rebuilding my body and mind from the ground up, and literally began working out using two gray cinderblocks as makeshift weights. It sounds simple, but those cinderblocks became symbolic for me — they represented rebuilding myself from nothing.
That experience gave me clarity, discipline, and a completely new relationship with my health, my purpose, and my artistry. It taught me that pain can either break you or transform you. For me, it became the fuel behind the person and artist I’m becoming today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. I used my degree and my free time in developing my own marketing. Over the last 10 years I have trialed and errored my way into the music industry. I created Franky De Rey as a movement centered around transformation, vulnerability, wellness, and human connection through music and art. Everything I have created, whether it’s a DJ set, a wellness initiative, a visual concept, or a community-driven experience, comes from lived experience and a genuine desire to inspire people to become the strongest version of themselves.
Professionally, Franky specializes in creating emotionally charged music experiences that blend high-energy nightlife culture with deeper storytelling and intentionality. He’s known for his ability to merge worlds that normally feel separate — music, fitness, spirituality, fashion, wellness, and community — into one cohesive artistic identity. His performances are rooted in the energy of connection rather than ego, which is why audiences resonate with him so deeply. Over the years, he has built a name for himself organically through the US’s nightlife scene and beyond, earning opportunities to support artists such as FISHER, Illenium, Acraze, Malaa, and Two Friends while playing in New York, San Francisco, Denver, Houston, Miami, Barcelona and Ibiza.
Beyond music, Franky has become deeply passionate about health, fitness, yoga, and mental wellness after overcoming personal struggles with grief, addiction, depression, and self-destruction. Losing his mother to brain cancer at a young age became one of the defining turning points in his life and ultimately fueled his determination to build a meaningful legacy. That journey transformed his relationship with music — it stopped being just entertainment and became therapy, purpose, and a platform to help others heal.
One of the things he’s most proud of is rebuilding himself from rock bottom during the pandemic. At a time when he felt lost mentally and emotionally, he chose to completely change his lifestyle, reconnect with his purpose, and dedicate himself to becoming healthier physically, spiritually, and creatively. That discipline and self-work continue to shape every aspect of his career today.
What truly sets Franky apart is authenticity. In an industry that can often prioritize image over substance, he leads with vulnerability and real-life experience. He isn’t trying to portray perfection — he’s showing people what transformation actually looks like. Whether through his music, his wellness journey, his creative direction, or the community he’s building around projects like “God’s Got Us Recordings,” his mission is ultimately to create life-defining moments that remind people they are capable of overcoming anything.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5 to 10 years, I see myself becoming a global creative force that goes far beyond just being known as a DJ. Music will always be the foundation of everything I do, but my vision is much bigger than nightlife alone. I want to build a world around my brand and legacy that genuinely impacts people’s lives through music, wellness, art, fitness, spirituality, and community.
I see myself touring internationally, headlining major festivals, curating my own experiences, and continuing to grow God’s Got Us Recordings into a respected platform that stands as a global label leader redefining dance music.. I want the label to become a home for artists and creatives who are unafraid to be vulnerable and who use their art to inspire people in a real way.
At the same time, I see myself stepping deeper into the wellness world. Fitness, yoga, mental health advocacy, and healing practices completely changed my life, and I want to use my platform to normalize those conversations — especially within industries and communities where people often suffer in silence. Long term, I would love to create wellness-focused events, retreats, and community spaces that combine music, movement, mindfulness, and genuine connection.
I also want to continue building as a creative director and visionary. I’ve always been drawn to creating worlds and experiences, not just performances. Whether it’s through fashion, branding, visual storytelling, or immersive events, I want every project connected to Franky De Rey to feel intentional, cinematic, and emotionally impactful.
Most importantly, I see myself becoming the person I needed when I was younger. Someone who shows people that no matter how dark life gets — through grief, addiction, depression, or hardship — it’s possible to rebuild yourself and turn your pain into purpose. Everything I’m building is rooted in that mission.
Success to me isn’t just fame or money. It’s creating something timeless that helps people feel seen, inspired, and motivated to evolve into the best version of themselves.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FrankyDeRey
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/frankyderey
