Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Troncoso.
Hi Carlos, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story started long before I became known as DJ Charlie Woods. Around 2010, I was fully focused on my indie band Krisp. Those years were extremely important for me because they shaped my identity as a musician before I ever thought about DJing professionally. We played throughout Miami’s live music circuit in venues that at the time were defining the city’s underground and alternative scene, places like Electric Pickle, Bardot, The Vagabond, The Stage, and Grand Central. During that period, Krisp also had the opportunity to open for artists such as Miami Horror, Blood Orange, Neon Indian during a show in the Dominican Republic, Pompeya, PillowTalk, Nancy Whang, Bomba Estéreo, and Bajofondo, among others. One of the most memorable moments for us was our album release show at Bardot, where members of Vampire Weekend opened the night for us, which at the time felt surreal for a local Miami band trying to build its place in the scene.
At first, DJing happened naturally as an extension of being in a band. I would open shows with DJ sets before our live performances, and over time I realized I had a real passion and instinct for reading the room, building energy, and creating atmosphere through music selection. Eventually I understood that while I loved being in a band, my long-term career and financial stability were going to come through DJing. That realization changed everything for me.
One of the biggest turning points in my career was becoming a resident DJ at the Mandarin Oriental Miami, where I performed for more than ten years. That experience taught me a completely different side of music — how to work within luxury hospitality, how to adapt to different audiences, how to control the energy of a room over long periods of time, and how important music is in shaping people’s experiences without them even realizing it.
Over the years, that path led me into Miami’s top restaurant and nightlife scene. Today I work with venues such as COTE Miami, a Michelin-star restaurant, Osaka Miami, Rosa Negra Miami, and Los Felix, which holds both a Michelin Star and a Michelin Green Star. At Los Felix I mainly perform vinyl sets, something that remains very important to me because vinyl connects me back to the roots of music discovery and selection. Some of my favorite places to play vinyl nights are Miami Sound Bar, MAD Radio, and Sable.
From the outside, it can sometimes look like I was simply having fun or getting lucky, but the reality is that this has been an enormous amount of time dedicated to understanding people, venues, nightlife culture, and also understanding myself as an artist. Every residency, every set, every crowd, and every relationship helped shape who I am today.
This year has been especially meaningful for me because I had the opportunity to open as a DJ at ZeyZey Miami for incredible artists like Chrissy, Sports, and City of the Sun. After those performances went really well, I was invited to open on May 24th and 25th for Rhye, which honestly feels very special to me considering my background as a former band member myself.
I think that experience gives me a different perspective as a DJ. I understand what artists need emotionally before going on stage, and I take pride in building the right momentum and atmosphere before a live performance begins. More than anything, I feel proud of the journey so far and excited for what’s coming next, because I still feel like I’m only getting started.
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?
Not at all. One of the hardest parts of the journey was learning how to stay patient while everything was developing slowly behind the scenes. A lot of people only see the final result, but they don’t see the years of uncertainty, self-doubt, and constant adaptation that happen in between.
For me, one challenge was understanding that talent alone is not enough. You can have great taste in music, technical ability, or creative ideas, but building a long-term career requires consistency, professionalism, emotional intelligence, and learning how to work with all kinds of personalities and environments. That took time.
Another struggle was finding balance between the artistic side and the business side of music. There are moments where you have to make decisions that are practical for your future while still protecting your creativity and identity. Learning how to evolve without losing myself artistically was probably one of the most important lessons.
I also think people underestimate how mentally demanding nightlife can be. You are constantly working around energy, crowds, expectations, schedules, and late nights while trying to stay inspired creatively. Over time, I learned that being successful in this industry is not only about music selection — it is also about discipline, communication, reliability, and understanding human behavior.
At different stages of my career, I had to reinvent myself and adapt to new opportunities without becoming comfortable. That process can be uncomfortable because growth usually comes with uncertainty. But looking back now, I appreciate those difficult moments because they shaped my confidence and helped me understand my value as both an artist and a professional.
What I’m most proud of is that everything happened organically. Relationships, opportunities, and trust were built over many years, and I think that foundation is what makes the journey meaningful to me today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Charlie Woods LLC was created with the idea that music should never feel like background noise. The company focuses on building identity through sound, especially within hospitality, nightlife, cultural events, and curated social environments.
What we do goes far beyond booking DJs. We work on music direction, talent selection, atmosphere development, artist coordination, and overall sonic consistency for venues and events. Every space has its own personality, energy, and rhythm, and our role is to help shape that experience musically in a way that feels sophisticated, natural, and memorable.
One thing that makes the company different is that we understand both the artistic and operational sides of the industry. We know how to work creatively while also understanding logistics, scheduling, professionalism, timing, branding, and guest experience. That combination allows us to work comfortably with restaurants, hotels, nightlife venues, private events, and live music spaces at a high level.
The company is also very focused on curation instead of volume. We are selective with the environments, artists, and collaborations we take on because the objective is to maintain quality and long-term value instead of simply filling calendars. Whether it is a vinyl session, a high-energy dinner service, or a rooftop sunset atmosphere, every musical direction is designed specifically for that environment.
Another important part of the brand is artist development and relationship building. Charlie Woods LLC operates with a strong sense of community and collaboration. We value musicians, DJs, performers, and creatives who bring personality and authenticity to what they do. The idea is not to create generic entertainment, but to create experiences that people emotionally remember.
What I’m most proud of is that the company has been able to build credibility across very different worlds simultaneously — from underground music culture and vinyl communities to luxury hospitality and Michelin-level venues. That balance is difficult to achieve because both worlds have very different expectations, but I think the company has found a way to bridge them authentically.
At the end of the day, Charlie Woods LLC is really about musical taste, emotional intelligence, and atmosphere. We believe music changes the way people experience spaces, conversations, dinners, celebrations, and memories. That philosophy is at the center of everything we do.
Any big plans?
For the future, one of my biggest goals is continuing to grow Charlie Woods LLC into a respected international music curation and booking company, not only within Miami but eventually in cities and markets that deeply value hospitality, culture, and nightlife experiences.
Right now, I’m very focused on expanding the company in a way that feels organic and sustainable. That includes developing stronger relationships with luxury hospitality groups, restaurants, boutique hotels, cultural venues, and international brands that understand the importance of music as part of the overall experience. I’m especially interested in projects where music is treated as part of the identity of the venue rather than simply entertainment.
Another important direction for me is artist development and building a stronger roster under the company. I want to continue working with DJs and musicians who have strong taste, personality, and professionalism, while helping create opportunities that elevate everyone involved creatively and professionally.
I’m also excited about becoming more involved in music direction and concept creation for venues from the beginning stages. Not only performing, but helping shape the sonic identity of spaces from day one — from the type of artists booked, to the energy progression throughout the night, to the overall emotional atmosphere guests experience.
Personally, I would also like to continue expanding internationally through performances, collaborations, and curated events. Cities like Ibiza, Paris, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Dubai are very inspiring to me because they each have strong identities when it comes to hospitality and music culture.
Another thing I look forward to is continuing to bridge the worlds of live music and DJ culture. Coming from a band background, I’ve always been interested in experiences where DJs, live musicians, vinyl culture, and performance coexist naturally. I think that hybrid direction is becoming more and more important culturally, and I would love for Charlie Woods LLC to continue growing within that space.
Most importantly, I want the future of the company to remain authentic. Growth is important, but I never want to lose the sense of musical identity, curation, and emotional connection that helped build everything in the first place. The long-term vision is not just to become bigger, but to become meaningful and respected for the quality of the experiences we create.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charliewoodsmusic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djcharliewoods/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-troncoso-b2b4733a/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/charlie-woods
