01:02
John "Ben Dragon" Puangio Highlight
John "Ben Dragon" Puangio
DJ & Music Producer
The more you do what you love and it’s authentic to you, the more people will notice. Doors will open and the path will just keep unfolding before you.
About John "Ben Dragon"
- He was born in Chicago, IL—says the first music he remembers listening to is house music, a genre of electronic dance music created by club DJs and music producers in Chicago.
- His parents immigrated from very poor provinces in the Philippines and put a lot of pressure on him to become either a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.
- Attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI), where he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, but felt his skills would never be good enough to translate into a career.
- After graduation, he committed himself to becoming self-sufficient so that he could pursue his love of music without his parents doubting him.
- His electrical engineering degree landed him a job as a software programmer, which enabled him to become financially independent and move out of his parents’ house.
- Through a connection from UCI, his music career started to take off as he got more opportunities to produce commercial music for artists in Los Angeles.
- In 2015, he decided to found his own label, “Fire To My Ears,” which enabled him to release and promote his own music on his terms.
- He debuted his trademark tech-house style at the famous house club, FOCUS, and has since gone on to play the Amsterdam Dance Street Festival, KAABOO Festival, and shows all over the world.