Lord Rash: Lover Boy House & the Power of Groove
Lord Rash
This week, The Groove Palace welcomes Lord Rash, a rising Florida-based DJ and producer whose journey blends soulful roots, raw hustle, and deep groove. Raised in a musically rich household and shaped by Florida’s rave culture, Rash found his voice through “lover boy house”—a sound that fuses emotional R&B influences with minimal, tech, and soulful house. From launching his own Liquid Brunch party series to signing with Dream Kids and dropping his conceptual Lonely Nights mixtape, Rash has carved out a lane that’s both intimate and intentional. His exclusive mix for The Groove Palace is a dancefloor diary: packed with personal edits, unreleased heat, and pure groove from start to finish. Stream it now on The Groove Palace SoundCloud.
Music was always in Lord Rash’s world — his dad made beats and the house was never quiet. But it wasn’t until he hit his first rave that everything changed. That was the moment house music grabbed him, and he’s been locked in ever since. Born in Columbus, Ohio and splitting his upbringing between Ohio and Florida, he blends the grit of his Midwest roots with the energy of the Florida scene.
The Spark: How a Mosh Pit Kid Fell for the Rave
Before he was Lord Rash, he was Rashaun — the energetic kid hitting SoundCloud rapper shows, throwing himself into mosh pits, and craving a connection with the crowd. But it wasn’t until he turned 21 that a friend convinced him to check out something different: a rave.
“I just fell in love with the music,” he remembers. “It was such a positive atmosphere — a complete shift from the aggression I was used to. And then I went to Club Space during Art Basel... that sealed the deal.”
For a mixed kid from Ohio — Chinese, German, Black, and Native American — discovering a dancefloor filled with global energy, love, and open-hearted beats was eye-opening. “Everyone was just so locked into the music,” he says. “That kind of unity is rare.”
Sink or Spin: From Club Promoter to Club Opener
Rash’s introduction to DJing was just as fast-paced as the energy he brought to the decks. Encouraged by now-manager Austin Hammer and artists like Caleb Dent, Rash made the jump from passionate listener to hands-on learner.
Within weeks of picking up DJing, he was playing his first show — a sold-out night opening for AC Slater. “I didn’t even know who he was at the time,” Rash laughs. “The curtain pulled back and there were 300 people staring at me. It was sink or swim.” He swam — and never looked back.
Then came the pandemic. While gigs were on hold, Rash was locked in, obsessed with refining his craft. By the time the world opened back up, he was ready.
Liquid Brunch: Where Lord Rash Was Born
It wasn’t just DJing that solidified his name — it was community. Rash launched Liquid Brunch, an 11-hour Sunday party at McQueen’s in Orlando that became a cultural landmark over the course of four years. The vibe? “Daytime Floyd,” he calls it — an intimate, groovy, intentional space where DJs brought their best and the crowd followed suit.
Rash wasn’t just throwing events — he was shaping taste. Booking artists Joe Vanditti, Daniel Orpi, Jean Pierre, Slugg, Luke Van Dijk, and more, he didn’t just share the booth — he shared the energy. “I had to bring my A-game. If I’m asking someone to play proper, I have to be the most proper person in the room.”
Finding His Sound: Lover Boy House & R&B in the Club
Rash calls his style lover boy house — a blend of tech, minimal, and R&B influences designed to move both bodies and hearts. “There’s a lot of bros making music for the bros,” he says. “I make music for the girls. For the moment. For the vibe.”
He draws from a deep well of inspiration — his dad was a music producer, his childhood was filled with gospel, hip-hop, and early 2000s R&B. From his bedroom sharing his dad’s Ohio basement studio to the sun-drenched booths of Miami, the emotional weight of music has always been with him.
His debut track 8AM — an R&B flip turned emotional club cut — proved that his instincts were spot on. “I dropped it on SoundCloud ‘cause I was nervous. Then Drake co-signed the original track I sampled, and it all just lined up.”
Lonely Nights: A Conceptual Mixtape Born from Isolation
In the months leading up to Rash’s debut booking at Day Trip LA with Acraze, alongside a string of other West Coast shows, Rash did what most rising DJs wouldn’t — he canceled bookings and locked himself away for three months to produce.
What came out was Lonely Nights, a free mixtape that told an emotional journey through dance music. Each track explores a different chapter of a night out — confidence, regret, longing, love, and self-reflection.
“I wanted it to feel like the thoughts you have on the dancefloor — when you're partying but still thinking about someone... or something,” Rash explains. “That duality, that emotion, that's what I wanted people to feel.”
Family First: Lisa’s Kickback, Dream Kids, and Community Over Clout
After dropping 8AM, Rash was quickly embraced by Lisa’s Kickback — the Miami-based collective and label founded by Lousy Lover. He started getting booked at venues that once inspired him — Floyd, Jolene, and beyond.
In October 2023, he officially signed with the Dream Kids agency — a full-circle moment with the same team that believed in him from day one. “I owe so much to Austin, Mateo (Slugg), and the Dream Kids fam. They helped change my life.”
But Rash isn’t just along for the ride — he’s here to elevate the whole crew. “We hold each other accountable — on beats, on visuals, on staying fresh. We keep it organic, original, and tight.”
The Underground’s Rise: “Let’s Just Make Good Music”
Rash sees a bright future for underground house and minimal. “I love seeing what’s happening,” he says. “Guys like Fletch, Daniel Orpi, Chase West, the Pink Records crew — they’re proving that you don’t have to compromise your sound to make it big.”
He’s also vocal about shaking the genre-label fear. “Everybody’s scared to say tech house, but let’s be real — some of it is tech house. Who cares? Is it good or not? Are people dancing or not?”
For Rash, the focus is clear: stay timeless, stay intentional, and don’t get caught chasing trends.
Words of Wisdom: “Don’t Be a Shoulda Coulda Woulda Ass [Person]”
Asked what advice he’d give to the next Lord Rash out there, he keeps it real:
“Don’t be a shoulda coulda woulda ass [person]. If you have a good idea, do it. Even if it’s scary, even if you fail, bet on yourself. And when the opportunity comes, be ready.”
Rash’s story is still being written — with upcoming shows, unreleased tracks, and more stories waiting to unfold. But if one thing’s certain, it’s this: his grooves are made to last, and his heart’s in every beat.