With over a million followers across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, Dave Disci has emerged as one of the most promising influencers in recent years. Known for his in-depth analyses, insightful commentary, and engaging interviews, Dave’s content not only resonates with fans of K-pop but has also attracted a broader global audience eager to explore trending topics and intriguing news. His unique ability to balance entertainment with thoughtful discussions has fostered a loyal following that values his authenticity and versatility across platforms.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Dave and talk about his journey, from his earliest inspirations to his perspective on the complexities of today’s digital landscape. In our conversation, he shares his challenges, his approach to connecting with diverse audiences, and his commitment to amplifying voices in the LGBTQ+ community. Dave also opens up about his creative process, including his background in film and photography and how it shapes the visual storytelling that has captivated his fans.
You’ve built a large community on YouTube and TikTok. What initially inspired you to enter this world? Share a bit about how it all started, especially those early days—what was the beginning like?
This was way back; I think it was around 2011 when I saw many YouTubers make videos, specifically Jenna Marbles and Ryan Higa. I was really inspired by what they were doing, and I really wanted to do something like this. It just looked like a lot of fun. It was more fun than school and it was something that I felt like I could be very passionate about. I’ve always enjoyed storytelling and I used to create flipbooks that would tell an animated story, and I told myself that one day I wanted to work in media, either creating animations or making videos myself. I just liked the creation process. When it came to making videos, I actually asked a bunch of my friends if they would be the talent on camera, and then I would just direct them. And a bunch of people said no or some people would do it and then eventually not want to do it. So I ended up doing it myself. And then of course, it was tough to find something that I was passionate about and the audience wanted to see. I struggled to understand the algorithm. I struggled to understand how content gets pushed out and what people want to see, and perhaps I still struggle with that today.
You’re now one of the most recognized voices in K-pop, yet in your early days, this genre wasn’t quite in your spotlight. What led you to focus on K-pop, and what’s your personal connection to it?
I grew up listening to K-pop all around my house. My sister would play it all the time. It was on TV a lot of my family members were watching K dramas and that sort of stuff. Of course, it wasn’t just Korean stuff, they also watched Chinese, Indonesian, and Thai. But this is what made me kind of confused when people would say things like that I wasn’t actually into K-pop, that I was faking it, or even when I saw K-pop come into the mainstream in the US and people were categorizing it as a different genre. Because to me it was just pop music that just happened to be in a different language. But I never thought of it as pop music in a different language. I just thought of it as pop music. So when it came time to talk about K-pop, I knew a lot of the stuff that was already happening in K Pop. I just didn’t know the fan culture around K Pop.
When I was first figuring out what type of videos to make I was trying a bunch of different things. When someone said oh you should do K-pop because it’s blowing up and people want to see their first-time reaction to it. I was like in my head I didn’t quite understand what the difference was between K-pop and Pop. Not because the genre is bad, but because it’s just so normal to me. I was like, why do people find it interesting if I react to this as if it’s like something completely new and different because it wasn’t completely new and different to me? Of course, the specific artist that I was reacting to was new, ones I hadn’t seen before, but in general, K Pop wasn’t something that was completely new to me.
Though K-pop is the central theme of your Vlog, it isn’t as common across your other social media platforms. On TikTok, your content tends to be reactions to trending topics, while on Instagram, you present a more personal and activist side. Have you intentionally chosen to highlight different aspects of yourself across each platform? And which type of content do you enjoy creating the most, and why?
I was told I definitely needed to diversify a little bit, and I’ve always been the type of person who had been very into politics, news, and journalism, and I even studied journalism a little bit in college. So it made sense for me to go into more global journalism as opposed to just one specific niche. I can’t really say if I have a specific preference for either style of content, but I very much enjoy the aspect of learning something new every day and I get that from every type of content I create. I am very lucky.
You have a background in film and dance photography. How has this experience shaped the way you create videos and connect with your YouTube audience?
This experience has helped me a lot. Understanding how camera gear works and lighting and all of these different things have shaped how the visuals on the screen appear. Someone might look at the content and think it looks pretty simple, but it has a very professional setup. I’m not just filming with a ring light and the camera on my phone. Now, does that change the viewing experience? I would imagine, but I don’t fully know. This background also helped me land a job in corporate America where I was selling cameras and professional cameras to professional studios. I would often get asked very specific questions about cameras and very specific almost engineering-level questions about how to set up live streaming equipment or set up a studio. For the most part, I definitely didn’t know the answer to these things, but I was able to very quickly find out how to scan a manual or what to specifically Google to get the answer to these questions. That skill set has really helped me become a better researcher for my commentator online.
You mentioned working with influencers and on projects like MTV’s “One Style Fits All.” How have these experiences impacted your creativity and professionalism?
It was cool to work on a big set like that and work with professional talent. At the time I wasn’t doing social media full-time, so it was really cool to see what I could aspire to do one day. They also were able to demonstrate to me how important fashion was. And I started taking that a lot more seriously after the show and being able to dress up more when going to events and dressing up bigger so that I stand out, things like that.
We know you’re a strong supporter of the LGBTQ+ cause. Could you share how your personal experiences have influenced your commitment to this cause and how it shows up in your work?
I am part of this community myself and I think I fit with the B part of the community. Of course, this means that I will take an opportunity to talk about causes that are affecting the LGBTQ community. I have experienced a lot of pain with my family not being very accepting of my relationship choices. It has definitely made me feel like I need to be a stronger voice within this community for those who may be experiencing the same thing. I don’t think my family would ever come around to supporting me with this and that is something that I will have to bear for the rest of my life. I don’t ever want anyone to feel like they can’t go online and escape or feel unaccepted when they’re watching. So I hope to be a small voice for those people.
As a public figure, especially on a platform like YouTube, visibility and authenticity come with their own challenges. What has been the most significant challenge for you as a creator who openly shares his life?
I try not to share too much of my life, but there are aspects of it in which I do share. It’s been really difficult to find a balance between sharing something that I feel is near and dear to my heart while also making sure that it’s something that people want to see. Because at the end of the day, how I eat and how I support myself is through making content that people want to see. And that often leads people, not just me but everyone on social media to post things that are more of a highlight reel rather than something that is fully authentic and real. It has been a struggle to realize that because people talk about wanting authenticity but no one really wants to sit through an everyday video because it can be tedious. And I don’t blame people for not wanting to sit through that because I wouldn’t either.
Content creators today need to keep up with digital trends, and you’ve been at it for a while, considering how young this field is. How do you balance staying true to your style and essence while trying to reach new audiences and adapting to changing digital demands?
How other people are doing it, but for me it hasn’t been super difficult. My interests change pretty regularly and staying true to myself just means that I’m making videos that are interesting for people to watch. It has always been that way for me. Of course, I like to make the genres that I enjoy making, but at the end of the day, if I could just sit there and create videos for someone else and it’s not specifically a topic I’m passionate about, but I’m still sitting there and editing, I would have a great time anyway. So with that said, it’s not difficult for me to see what’s happening in the world, what’s trending, what people wanna see, and then create content like that.
You’ve collaborated with several influencers. Which has been your favorite collaboration so far, and why? What have you learned from working with other creators?
There is a creator which I will shout out, who I’m very close with, named Vincent Gao. He has been a great person to not only work with but also an amazing person in general. There’s a whole day when we hang out because we like to go eat, we like to chat about business and dating life, and we just like to have fun and so every single time that I’m working with him, it’s been a great time. I’ve also worked with him a lot behind the scenes as well-being a cameraman or editing all that stuff. Working with other creators also shows you how they might choose to do something. So at the end of the day, the methods by which people create videos are different, but as the video gets posted, as you’re making the thumbnail, as you’re making the title, as you’re making video descriptions, that is all the same. Like the method by which you might create those things is going to be similar. So even if you can’t learn from watching someone else’s content creation because they make a different genre, you’ll learn something in their process that you can apply to yours. And that’s been the case for every creator I’ve worked with.
What impact do you hope to make on your audience?
I hope people know me as someone who just wants to entertain and just wants to tell stories.
Looking to the future, do you have any goals or upcoming projects you’re excited to share?
I haven’t really talked about this much, but I have been working on a card game, specifically a trivia game in which people can answer questions and there’s a penalty if they get the question wrong, and I hope this becomes a really fun game for everyone. If people want to see it, it is in the highlight reel on my Instagram. So if you’re interested in games, I hope you stay tuned for that.
After more than a decade of creating content, Dave has established himself not only as a leading voice in K-pop commentary but also as a creative force who connects with his audience through authenticity, passion, and a talent for storytelling.
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