Entertainmentsteve aokiMusicTribeca Film Festival

The One Thing That Makes Steve Aoki Nervous

The famed DJ lets fans inside with the Tribeca documentary "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead."
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Adela Loconte via Getty Images

There's a moment in Steve Aoki's new documentary when he's about to walk onstage and you can actually see him beginning to get a little nervous. 

Here's a guy who's performed in front of tens of thousands of people. He has no problem crowd surfing and "caking" the audience on a nightly basis. Not to mention his daredevil tendencies that infiltrate almost all other aspects of his life. Yet, the 38-year-old DJ still gets worried that things may not go as planned at a gig. 

Still, what makes Aoki the most nervous is opening up to the world about his private thoughts and personal life, and he did just that last week. In the film "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," Aoki gets candid about his upbringing, his fears and his dad, the late Rocky Aoki, who founded the restaurant Benihana. 

"I'm more nervous about showing this doc publicly than any big show because I've opened this personal door and we've kept it closed for so many years," Aoki told AOL Build on Friday, the same day the Justin Krook-directed film debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival. 

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Mat Hayward via Getty Images

In the documentary, shot over a few years, Aoki lets fans in on what it was like to grow up with a famous father while discussing his own rise to fame. He talks about launching Dim Mak Records without the support of his dad and navigating his way in the entrepreneurial world. Through it all, his dad served as an inspiration and the driving force behind his success -- something Aoki doesn't take for granted. 

“I feel grateful to be in this position that I’m at because I’ve seen other artists who have been incredibly influential and have just gone away and so I’m wise to the fact that you could … feel like you’re on top and then the minute that you actually think you are, you’re not anymore," Aoki said. "So it doesn’t matter how famous you are, how influential you are, how much money you've made. It could all go. Pretty quickly, too. So, the drive that I have I think is always in me. It’s always in me to push my own boundaries and my own sounds and to think ahead … and to know I’m constantly working toward that."

For more on Aoki and "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," check out the AOL Build interview below. 

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Before You Go

Tribeca Film Festival 2016 Preview
"The First Monday in May"(01 of24)
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In "Page One: Inside the New York Times" and "Ivory Tower," Andrew Rossi adeptly blended media scrutiny and socioeconomic analysis. In "The First Monday in May," Rossi turns his lens to the glitzy crowd that attends the yearly Met Gala. The documentary -- Tribeca's opening-night selection -- zeroes in on the creation of 2015's China-themed exhibit, with footage from the A-list party that accompanied it. Yes, darling, there will be Anna Wintour sightings. (credit:Tribeca)
"Roots"(02 of24)
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Thirty-nine years after "Roots" shattered television records, the History Channel is rebooting the epic miniseries in an eight-part event that lends a "contemporary perspective" to Alex Haley's 1976 novel. Malachi Kirby plays Kunta Kinte, with Emayatzy Corinealdi, Laurence Fishburne, Matthew Goode, Anna Paquin, Mekhi Phifer, Anika Noni Rose, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and T.I. rounding out the ensemble. (credit:Tribeca)
"The Ticket"(03 of24)
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Dan Stevens devastated "Downton Abbey" fans when he departed after the show's third season. He's been searching, rather fruitlessly, for his big-screen breakthrough ever since. Ido Fluk's "The Ticket" may be his, well, ticket. Stevens portrays a blind man who awakens to restored sight. He shares the screen with Malin Åkerman and Oliver Platt. (credit:Tribeca)
"King Cobra"(04 of24)
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Multi-hyphenate busybody James Franco turns his attention, once again, to gay sex. But this venture is far more intriguing than, say, "Interior. Leather Bar." or the still-unreleased "I Am Michael." The Franco-produced "King Cobra" chronicles Sean Paul Lockhart (Garrett Clayton), better known as Brent Corrigan, the successful porn star who was sucked into a multi-layered scandal that resulted in the murder of an adult-film producer (Christian Slater). Justin Kelly's steamy movie also stars Keegan Allen, Alicia Silverstone and Molly Ringwald. (credit:Tribeca)
"Elvis & Nixon"(05 of24)
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If the premise of "Elvis & Nixon" weren't already enough to intrigue any hound dog out there, the casting would surely do it. Michael Shannon plays Elvis Presley during his famous 1970 meeting with Richard Nixon, brought to life by Kevin Spacey, who hasn't spent nearly enough time portraying devious presidents. The movie, directed by Liza Johnson ("Hateship, Loveship"), opens theatrically on April 22. (credit:Tribeca)
"Strike a Pose"(06 of24)
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Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour is one of the most celebrated pop roadshows of all time. It earned its own documentary in the form of 1991's revealing "Truth or Dare," which presents Madonna as mother hen to her brigade of backup dancers. "Strike a Pose" revisits the group 25 years later. Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan's graceful portrait isn't always sunny, though. The men have batted a level of addiction, death and dejection that betrays the joyous vogueing that once lent them a semblance of fame. (credit:Tribeca)
"Pelé: Birth of a Legend"(07 of24)
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I've never heard of Pelé, but my HuffPost sports colleagues tell me he's the most famous soccer player in history. Who knew? Enough people to inspire Jeff and Michael Zimbalist's biopic, apparently. The movie chronicles the athlete's journey from the slums of Brazil to the winner's corner at the World Cup. Pelé himself will appear at Tribeca's April 23 premiere, ahead of the movie's May 8 theatrical release. (credit:Tribeca)
"The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea"(08 of24)
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Maisie Williams has some experience playing runaways. See, obviously: "Game of Thrones," whose sixth season premieres days after Williams' first major big-screen role bows at Tribeca. In "Fresh Off the Boat" and "New Girl" director Bill Purple's "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," she plays a homeless teen who befriends an introverted widow (Jason Sudeikis). Together, they build a raft so she can sail across the Atlantic Ocean. No sword-fighting to see here, we assume, but you will find Jessica Biel, Mary Steenburgen, Paul Reiser and Orlando Jones in supporting parts. (credit:Tribeca)
"Do Not Resist"(09 of24)
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Police brutality is a tough subject for anyone's debut film, but Craig Atkinson doesn't shy away in "Do Not Resist." From Ferguson onward, the documentary probes the rapid rise in law-enforcement militarization. (credit:Tribeca)
"Always Shine"(10 of24)
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The scorned-woman psychodrama is one of cinema's great traditions. In her second movie, director Sophia Takal carries the torch lit by Roman Polanski ("Repulsion"), Ingmar Bergman ("Persona") and Brian de Palma ("Sisters"). But "Always Shine" has a distinctly feminine vantage, showcasing two young actresses (Mackenzie Davis and Caitlin FitzGerald) whose friendship unravels as their competitive resentments ferment during a weekend getaway. (credit:Tribeca)
"Bad Rap"(11 of24)
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In Salima Koroma's debut documentary, four aspiring Asian-American rappers struggle to overcome racial hurdles in their pursuit to break into an industry that treats them as outsiders. (credit:Tribeca)
"Custody"(12 of24)
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The lives of three New York women intersect in family court when a single mother (Catalina Sandino Moreno) faces off with an unstable judge (Viola Davis) and an ambitious lawyer (Hayden Panettiere) in an effort to secure custody of her son. The movie marks the first non-musical that Tony-winning director James Lapine ("Into the Woods," "Passion") has done since the 1999 HBO movie "Earthly Possessions." (credit:Tribeca)
"Haveababy"(13 of24)
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Renowned Las Vegas fertility doctor Geoffrey Sher runs a yearly contest to grant an underprivileged family the shot at in vitro fertilization. Amanda Micheli turns the endeavor into a sensitive documentary, chronicling winning and losing couples as they navigate what comes next. (credit:Tribeca)
"Women Who Kill"(14 of24)
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Brooklynite Ingrid Jungermann stays close to home for her feature-film debut about two ex-girlfriends (Jungermann and Ann Carr) who host a podcast about serial killers and come to suspect one of them has begun carousing with a dangerous lady. For a movie without name stars, "Women Who Kill" is generating a heap of buzz. (credit:Tribeca)
"Little Boxes"(15 of24)
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If you're a "Black-ish" disciple (as you should be), "Little Boxes" will whet your appetite. In "A Birder's Guide to Everything" director Rob Meyer's second feature, a biracial Brooklyn sixth-grader (Armani Jackson) moves to Washington, where he and his intellectual parents (Melanie Lynskey and Nelsan Ellis) question whether they should act "more black" to fit in. (credit:Tribeca)
"LoveTrue"(16 of24)
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Using three dysfunctional relationships, "Bombay Beach" director Alma Har'el canvasses the notion of "true love" in a documentary that blurs the line between fiction and reality. Produced by Shia LaBeouf, who describes Har'el's technique as "psychodrama," "LoveTrue" boasts a Flying Lotus score that amplifies its hypnotic lyricism. (credit:Tribeca)
"Dean"(17 of24)
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Making his directorial debut, Demetri Martin headlines this melancholic comedy about a lonely illustrator contending with several losses (his relationship, his mother, his childhood home). Leave it to Gillian Jacobs to cheer him up, though: The "Love" actress plays a new crush who draws him out of his shell during an impromptu trip to Los Angeles. If that "Garden State'-esque premise doesn't do it for you, make way for a supporting cast that includes Kevin Kline (playing Martin's father), Mary Steenburgen and "Veep" star Reid Scott. (credit:Tribeca)
"Mr. Church"(18 of24)
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Eddie Murphy hasn't appeared on the big screen since 2012's "A Thousand Words," a dud that resulted in one of the four Razzie nominations he's earned since his Oscar nod for "Dreamgirls." It's time for Murphy to mount his comeback, which is why our fingers are crossed for "Mr. Church," the new drama about a cook who is hired to care for an 11-year-old girl (who grows up to be "Tomorrowland" star Britt Robertson). The movie is the latest from "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Double Jeopardy" director Bruce Beresford. (credit:Tribeca)
"Check It"(19 of24)
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Dana Flor and Toby Oppenheimer's documentary explores the titular gang of queer Washington, D.C. youth who fight back against the oppression and violence they've faced. The filmmakers needed $60,000 to release the film, and they secured it via an Indiegogo campaign that will now bring this community's street-savvy endurance to the big screen. (credit:Tribeca)
"My Scientology Movie"(20 of24)
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Surely no summary is needed to pique your interest in a documentary with the word "Scientology" in the title. BBC journalist Louis Theroux stokes the church's ire when he enters the Los Angeles headquarters to investigate its behind-the-scenes happenings. Aided by ex-members illuminating Scientology's complexities, Dower realizes the organization is investigating him at the same time. (credit:Tribeca)
"Greenleaf"(21 of24)
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Oprah Winfrey has a recurring role in this drama series about a Memphis megachurch run by a manipulative preacher (Keith David) riddled with family drama. Created by "Six Feet Under" and "Lost" writer Craig Wright, "Greenleaf" premieres on OWN in June. (credit:Tribeca)
"Obit"(22 of24)
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Obituary writers traffic in the macabre, but Vanessa Gould's charming documentary about the New York Times' scribes proves they are far more than their downbeat reputations imply. The movie follows the daily lives of several obit writers as they celebrate and mourn their contributions to history. (credit:Tribeca)
"The Phenom"(23 of24)
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Noah Buschel ("Glass Chin") turns major-league sports into a psychological study in "The Phenom," a drama about a rookie pitcher (Johnny Simmons) whose unfocused performance on the mound leads him to an unconventional therapist (Paul Giamatti) and his tough ex-con of a father (Ethan Hawke). (credit:Tribeca)
"Night School"(24 of24)
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In a diagnosis of America's low-income disadvantages, "Night School" follows three adults in impoverished Indiana neighborhoods as they attempt to earn their diplomas. (credit:Tribeca)
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