Meet Brian Jenson | DJ

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Jenson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, why did you pursue a creative career?
I have been in the military for over 23 years and obviously with that career path, most of my work has been very directive in nature, following plans, executing missions, etc. So while there is some room to be creative and develop your own solutions and ways to do things, the nature of the job keeps you relatively boxed in. This combined with the fact that music was one of my biggest outlets during my deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan helped lead me in the direction to become a DJ. When I got a stationed in England in 2013, I was able to meet DJ Chris Hawkes and immediately asked him to teach me how to play. I became instantly hooked and picked up mixing music extremely quickly. Before I knew it, I was opening for Chris, then playing with him, and landing my first residency at a speakeasy called 12A in Cambridge, England. Being able to play and mix music has become a great outlet to share my own art with the world, a way to cope with PTSD, and share part of myself with the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started DJing in England in 2013 and had the amazing opportunity to get to play in various cities across Europe. The DJ scene has become massive over the last 10 years or so with new sounds, music, and vibes constantly emerging. I believe what has helped set me apart from other is the main thing that I started doing almost immediately back in 2013. I have constantly tried to take all types of music and blend it together to create an environment that everyone in the club could enjoy. I would take 60’s and 70’s rock, 80’s and 90’s hip hop, 2000’s pop rock and R&B, etc. and blend all of that into different types of house music in order to bring everyone together. It is amazing to watch a venue filled with people of all ages, all music interests and backgrounds, all come together to enjoy and dance and sing to the music that I am playing. Music has been a constant over time that has brought people together and I continue to try to do that with mine.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, I do live in Las Vegas, so the options here are so endless that it could easily be over stimulating. A few spots or must do’s that I would certainly take people to would be at least one night on Freemont street. It is by far the best place for some amazing people watching, street show entertainment, and is riddled with great food spots and small bars. But one of the days on Freemont would definitely be spent at Stadium Swim at Circa. Its like you took a sportsbook, a pool party, and a nightclub and merged them together. We would hang in the pool drinking some amazing cocktails, while watching the games on the jumbotron screens, listening to some killer DJs, and enjoying my favorite lobster corndogs! From there we would grab dinner over at the Golden Steer, the oldest steakhouse in Las Vegas, and fill ourselves with their table side Caesar salad, an amazing steak, and 2lb lobster tail. Of course this would all be done while sitting at one of the OG celebrity tables like Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, or Frank Sinatra. Finally to enjoy the night we would move back to Circa to its rooftop bar, Legacy Club, and sit around one of their firepit tables on the 63rd floor overlooking the Strip and design our own Old Fashions from their Build Your Own Old Fashioned menu.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have two major shoutouts that I would like to give. First is to DJ Chris Hawkes, my brother across the pond in England. Christ got me started in the industry and had the patience and love to teach from the very beginning. A lot the music I mix and the sound and vibe that I create have its roots with Chris. He is an amazing friend, great teacher, and even better DJ. I owe all that I have done with music to him. My second shoutout definitely has to go to my wife, Maggie Jenson, who constantly encourages me to continue to play and pursue my passion. I am still full time active duty in the military, a black belt and active practitioner in Brazilian Jiujitsu, and with all of the time that takes, she is still fully supportive of the time that I take away to DJ.

Website: www.hashtagdjbj.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hashtagdjbj/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.jenson.3/

Other: https://soundcloud.com/user-763565501/djbj-t3ch-know-vol-1