Meet Jalen Anderson | DJ

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

Hi Jalen, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I recently got married in May 2023, so this is a very important aspect of life I’ve had to consider.

Glory to God I’m busy, and my goal is to not have this change for quite some time. I’m actually in search of new hobbies to take my mind away from music, but I’d rate my work-life balance a solid 7/10. It could be better, but it could be much worse. It’s changed and become a more positive thing over time because I’ve learned to be more selective with gigs, and I (now) set aside time in my schedule where needed to ensure my priorities are taken care of outside of my music endeavors.

I met my wife as a young DJ in college, so she is especially supportive of my career choice. I feel “most alive” while performing, and I hope to never reach burnout from all aspects of music. With this in mind, I chose to be a husband and soon-ish (with kids) a family man, so my goal is to position myself both financially and career-wise in a way that will allow me to juggle both with their due time needed. Time is undefeated, and I’m in a space where I believe NOW is my time to grind, so I can allot more time to my family in the next five years. I think I’ll always have music as a high priority, but I understand a shift will be had once the time comes. All considered, and understanding there are many ways to achieve the same outcome – I’d conclude all is decently balanced and I’m happy with what’s happening at the moment.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve done a few interviews about DJing, so I’m choosing to focus on my entertainment company side of things for a minute.

I started with private parties, and while I frequent spaces downtown Nashville and more, it’s a great pleasure to celebrate with people during their special moments. I could be at your wedding, party, or any other reason to have music in the background. It’s all a dope aspect of music I’ve been blessed to be a part of. I’m willing to meet my clients where needed, and I understand EVERY party is different. Carefully tailoring my offerings to my clientele is what separates my entertainment offerings from the market. The challenges that could come are most likely to stem from micro-managing/not allowing your DJ to dj. I’m happy to be anywhere I’m wanted, and I’ve found the best solution is to just give them what is asked even if you believe otherwise should be done. I’m there for them, and not vice-versa, so it’s the best option. I’ll leave with this, but I often put it like this:

“You wouldn’t go to a popular sandwich spot, and choose toppings you wouldn’t want. The same is said for clients and their requests, so give it to them.”

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?
I’d take them to any of the spots I frequent – They’re loyal to me, so I’d happily return it. These spots know who they are!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve shouted out several folks in my past interviews, so this one is the biggest of homies. God.

Instagram: instagram.com/thedjrio

Facebook: facebook.com/thedjrio

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@djrio8045?si=1OoVq7LFluCckL_j

Other: https://on.soundcloud.com/qRK96

Image Credits
@biglunchstudio