DJ Zenas is originally from Denver, CO. He moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2019 to further pursue his music career. Since moving, he has collaborated with the multi-talented producer Jon-John Robinson, has produced tracks for various projects including The Black Sands Soundtrack, and has successfully released his own original work as well. Adding to his already impressive resume and catalog, Zenas has proven he is more than a DJ. He is a jack of all trades. Elaborating on the inspiration for the track, DJ Zenas states: No one and no love is perfect, and “Apple of My Eye” captures that notion of imperfection perfectly. In a relationship (and life in general), there is so much uncertainty.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Kamil) Hey DJ Zenas, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Hey Kamil, Thanks for having me. I’ve always been musically inclined, from the love of listening to it, singing along to it, dancing to it, and more. However, a friend of mine taught me how to make beats on FL Studio when I was a senior in high school and that’s what really opened the can of worms.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
There’s way too many people I would like to collaborate with honestly. But if I had to choose one person as of right now, I would probably say Pharrell. He’s a genius and I love that he pushes boundaries so I know we would make something special.
Your latest song is 'Apple of My Eye'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
‘Apple of My Eye’ started how I usually begin my process, making the beat first. Once I had a good feel for the vibe I started humming whatever came to my mind. At that particular time, love and its various complexities was what was on the brain. The song is about my feelings for my fiancee, our various experiences as partners, and everything that we endured along our journey.
What are you focussing on right now?
Right now, I am planning to release at least 3-4 new songs this year and also plan to release an EP by the Spring of 2024.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of my growth as an artist and the simple fact that I am still pursuing my purpose, and doing it well. Commitment and resilience are not the easiest things to come by so the ability to continue showing up day in and day out, regardless of what happens, is extremely admirable in my book.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist?
The ability to endure. There are so many internal and external factors you have working against you oftentimes that you can’t help but get stuck in lulls of second-guessing and doubting yourself. That’s why it’s important to remember these two things: 1) surround yourself with dope people who genuinely want to see you flourish and 2) be adaptable. The end result never changes but the path does. There’s nothing wrong with redirection.
How do you structure your day?
I am still figuring this out daily. I work a corporate job so that occupies the majority of my time during the week but I recently began using a planner to map out my days and weekends overall, so that helps a lot. I typically allot a certain amount of time towards networking, content creation, promotion, production, and relaxation. It’s critical that I do all of the above.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
My biggest hobby outside of my music is travel. I love a quality adventure. Getting out and seeing the world is essential to being a great creative. The more you experience, the more stories you can tell. I also enjoy films, food, and quality time with family and friends.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
Absolutely. Who doesn’t sing in the shower? I have a pretty eclectic taste in music so it really depends on my mood. However, R&B is my favorite genre so I’ve recently found myself belting out Daniel Caesar’s “Let Me Go” and SZA’s “Snooze” nonstop.
What are your plans for the future?
The sky's the limit really. But to be more specific, I have a very entrepreneurial spirit so I plan on maximizing a few investment opportunities and leveraging the assets I do have so that I can fund my own career and become a fully, self-sufficient artist by the end of 2024. I also aspire to have the ability to retire by 40. I know that’s quite an ambitious goal but when you shoot for the stars, sometimes settling for the moon doesn’t seem so bad. Financial freedom always has and always will be the dream. Pursuing my purpose, sharing my talent(s), supporting and uplifting those around me, traveling and exploring the world, making an impact, and doing it all with integrity, what better life is there?