Today we’d like to introduce you to Connor Selander.
Hi Connor, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My DJ story really started when I moved from Arizona to Nashville without much of a network or any real connections in the music scene. I had always loved music, especially EDM and progressive house, but DJing started as something I was passionate about rather than something I ever expected to turn into a serious opportunity.
When I got to Nashville, I basically started from zero. I didn’t know venue owners, promoters, or other DJs who could get my foot in the door. I just started putting myself out there, practicing constantly, posting mixes online, and taking whatever opportunities I could get. I created the name DJ Cold Call as a play on my background in sales, and it eventually became the identity I started building everything around.
One of the biggest pieces of that growth has been my “NashVegas” mix series. I wanted to create something that represented the side of Nashville I was experiencing — country roots mixed with the energy of a city that’s constantly growing and changing. My sound has evolved into a mix of progressive house, EDM, remixes, and recognizable songs that people can sing along to. Over time, those mixes started gaining traction on SoundCloud and helped me realize that people outside of the bars I was playing were actually connecting with what I was creating.
From there, things began snowballing. I went from trying to find opportunities to DJ to playing regularly in Nashville, landing residencies, performing private and college events, and watching my online audience continue to grow. In 2026, I crossed 100,000 total SoundCloud plays, which was a huge milestone for me because I remember when getting 50 people to listen to a new mix felt like an accomplishment.
I’m still early in the journey, though. I’m learning music production, working toward releasing more of my own music, and continuing to develop what DJ Cold Call can become. The long-term goal is to eventually make music and DJing my full-time career and take what I’ve built in Nashville to stages around the country.
What makes the story special to me is that there wasn’t really one big break. It’s been a collection of small wins — one gig, one mix, one connection, and one opportunity at a time. Nashville gave me a place to build something from scratch, and I feel like I’m just getting started.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have definitely been plenty of struggles along the way. I came to Nashville without any real connections in the DJ or nightlife scene, so building DJ Cold Call from the ground up meant constantly putting myself out there and hearing “no” a lot before hearing “yes.” At the same time, I’ve had to balance building my brand with challenges outside of music, including being let go from a job and going through other personal struggles that made it difficult at times to stay focused and motivated.
There have also been nights where I showed up excited to play a gig only to perform in front of a nearly empty room. Those moments can make you question whether all the work is worth it, especially when there aren’t many people around you who truly believe in what you’re trying to build. I think one of my biggest accomplishments has simply been having the will to keep going. I’ve learned to treat the difficult nights, rejection, and setbacks as part of the process rather than reasons to stop. Every time I’ve considered slowing down, I’ve reminded myself why I started and how far I’ve already come.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I look at DJ Cold Call as more than just DJing — I’m trying to build a brand and eventually a career around music. I specialize in high-energy sets built around progressive house, EDM, remixes, and sing-along records, but my biggest focus when performing is understanding the crowd. Every room is different, and I take a lot of pride in being able to adjust my set while still keeping my own identity.
What I’m most proud of is building everything from essentially zero. I moved to Nashville without connections in the music industry and had to figure out how to get booked, promote myself, build relationships with venues, grow an online audience, and develop my sound along the way.
My “NashVegas” mixes have become one of the biggest parts of that journey. Seeing something I started on my own grow to the point where my SoundCloud has surpassed 100,000 total plays has given me confidence that there is an audience for what I’m creating.
I think what sets me apart most is persistence. I’ve played packed rooms and I’ve played almost empty rooms. I’ve had mixes take off and others that didn’t perform the way I hoped. But regardless of the result, I’ve continued showing up. I’m willing to bet on myself even when there isn’t immediate validation, and I think that mentality is ultimately going to be one of the biggest reasons I succeed.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
The owner of “Live Oak” in Midtown, Brent Kakwitch. He was the first person to give me a shot at djing in Nashville that has led to be seen more and led to other opportunities. He gave me a chance when no one else would and really saw something in me that gave me that extra push to keep going when I needed it the most. He is a friend, a mentor, a fan of mine, admirable and someone who I’m very thankful for in my DJ career.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_coldcall/?hl=en
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/RA1mBWyWwhl3Io22NZ
