Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackson Stewart.
Hi Jackson, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Memphis Tennessee, I had always had a love for music thanks to my dad and a love for fashion thanks to my mom. I had never considered either as genuine interests though until a little later in my life. Around college I started investing a little more into my personal fashion and trying to enhance/figure out what my style was. At first that looked like me imitating the celebrities that I would see in the streets of any given fashion week but soon it began to look like what felt most authentic to me and what made me feel most comfortable in my own skin. I’d say when it comes to fashion that I am still finding my my style and it’s constantly changing every day but the one thing that remains consistent is the feeling I get when I put an outfit on. I didn’t really come into my own until I started going out in Nashville after covid and college. I was on my own for the first time and for the first time had the change to experiment with my fashion in a public setting that wasn’t just my college piers. I mostly try to dress for the silhouette… colors, patterns and textures are important but I learned from a few of my mentors in college that nothing will ever be as important as the silhouette.
When it comes to Djing, I had never really intended to make a mini career out of it, I’ve always been someone who likes to have a hobby and I’ve always liked music. For years I would watch my friend David DJ at Cercet and on occasion when the crowd was light and the hour was late he’d let me join a transition or 2. He even tried to teach me once or twice but I never really got into it, not until a year ago, I bought a DDJ-SB3 off of one of my friends who was trying to upgrade her board and then I started messing around, mixing and finding my sound. After a few months of practicing, learning how to beat match, mix in key, etc> I decided I wanted to play in public just for practice, I feel like I emailed every venue in the city that I knew but eventually Golden Pony gave me my first gig. I look back and remember that I almost wasn’t even able to play the gig due to the fact that my board din’t support the right hardware for the sound system there, so initially I declined at soundcheck but told myself that DJing was something I really wanted to do. I scrounged up some money and bought a new deck, which is crazy cause what a leap that was. I played a private party and the genre was mainly house but I did it and got good feedback, since then I’ve played parties like Foxy Brown Live, It’s Giving Global and Capri, played venues all-around the city and met so many talented DJ’s because of it. While I am considered an open format DJ, I love house and all of the sub genres found under it but find most joy in playing Soulful House, Amapiano and Afro House variations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think every journey has its ups and downs, roadblocks and rough patches and I’d say that mine has been no different. I will say that I have had an amazing community and friends to lend advice and encourage me to keep going when I felt like I was done or should move on. The Dj community in Nashville from my personal experience and perspective is pretty supportive and while egos do exist at the end of the day someone is always going to have been where you’ve been at one point or another and thankfully a lot of the Djs here would rather see you shine than drown.
In the beginning I think getting booked as a new DJ is hard, no one knows what you can do, even if you send mixes showing your talents or have a few private events a lot of these venues want to trust that you can keep the energy going and know what you’re doing, so I’d say my first struggle was getting booked. Another struggle that I’d say I’ve experienced personally would be finding crowds that like what you play… the house music scene here, while not non existent is still pretty small and people like to listen to what THEY like to listen to on the dance floor and as someone who has been on both sides of the DJ booth that is something I can completely understand. I will say however, that there is an unwillingness in a lot crowds here to hear new music or music that they don’t typically listen to. There’s also a want from venues to stick to what works or what keeps the people in the establishment and most times that’s not new stuff, it’s the classics that they know and can sing along to. I’ve found a few venues who are truly open to allowing both the DJ and the listener to play and experience new music, those being Golden Pony and Lulo Soundroom. Venues like that are bridging the gap in my opinion.
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?
DJing is one of my passions but another is also animals, by day I work as a veterinary technician. I do what a dental tech, nurse, lab tech, surgery tech, etc would do for humans but for animals. I’ve been working in Vet Med for about 8 Years now and I love it. It’s brought me joy, some sadness, it’s challenged me mentally, physically and emotionally but it’s also brought me my cats, life lessons and good friends.
When it comes to what people know me for, I think they just know me cause I am at every function, I’m always around, dancing in my best fit, out supporting the Djs that I like. My brand is dressing nice and Djing but hopefully people just think I’m a nice person too, that never hurts.
I think I am still figuring out what sets me apart from others. I am still kinda new to this, so I am naturally still learning a lot both from others and just about myself, my sound and what I like when it comes to Djing. I am always willing and eager to learn and try new things and on this journey that I have been on so far, I am doing just that… so I guess the answer to that question would be “Ask me in about a year when I’m spinning house in other cities.”
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I really at the end of the day have to give credit to my community, the people I have met Djing in this city have been nothing but kind and helpful. They have taught tips and tricks, put my name out there for gigs, given me opportunities to be myself in front of new crowds. They have been mentors, friends and family to me, they have come and seen me play to full rooms, empty rooms and everything in between. They have given me feedback on how to be better and what to/what not to do. They have put me in rooms that I never saw myself in and spoke over me, told me who I was before I could even see it. I love my community, my friends, My Djs, My bouncers, My bartenders, My club managers… They have all played a huge part in my journey.
Above all, I always have to give thanks to my mother… she raised my on her own and always did her best to give me the best in this life. She’s never judged me and always told me to be myself no matter what I do. I love her so much and to this day she is one of my biggest supporters.
Pricing:
- 150/hr
Contact Info:
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user501481808
