One of the questions I get a lot is what I listen to when I’m not DJing. The answer is pretty simple: I’m a serious music nerd, and I listen to a little bit of everything. So here’s a look at what I’m into right now and how it influences the way I build and plan events.

Between gigs, I spend a lot of time listening without a specific event in front of me. That is usually where the best ideas come from. I’m not always looking for the next song to drop into a dance set. A lot of the time, I’m just paying attention to sounds, moods, and records that catch me for whatever reason. Sometimes that turns into an idea for cocktail hour. Sometimes it gives me a different feel for dinner. Sometimes it just reminds me that good music does not have to be obvious.

Lately, I’ve been into tracks that have a strong dance feel but still have some personality to them. A good example is the ARTBAT remix of “We Are The People.” For me, that one is fun because it brings together two names I already love, ARTBAT and Empire of the Sun, and turns it into something bigger, moodier, and more danceable. It is the kind of track that reminds me how much I like music that feels emotional and electronic at the same time.

I also LOVE the Rufus Du Sol remix Inhale/Exhale remix album. Right now, I just can’t get enough of the Adriatique remix of In the Moment. Chills!

I also keep coming back to music that is less about the dance floor and more about just getting into a zone. That is where something like Glass Animals fits for me. This is the kind of music I’ll throw on when I’m working, trying to focus, or just trying to reset a little bit. I think that matters more than people realize. If all you ever listen to is high-energy event music, your ears get a little one-dimensional. Listening to other kinds of music helps me stay connected to texture, pacing, and feel.

That is a big part of how I think about events too. Not every great moment in a wedding or party is about a packed dance floor. Some of it is about setting the right tone early, creating a feel during dinner, or giving the night a little shape instead of just blasting from one big song to the next. The more music I listen to outside of events, the more ideas I end up bringing back into them.

So if you’ve ever wondered what a DJ listens to when he’s off the clock, the answer is: a lot. Some of it is dance music. Some of it is music to focus on. Some of it is just a track that catches me at the right time. But all of it feeds back into the way I think about music and the way I approach events.

Want to hear more of what’s been in my headphones lately? Check it out here!