Yo zzisco here! I had the pleasure of getting to know Jeff Saenz during this interview & I truly enjoyed his unique perspective on humans’ 6th sense along with his bold music vision! Be sure to support his upcoming EP dropping February 4th 2022 on his new Record Label, Dad Bod Records.
The Music Industry in Tech-House
What’s the coolest thing about working with Sloth Acid & Sacha Robotti?
Just being friends with Sacha. We talk everyday and he sends me about 20 memes a day. Also, he’s made me a much better producer. I was already strong before we met, but working with him in the studio—his attention to detail is really really great.
Anything you’d like to see changed within the music industry?
I wish record labels would push the artists a bit more, like invest more money into the artists. I feel like they have the perspective that they’re a big label but it’s the artists’ job to push the record. Back in the day, when you signed on to a label, that label believed in your art and they pushed whatever you were releasing–they would invest money into you. They would invest shows for you to do, invest for you to be on radio shows, invest in studio time, etc.
These days, these record labels don’t push you unless you’re buddy-buddy with them and then they’ll push you but from my experience, these big labels don’t really push the artists or invest money. It feels like a lot of labels want to get as many different artists as possible on their label instead of having a solidified group of artists.
I wish that would change—where record labels have a hub of people that they believe and invest in. Each label is trying to find that next big thing. “Oh you had 1 hit, and now we have to find the next artist with the next big hit” instead of “let’s help and build you for your next big hit” It feels very independent these days. But that’s not what Sacha is doing with Sloth Acid, we feel like we’re family there. It feels good when we’re all together.
How can music producers step outside the box with their music?
I can write music all day but I’m horrible at writing lyrics. So I would work with other artists, find them–they’re out there. They don’t need a big studio, they can record it on their phone and then you can manipulate it and make it sound the best you can. I’ve done this so many times on my tracks.
Personal Life
Favorite west coast rapper?
I haven’t thought about it because I’m more of an East Coast guy, but I was a big DJ Quik fan. His rap lyrics are not the best but I like how he made his own beats and knew his own crowd, a lot of people sleep on DJ Quik. But Kendrick Lamar is probably the best west coast lyricist of all time.
What’s something about you that not a lot of people know?
For my day job, I work at a company that sells radioactive isotopes, so I work in a lab all day. Science all day and music and DJing all night.
Favorite CD growing up?
It’s a CD I have bought three different times because I played it out so much. Toxic City by System of a Down. When my wife took me to their concert, she was shocked I knew all the words to each of their songs.
Astrological sign?
Pisces. I only know that because Sacha told me the other day.
Top 5 rappers all time (dead or alive)?
Obviously Biggie and Jay-z are the typical ones to mention but they were a bit too mainstream for me.
Dad Bod Records
How would you describe the Brand for Dad Bod Records?
If you follow me on my socials, you’ll know that I’m a Dad, so a whole bunch of dad jokes and dad fun. Before the pandemic, I definitely had a dad bod. I actually get some shit sometimes that I don’t have a dad bod anymore, but maybe this should be the new dad bod—everyone should lose a little more weight.
It’s more of the dad jokes and the dad life. I remember playing a show a while ago and a fellow DJ came out and saw me play, and he said “Hey I’ve been following you for a while now—it’s good to finally meet you! You don’t know how much you inspire me, as a dad who’s DJing as well. I see you doing it and there’s a lot of people telling me, once you’re a dad your life is over—you’re stuck at home, etc. But then I see you taking your kids to martial arts, you’re coaching basketball, you’re super involved, and then at the same time you’re producing music and DJing, all while having a 9-5 job as well, so you’re inspiring all of us.”
When he told me that, I realized this is why I’m doing this. I thought it was just jokes and stuff like that but when he told me that and it was just one person, but that’s all I needed to feel great. I feel I can actually inspire these other dads that were once DJs who took a break, got their responsibilities and now they want to get back into it again. So, that’s why I keep doing the dad joke thing, just being fun. It’s fun being a dad–it’s not the end of the world. You can still enjoy music and go out and accomplish your dreams. I’ve been a DJ since I was 15 years-old, so it’s always been me–this is my identity. This is why I started the Dad Bod Brand–just to show that I’m a dad but I can still be a badass DJ.
What was the inspiration to start your own record label?
Being frustrated with holding on to songs. In this industry, many producers we’re praying to the big label dogs, please say yes to my record. As an artist, you believe in these songs and have probably shared it with some friends and they all think this label will for sure sign it, but then you never hear back or you hear “no it’s not what we’re looking for.”
I feel like a lot of us (i.e., producers) are stuck. Some fellow producers will hold onto a song for over two years because they’re looking for a home. I think they should release it and share it with everyone. I’m proud of all my releases, but sometimes I feel I had a song for specific labels and all of them said no or I didn’t get a reply. Then I settled with a smaller label and gave them a chance but then they didn’t really push the record and then you’re stuck with it. Lots of times you find yourself pushing your record way more than the label nowadays. Maybe it’s the only record you’ve signed for the month or year.
What are the goals you have for your label?
The idea is to release an EP every month of my own music. It can also be collaborations or with people who want to do remixes. But for the most part it will be a home for all of JTJ, Jeff El Jefe, and my new alias that I’m announcing here first, which will be straight techno called Saenz, which is my last name.
But really, it’s about artistic freedom. I hate waiting (for songs to be picked up)–this is my last year being 30, I just want to make music right now. It’s about being an artist and seeing where I can take it.
branding
Tell me more about the 3rd alias Saenz.
Saenz is ghetto house music or ghetto techno music. I grew up listening to LA Hard House. It’s like the most annoying, tweaking, and hard banging music using the 909 drum machine. It was a good terrible. The most modern sound of that is the hard pounding techno like 128-135 bpm. I want to do stuff like that to experiment more with sounds.
How are you building your own lane with the JTJ brand?
I don’t listen to other people’s music. When I have to get ready for a big show and I want to see what’s hot right now, it’s the same kind of tech-house or bro-house songs. The sound quality is awesome but I’ve heard these songs before a thousand times. It’s one of those things where a record label will tell you that “this doesn’t fit our sound.” Well don’t you want to get out of that sound? Do you want to be stuck with that 1 sound, that’s something I don’t get. They always tell you, “Hey this track is great! But it doesn’t fit our sound.” Well if it’s great–don’t you want greatness
I feel like a lot of songs on the Beatport Top 100 can’t tell you a story about their song. For instance, they could get technical about how they created it, but they’re not able to tell you the story as in the why, the emotion, or the story behind the sound. My goal is to tell the story of the songs I create.
What’s the next level for you and your career?
Getting consistent shows monthly and getting on a festival here and there. Last year, I had three goals and two of them were met: getting a track on the top 25 of Beatport, and I hit that with Pop That with Sacha Robotti and the other one was playing a festival.
New EP, Magia
What’s the story behind Magia?
Monica
I found these latin vocals of a sensual woman singing about her love and desire for this person. I wanted to incorporate a lot of percussion elements to emphasize this girl dancing and trying to seduce the person she’s singing to. Think of it as like Spanish club, with a beautiful woman in a beautiful red dress who’s pouring her heart out to this person and is trying to seduce all the people in the crowd. It’s a very sensual song, I wanted to show how a woman would seduce a guy while highlighting what sounds she would use to do it.
All Alone
I did this with It Bends, a vocalist from Mexico who’s actually Australian. She originally sent me the vocals for a different track but it didn’t fit the vibe. So, I wanted something that’s more melodic and mellow to fit her vocals. As I was writing the song, I was super inspired by the melody of an old house song “Burn For You by Kreo” It was also inspired by It Bends, when she’s singing during the break about her losing someone and now she’s all alone—and when the beat drops, there’s this synth that mimics someone ripping the heart out in slow motion. Even though it’s a very mellow song, I wanted a loud sound to impact the feel of her energy that she lost.
How do you stay in control of your ego during the creative process?
When it comes to my music and being in the studio, I let my ego run wild. I know what I want, I know what I like, and if five people out of millions like it then those 5 are my people. As an artist, when you’re creating any kind of art, you have to have an ego because you’re putting yourself into the song. There’s a lot of people who make fun of producers because they found an 8-bar melody and drum loop and they’re calling that a track. You can find loops and melodies and put them on your laptop, but at the end of the day, you have to finish the song and not a lot of people can do it. It may be a boring song but it’s their art that they made, which not a lot of people can do.
So, you have to let your ego go. Who cares if you sampled someone else or used an 8 bar loop, I’m going to do my version of it. You have to have an ego, as in I want this style of song, I want people to enjoy it, and if they don’t that’s fine too but I’m enjoying it. If I’m enjoying it in my heart and not selling myself out then it’s great.
Diving Deeper into Jeff’s Mind
What’s 1 hidden dimension within reality?
You know when you have a 6th sense of an area of where you’re at, whether you’re safe or even reading a crowd while DJing? I feel like there’s a 6th sense that we have, that we’re not in tune with because we’re so distracted with our phones or we’re distracted with how we look or how we’re coming off in public. Where others cannot sense the crowd—I feel like that’s one of my gifts when I’m DJing.
I can read the crowd and I know where to go. I don’t go into a set knowing exactly what I’m going to play, I know I’m going to play my songs but I have no idea the order, it’s usually the first 7-10 songs but then after that I’ll read the crowd and see where we go. Sometimes that will change too because if I play some songs and they’re not feeling it, I can sense it and I know somethings not clicking and I gotta switch it up and I know where to go from there.
I feel like there’s something behind me or hovering over me and telling me, “no don’t go there, go here.” I feel this weight on my shoulders and then once I get out of it, then that presence says “okay you’re good.”
What animated dad best represents you?
Piccolo from Dragon Ball Z because he was Gohan’s Dad, he was hard on him and I’m a little hard on my boys. Like last night, my youngest was wanting to play NBA Live and he’s very competitive and he hates losing. So, his mother was like “do you like beating little kids, does that make you feel good?” Well.. one day he’s going to beat me and he’s going to be very proud of himself that he’s finally kicking his dad’s ass–trust me I’m making them better. That’s what Piccolo did–he would beat Gohan until Gohan could beat his ass one day.
Favorite kind of pet & why?
Dogs because they’re loyal. My first kind was a Golden Retriever and I loved that dog, they’re probably the smartest dogs. Also, my German Shepherd–she’s great.
LA Rams or SF 49ers?
I’m an LA kid so I’m going with the LA Rams even though I’m not into football. But I did watch the last Rams game and it was pretty fun.
Does Donald Trump have a crush on his daughter?
(laughs) I mean who doesn’t right?
Who’s cuter—Kanye West or Pete Davidson and why?
Kanye because he’s a genius. Not saying Pete isn’t a smart guy but he acts like an idiot on TV, so I kinda think that’s a little bit of who he is. But yeah, Kanye for sure!
Say the first thing that comes to your mind:
- Dad Bod–Fit
- Borat–Hilarious
- Ego–Humble
- Insomniac–Parties
- Mothership–Aliens
Sending you mad love for taking the time to read this interview. Be sure to check out JTJ’s newest album dropping everywhere Friday, February 4th, 2022 on Dad Bod Records.
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