Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Andresen
Hi Jennifer , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was in college in 1999, my sophomore year at Texas A&M, I was introduced to a style of music called electronic dance music. At the time it had such a gathering and such a unique perspective on how the world leaves some people to the wayside for being different and unique. This was an all inclusive community that encouraged an atmosphere of taking care of one another and was very tight nit socially, so much so, that we called our friends family. After about half a year of being at events I wanted to learn how to dj myself and set upon that quest. I learned on vinyl with some of the best people Texas put on stage. I worked my way up and ended up with a rather large following for such a niche subgenre within electronic music. I played happy hardcore which is very fast happy sounding lyrics and Melodie’s. I was known for making people move to the beat and shine with joy after every set. I wasn’t prepared for the local fame at the time I was pretty young for a DJ. I played from 1999-2003 pretty consistently in the area I live in now. I was the only female happy hardcore dj in Texas on big stages at the time. I had to take a short break to finish up my final years of school and I had no idea that short break would end up being twenty years. During the pandemic, I started Djing again. Learning new technologies and new practices and skills that I had not had to learn previously. It was a lot of work. A lot of practice time and networking and navigating and learning how to market myself and prove myself again. Except this time I learned every genre and subgenre I could get my hands on. I noticed the climate had changed socially for these events and even the way that artists were treated and respected had changed a lot. I had a lot to learn. But I also saw a need for my input so I stuck to my guns and kept going despite difficulties or social networking problems I would come across. I believe a lot of the old “rave” mentality had been lost and I set out on a mission to bring that back. I do this by starting the collective I lead, mentoring a lot of people globally as well as locally, and speaking up when I don’t think something is going in a positive direction or in line with electronic music or its purpose. I repeat in all of my work that history of the culture should be respected, that community is super important, and it is not about competition or people being superstars it is about including people and taking care of one another like you would family. It is about the music. When focus gets lost on the way to getting bigger or getting to play more often that ego kicks in and can navigate some people in wrong directions in chase of fame and I don’t think that is right. We were never meant to be superstars but rather guardians of the dance floor. Keepers of the vibe. Leaders inside our chosen community. That is where I am right now and that is what I do.
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?
It has not been a smooth road for me for the most part. When someone takes time off from playing music for as long as I did there is a lot of details lost in the middle. Information on the area and how raves had to find new homes to exist, the buildings where the music is played and events were put on, had changed drastically. Artistic expression, in and of itself, had changed. Promotion of events and of artists had changed. Learning all these details from the ground up presented a lot of challenges. I had amazing mentors along the way helping guide me through these things. My first was Dj Pamdemonium or Pamela Lozano, from San Antonio Texas. I had a close friend teach me the ins and outs of social media building and algorithm designs. But the last person who poured a lot into me as far as getting to know the local promoters and groups and how things are run, did not have my best interest in mind. He led me astray, gave me a lot of false information, and held me back in my possible success in varying ways. Sadly this came to a very difficult end this past year. That is what my journey has peaked at. This past year I had to get out of a tough situation he put me in, and file police reports, lost my job, and basically hit the absolute rock bottom financially, and emotionally when I realized what had happened. I had to move out of my home and be transient for quite some time, living with others to keep safe. That is how bad the misdirection was and what it led up to. Music business is rough, anyone will tell you that. The rough, for me, became life threatening and I still don’t understand how it happened. All of that is being wrapped up these next few months and hopefully we will have some sort of closure on what happened. So not smooth, at all, I had to fight to keep going. Music was the only thing I didn’t lose. I kept ahold of my progress and my network and all these people saw me through these difficulties the best they could. I’m forever grateful for that. I will keep focused on music as I rebuild my life outside of that. The work I do and my place in the community is important. I want to help guide people and grow people into success. I want to continue to shine my light no matter how hard someone tries to stomp it out. That is what I continue to do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am known for teaching and mentoring, outside of the actual Djing aspect of being a music artist. I help connect others to shows and to projects as well. I am really amazing at networking and making things happen for others. I am known as a Drum & Bass Dj and my support comes from the East Coast DNB scene from New York: (rtdfraveradio.com) Dj Capelli is my connection and a huge support; from Virginia: Internal Konflict Productions run by Reid also known as Substrate is my best friend and mentor; NCDNB and Global DNB collective out of North Carolina Duane Aldridge known as ND Skyz and Andy known as Electron-C are my close friends and mentors and support there; down to Florida where the Rolled Up Records crew in it’s entirety considers me family alongside Darcii Darka (dj name) who runs Renegade Sound out of Gainesville FL.
My support is from the East Coast- bc I am not a supported artist in my own community here in the DFW area with regards to Drum & Bass. However, on the flip side of the coin, I am known as a legend in the Hard Dance community globally. I am well respected, I am treated well and I mentor and shape a network across Texas that I put into motion for this side of the spectrum musically. I lead a team of djs at any given moment there are at least 25 active well respected djs working to push the faster sounds and I coach them daily on how to succeed with the knowledge I have on social media or networking skills. We pride ourselves on being professional and full of energy and good vibes and we encourage collaboration and projects with others to demonstrate to a very competitive music business world in Dallas and in Texas that community is what it is about and party goers will attest to feeling good and feeling something they have not felt in a long time from our events. We are hoping that this ripple effect and the artist advocacy I do to make sure everyone gets paid for their time and effort, can push the change needed for a more positive environment locally and beyond. We are the spark for change. We are the light . We are an amazing group of like minded individuals who want the best for our communities and we work together to bring that to the people who love to dance to the music. I am very very proud of the work I have done since 2021. I’m very proud of all of my team. We stay focused on the music and the people and doing what’s right for everyone. Working together and in unison and teaching each other and pooling our resources. We are 3kings Texas and we make a difference with everything we do. This is my heart and soul. I’m lucky to be successful in it. No not lucky, I worked my butt off for this success. For everyone’s success. I’m a gifted DJ with an amazing group of friends I call family. We all have kind hearts and look out for each other through thick and thin. That’s why we succeed because we are doing it the right way. That is my number one requirement for being in 3kings Texas is you have to have a kind heart otherwise you just are not gonna get it, why we do things the way we do. Everyone succeeds. All of us. With everything we win at we all move forward. This is what family is about. I love my team.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important thing I have learned on my journey is the following. Believe actions not words. The music business is full of so much chaos, rumors, bustle, and flat out people trying to get ahead. It can be misleading to listen to the flying rumors. It can be harmful to others to repeat them. It is best to go to someone who can actually do something or help when something is disturbing that anyone might hear. I’m talking about police reporting or if not that level going to the venue management or promoter throwing the show for help and assistance. If there are concerns that can be handled easily go to the person you have a concern with directly. Remember the telephone game? That is so real. So much miscommunication or misleading information that honestly can affect a persons livelihood. We are all here just trying to share our art and express ourselves with music. Sometimes it is the only thing we might be good at. Sometimes it is the only hope someone might have to keep going and it seems so silly to take that away from another person. This is why there’s a lot of suicide within the music business honestly. It is so sad. I try to do my best to spread this message. Djing is a form of art, of personal expression, and everyone should get to play at some point once they have put in the work they should have the tools they need to get there. That’s why I do what I do. Teach and mentor. The rumor mill is out of hand and sickening sometimes. Don’t believe the hype- make your own hype and find your tribe by getting to really know people.
Pricing:
- I teach Dj lessons through Super Prof in my area. 40 -50 an hour depending on need.
- Djs for 3kings Texas get paid min 50 dollars a show up to 250 depending on experience and professionalism.
- To collaborate with 3kings Texas reach out to a member who will bring the show to the group and I’ll make a decision on availability and preferences. Five djs a show will run about 500 for our group.
- Equipment rental lighting needs and sound are up to individual members normally running 600-1500 depending on size.
- Other resources anywhere from 100-1000 depending on needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/pinky_333
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@pinky3332
- Other: https://Twitch.tv/pinkys_puzzle_pieces
Image Credits
Jose Camacho Barefoot Photography
NRG Music Events photography
