An Inspired Chat with Jayson Brown

We recently had the chance to connect with Jayson Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jayson, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’d say what I’m being called to do now is stepping into spaces that once felt completely out of reach.

Before I started DJing, I’d look at artists on big stages completely in awe and think, “I could never do that” “I’d never be good enough to be there.” And I think that fear of not being ready or not belonging could have held me back but the second I actually tried, really put myself out there, it made it all worthwhile.

Now I’ve played the kind of shows I used to dream about. And don’t get me wrong I still play shows and get nervous and question things but I learnt that you just lean into it and enjoy yourself all of that washes away. You never know what you’re capable of until you try.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a Perth-based DJ and record label owner. My sets move through a variety of genres such as Afrobeats, Dancehall and Amapiano, but are normally deep rooted in R&B and Hip-Hop. The intention is always about creating a vibe that feels familiar yet fresh. Beyond the decks, I run Dough Related, a creative label and event brand that builds worlds around music, from artist development to nightlife experiences. Our tagline is Achieve Greatness Together, and I’m big on pulling creatives in from all over the place and promoting collaboration wherever possible.

Right now, I’m focused on pushing my city’s scene forward – collaborating, curating, and showing that you don’t have to leave home to build something world-class.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was just a kid obsessed with music. I’ve been literally curating and building playlists since I could remember. Although I have never learnt an instrument I’ve had an obsession with all types of music. Anything from punk rock to reggae or nu metal to trap, getting lost in sounds that made me feel something, as long it was good music – it has never mattered the genre – I can appreciate it.

I guess deep down, that same kid is still there the one who just wants to create, connect, and express without overthinking it. That’s who I try to bring back every time I step behind the decks or when working with Artists on their sounds. Always use what we have to make it the best we can.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell my younger self “go for it”. Don’t overthink it, don’t wait until you feel ready. Just start. Every risk you take, every time you put yourself out there, it’s all leading somewhere. You’ll surprise yourself with what you’re capable of – but only if you take that first step.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I mean I have two industries really so I am going to answer this one twice.
With DJing, I don’t know if it’s necessarily the BIGGEST lie but the first thing that came to mind is promoters thinking every DJ should be paid the same just because they play the same slot length. It ignores the time, skill, and energy that go into building a name, curating a sound, and creating a real experience.

Not every set or DJ is equal – some DJs move crowds, build communities, and elevate the whole night. That’s the value. The industry needs to stop pretending that all sets are interchangeable, because the truth is, the right DJ can make or break the entire event.

And in regards to the music industry itself, I’d say the biggest lie we tell ourselves is that success needs to be measurable, as in it can be quantified by streams, followers, or plaques. But the truth is, music isn’t a competition; it’s a vibration, it’s a feeling. We’ve mistaken metrics for meaning and purpose.

We tell ourselves that if we can just hack the algorithm, we’ll find the audience. But great art isn’t found through formulas and advertising, it’s felt. We forget that timeless music wasn’t made by chasing trends; they were made from truth, from real experience, from something that someone was feeling at a particular time.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I’m definitely doing what I was born to do, but it took a long time to realise that. For many years, I just followed what felt “safe” or what I thought was the right thing to be doing. But deep down, music was always it. The feeling I get when I am behind the decks is definitely not something you can fake or be told to chase.

This isn’t what I was told to do – it’s what I was meant to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jaysnbrwn.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jaysnbrwn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysnbrwn/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/jaysnbrwn/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaysnbrwn/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jaysnbrwn/
• Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/jaysnbrwn/
• Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/jaysnbrwn/