DANISH DJ and producer Martin Jensen is gearing up for a return to the UK this October with a run of dates in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and Newcastle.
Best known for his viral smash Solo Dance, which racked up billions of streams, Jensen has gone from small clubs to some of the world’s biggest stages.
Looking back on his breakthrough, he says: “It changed everything for me because at one point it was one of the biggest tracks in the world, which was super amazing for a small Danish guy.
Solo Dance has racked up billions of streams[/caption]
“One moment you are a DJ in small nightclubs and then suddenly you have a worldwide hit.”
And it all happened quickly. He added: “To be honest it was only one and a half years from when I started going into the studio. Before that I’d been DJing for 10 years. I just love performing and I love playing music and that kept me going.”
Jensen’s rise saw him play to 85,000 at Capital’s Summertime Ball and share a backstage corridor with Bruno Mars.
He said: “I think I never actually realised what I had done until then, because at that point it hit me very, very hard. It’s quite an addictive feeling.”
Jensen was named in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJs[/caption]
Landing in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs list was another milestone: “You’ve been DJing for so many years and suddenly you’re in the Top 100 best DJs in the world,” he said. “That’s absolutely insane.”
The recognition, he says, opened doors across Asia: “Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea, the whole Asian market opened up really, really fast.”
He has since collaborated with James Arthur, The Vamps and Jason Derulo, though he admits not every big-name project makes it to release: “Nine times out of ten, the track may never be released! It’s a wild world out there, but it keeps things alive.”
Martin Jensen with LAWRENT and SACHA[/caption]
His new single Follow Me, a collaboration with LAWRENT featuring vocalist SACHA, is already picking up strong UK radio support.
He explained: “We just wanted to create a track that had the 2010s sound a little bit nostalgic, when times were not as difficult as they are right now.”
Jensen also made history as the first DJ to judge The X Factor Denmark: “It didn’t change how I produce, but I learned a lot about TV performance,” he said.
“Around 20% of the country watched it live every Friday, so suddenly I was stepping into the living rooms of so many people.”
That visibility also came with challenges: “I even had to put up with some death threats for talking down some of the acts.”
Beyond music, Jensen is the first male ambassador for Strut Safe, a UK charity providing phone support for people walking home at night.
He said: “I can also be a bit paranoid when I’m walking on the street very early in the morning. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the world we’re living in. I know the safety it gives you, so I’m more than happy to support Strut Safe.”
Dates for the Danish DJ’s upcoming UK gigs[/caption]
As for the upcoming UK tour, Jensen can’t wait: “Newcastle is absolutely one of the best shows I’ve had in the UK. I also love Manchester, and of course Ministry of Sound. The British crowd is rowdy, people love to go hard. I love that.”
Catch Martin Jensen on his UK tour. Head HERE for tickets. To read the full in-depth interview with Martin Jensen on The Night Bazaar head HERE.
