Student Success Stories: DJ Zent

Manchester’s own DJ Zent is a force to be reckoned with in the world of Drum & Bass. Known for his high-energy sets that take ravers on a full-spectrum journey through the genre, DJ Zent has built a name for himself with a style that’s as versatile as it is electrifying. 

From club nights across the UK, Amsterdam, Cyprus, and Italy, to releases on respected labels like Co-Lab Recordings and Four Corners Music, his dedication to the craft is undeniable.

But DJ Zent’s path hasn’t been a straight line. After leaving behind a high-pressure career in electrical contracting, he went all-in on his passion for music, carving out a space for himself in the scene through relentless work, adaptability, and an unshakable drive. 

His Dreambassuk Records is a testament to his commitment to pushing boundaries in production, with a signature sound that fuses gritty, rolling tech with experimental influences.

In this interview, DJ Zent opens up about his biggest challenges, the mental barriers artists face with social media, and the lessons learned from working with Grahame Farmer’s The Artist Blueprint program. From refining his branding to mastering the game of content creation, he shares how he’s grown—not just as an artist, but as a creative entrepreneur in an ever-evolving industry.

Let’s dive in.

Grahame Farmer: Hey mate, welcome in! First up, I just have to ask—who are you and what do you do?

DJ Zent: I’m DJ Zent, and I’m a DJ, producer, mix engineer, and mastering engineer.

Grahame: Oh, wicked! Thanks for joining me.

DJ Zent: Yes, this will be fun!

Grahame: It’s been super fun to be on this journey with you so far this year. What was the biggest challenge you were experiencing when you joined the program and started working with us?

DJ Zent: I think it was a lack of knowledge about the back end of the music industry—how to navigate the proper tools like social media and advertising, and how to get more connected with the people who are the backbone of the industry.

Grahame: I feel like you’ve really developed your content this year. And I also feel like you’ve really nailed your consistency as well. Your content is looking great now—it flows really well, it comes across really well, and it’s definitely you.

DJ Zent: Yeah, I think that’s what the course has helped me realise, in a kind of full-circle way. When you first start with social media, you don’t know anything about it—you’re just a consumer. Then you start thinking, I don’t want to do this, I don’t want to do that. But eventually, you realise, I have to do this because everyone else is doing it to get reach.

And then when you fully understand it, you realise you are the content. You just have to unlock that bit of creativity, and as much as you push it, the more results you get. I feel like I’ve found my lane now—I know what I do, I’m comfortable with it, and it’s all going really well.

Grahame: Creativity is a key word here. I’ve always wondered why some musicians, who are creatives, struggle with the creative side of social media. Because for me, if I’m creative in making music and sound, then I should be able to unlock that same creativity for visuals and bring them together.

DJ Zent: I totally agree. I think things like this—what you’re doing—help break down mental barriers. Because as you said, everyone is creative. Even people who say they’re not—like my wife. She always said she wasn’t creative, and now she’s banging drums and we’re producing music together!

I think the real block for people is the fear of being in the public eye and putting themselves out there. It’s scary being in front of the camera, for sure. When I look back at the start, I remember thinking, Oh my God, I have to start saying ‘Hi, I’m Zen, and this is my latest track.’ To now actually doing proper promo—it’s a big jump.

Grahame: Yeah, it jumps so much, doesn’t it? It’s cool to see that growth.

How Did Working With Me Impact You?

DJ Zent: It’s nice to have the ability to join calls regularly. I’m not on every single one, but being able to check in keeps me engaged. Plus, talking to different people—even from different genres—you hear different stories, different problems, and different solutions. It’s almost like a music industry news broadcast at times, and it helps keep me inspired.

Another big thing for me is that I’ve stopped getting emotionally affected by social media. Before, I used to see someone playing a massive festival and feel frustrated, but now I don’t get jealous. If that’s my path, my time will come.

At the end of the day, I’m going to see everything from someone busking on the street to someone playing Tomorrowland. If I let every single post cloud my emotions, it would mess with my head. The program has really helped me stay emotionally stable in this rollercoaster of an industry.

Grahame: That’s such a big shift! I feel the same—I treat social media like a game. I step in, play the game, then I step out. And like any game, when I put it down, it’s down. I think being conscious of that is huge.

What Results Have You Seen?

DJ Zent: My playlists on Spotify are growing! My Essential and Dream Bass catalogues are taking off, and I never thought I’d be able to get a Dream Bass playlist to gain any following. But now, I’ve had messages from people all over the world saying they’re listening to it, which is amazing.

Grahame: That’s epic! People all over the world listening to your music—it doesn’t get much better than that.

DJ Zent: Yeah, it’s wicked. It’s hard to directly translate that into gigs, but I’ve definitely had more bookings recently. I’m also working with more selective brands, and my gigs have been busier. Plus, my content is much more professional and precise.

Before, I’d waste hours scrolling, wondering, What am I doing? Now, it’s all targeted. I know when to scroll, when to engage with the community, and when to step back.

Grahame: I love that. The time you save can go into making more music, and the content itself is so much more effective. I’ve seen your improvement over the last year, and it’s been amazing to watch.

Any Unexpected Results?

DJ Zent: Yeah! I think I touched on it earlier, but the biggest surprise was how much more emotionally stable I’ve become when it comes to social media. I didn’t even realize it was an issue for me before.

I used to get jealous if a friend landed a better gig than me, but now I’ve moved from jealousy to admiration. I can be happy for them and recognize that they’re on their own journey, just like I am.

Grahame: That’s such a game-changer.

What Would You Tell Someone Considering Joining The Program?

DJ Zent: I’d tell anyone thinking about joining your course to follow Grahame on YouTube and Instagram, keep tabs on his content, and take in all the free information. You’ll probably end up wanting to dive deeper and book a Discovery Call!

Grahame: Amazing. It’s been great working together this year. Congrats on everything you’ve achieved—I’m so excited to see what’s next for you in the new year. Thanks for joining me today!

DJ Zent: Of course, Grahame! It’s been a pleasure. Onwards and upwards—let’s do this!

☎️ Book a Discovery Call for my course, The Artist Blueprint – http://bit.ly/tabcall