A renowned Danish DJ and record producer Martin Jensen, most notably for his 2016 hit single “Solo Dance.” His unique style includes creating tropical house mixes by sampling sounds from viral videos. With over a decade of experience as a club DJ, particularly in Sunny Beach, Jensen has made a significant mark in the music industry. His talent has been recognized on a global scale, as evidenced by his rankings in DJ Magazine’s list of the top 100 DJs worldwide.
Interview with Martin Jensen:
Hello Martin, your new single ’24K Heart Of Gold’ in collaboration with YouNotUs and Sam Feldt, featuring Sam Gray, released on Heartfeldt on March 22, is generating quite the buzz. Can you share the inspiration behind this track and what it was like working with such a talented group of artists?
Thanks for checking out the track! I always really enjoy working with like-minded artists and this single was no different, Sam Feldt is a great friend of mine and we have collaborated previously, and I just knew I wanted to get back into the studio with him in 2024! With YouNotUs, this is our first collaboration and I’ve been a fan of their vibe for a while now- and it’s the same with Sam Gray! Each artist has their own unique style but ultimately brings something to the table, Sam Feldt has a masterful production, YouNotUs bring a huge sunshine vibe to even the darkest days with their original style, and Sam Gray, well, he just completely elevated the track with his vocal performance that I think really took it to the next level!
Your track ‘Solo Dance’ has become a multi-platinum smash hit, receiving significant airplay from major stations like BBC Radio 1 and Capital, and securing a Top 10 spot in the UK. Looking back, did you anticipate the massive success of this song, and how has it influenced your career?”
I always believe in the music I put out and with ‘Solo Dance’ being my first foray into “success”, in a commercial sense, it could be a double-edged sword. I was so proud of that track that propelled me onto so many people’s radars not only across Europe, but the globe too, but with that comes certain expectations. Fans expect you to stick to one genre, not experiment and fit into one box, then comes pressure from labels to tick boxes for “hits” and it is easy for many artists to lose their own essence of creativity. I’m thankful for ‘Solo Dance’ but that was many many years ago now, I’ve grown as an artist and a man, professionally and personally, so as long as I’m making music that I enjoy and I am proud of, and that I also deliver to a level of substance that my fans also enjoy, is the most important thing to me and my career.
Throughout your career, you’ve collaborated with a range of artists, from James Arthur to Jason Derulo. How do you choose the artists you work with, and what do you think is key to a successful collaboration?
It completely varies. Sometimes it could be artists I’m a huge fan of personally and we reach out through label connections or mutual collaborators, other times it can be more organic with a reach out and chat on social media for example. I think there is no one “key” to a successful collaboration, as it can vary between how artists work together – I can find inspiration from a vocalist or topline, other times it may be a particular melody or genre-led route. The most important and impressive thing, I find, is that each collaborator pushes others to be the best they can be.
How do you keep yourself inspired, and what’s your process for creating new music?
I get inspired by my travels and also my peers – I think it’s important never to imitate and always remain original and creative to your own tastes. I think my collaborators on ‘24K Heart Of Gold’ are good examples of this, and have created some amazing releases – my tastes are eclectic but always rooted in a house and pop vibe, which will be even more obvious on my coming releases, than ever before.
What do you think are the most important factors for success in this industry?
Of course, creativity, but also integrity – I think it’s important not to just be sold the idea of a dream in this industry as a commodity. Hard work and self-belief always come out on top.
Do you have a favorite live show memory?
I can’t choose one from my many years of touring all across the world! One thing that will stay in my memory is my ‘Me, Myself, Online’ shows that we hosted during the pandemic from amazing locations when the world was in lockdown, streamed online with no audience to fans across the globe. I received special permission from the Danish government, where I am from, to host live from the pitch at our national stadium Telia Parken, and many other amazing venues and places of cultural interest. We had never been in a position like this ever before, so to be one of the first artists to do this kind of event – and on a major scale while keeping everyone safe – was something I’ll never forget.
Looking toward the future, are there any new projects or collaborations you’re particularly excited about that you can share with us?
This year is going to be bigger and better than ever with a plethora of new music for all my fans who have been waiting so patiently. ‘24K Heart Of Gold’ is a release I’m so proud of and this is just the tip of the iceberg, this year is going to be one for the books for myself as an artist – all will be revealed soon…
Follow Martin Jensen:
Martin Jensen (@djmartinjensen)
