In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Zen Selekta, a DJ and producer whose fusion of spirituality, intention, and raw energy has defined her signature ceremonial bass sound. From Atlanta roots to festival stages, Zen Selekta shares how meditation, breathwork, and self-reflection shape her creative process and keep her grounded on and off stage. She opens up about transforming anxiety into presence, turning music into medicine, and drawing inspiration from thinkers like Joe Dispenza, who teaches the power of embodying what you want before it manifests.
We also explore her path through the music industry, building community in Atlanta’s bass scene, learning the value of a great agent, and navigating professionalism behind the decks. Zen Zelekta reflects on mentorship, creative faith, and the lessons learned from Pretty Lights’ comeback shows, while offering perspective on what it means to thrive as a woman in a male-dominated space. This episode is a reminder that the most powerful artists move both body and spirit.
🎧 Follow Zen Selekta: https://www.zenselekta.com/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
The Podcast for Producers
Chapters
00:00 Cold open — hair talk, Lord Farquaad & the fly saga
01:15 Intro — who is Zen Selekta beyond the decks
03:40 Early inspirations & first concert (Sting at Chastain)
05:19 Big Fam memories, flamenco playlists & olive oil debates
06:35 Meditation, breathwork & finding stillness
09:45 Overcoming anxiety through creative practice
14:20 The moment meditation changed everything
16:20 Mindset, manifestation & embodying belief
19:56 Joe Dispenza teachings & quantum creation
23:06 Shadow work, journaling & personal evolution
24:13 From UKF to Atlanta — discovering purpose in music
27:23 Breaking in, early promoters & first agent
30:23 Industry lessons — community, professionalism & touring
33:42 The ATL “ho!” chant and Atlanta’s live energy
37:30 Staying out of drama & building healthy scenes
39:55 Sci-fi love, Dune aesthetics & creative imagination
48:16 Music as language — dance as worship
49:12 Ceremonial bass & the healing power of presence
52:16 Stage energy, flow state & connecting with the crowd
57:37 Women in music — normalization over tokenization
1:04:45 Pretty Lights comeback & artistic renewal
1:06:44 Mentorship, family & creative faith
1:09:57 Outro — gratitude, links & closing thoughts
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In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Zen Selekta, a DJ and producer whose fusion of spirituality, intention, and raw energy has defined her signature ceremonial bass sound. From Atlanta roots to festival stages, Zen Selekta shares how meditation, breathwork, and self-reflection shape her creative process and keep her grounded on and off stage. She opens up about transforming anxiety into presence, turning music into medicine, and drawing inspiration from thinkers like Joe Dispenza, who teaches the power of embodying what you want before it manifests.
We also explore her path through the music industry, building community in Atlanta’s bass scene, learning the value of a great agent, and navigating professionalism behind the decks. Zen Zelekta reflects on mentorship, creative faith, and the lessons learned from Pretty Lights’ comeback shows, while offering perspective on what it means to thrive as a woman in a male-dominated space. This episode is a reminder that the most powerful artists move both body and spirit.
🎧 Follow Zen Selekta: https://www.zenselekta.com/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
The Podcast for Producers
Chapters
00:00 Cold open — hair talk, Lord Farquaad & the fly saga
01:15 Intro — who is Zen Selekta beyond the decks
03:40 Early inspirations & first concert (Sting at Chastain)
05:19 Big Fam memories, flamenco playlists & olive oil debates
06:35 Meditation, breathwork & finding stillness
09:45 Overcoming anxiety through creative practice
14:20 The moment meditation changed everything
16:20 Mindset, manifestation & embodying belief
19:56 Joe Dispenza teachings & quantum creation
23:06 Shadow work, journaling & personal evolution
24:13 From UKF to Atlanta — discovering purpose in music
27:23 Breaking in, early promoters & first agent
30:23 Industry lessons — community, professionalism & touring
33:42 The ATL “ho!” chant and Atlanta’s live energy
37:30 Staying out of drama & building healthy scenes
39:55 Sci-fi love, Dune aesthetics & creative imagination
48:16 Music as language — dance as worship
49:12 Ceremonial bass & the healing power of presence
52:16 Stage energy, flow state & connecting with the crowd
57:37 Women in music — normalization over tokenization
1:04:45 Pretty Lights comeback & artistic renewal
1:06:44 Mentorship, family & creative faith
1:09:57 Outro — gratitude, links & closing thoughts
Slot-A — The Business of DJing: Value, Leverage & the Art of Connection
Poducer
1 hour 42 minutes 48 seconds
2 weeks ago
Slot-A — The Business of DJing: Value, Leverage & the Art of Connection
In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Slot-A — a Chicago-based DJ, producer, curator, and community-builder whose journey bridges Detroit grit and Chicago soul. Known for his work with Jamila Woods, his Open Swim Chicago event series, and deep roots in the city’s underground, Slot-A embodies what it means to turn passion into longevity. From growing up in Ypsilanti, Michigan, to producing in New York and ultimately building a home in Chicago’s scene, he shares how faith, hustle, and self-awareness have guided his creative path.
Slot-A takes us through his musical beginnings—discovering Sony Acid and Fruity Loops, experimenting with beatmaking on early software, and landing sync placements on shows like Jersey Shore and Stomp the Yard. He reflects on his time interning in New York studios, learning from industry veterans, and realizing that DJing is just as much a sales game as it is an art form—about knowing your value, understanding your crowd, and building leverage through relationships.
We explore how he evolved from a bedroom producer to a full-fledged DJ, curator, and event programmer, and how each phase taught him the importance of networking, creating “randomness,” and turning luck into opportunity. Slot-A breaks down the differences between Chicago and New York as creative ecosystems, the philosophy behind Open Swim Chicago and Colors, and what it really takes to build sustainable music communities. Finally, he reflects on executive-producing Jamila Woods’ album “LEGACY! LEGACY!”, sharing how that project reshaped his understanding of collaboration, communication, and artistic integrity.
🎧 Follow Slot-A: https://www.slot-a.com
🎙️ Follow Poducer: linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
The Podcast for Producers
Chapters
00:00 Intro & name origin
02:30 PlayStation beatmaking & MTV Generator
05:00 DJing, events & Open Swim Chicago
08:00 Early production journey (Sony Acid → Fruity Loops)
11:00 First concerts: Prince, Missy Elliott, Alicia Keys, Ludacris
18:00 From Michigan to New York to Chicago
23:00 The Columbia College chapter
26:00 Detroit’s DIY scene & creative freedom
33:00 New York hustle, industry lessons & losing everything
39:00 Returning to Chicago & finding purpose
45:00 DJing as a sales gig — leverage, proof, & professionalism
51:00 Knowing your lane, your people, and your weapon
56:00 Networking, motion, & maintaining authenticity
1:03:00 The Chicago advantage — why the city takes care of its own
1:10:00 Executive producing Jamila Woods’ LEGACY! LEGACY!
1:30:00 The language of musicianship & learning collaboration
1:38:00 Reflections on creative faith, community & leadership
1:41:00 Closing thoughts, shout-outs, & where to find Slot-A
Poducer
In this episode of Poducer, we sit down with Zen Selekta, a DJ and producer whose fusion of spirituality, intention, and raw energy has defined her signature ceremonial bass sound. From Atlanta roots to festival stages, Zen Selekta shares how meditation, breathwork, and self-reflection shape her creative process and keep her grounded on and off stage. She opens up about transforming anxiety into presence, turning music into medicine, and drawing inspiration from thinkers like Joe Dispenza, who teaches the power of embodying what you want before it manifests.
We also explore her path through the music industry, building community in Atlanta’s bass scene, learning the value of a great agent, and navigating professionalism behind the decks. Zen Zelekta reflects on mentorship, creative faith, and the lessons learned from Pretty Lights’ comeback shows, while offering perspective on what it means to thrive as a woman in a male-dominated space. This episode is a reminder that the most powerful artists move both body and spirit.
🎧 Follow Zen Selekta: https://www.zenselekta.com/
🎙️ Follow Poducer: linktr.ee/poducerpodcast
The Podcast for Producers
Chapters
00:00 Cold open — hair talk, Lord Farquaad & the fly saga
01:15 Intro — who is Zen Selekta beyond the decks
03:40 Early inspirations & first concert (Sting at Chastain)
05:19 Big Fam memories, flamenco playlists & olive oil debates
06:35 Meditation, breathwork & finding stillness
09:45 Overcoming anxiety through creative practice
14:20 The moment meditation changed everything
16:20 Mindset, manifestation & embodying belief
19:56 Joe Dispenza teachings & quantum creation
23:06 Shadow work, journaling & personal evolution
24:13 From UKF to Atlanta — discovering purpose in music
27:23 Breaking in, early promoters & first agent
30:23 Industry lessons — community, professionalism & touring
33:42 The ATL “ho!” chant and Atlanta’s live energy
37:30 Staying out of drama & building healthy scenes
39:55 Sci-fi love, Dune aesthetics & creative imagination
48:16 Music as language — dance as worship
49:12 Ceremonial bass & the healing power of presence
52:16 Stage energy, flow state & connecting with the crowd
57:37 Women in music — normalization over tokenization
1:04:45 Pretty Lights comeback & artistic renewal
1:06:44 Mentorship, family & creative faith
1:09:57 Outro — gratitude, links & closing thoughts