BY KAT H. WENTZELL
PHOTO BY ALEX MASON
Seth Jones, better known as SJ to the EDM world, is an artist, songwriter, and producer from Louisiana. SJ is currently signed to Enhanced Music, the record label founded by fellow EDM sensation Tritonal. Besides music, SJ is passionate about making a positive impact on the world; he recently founded One Life International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safe environments and long term care to young girls in Khalpar, India. With all of his success and philanthropy, SJ is quickly on his way to becoming a household name.
1Where are you from and how old are you?
SJ: "I'm 33, and I'm originally from Louisiana. I started my music career in Nashville, and after living there for 10 years, I moved to Los Angeles five years ago."
What got you into making music?
SJ: "I just always loved it. Any musical instrument lying around the house, I would pick up and learn."
Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
SJ: "There are so many. I started as a songwriter, so my biggest influences were people like Billy Joel, James Taylor, John Hiatt, Patty Griffin, John Mayer, [and so on]. Over the years they've spanned so many genres [that] it's hard to list them all!"
What is your writing process like?
SJ: "It usually starts with a concept or theme. I have something I want to write about, usually a personal experience. The production comes after that. I try to find a way to express that idea."
What can fans expect at an SJ show?
SJ: "I hope people experience being happy and free. I want them to be excited and surprised by [my] different styles of music."
What is One Life?
SJ: "One Life is a non-profit organization I started about 6 years ago. We do work in Calcutta, India with young girls who live in the slums."
What are some of the goals and accomplishments of the organization?
SJ: "Our goal is to turn places of poverty into places of possibility. We just finished construction on an 8000 sq/ft facility that provides rehabilitation and education for girls who come out of the abuse and poverty of the slum."
How can others help contribute to One Life?
SJ: "You can give to our work and find out more about what we do at https://www.onelifeintl.org/."
How has your life changed since becoming a popular musician and a founder of an organization?
SJ: "Honestly, I just keep doing what I love doing. There are things that are changing, but I try not to pay attention to them, and [I] avoid letting them distract me from what I care about most--music and making the world a better place."