We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tenaeja Garland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tenaeja below.
Alright, Tenaeja thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My mission has always been to bring people together through music. No matter who you are or where you come from, I believe music has the power to break down walls and create real connections. When I’m behind the decks, I’m not just playing songs—I’m creating a space where everyone can feel the energy, the rhythm, and the soul that unites us all under one roof. With this being known, it’s important to understand that no matter if someone is opposed to certain religions, races, cultures, ideologies, or what have you – music is love, music heals all, and music unites!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a DJ, Audio Engineer, Mother, and a Jackie of all trades. My passion for music started at a very young age – 6 years old. I’ve played instruments by ear like bass guitar, keyboard, and drums, and began teaching myself to DJ at the age of seven, which I was also inspired & taught by my father who was also a DJ. My official career as DJ Swirlout began at the age of 9 years old. From there, I never turned back since. DJing & healing through music has always been something that was already aligned & set for me to do. I’m just thankful that I made the decision to listen to The Most High & my gut to take my craft to its highest form and run with it. My light, the love that I have for what I do, and the way I am able to connect & build with my audience & other business owners outside of just DJing (without expecting anything in return from anyone other than just for them to be themselves) is what keeps my brand & business busy and running long term. Not only do I offer DJ services but I also offer audio & visual services such as: low laying fog, cold dazzlers, dance floor lighting, uplighting, DJ booth decor, audio guest books, audio engineering & mixing, PA system rental, and much more! Being a woman in a male dominated realm and crushing the game as well as every barrier & stigma that has been set before me are the most rewarding and what I’m most proud of. Who I am, having a priceless mindset, my genuineness, the role that I play in many communities & for the youth (especially young girls), the magic that is created in the midst of events & moments, and bringing polar opposites together with an open format is what sets me apart from other DJs, artists, and entertainers.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Social media has always been a part of my life, from elementary school to now, so the algorithms & science behind social media marketing has always “clicked” for me. I also went to school at Full Sail University and graduated for Marketing & Communications, which helped me take my perspective & knowledge on social media to the next level. You HAVE to be persistent and come up with multiple strategies on how to stay in the minds of your audience & supporters. Once you find a strategy that works for you and that your audience favors the most, then stick with that strategy and slowly implement other strategies that are similar to what’s already working to keep things “fresh”. Vulnerability & honesty with your audience all while exuding professionalism will deepen the connection you have with them and is how you can create a fan base. You also have to know how to support other people, businesses, and leaders that are either in the same/similar field as you and/or that are in your community. Authenticity is key!
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I remember going Washington & Lee University to DJ for a law school and it seemed like everything kept going wrong. The wattage on the small stage they provided did not have enough power to keep my equipment going, technical issues arose, and then some! Someone in the crowd yelled out, “Party at my house!”. From there, everyone left the party. I was very embarrassed (even the host left me to pack up my equipment). Fast forward to today, I DJ’d at UVA’s Fried Franks event where there were over 1,000 law students and students of other majors. The entire room was a mixture of different backgrounds but it was amazing to see everyone come together (dancing & singing a variety of different songs). One young lady came up to me and told me that I was bringing together people who wouldn’t even be seen in the same circle, yet alone look in each other’s direction. After that night, the word had spread to different colleges on how well I did and next thing you know, I get a call – it was Washington & Lee again! This is when I realized that with persistence, preparation, skill, and consistency, I was able to come back stronger than my failure in the past. This is what true success looks like!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Djswirlout.com
- Instagram: Itsdjswirlout
- Facebook: Tenaeja Garland
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@DJSwirlout
- Other: https://share.google/Ta11nWLnn3pE0qg1T
Image Credits
Unknown