Meet DJ Stenny, Steven Stentiford

Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Stenny, Steven Stentiford.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Throughout my service in the United States Marine Corps, I began collecting vinyl. As my collection grew, so did my passion for creating music. In 2000, around the time I was getting out of the Marines, I bought my first set of turntables and began DJ’ing in and around greater Boston. My style has developed over time, and I am now able to weave seamlessly through multiple Genres, Styles, & Eras of music to create a unique & memorable dance floor experience. After a few years of djing, promoting, and throwing events, Scion of Braintree asked me to start creating and promoting events for them. During my time with Scion, I began designing artwork for flyers, online marketing, set designs, and T-shirts.

Please tell us about your art.
Musically, my DJ sets are usually never planned and I tend to feed off the crowd in the room. Typically, there is some prep time that is required for each event, but I don’t prerecord my music. Depending on the theme of the event, I will make a playlist that includes music that fits into the context of the event. For example, if I’m doing a 90’s night or a disco event, I spend a few hours putting a list of songs that fit into these genres.

My Art work is mix of pop culture and I like to think that it transcends all generations. In other words, I try to incorporate different cultural themes into my art which helps it become relevant to all ages demographics. Two of the more recent projects I’ve done include a gallery of dead rock stars which includes Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Layne Stanley. The Jimi Hendrix is five feet by five feet and was on display at the Rock & Roll Rib Joint just outside of Boston. The second piece was on display at Future Arts Festival 2017, in Boston last fall. For this piece, I created eight cartoons getting high on cannabis which I entitled “a stoned art gallery”. The feedback was great, and many people loved the concept because they had gotten high and watch Rick and Morty or Bugs Bunny. I also wanted to push the boundaries of this piece and challenge existing cultural paradigms. I want people to know that this should (and is) be socially acceptable, we can go out look at art, be stoned, and talk about it.

As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
Success in my DJ career come when I have a great set. When people dance and have a good time. When someone comes up at the end of the night and thanks you for the music you played. That is how I measure success in Djing, when the music makes you forget about your troubles and you get lost in it.

In the art world I like to make you think or remember something. When you walk away from a piece of art but are still thinking about it or what it was about, that is the reason I use pop icons in my art. A picture of Jimi or Janis means something different to the 60-year-old woman who saw Janis play her last concert at Harvard than it does to a 16-year-old girl who has just discovered her.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Currently, I am Working with Discovery Quincy to plan our 3rd annual pop up art event series in Quincy Ma. More Details will be available via their website and social media or via my website DjStenny.com.

Contact Info:

• Address: 115 cummings ave
  quincy ma 02170
• Website: djstenny.com
• Phone: 617-959-2033
• Email: djstenny@gmail.com
• Instagram: @djstenny
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/DJstenny
• Twitter: twitter.com/djstenny

Image Credit:
DJ photos by Dave Kimball

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