‘Just Be Your True Self and Let Your Children Grow Up Being Their True Selves Too’: DJ and Producer Dennis Sheperd

We talked music, bullying and fighting your fears with DJ and Producer Dennis Sheperd

Berlin-based Dennis Sheperd is widely recognised as one of the rising stars of global trance music. The DJ/producer, has seen his productions consistently supported by some of the biggest names in electronic music, including; Tiësto, Above & Beyond, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, Markus Schulz and Ferry Corsten. Trance star, Gareth Emery recently described Dennis Sheperd as “definitely a hot name to watch” – we caught up with him to find out more. 

DTL: Could you tell us what inspired your 2nd album ‘Fight Your Fears’? 
Dennis: I always try to continuously improve and develop myself and that includes stepping out of my comfort zone. Often, the best things actually happen when you take a risk, then of course you have the regret of not having done it earlier! The title is meant as an appeal to my fans to do exactly that – I want to encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and enjoy life!

DTL: What has been your recipe for success?
Dennis: What is success? Everyone has to decide that for themselves! Success in life for me is very different from success in the music industry…but let’s stick to success in the music industry, which for me is making people happy with my music and enhancing their life (and maybe seeing that at a live event that I am playing at). My recipe for success in the music industry? Stay real. Trust your gut feeling. Work hard. And believe in yourself!

DTL: What inspires you as an artist?
Dennis: Life in general I would say! And live events I have played at as well.

DTL: Did you ever experience bullying? If so can you tell us what happened and how you overcame the experience.
Dennis: I never experienced bullying when I was in elementary school in Germany – I was actually very popular and also had the best grades in my class, but when I entered secondary school things changed and I had some pretty bad experiences. There wasn’t one particular event – just an overall teasing which heavily lowered my self-esteem and my grades suffered as a consequence. Before that I was very self-confident and luckily those earlier school years manifested a basic “strength” that helped me overcome this experience. Talking to my mum also helped a lot too.

DTL: What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in the industry so far?
Dennis: I guess the amount of travelling, lack of sleep and airport food whilst desperately trying to stay healthy! It can be very hard and if you are not strong enough to resist the “easy way”, your health takes a battering over the months and years. Who wants to go running or to the gym after travelling for 20 hours? Who wants to search for 45 minutes in the city to find a healthy restaurant? You definitely need to force yourself!

DTL: If you could go back in time, what one thing would you tell your younger self?
Dennis: “Don’t waste your time with people who don’t fit into your life!”

DTL: What has been your proudest moment so far?
Dennis: Finding and marrying my wife! In terms of music, holding Fight Your Fears in my hand after crowdfunding it, getting it designed, getting it manufactured, sorting out licensing rights etc all completely on my own!

DTL: What does the future hold for Dennis Sheperd?
Dennis: Next year my Dennis Sheperd project becomes 10 years old! We want to celebrate that appropriately with a “Best Of” album. Other than that my head is already full of ideas for a third studio album which I will start producing asap.

DTL: Here at DtL we want to challenge traditional and outdated perceptions of masculinity – can you name one thing that isn’t traditionally masculine about you?
Dennis: I don’t believe in the traditional social constructs of masculinity and femininity; as a society we should let go of those ideas. Just be your true self and let your children grow up being their true selves too!