Meet D.J. Hester | Creator of Song Theory

We had the good fortune of connecting with D.J. Hester and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi D.J., what do you attribute your success to?
I would say it’s timing and planning. Much like many social media creators, I started my TikTok account at the height of Covid. My wife and I had lost our jobs and I finally had time to get on this “kids app” and see what all the fuss was about. Well, after starting my page and releasing my first video, I was hooked. I knew that the show, Song Theory (a show about conspiracy theories regarding songs and artists) would work really well with TikTok. And it did. I went from 0 followers to 550,000 in a year and seven months. Absolutely changed my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
It all started when I first logged on to YouTube back in 2006. I loved the idea of being a creator and making video content.

So in 2011 I started a poetry YouTube channel (It was garbage, don’t look it up.) And then went on to record myself making music. In the midst of this, I stumbled upon a YouTube channel called “The Game Theorists”. Interested, I watched some of the videos and I had an immediate light bulb moment: “What if I made conspiracy theory videos about music?” And so I did.

I didn’t find that success on YouTube from 2012 to present day, so once TikTok became available, I shifted my focus to that app and I’m so glad I did.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my 10+ years of content creation is how to pivot. If you see one type of content or platform isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change it up.

I pivoted towards TikTok and since then, I have amassed a faithful and supportive following of people who want more of what I have to give. Hopefully my brand Song Theory will serve to show that any idea, no matter how crazy, can be a gateway to success.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
So, Atlanta is a wonderfully diverse place to hang out! I would take my friend first to Auburn Ave. to learn the history of Atlanta. A walk through of the MLK Jr. Memorial and his childhood home is an excellent start.

Then, I would take them to Ponce City Market on Ponce de Leon Ave. To show them the incredible shops and restaurants, like Bar Vegan.

After we eat, we would go burn off all of those calories walking the famous Atlanta Beltline and then end the day with visiting the Coca-Cola Museum or the Georgia Aquarium!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give credit to God first and foremost. Without Him, nothing is possible.

My wife, Ariel, deserves a trophy, a plaque and a statue for all of the love and support she has given me and our daughter. She pushed me to explore my creativity and has been a huge help!

Then of course my mother. That woman pushed me to be my most creative self. Where many mothers had a structured path they wanted their kids to travel down, my mother only wanted me to succeed in being as creative as possible.

Instagram: @song_theory_

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/EddyPhoenix

Other: TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdA2tX3e/