Meet Arjun Sethi | Artist & DJ

We had the good fortune of connecting with Arjun Sethi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Arjun, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Taking risks has been one of the defining parts of my life and career. As an American-born Indian DJ, I chose a path that is often viewed as unconventional within my culture, where success is traditionally associated with careers in medicine, engineering, or business.

Building a career in music requires taking risks every day. I invest my time, energy, and resources into creating music, performing, and growing my brand without any guarantees of success. Despite the uncertainty, I believe growth comes from stepping outside of your comfort zone and pursuing what you are passionate about.

Taking risks has allowed me to stay true to myself, connect with diverse audiences, and pursue a career that reflects my creativity and vision. It has taught me that believing in yourself is often the first step toward achieving something meaningful.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart as a DJ is my approach to mixing. I’ve always been drawn to the technical side of DJing and finding creative ways to blend tracks that people wouldn’t expect to work together. Some of my favorite moments are when I can take two completely different songs and create a seamless transition that surprises people and makes them smile. I love creating those little moments of mystery and discovery on the dance floor that keep people engaged and guessing what’s coming next.

Getting to where I am today definitely wasn’t easy. It took years of practice, honestly, more practice than I can even put into words. Building confidence behind the decks doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from countless hours spent learning, making mistakes, trying new things, and trusting yourself enough to take risks. Every performance taught me something new and helped shape the artist I’m becoming.

Outside of music, the last five years have brought their own challenges. I’ve experienced multiple family losses, faced health issues, and spent a lot of time working on personal growth, including therapy. Those experiences changed my perspective on life and taught me lessons that extend far beyond music. They’ve taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of believing in yourself even when things aren’t going according to plan.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that success isn’t a straight line. You won’t win every competition. You won’t get every gig you want. Rejection is part of the process, and that’s okay. What matters is continuing to show up, staying true to your vision, and trusting your journey even when progress feels slow.

More than anything, I want people to know that this scene is for everyone. Music has always been about connection, community, and shared experiences. When people come to one of my sets, I want them to feel welcome, let loose, dance, and connect with the people around them. If I can create a space where people forget about their worries for a few hours and leave with a new memory or a new friend, then I’ve done my job.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If one of my best friends was visiting Atlanta for a week, I’d probably build the trip around food, music, and the places that make the city feel like home to me.

The first stop would be Lee’s Bakery on Buford Highway. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in the city and a place I find myself coming back to over and over again. From there, we’d spend some time exploring Buford Highway because it’s one of the most diverse and underrated parts of Atlanta’s food scene.

For breakfast, Bomb Biscuit in Oakland City is a must. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out. Depending on their vibe, I’d either take them for a walk on The Beltline if they wanted to experience the energy of the city, or out to Cochran Shoals Trail if they were looking for something more scenic and relaxing.

During the week, we’d definitely make a stop at 97 Estoria, especially on Taco Tuesday. It’s become one of my favorite neighborhood spots to hang out, catch up with friends, and enjoy the community atmosphere. And whenever my taco cravings hit, Vice Taco truck is always the answer.

As someone who’s heavily involved in music, a lot of my favorite places revolve around Atlanta’s nightlife and creative community. I’d take them to Pisces, Underground Atlanta, and hopefully catch a show at The Eastern or District. Those are the kinds of places where you can really experience the city’s energy and discover why Atlanta has such a unique culture.

One place I’ll always mention is Palo Santo. unfortunately it’s closing down but it was one of my favorite spaces to dance, connect with people, and just have fun. I know a lot of people in the community miss it. And if I could bring back one venue tomorrow, it would probably be Frisky Whisker. That would be the ultimate place to take a visiting friend.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to the people who helped shape my journey. First and foremost, my father, Bobby, who introduced me to the world of DJing and unknowingly set me on the path I’m on today.

I also want to recognize Epinjuju and Not Aguilera, two incredible DJs who believed in me, encouraged my growth, and inspired me to keep pushing forward as an artist.

A special shoutout goes to my childhood best friends, Krishnaa and Rahul, who have supported me through every stage of life and always had my back.

I also want to thank my friends from South Florida, who shared my first rave experiences with me and helped spark the passion for electronic music that would eventually become such a big part of my life.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to a close friend in Tampa who prefers to remain anonymous. Your support, encouragement, and belief in me came at the right moments and helped give me the confidence to take this dream seriously.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arsin.wav/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/arsinatl

Other: https://tiktok.com/djarsin

Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/anthonycarli__/ for all district content

https://www.instagram.com/bathtoiz/ for the beats on the block photos