How Rinzen Went from Music Journalist to DJ in 5 Years

Every Successful DJ Begins Somewhere. Here’s how Rinzen rose to fame following his music journalism career.

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Rinzen has been a notable name in the electronic dance music sphere for the past couple of years, and things are only looking up from here for him. The Los Angeles-based DJ and producer has been able to make a name for himself by doing one thing: pursuing his passions wholeheartedly.

The story of how the Rinzen project even came to light is extraordinary. What’s even more extraordinary is how quickly the exceptionally talented and multi-faceted musician went from zero to 100 thanks to his one-of-a-kind cinematic techno soundscapes and the many affluent connections he made along the way.

Many don’t know this, but before the Rinzen project even came to fruition, he was just a young college student who became enamored by all things electronic dance music. So much so, that he became a music journalist to be able to fully insert himself in the heart of the scene doing what he loved most.

For roughly five years, he was writing about the industry’s hottest news, crafting features, coordinating premieres, interviewing artists, and reviewing events. While his music journalism career was skyrocketing, he was simultaneously a bedroom producer making music on the side and practicing his DJ mixing skills. Until one day, his entire life flipped a switch and he was proud to be able to say that instead, he was now a full-time musician and a writer on the side.

While still on the rise of his music journalism career, he decided to enroll in the prestigious music production program at Icon Collective in LA. This decision turned out to be the catalyst that would transform his dreams into reality. Fellow Icon Collective alumni BlackGummy helped him with his first official release on mau5trap, an accomplishment that skyrocketed Rinzen’s music production career to even greater heights. Deadmau5 himself has even expressed that Rinzen’s musical creations are a cross of “Hans Zimmer meets techno,” which speaks volumes about the flourishing musician’s many talents.

Since then, Rinzen has performed at some of the nation’s most iconic live music venues like NYC’s Output (RIP), The Brooklyn Mirage, Sound LA, The Concourse Project, and many more. Not to mention he’s been featured on fan-favorite music festival lineups such as Electric Forest, Lightning In A Bottle, Electric Zoo, and Desert Hearts Festival, and was finally able to make his grand Burning Man debut earlier this summer. Aside from mau5trap, he’s also managed to release soul-stirring original tracks and mesmerizing remixes on esteemed labels such as Desert Hearts Black, Last Night On Earth, Bedrock Music, and Lane 8’s This Never Happened.

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Recently, Rinzen turned to Instagram to get a bit more in-depth and personal about the progression of his music career and provided fans with a little more insight into highlight-worthy milestones that he’s experienced along the way. To think that artists as prominent as deamau5 and Lane 8 have been supporting him for years seems surreal for Rinzen, and the peak of his journey is only getting started.

If there’s one thing that Rinzen stands for it’s the importance of staying true to yourself and letting your authenticity shine through this crazy journey called life. He’s where he stands today because of his innate desire to make others feel captivated and moved by his invigorating, ethereal soundscapes. And if you’ve ever listened to Rinzen’s music or attended one of his live sets, you know that’s exactly what his music exhibits.

From music journalist to DJ in just five years, Rinzen is an inspiration to us all, and we can’t wait to witness what else he has in store for us following his recent highly-awaited This Never Happened releases. Bask in Rinzen’s entrancing discography below.