Episode 13 - Sundown Social's Roger / DJ Chris Love / DJ Zendo

A dancefloor can feel effortless, but the story behind it never is. We set up on location at Sundown Social to capture what it looks like when a local EDM event grows into a Texas-wide movement, and what it takes for DJs to earn their place in that moment.

First, we talk with Roger, the creator of Sundown Social, about the new outdoor venue, why the space changes what’s possible, and how the community energy makes the whole thing work. He explains the “Bangers Only” approach for this event: less slow build, more relentless momentum, designed for pure movement. If you care about house music culture, event curation, and the craft of building a crowd, this part hits.

Then we sit down with Chris Love fresh off his set. He shares how he started DJing less than a year ago, how “YouTube University” helped him learn mixing and production, and why support and reciprocity in the Houston scene opened doors to Austin and San Antonio. We also get into the joy factor: the moment the crowd locks in and you know you did your job.

Finally, DJ Zendo, also known as Dr. Zendo, breaks down the intersection of music and real life. He talks about being a drummer first, shaping a rhythmic tech house sound with Latin flavor, and balancing dentistry with late nights and bookings across Texas cities. His definition of success is simple and sharp: play the music you love for the people who truly want it.

If you like discovering rising DJs, behind-the-scenes stories, and the evolving Texas EDM scene, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review. What part of a DJ’s journey do you want to hear more about next?

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Why am I friends with the DJ? Because life is more fun when you’re friends with the DJ.

Transcript

Welcome To Sundown Social 3.0

0:07

This is I'm Friends with the DJ, hosted by AJ the Silver Fox. Welcome back to another episode of I'm Friends with the DJ. And we are on location at the new home of Sundown Social.

Roger On Growing The Party

0:28

And I'm here with the creator of Sundown Social, Roger. Welcome, thank you. Yes, no, welcome. How's it going? You know, it's going great. What do you think of everything that's here? You know, we're we are extremely excited for this new chapter here in San Antonio and the ability that we have this cool outdoor space that actually lets us do a lot of different things. Absolutely. And so, yeah, our guests have uh wanted to do something new and cool, and so we have a lot in store, I promise. I mean, I'm looking around these mature trees, this huge outdoor chase. You got the food, you got the vendors, you got the people, the crowd. I mean, this is amazing. We uh I will tell you, Isaac and I, as well as all of our artists and everyone that is a part of our team, we are very grateful for every single person that comes out to dance and to smile and to have fun. That's why we've been able to grow now since the last time we talked with Witch Houston. Well, now we're in Austin. Uh, we're working on uh Dallas, but we also are gonna announce uh something cool coming up next week. So again, everybody needs to say exactly. You heard it here first. Um, of course, I always get all the latest news and info. So tell me a little bit about who's here today. Tell me about your artist. So we knew that for today's event we wanted to have something that was hard-hitting, fun, exciting, dancing, dancing, dancing. So I had always had this event called Bangers Only where I wanted nothing but people that were just gonna hit the gas, hit the gas, hit the gas, hit the gas. A lot of times I'll try to go through a whole journey and throughout the entire event. Today, literally, it's just make people dance. And so um Berkey uh was on first, he's from Dallas, he already had to go back, but right now we have Chris Love, uh, who came all the way from Houston, and he's doing a phenomenal job. But we also have some of our other favorites that are gonna play today. You'll be able to have uh XK, uh Shelby, uh Rated Rico, and then also Sam Ivo is coming back from Houston. So amazing, amazing. Well, I'm super excited about it. I hope I get to get to sit down with them, and as always, thank you so much for joining me. And also, this is actually really cool that you are actually doing this next evolution of what you are building. Thank you. This is fucking awesome. Thank you. It's absolutely cool. You know, uh it's it's the mono sound, it's brand new, it's it's a portable studio that allows me to be on location and the sound, guys. It is so loud in here. The music is bumping, it's it's banging, as you said, with the bangers only. But again, thank you so much for joining me, and we'll catch you again soon. Thanks, guys. Bye. Well, we are back, and joining me is uh Chris Love, who just came off

Chris Love And YouTube University

3:28

of uh joining joining us today with I'm Friends with the DJ. So your set was amazing. I appreciate that. That means a lot. And so tell me about your sound, tell me about who you are, like tell everyone. So, what do you want people to know? Yeah, so I actually started less than a year ago DJing. I started in June of last year, and what got me so much into it was just for the fact I saw my friends following their passions, and I thought, why not me too? So, ever since I grinded, grinded, grinded, try to learn everything, and nowadays you can learn everything through YouTube, literally. So I was on YouTube university learning everything, you know, got my bachelor's in YouTube, learning every last thing about DJing, producing, everything. And I went out there, you know. Um, I have a love for all types of genres in EDM, I'll be honest, from house, tech house, techno, everything. I I try to attend as many events in uh I live in Houston, so I try to attend as many events as possible in the Houston area, and I come down to Austin and San Antonio too. Whenever I have friends also playing here at times, I just drive down here, love to attend their shows because I love to show support at the end of the day. Um, they show so much support to me, I want to reciprocate that energy back to them. And uh, what got me into DJing for sure, and what got me into EDM in general was just my love for Abichi. My love for Mar. I was a very big progressive house person in high school. That's all I would listen to. Abici, Martin Garrix, uh Tiesto, and uh Alessio, all of them. Um, but yeah, that's what everything that led me here. There's probably a lot more about me, but I'll go ahead and let you guys. No, I mean, so how long have you been DJing? For me, uh less than a year. So yeah, in June is when I started. Wow, yes. Less than a year. That's crazy. Yeah, no, you're fantastic. That's awesome. I appreciate that. Yeah, I find it it's so much easier to be really great at something when you have the passion for it, in my sole opinion, you know. So I knew I had the passion, and it was very, how do I say, it didn't feel like work to be quite honest with you. I woke up and whenever I had free time, I would grind out, learning new stuff on uh how to mix, and then as well as learning how to produce, and then learning how to find the right songs to make into my debt and curate my set. That's amazing. That's so awesome. So in Houston, do you have any like home base or places that you are regular at? So for me, I actually jump around a lot in the Houston area. Uh specific places, uh, there's a lot, so I really can't name, but just a few is for example, Bauhaus is one of the bigger house clubs in Houston. Uh, I've played there before. I played at um a few coffee shops around Houston as well. Fine. Just some little morning rave kind of stuff is really cool. Uh lounge clubs as well, some cocktail terrace bars in Houston area. I play at mainly everything. Any honestly, anywhere that has a crowd, I love to see the crowd in front of me having a great time. That brings me so much joy. That's the reason why I love to do DJing so much, if I'm being very honest. That's awesome. Yeah, yeah. And and are you born and raised in Houston or born and raised, yes. That's great. Yes, that's cool. So, have you, aside from San Antonio, this is your first time playing here at this amazing venue 3-0? It's really nice. Um, where have you gone outside of Houston to play elsewhere? Not yet. Um, this is actually my very first time going outside of Houston. Uh, you know, less than a year. I was just sticking in Houston trying to build up uh my network, get to know people, and uh I'm trying to get to know more and more people who have given me opportunities, which I'm very blessed. Um that I'm even out here today, you know. Uh it's it's great, awesome to play for a new crowd and bring new energy to new people. I mean, your sound's amazing. It's it's really great. So I think the the future is endless with what you could bring to the table. Thank you. Um tell me, so aside from those favorites, are there any local Houston DJs that you have mentored you or anything like that? What was your question? Sorry. I said, so with local Houston DJs, have do you have any mentors or anything that has helped you, or has it been strictly YouTube? I will say when I first started, my first ever event that I played was thanks to uh a guy named Lewis. Uh, he goes by base control uh there in Houston. He gave me my first opportunity to play at an event, which I'm very grateful for. And honestly, there's a lot of people I met in Houston. There's a lot of great DJs in the Houston area I've met, even out here in Austin, San Antonio. So there's so many to name, but they know who they are for sure, who who has helped me and I've paid with support them. Um I just reciprocate the same energy that they give to me practically. That's so awesome. That's great. So, aside from being a DJ, who are you as a person? Tell me, do you have like a day job? Do you have like what what else do you do? Yeah, so for me, I'm my whole life. My my dad, he works in the entertainment industry. And for me as well, I work, I have my own business, I work in entertainment as well. Um, I do a lot of sales. For me, I'm a part entrepreneur worker, is what I do outside of DJing. Uh, that's just what I love to do. I love to build, I love to network, I love to meet new people, I love to go out, socialize. That's just that's just in me what I like to do at the end of the day. And I think that's why I love this so much coming out here and playing for a new crowd and everything. Absolutely. That's you know, I think when it comes to you have to have a certain charisma about you, and you definitely have that. So I think, like I said already, you the the the endless opportunity that you have is it's very fortunate, and I'm glad I got to experience it. Um, do you plan on coming back to San Antonio again or what's next? What else do you have going on? Absolutely. Well, yeah, I plan on coming back. Uh ultimately, whenever I'm given the opportunity again to come out here, come back, uh, here, Austin, Dallas. I'm I'm always willing to go out and uh go out and get new opportunities outside of Houston for sure. It's not it's not something where I do it for anything else, but solely just to play out there for new crowds and new energy. I just love to meet new people all the time. So, aside from work and and DJing, what do you like to do on your off time? Truthfully, this is what I like to do on my off time. If I'm being very honest with you, when I'm not doing work, when I'm not doing anything else, I just get in my room, if my studio room, and start producing, start DJing. I love to produce, um, and that's practically, and I always like to learn. I hop on YouTube every day. I know I'm not perfect, I know I can learn more every single day. And truthfully, I think that's what makes me um so what's the word to use being able to progress as a DJ more and more because I'm always willing to learn, and I think that's the way people should be. You know, no one is knows knows everything, you know. You always you always can learn something every single day. So that's what I try to do in my music production, and that's what I try to do with my DJing as well. That's that's literally all I do in my free time, if I'm being very honest with you. Cool, that's great. You know, so where where are where can people find you? Are you on social media? Are you on SoundCloud? Where where can everyone find you? So on everything, on every platform, SoundCloud, Instagram, you can find me at it's.chris.love. Pretty much. That's that's all it is to me. Yes, that's amazing. Well, thank you so much for joining me. I look forward to seeing you again and and hearing your sound. And you heard it right here where you could find him at. Go check him out, SoundCloud, everything. The set was amazing, guys. You have to listen. I appreciate it. Thank you so much for joining. No, of course, so much. Thank you for having me for it. Absolutely. Yes, thank you. We are on location at the new home of Sundown

DJ Zendo Balances Teeth And Tech

11:10

Social 3.0. That's it. And I'm sitting with DJ Zendo. Hello, hello, a very good friend of mine. He uh actually is Dr. Zendo. Dr. Zendo now. Dr. Zendo. So thank you for joining me. Of course. So let's start from the beginning. So who is who is Zach before Zendo? Make sure we had a recognize. That's a good question. Zach before Zendo is um first and foremost a musician. Love that. So grew up uh all around music. I was a percussionist, so drummer. Okay. Helps with the DJ gig sometimes. Um keeping keeping in track and everything, yeah. And um, yeah, musician first. And um had a few different kind of life changes that put me in different directions. Okay, and um, yeah, really before Zendo also came the start of Dr. Zack, which was when I started dental school. Um finished that, and so now we're kind of got the combination. That's amazing. That's amazing. And currently, right now you're in Dallas, right? Uh based in Dallas. Based in Dallas. Um but DJ kind of most Texas cities at the moment. Amazing. Large cities, but we're relocating to Austin. That's so we'll be much closer to San Antonio. So right, right. I love that. So speaking of being a DJ, what how what what what made you get started? Like what what inspired you to become a DJ? So for me, I think I followed the route of a lot of DJs, which is you kind of see the you see everything as a spectator first, you hear all the music as a spectator first, and then little by little, you know, you get different tastes of different pockets, and um I was like, well, that looks kind of fun up there, you know. There's the performance element that I liked, and um got you know, just got a little beginner board, started just filming myself, do you know, small videos and stuff. When did you start? That was probably about two years ago. Okay, okay, very recently. Yeah, a little baby, I couldn't even tell you what it is, little flex something. Okay, little baby body. That was a brand, yeah. And um uh yeah, I just started just kind of mixing stuff together before I started performing because I felt I wasn't maybe at a caliber or just ready to do it, right? I would just turn on the camera and videotape myself, throw it on YouTube. Um, it's a good way to just get practice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um and now we're here we are. So that's amazing. Yeah, so you know, and and tell me about the evolvement of Zendo. Like, what how did starting from just YouTube in your room or you know, at home, what was your first gig? Like, how did that go? So um, yeah, I started all that YouTube stuff and really wasn't um doing too much house music out and about. Okay. I had a gig or two here and there that were a little bit of like Latin house, a little uh kind of Latin pop music. Okay. Um, which I love, I have a soft spot for. You hear it in my music too. There's always a little flavor. Um, but uh wasn't like my true passion. And um, but then actually I feel like Sundown Social was a big Kickstarter because uh I remember seeing their info and I was like, oh, what's this, you know, what's this uh event that's going on? And followed their Instagram, got in contact with Roger, and he said, I kind of started the initial follow and just curious curiosity if you would. Oh yeah, yeah. Um, and then he said, Yeah, we're having uh interviews for our our class in 2026, yeah, which is you know beginning of this year, and um and yeah, I was like, Yeah, I'm interested. And really, I feel like Sun Social was the first time I really was out there, out there. Um, and that's helped me really progress through other avenues. It's helped me get other gigs as well, more exposure. Yeah, um, so yeah, and now so about this exposure and and where have you played now? And and do you have any residencies or uh no current like residencies? Okay, um, I was kind of finishing the dental degree a little busy. That's important, that's very important. Yeah, stay in school. Um, but um yeah, I play here and there. So I I've been playing, of course, with Sundown here in San Antonio. Great. And then uh off and on in Austin, okay a few times at uh if you know you know like the rooftop bar at Inca Hoops. Yes. Well, which your your first gig outside of, well, with Sundown, outside of San Antonio was over there. Yes. Uh so yeah, so one of my first, really the first outside of San Antonio gig with Sundown was I think at that rooftop in uh If you know you know. Right. And um that was huge. It was it was a great time. Yeah, um, it's one of those one of those sets where I kind of just trusted my gut and just you know really went with what I wanted to bring to the table, something fun and dancy, and uh went over well and was actually kind of the platform that helped me the catalyst, yeah. The catalyst that helped me kind of get more gigs in that same arena, same bar, and so uh yeah. That's amazing. So, you know, from from there to now, I mean the the the balls rolling and getting bigger and bigger, which is amazing and great. That what has been your you're finding your sound? What is tell me about that? Oh the loaded question. Um it's interesting because I I feel like I entered the scene very very kind of new tech house heavy. I don't know how to describe it except that. Um just a lot of what you hear and which I love. Um but I think especially having that little bit of Latin influence and having you know hearing DJs like Sampacho that have that newer tech house sound but always have a little dancy flavor with it. Right. That with me being a drummer, I think I've I've finally settled in the sound that is really rhythmic, dancey, yeah, um, with a little like technology twist. I always in my mind I think of it as like the natural and the technology together. Okay the natural being the drums, like really rhythmic, tribal, tribal, like athletic with a little bit of uh technology new age kind of thing. So somewhere in the middle. Yeah, yeah. So, you know, with that involvement and how do you balance your new uh dentist and daylife, night life, like how do you balance that? I think for me, um it's a good question because it's hard to answer because sometimes I don't balance very well. Right. Um, but really uh the music is my big passion, but dentistry always comes first. Right. That is the number one, you know, that is my lifelong. Um not that music isn't, no, but uh so I've put always put that first, and then it's just kind of been a lot of kind of longer nights, more extended periods of exploring the passion of music. Yeah, um to just kind of fill the schedule, essentially. So but I think to keep the balance, sometimes I I joke because I'm almost like the uh sometimes I'm the opposite of the typical DJ, and that DJs are like, oh, like let me perform last. I want to close the show and love doing that. It's a great energy. Like you're doing tonight. Yeah, yes, by the way. Love love doing that energy. Um, but sometimes if I can, again, with the dentistry piece, balance it and say, okay, let me do the earlier slot and open for someone amazing, and um you know that way I can get some rest before my day job. Feelings in the morning. Yeah, your day job. Yeah, that's crazy. So, and you know, going back to like Zach, so the dentistry life and everything. So, what made you want to go into that field? Like, what you're like, I like teeth and mouth, like what? Which you have very pretty teeth, by the way. So it's like a requirement of a dentist. Right, exactly. Yeah, exactly. But I think I really like the scientific and the artistic um kind of crossroads of dentistry, which a lot of people say, but for me, I think coming from a music background, I like that artistic nature, and I'm very kind of intuitive. And so um the scientific portion I liked as well. And um, I used to actually be a teacher. I was a music teacher before. Oh, and so I know that I knew I also wanted to help people, but maybe in a different way. Yeah, and I like the the way I could do it in in this way. So I love that. I also had a um, it's funny, I had a good friend uh years ago. I was I was kind of at that intersection thinking, oh, do I want to keep teaching? And he said something like, Well, maybe you should just be something like a dentist. You know, that would that would explore your passions, and I was like, okay, whatever. And here we are. Wow. Just like that. I just lit a little spark and I looked into everything and I was like, oh wow, this makes sense. That's crazy. And are you originally from Dallas or Born and Raised? Yeah. So I'm from North Dallas area. Okay. There's a small town called Little Elm. It's getting bigger, um, but it's like right by Frisco. Got it. And then North North. Frisco's nice, yes, yes, yes. Um, and then since then, I've basically just been based out of central Dallas. Cool. Um and that's where you got started in. And have you played in anywhere in Dallas or outside of Dallas? Yeah, I played a few bars in Dallas. Um and is that like um open format or is uh uh really the the bars I played there was a little more mixed. Okay. A little kind of Latin house and Latin open format. Ooh, love that. Which I loved. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But uh I love that. You know, house music keeps pulling me. So uh I mean you're pretty good at it. So, you know, I remember when I first saw you at Sundown Social. Um your sound's amazing. It's really, really cool. You know, I and I love that you do like incorporate that Latin flair to it, which is you know very different coming from a little white boy like you, you know what I mean? Um I married a Latin as well. Right, yes, you did. Check that out, you know. Yes, yes. So he's married, so don't. Um, but you know, I your growth, where do you plan on seeing yourself go, or where do you would like to see yourself go? Yeah, uh that's something I've thought about a lot. Yeah. I think anybody, all of us that do this think about that. And for me, I I see myself as uh you know, DJ and producer. I've made some stuff. Okay, just dabbling in the beginning of that. That is, I mean, I have so much respect for people that make music of any kind because it's especially electronic music, to make good electronic music, it's it is a job and a half, right? And um to learn all the audio, you know, uh engineering aspects. But I could definitely see myself continuing to make music. Okay, um, but if if I had to kind of put out in the future where I see my name or where I want to be, yeah, and maybe it's even different than most DJs. Jason, that I don't see the oh headlining this and that. You know, right. Maybe that would happen, but it's not necessarily in the plan. You need to, you need to put that out in the universe. You need to, you know, manifest. Sure, yeah. Yeah. I think the the plan for me and how I enjoy this the most is just kind of sharing the music I love. Um and my ultimate goal, I say this all the time, is just to share my exact kind of passionate music with the exact audience that wants to hear it, which I think is sometimes a little bit of a struggle in the DJ community because you know we like all these different pockets of music, and sometimes maybe you're playing a bar or somewhere where that exact, I don't know, little pocket or intricacy isn't maybe what they want. Every crowd's different, every bar is different, right? Um, but yeah, to be at those venues with those people that love that exact exact music I do is uh is the goal. Whether that comes with some big big thing or not, I'm happy. So you know, and it's it's all about like playing to the crowd, yeah, right? So you have to always be able to like maneuver yourself to test the waters and see what's gonna be the vibe. Yeah, because what you don't want as DJ is an empty dance floor, of course, yeah, right? Um that's uh yeah, that's really interesting. And I, you know, I think that the passion behind DJs, you know, with with their sound and everything, it's all about you wanting to do that for them. Yeah, I think that makes a great DJ. You know what I mean? So I'm I'm excited to see where you're gonna end up and go. That's really awesome. Really, really cool. Um, you know, so it's it's our first time um um interviewing and everything. So I do a little

Quick Mix Rapid Fire Round

23:48

something called the quick mix, okay, where it's a rapid fire, just you know, quick questions. So are you ready for the quick mix? I'm ready. Okay, cool. So um are you a daytime, nighttime person? Daytime. Daytime, perfect. Are you um what do you have for breakfast? Kind of boring. Eggs, rice cakes. Eggs and rice cakes. Rice cakes. This explains your physique. I love it. What's what's your sign? My sign? Libra. Libra. Balance. Dentist DJ. Balance. You heard it, exactly. That's awesome. Um, okay, so after that, so what's uh um your favorite color? Green. Green? More of darker hunter olive green. Like your eyes. Yes. Which is more than a good one. Everybody says you look good in green, I should wear green. Exactly. Um, are you a mountains or beach person? I'm right in between. Probably mountain if I had to choose. Oh, really? At this moment, yeah. Wow, at this moment. At this moment. You know, I just love a beach in sand, so but um now, finish a sentence. Okay. Life is more fun when music. Oh dear. I love it. I love it. So that was a quick mix. Thank you so much. Um, you know, and uh um I want to thank you for joining me um and having this fresh

Where To Follow The DJs

25:06

moment and and letting people know a little bit more about you because you know people have this perception of DJs, yeah. And you know, um as uh um since I'm friends with the DJs, you know, I I like to just let people know a little bit more. So thank you so much. Of course. Um, you know, so you can also be friends with the DJ, and you could follow them at uh Instagram really is the best way. Zach is Zendo. Zach isendo Zendo, yes. Perfect. Now I'll go ahead and link that so that we could go ahead and follow him. Um thank you so much for joining me. Thank you for having me. And um, this has been I'm friends with the DJ, and we'll catch you next time. Bye guys