Today we’d like to introduce you to Self Burrell.
Hi Self, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Born and raised in Houston, Self’s story is one of persistence, creativity, and chasing a dream through every corner of the city.
His journey began performing music/dance at pep rallies at Worthing High School before hosting events across local schools and immersing himself in Houston’s thriving poetry scene at The Secret Word. There, he shared stages and community with some of the city’s most respected artists, including Khalid The Future, Lloyce Gayo, Se7en, 2Die4, and many others.
Before stepping behind the DJ booth, Self built a diverse entertainment background as a rapper, spoken word artist, performer, and host. He worked with Uplift Comics, co-writing and co-producing music while portraying the character “Mello the Hyper Dog,” performing at major events including the Children’s Festival and UniverSoul Circus. From there, he expanded into event curation and MCing alongside JXMXSXN while continuing his work in hospitality and nightlife.
Ironically, DJing was something Self avoided for years. Despite being introduced to it in high school, he doubted his ability to memorize music and felt his taste was too different. Eventually, on a whim—and with encouragement from DJ D Wells and DJ Neaux—he purchased his first controller and committed himself to learning the craft.
His first opportunity came through pure hustle. After walking into a venue called Island 1515 with a group of friends during a slow night, he convinced management to let him DJ for the crowd. That spontaneous set turned into four nights a week at the venue and opened doors to DJ at spots across Houston, including Cru, Seaside, Ador, and many others.
Today, Self The DJ is known for seamless blends, creative transitions, and unexpected mashups. Specializing in R&B, hip-hop, and line dance music, he isn’t afraid to mix in country, pop, or deep-cut classics that spark genuine nostalgia. Rather than simply playing chart-topping hits, Self focuses on reading the room and creating experiences that connect people to memories, emotions, and each other.
For Self, every set tells a story—and every crowd becomes part of it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of the biggest struggles in DJ life is balancing between which crowds want a “real DJ” and what crowds want a human jukebox. And all that means is sometimes you’re there to show off your talent and sometimes your there to play what everybody wants to here. My biggest struggle was building discernment to decipher which gigs were which (and the strength to turn certain ones down). Not to mention dealing with venues that don’t pay on time (or at all!) and trying to keep a work-life balance, being in/maintaining a relationship, or just overall self health and mental health. It’s a high risk high reward lifestyle but I love it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a DJ, Bartender, and Poetry/Spoken Word Artist. I know that sounds like a lot but I believe in utilizing the talents God blessed me with. I like to say I specialize in creating an experience, whether behind the booth, the bar, or the mic, I’m here to make people feel something. I’m most proud of myself for taking every “No” or “You’re not Ready” and turning it into an opportunity. I’m here to represent for the people who haven’t been drowned in the heavy “bottle and section” culture . So I think what makes me different is that I’m not changing myself to fit the venue, I bring who I am and blend it with what’s necessary and provide real energy vs “copy and paste” turn up. And everybody isn’t gonna like it, and it took me a long time To realize that’s okay.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
I think being true to Self (no pun intended) is what matters most to me. A lot of people don’t realize how easy it is to lose yourself in the entertainment industry. How easy it is to want to be accepted, to do anything to reach the top, to lose so much to gain so much, how lonely it gets or how many friends and family you lose as you grow. On top of all of that , the higher you climb the ladder the more people forget you’re still a human being. You still have human emotions and behaviors and a lot of that “grace “ gets taken from people in the entertainment industry because “the people” suddenly start to expect perfection. So it’s all about how you make your imperfections work perfectly for you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @djselfthepoet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18faM2o6yY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: Self The Poet
