Veteran. Husband. Father. DJ. Champion of positivity. These are just a few of the titles that define Jonathan Valdez, better known as DJ Akshen. A true Arizona talent, Akshen isn't just a party starter; he's an award-winning artist. His skills on the turntables earned him the coveted title of Phoenix Regional Red Bull 3Style DJ Champion and Phoenix NewTimes Winner "Best Turntablist" in 2015. He even brought his talents to the national stage, finishing as a top five finalist among the country's best DJs that year. But Akshen's influence extends far beyond competition. As a member of the International Furious Styles Crew, he's graced stages around the globe, from London to Barcelona, the Bahamas to Romania.
In addition to DJing, Akshen co-founded Fader Manners, a monthly event where aspiring DJs can hone their scratch skills and the annual AZ DJ Summit, a networking hub for the local DJ community. He is also an artist-educator and global Hip Hop Ambassador for the U.S. State Department's Next Level program. DJ Akshen is passionate about using music as a force for good and has spun for a variety of clients, including the Phoenix Symphony, the Mayor of The City of Tempe, and Disney Cruise Lines.