The Platform Podcast episode sixty-six, I sit down in Scottsdale with DJ and producer Jonis to talk about building an artist project from the ground up, the difference between open-format DJing and artist-style sets, and why so many DJs end up playing the same songs. We get into the realities of rebranding, launching a new alias, creating content when you hate being on camera, and learning how to separate “taking gigs for experience” from protecting a long-term artist brand. We also dive into Scottsdale nightlife, why the market feels like it’s slowing down, whether venues are pricing people out, and why bars and more curated concepts seem to be winning over traditional nightclub formats. If you’re a DJ, producer, nightlife professional, or creative trying to grow a brand in 2026, this episode is packed with real conversation, industry insight, and relatable struggles from both sides of the booth. Follow Jonis / SumLite: Jonis: https://www.instagram.com/jonissounds SumLite: https://www.instagram.com/sumlite.dj Follow The Platform: Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: @theplatformmix Follow Dex: @TheDJDex Listen to The Platform every week on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. 00:00 Intro & On The Road in Scottsdale 00:45 Meet DJ & Producer Jonis 02:30 Open Format vs Artist DJ Sets 03:00 Why DJs Keep Playing The Same Songs 05:10 Launching a Second DJ Project (SumLite) 08:20 Rebuilding a Brand From Zero 10:40 Why DJs Hate Creating Content 13:00 The Advantage of Having Two DJ Aliases 16:30 Not Every DJ Gig Is The Right Gig 19:50 Why Playing Multiple Genres Makes You Better 23:20 Is Scottsdale Nightlife Declining? 24:00 Are Clubs Pricing People Out? 26:10 Why Bars Are Winning Over Nightclubs 29:30 The Problem With Copy-Paste Nightlife Venues 33:00 Why Some Venues Fail Their Own Brand 38:10 Should DJs Bet Their Career On One City? 41:00 Scottsdale's Electronic Music Scene 45:10 The Trap Of Social Media Numbers 48:30 Focusing On Real Fans Instead Of Views 49:50 Jonis' Goals For 2026 51:20 The Platform Playlist 52:40 Put Someone On A Platform 53:30 Episode Wrap Up