NOT YOUR SHADOW David Isen’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to NOT YOUR SHADOW David Isen. Check out our conversation below.

NOT YOUR SHADOW, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
A revamp of notyourshadow.com. All of the music I am churning out and scheduling for release 6 months to 1 year from now. A live show to accompany my new originals with original vocals, self made visuals, and a personalized dmx light show all controlled live from the stage as I perform. I’m personally putting in the work before the show and during the show, so people can see the difference for themselves.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Through an irrefutable journey of self- discovery and artistic growth, David Isen has both manifested and projected his talents onto the world.

Not Your Shadow has set course to push the
envelope of melodic bass music, one track
at a time with original vocals, self made visuals, and a personalized dmx light show all controlled live as he performs.

Not Your Shadow has played the legendary Ultra Music Festival with hundreds of thousands of attendees from all over the
planet. He has supported foundational
pioneers such as Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Gridlock, Ghastly, Dirtyloud, Stanton Warriors, and many more, further cementing his role in the new generation of bass music mavericks. He has more recently played alongside headlining acts such as Hatcha, Shiverz, Audigy, Emalkay, Elephante and Sabai.

He placed as a finalist in both the Gold Rush Music Festival & Groove Cruise DJ competitions for the year 2022, as well as performing at Goldrush Fest AZ 2025. He also owns and manages his label ‘Tail Shaker Records’ which features releases of all sub genres of melodic bass music and progressive dnb from himself along with many upcoming music producers from all around the world. An annual showcase for Tailshaker records is held to back the talented artists who have released music from the previous year.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
​I used to believe that if I worked hard enough, I could reach all my dreams and goals. Unfortunately, this is just part of the equation for success. The further up the industry ladder I climb, the more I realize how much further I have come even in the last year by outsourcing my brand marketing to people who have expertise in that area.
You can’t be successful in any endeavor if you already have one foot out the door. Don’t have the time to work on your dream? Make the time. Don’t have the luxury of time because you’re always working? Save up enough capital to invest in your brand so you can free yourself up for a period while you grow your dream. Have personal demons? Take time off to sort yourself out and return to your business with a clear head.
​A lot of people have the misconception that they are running out of time or missing their ‘window’ to make their dream a reality. The truth is, if you aren’t properly equipped and prepared, you are going to miss your ‘on-ramp’ no matter how bad you want it. I speak from personal experience.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
​I went from DJing Ultra Music Festival and being booked for the first ever Forbidden Kingdom Music Festival to driving Uber full-time. During the pandemic, from 2020-2022, I was not allowed to work as a DJ for events with more than twenty people by federal law.
​To make ends meet, I had to sell most of my backline sound equipment and DJ gear. I eventually gave up on music entirely and ended up training to be a city bus driver. My wife Tori inspired me to get back on track and return to following my dreams of becoming a touring DJ/producer when she told me she believed I could do it.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
Truly great music is timeless and will still be enjoyed fifty years from now. Fads, one-hit wonders, and cash grabs, however, will have people scratching their heads in a couple of years, wondering why they were ever popular.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
All the music I’ve put out, all the time I spend promoting shows, all the connections I’m making, all the current music I’m working on and scheduling for future release, plus all the time I’m spending creating graphics, designing audio-visual shows, and literally anything else creative—all of those things are probably going to take several years to pay off for me, starting from this moment.

Contact Info:

• Website: notyourshadow.com (revamp coming soon)
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/notyourshadowofficial
• Twitter: https://X.com/therealnys
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/notyourshadowofficial
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/qSHoe3E3ld8?si=1NknFFJY0I5haMNS
• Soundcloud: Check out Not Your Shadow on #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/odvz3whFIQn1NBlwBw
• Other: Discord: @NOTYOURSHADOWMUSIC