“Music Is MetaZen”: A Conversation with Devon Snell (DJ MetaZen Mane) of Louisville’s Neon Jungle 502

(By Davron Bowman)

Devon Snell- Neon Jungle Founder and Local Louisville DJ (MetaZen Mane)

The first time I experienced Devon Snell wasn’t just through his music—it was through the quiet gravity of his presence. At Neon Jungle, his signature event, the air felt like it had been softened. People moved freely, art pulsed from the walls, strangers shared paint and poetry, and beneath it all was a soundscape curated with intention.

Devon doesn’t just DJ—he stewards energy. His sets feel like living stories, crafted to hold you, move you, and gently remind you that you belong.

In a scene where competition can often eclipse collaboration, Devon stands apart. He uplifts. He listens. He shows up—not just behind the decks but in the crowd, supporting other artists, honoring their work with presence and curiosity. It’s rare to find someone so rooted in their own creative voice who still makes room for everyone else to shine.

In this conversation, Devon Snell—also known as DJ MetaZen Mane—shares the evolution of his artistry, what guides the emotional terrain of his sets, and how he envisions a more connected, intentional nightlife in Louisville and beyond.

Q1. Let’s start at the beginning—can you take us back to the earliest memory you have of music truly moving you?

Devon: Fourth grade. I grew up on hip-hop—really gangsta rap—and anything Tupac just hit me. It felt like he spoke straight from the heart, and that honesty stuck with me.

Q2. What drew you specifically to DJing—was there a moment or experience that made you realize this was the path for you?

Devon: I wasn’t into electronic music for most of my early life. Around age 30, I went to Electric Forest- my first camping music festival and it blew my mind. I hadn’t realized how deep and artistic DJing could be until then. That experience changed everything and made me want to learn the craft.

Q3. How would you describe your relationship with music today? Has it changed over time?

Devon: Totally. It used to be something for a party or to pass the time. Now it’s healing. My relationship with music feels special and magical, a way to transform a room and the people in it.

Q4. When you’re performing, what are you hoping to create or give to the people in the room?

Devon: An experience- a chance for people to experience themselves through the music I choose. A well-crafted set can be therapeutic. I try to take people to places they’ve never been through movement and in their minds. More than anything, I want people to feel something.

Q5. Can you tell us about your first few gigs—what they looked like, what they felt like, and how they shaped you?

Devon: My first was a New Year’s Eve party at FOKO with my friend Francisco. I didn’t yet know how to manage a room or keep the energy moving, but people were supportive. It showed me there’s much more to it than just playing songs—reading energy, holding space, guiding the journey.

Q6. Who or what is inspiring you right now—could be a person, place, vibe, or even a shift in your own life?

Devon: So much. The list is long, but off the top: Liquid Bloom and Detox Unit. Honestly, there are too many artists pushing boundaries to name—I love them all.

Q7. How would you describe the role of community in your journey—both in how you’ve been supported and how you try to give back?

Devon: Community is everything. I feel responsible for offering spaces where people can express themselves freely through dance and art, especially since Louisville doesn’t have many conscious electronic DJs compared to other cities. The community has been beyond supportive, and that support fuels everything.

Q8. What does success look like to you—beyond gigs or recognition—on a soul level?

Devon: Balance. Healthy relationships. Feeling connected to nature. Having space to create art and being supported by community. That’s success to me, and I feel closer to it than ever.

Q9. Looking ahead, what kind of experiences or energy do you hope to bring into the future of your sets, events, or even your personal journey?

Devon: I want to deepen into music production and bring original songs into my sets. I’ll keep creating events and let them grow organically, conscious gatherings where people feel safe, not judged, and free to dance, move, and connect without the toxic parts of nightlife. Neon Jungle has been a success, and we’re building from there. As I see it: if you build it, they will come.

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(Devon Snell, known as DJ MetaZen Mane, is the co-creator of Neon Jungle, a Louisville-based dance and art experience built around connection, creativity, and healing through movement. A sound healer as well as a DJ, he also launched a new community event series called The Movement, designed to celebrate conscious dance and togetherness.)

Want to Experience one of Devon's Events?

Here's a Schedule of Upcoming Experiences

Creephouse @ Zanzabar, Louisville | October 25th

Movement Sundays @ Jubilee Field | October 26th

Cacao and Ecstatic Dance w/Co-Host Sunshine Shelby Ford @ Inner Warrior, Louisville | November 22nd

Neon Jungle @ FOKO, Louisville | January 17th