THE ENERGY CURATOR

DJ Megan Taylor creates events that resonate, inspire, and stir the soul.

As a teenager growing up in the small rural town of Princeton, Illinois, Megan Taylor absorbed the music business through osmosis. Her dad worked for a subsidiary of Sony Records, placing CDs and merchandise in local retail shops throughout the Midwest. As a result, Taylor was the beneficiary of an endless stream of promotional albums, which she would spirit away to her bedroom for listening sessions.

“When I was a kid, I always had access to music,” she says. “And I was always the friend that made the playlists.”

Later, while double majoring in math and art at DePaul University, Taylor was exposed to house music, which immediately caught her ear and moved her emotionally. “House music spoke to my soul. For me, it’s a language that the body knows. It’s the music that moves the body.”

After college, Taylor began her career as an intern at Fig Media Inc., a boutique firm that books creatives including DJs. The founders, James and Michele Gustin, had built an established company known for cultivating sophisticated DJs and pioneering talent in an uncharted field. They invited Taylor to join the team, mentored her, and gave her a long runway to emerge as a female DJ in a deeply male-dominated industry. Their guidance and support were–and continue to be–instrumental in her rise.

These foundational experiences set the stage for Taylor’s emergence as one of the most sought-after DJs in Chicago. Her work includes events for the Chicago Cubs (including their World Series party), the WNBA, CHANEL, Nike, and Vogue. Recently, she deejayed a global business event for more than 4,000 people at Navy Pier. Her work also takes her outside of Chicago, and across the world for private events.

To operate at this level, it takes more than a playlist of banger tracks. As with any art, it’s impossible to pick out the secret ingredients that lead to success. But Taylor’s approach goes well beyond a passion for “digging” (locating tracks and unique remixes) and an encyclopedic knowledge of the songs making an impact on a global level. She strives to understand the people she’s working with and playing for. She has a master’s degree in social emotional intelligence, and a lot of her work involves meeting with her clients, talking about the music they love, what moves them, and helping them create the right mood for whatever event they are organizing–whether it’s a corporate launch party, gala, wedding, or special birthday party.

“My goal is always to have it feel like an event you’ve never been to before,” she says. She takes pride in her ability to “paint a picture” with the music, to keep the crowd energized and engaged, and deliver events that will be remembered long after the lights come down and the dance floor is empty.

“I really look at everything as energy,” she says. “There are some people who can see colors. I can see the energy of the song.”

To help her produce and shape that energy, Taylor seeks out places to find a creative spark. Topping that list is Tulum, where she spent a lot of time during the pandemic after her business came to a complete stop. It’s a place to recharge, tap into the vibrant music culture, and open her ears to emerging music and trends.

“Mexico is a place where I feel vibrant, and it brings me into my heart. I have so much resonance there,” she says.

As it turned out, her business shutting down during COVID was a blessing in disguise. With live music events shuttered, Taylor got hired to run strategy for a book launch, which led to more engagements in creative strategy, producing retreats, and creating soundtracks for hotels and restaurants.

“I take corporate branding and translate that to music. Which is super fun,” she explains. Like the music itself, the pathways for Taylor just keep growing, morphing, and remixing. Whether she’s helping to launch a new product, perfecting a playlist for soon-to-be newlyweds, or running a healing music retreat, Taylor’s focus is the same: Using the power of music and human connection to transport, uplift, and forge connections.

“It’s frequency and vibrations, and it’s all really healing,” she says.

Reflecting on one of her recent events, Taylor captured her mission perfectly: “You play music that represents everyone, and then they all dance to it on the dance floor and they acknowledge each other. It’s an amazing thing. Magical things can happen. That makes me happy.”

For playlists and more information, visit thisismegantaylor.com.