Mixing behind the turn-tables, stopping occasionally to strike his standard pose of pointing at the camera and flashing a smile, DJ Jayson Summers has become a standard fixture in the Downtown scene.

Coming from Santa Barbara to San Diego a few years ago to pursue a career in para-medicine and with a musical background that started with playing the trombone and in the percussion section in junior high and high school, Summers might seem like an unlikely candidate for the night life scene. But after seeing the crowd’s reactions to his music, it’s clear that his days of playing in the high school jazz band are long gone.

DJ Jayson Summers plays predominantly electro-house, also called “dirty house.” This style of music has been picking up steam since early 2000, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular kinds of house music within its genre. It mixes a synthesizer sound reminiscent of 70’s and 80’s pop with a deep and distorted bass line to produce a rough sound beneath a lighter melody. For Summers, electro house is seductive and x-rated; as if the energy from the music itself is enough to compel people to make love on the dance floor. And that is the feeling he tries to translate through his music: a sexy and rich mood that will bring club-goers out onto the floor to move to his beats.

For Summers, he truly leads a double life by juggling a full-time career as a fire fighter with the perils of dj-ing Downtown and across the West Coast. Doing this on a regular basis can be tough. “I’ve lost a girlfriend because of my schedule, and I’ve lost a few contacts along the way,” Summers admits. “But I’m very dedicated to trying to live both lives. Being a fireman keeps me out of trouble, and being a dj allows me to share a different side of my personality.”

Firefighting and serving San Diego is a responsibility he takes very seriously. To him, calling in sick because he was out late the night before working at a club is not an option. His biggest inspiration to continue working hard at both of his careers is fellow dj, Miss. Lisa. Known as a sex icon in the electro-house scene, she’s also a nurse here in San Diego. “If it wasn’t for her, I would have given up trying to both a long time ago,” says Summers.

Although working seven days a week between both jobs can be draining, according to Summers it has it’s perks: never paying a cover or waiting in line to get into a club and spending hours mixing it up in front of hundreds of adoring female fans, just to name a few. To him, though, dj-ing is worthwhile when he can see the crowd relating and understanding his music.

“My biggest fear is that people won’t like what I’m playing,” explains Summers. “People always ask me if I’m nervous before I go on, and I am every time. Not because I’m afraid that I’ll make a mistake, but because I care whether or not people will appreciate what I’m doing.” Connecting with his audience and knowing that they understand his music are the two most important reasons why DJ Jayson Summers continues to play at clubs.

For the past few months, he’s been a constant at On Broadway, but recently he’s been branching out to other venues. On Thursday, August 2 nd he’ll be in a runway show at Belo, and then dj-ing shortly after. He will also be a part of the line up at the Burning Man festival in Nevada towards the end of August.