DJ Brett Henrichsen’s ear for progressive vocals and avant-garde tracks make dancing to his music an almost transcendental experience. While in his presence, though, his ears are the last thing on anyone’s mind. After all, Henrichsen’s man muscles and lothario good looks make you want to peer a little further behind those turntables (lucky turn tables).

But Henrichsen is far more dynamic than his congenial smile and musical sensitivity may lead you to believe. His corporate acumen and thirst for revolutionary sound render this entrepreneur one of the leading purveyors of dance music in the United States – and the world.

As international jet-setting DJs go, Henrichsen has managed to maintain a rather unconventional career, beginning with his break into the industry while working as a marketing specialist for International Business Machines (IBM). Henrichsen’s love for dance music permeated his life in such a way that he would spend his lunch breaks at nearby record stores, hidden under headphones as he flipped through a perennially under-stocked dance selection.

Due to the utter lack of dance variety accessible to the general public, Henrichsen began compiling various club tracks for his circle of friends, using an exorbitantly priced CD burner owned by IBM to his advantage. With the encouragement of his then-small clientele, the marketing guru in training embarked on his first business venture: MASTERbeat.

This CD compilation series served as Henrichsen’s stardom express, emancipating him from the confines of the 9-to-5 corporate routine and thrusting him into the DJ spotlight.

“The DJ thing started as a hobby on the side to promote MASTERbeat,” Henrichsen said. “It was just a side job for fun and then it took on a life of its own.”

His inverse break into the industry was far from commonplace. Most DJs privileged enough to run their own record label do so after years of traversing the circuit as a DJ themselves, but Henrichsen’s career trajectory was opposite of most, as he influenced the dance world first through the studio and then through the turntables.

Of his marketing savvy, Henrichsen said he thinks having a business and marketing background helped him out. “Traditionally, DJs are artistic types who don’t have as much business sense, so it’s definitely helped me become a well-known DJ,” he said. “I think faster because I’ve been able to market myself.”

The dance scene has changed considerably since Henrichsen’s onset, evolving to include the surge of pop and hip-hop influences characterizing today’s pop culture. Accommodating as he is, Henrichsen admits: “To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of the majority of hip-hop music, and it doesn’t really flow as well in the dance clubs. But I’m trying to find more house, dance and vocal mixes of hip-hop songs that I can play. I try to cater to both audiences.”

Even though Henrichsen is committed to progressive vocals, one of the secrets to his rapid success is his ability to be malleable in the face of an often fickle music industry. Adaptability in an ever-changing industry is paramount to a DJ’s lasting power, according to Henrichsen. “You have to stay at the forefront of music to stay popular,” he said.

Sure, beckoning to the guilty pleasures of the masses may work for a little while, but Henrichsen hasn’t been called a pioneer of the industry for blending in as a wallflower. He’s been selective in collaborating with such artists as Deborah Cox and Kristine W., whom he praises for giving back to the community. “Deborah Cox and Kristine W. know who their fans are,” he said. “They know the majority of their fan base is gay and lesbian. They don’t ignore us [the GLBT dance community] and they spend their time promoting at our parties and working for us.”

Good friends and esteemed DJs Manny Lehman and Tony Moran are also among Henrichsen’s picks as inspirational and hard-working collaborators.

Alas, the answer to the question you’ve all been anticipating may devastate you to the core: Henrichsen has officially vacated the meat market. He is no longer an eligible bachelor. After confessing to Instinct in 2003 that he was hoping to settle down with a special guy in the next few years, his dreams came true in the form of a lucky lad from Lauderdale, Ft. Lauderdale that is. It was a match made in purgatory, as the two met at the San Diego Zoo Party three years ago – proof positive that love can indeed be found in So Cal.

“I have a boyfriend who’s moving to be with me in Los Angeles, so I have to slow down a bit to have some time with him,” Henrichsen gushed as his vocal register etched a tad bit higher.

Slowing down may be in the works, but Henrichsen was quick to dispel rumors of retirement. “I’m not going to be Barbra Streisand or Cher with a farewell tour only to be back the next year,” Henrichsen assured, adding, “I do see myself slowing down and being more choosy.”

Before he starts touring less, be sure to catch him at the New Year’s L.A. party, where he promises to kick off 2007 with “comedy, high energy and fun.”

If you can’t wait that long, patronize Club Montage on Dec. 16, where Henrichsen will perform. And if you’re just so damn impatient that you can’t even wait until then, experience a taste of Henrichsen’s signature sound with the brand new White Party 2006 CD, in stores now.