DJs SPIN THE NIGHT AWAY:

Bringing a New Scene to the Valley
By: Isaac Garcia

Deciding how to spend a Saturday night can prove to be very effortful for many students. Many find themselves jaded with the familiar scenes the Valley has on its menu.

Drum and Bass (often referred to as DnB) is an extremely underground form of electronic dance music that surfaced in the early 1990s. This genre is buttoned down with elaborate bass lines, broken beat drums and an accelerated tempo.

On Saturday Apr. 12, IllOddeo hosted a “DnB” event outside of Sophie’s "Double S" Saloon. The event’s first beats sounded off at ten pm, consisting of three local acts: Fuse, Fee-Niks, and OPTX, followed by headlining act Random Movement. DJs spun the night away well past two am. Event goers expressed themselves rhythmically; outdoors under several mesquite trees. The area was well lit and hosted an array of visual light effects.

In attendance was Benny Vasquez, a 22 year old senior and rehab major.

“This is my second time to an event like this and I am enjoying it! These things are few and far between; I hope this becomes a frequent gig all over the Valley.”

Local promoters are working diligently to expose this form of sub-culture and offer a new entrée to add to the Valley’s menu.

Dani Garza, DJ, Producer and president of Klubstalkerz, an organization that is aiding in “bringing the life to night” has been promoting events in the Valley for the past year. Garza began promoting events in Denver, Colorado.

He credits many of the local acts for their superior talent.

“I have DJ’d all over the country and throughout Europe and the Valley has some of the best talent I have seen. OPTX and his IllOddeo crew is one of the better groups in the Valley and OPTX deserves a lot more recognition for helping the local scene,” said Garza.

Carlos Villarreal, also known as OPTX, is responsible for most of the events happening in the Valley. He also credits his crew for the huge support they offer.

“No man is an island and the more parties I organize the more this saying is true.”

Villarreal added that he enjoys the organization part of events, but performing is what it’s all about.

“It truly is a blissful experience to convey your feelings threw the music you play and having people respond to that by dancing,” said Villarreal. “It’s the greatest form of satisfaction if you ask me.”

Villarreal and Garza both admit that the events they organize are very important for the Valley. They expose the population to new sounds that they have never heard before.

“Drum N Bass is especially big in major metropolitan areas and for the Valley to have a good upcoming presence says a lot for our area,” said Garza. “I think the more exposure we have to different styles of Electronic/Dance Music, the greater the appreciation to music is and how it correlates to club life.”

Villarreal believes that they help shatter people’s stereotypical views on Electronic and Dance music.

“The point is to expand people’s palette to enjoy other forms of dance music aside from what they would typically hear.”