By: Rishabh Bhavnani
For the four years I attended Chapman University, I observed that there was a spark in the social but never really substantiated to the likes of a USC or UCSB event –mostly due to the archaic noise restrictions in the city of Orange. According to the city's public noise ordinance, loud parties consisting of eight people or more are prohibited after 10 p.m. When you have a house packed with 50-70 students partying on a Saturday night, just as you start heating up in that game of beer pong, OCPD parks their car outside your front door. Sure, we'll all quiet down hoping that they'll go away but who are we kidding?! That never works! Parties are shut down early and college events feel like high school parties.
What most people don't realize is whilst the university has a fair bit of attention towards their film and business programs, Chapman is an unexplored hub for electronic music production talent and tastemakers. A number of successful music acts that pack bars, clubs and arenas are all affiliated with Chapman– kind of an unusual considering the restrictions imposed on students in their college years right? It's almost like their way of rebelling against all these norms, through dance music. So while the rest of the world capitalizes on the electronic music phenomenon and these individuals' cutting-edge talent, the city of Orange is enjoying early bird dinner specials at Watson's.
In honor of Chapman's stifled party culture, the Weekly compiled a list of respected EDM rebels to emerge from the home of the Panthers.
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1. Sex Panther
Sex Panther is a raging, bottle popping, party animal machine started by Ryan Fontana–a name that is well known on campus. It's no secret that Fontana and his partner Aaron Cool's DJ sets have sold out shows in US & Asia, even rocking Coachella's Heineken Dome this year. The Sex Panther name epitomizes a high-octane party with inventive showmanship on Fontana and Cool's part. Sex Panther will be venturing into production territory when they release their anticipated debut single, “Right Now” with Brian Matrix featuring the vocals of Pat Monahan on Techibeats Records out Aug. 26. Say, is that moniker an homage to Pete the Panther?
2.SAY MY NAME
The DJ born Dayvid Sherman is your regular “Rugrats” enthusiast, yoga loving, all-around, nice guy. Put him on a stage at one of the biggest festivals in America and he cranks his BPM levels to the max. His trapstyle-inspired set at EDC and consistent flurry of productions have rendered a huge fan base. Dedicated to his craft where he is focused on spreading the crispiness of his bacon beats, Dayvid is also an equally hardworking student. In a previous interview he mentioned, “I always put school first and finish all of my homework by day, go to work and all and start my music late at night around midnight. I prefer working late at night into the morning; however if I have an early class the next day I have to stop by a certain time to have some sleep.” Check out his most bacon inspired song yet below.
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3. Nobody Listens to Techno
This is a radio show hosted by another current senior, Kristelle Laroche. What started as 'another electronic music show' on Chapman Radio quickly grew to be the most listened to shows on campus in the past year. Kristelle is Chapman's Annie Mac who showcases some of the hottest tracks brewing in the underground-expect anything from deep house grooves to mind-bending techno jams and eclectic bassy garage sounds. She has even interviewed artists like Eats Everything, Infected Mushroom and Seth Troxler. Currently, NBLT has found a new home on Laguna's only FM Radio station, KX 93.5 (incidentally it was started by another Chapman alum, Tyler Russell) and airs every Saturday at 7pm. This week she sits down with sex groove maker, Nick Monaco and CEO of Pulselocker, a new music app for DJs. To learn more at NBLT, click here.
4. Virtual Boy
The experimental electronica duo comprising of Chapman alumni, Henry Allen and Preston Walker. After meeting at their music technology class, sparks flew; synthesizers were put into use, basslines were made and Virtual Boy's weekly course assignments were released in a series of EPs. The duo has performed at festivals like Camp Bisco and Electric Forest. They released their hugely successful self-titled album last year on Alpha Pup Records. Currently, Preston James runs Team Supreme, a successful beat cyphering company that hosts weekly challenges to producers from all over to produce a one-minute beat in one hour using nothing more than a fixed BPM and a sample. Other members from the Chapman clan include, Djemba Djemba and Nalepa, are also affiliated with Team Supreme.
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5. Nalepa
Steven Nalepa was a former faculty member at Chapman. His hugely popular music technology class has hosted students like Say My Name and Virtual Boy. Nalepa is a well versed composer, an Ableton live aficionado, a VJ and has toured with The Weeknd. Check out his latest Team Supreme track an edgy summer disco jam. Real good vibes from this one.
6.Fritz Carlton
This guy is someone we're very excited about and is definitely one to watch for the future. Fritz is a Chapman alumni who recently surfaced to the scene with a mysterious, but groovy track called, “Beats Me”. Yesterday, he released a new remix on Popgang records. Judging by his Soundcloud, what we know so far about this budding talent is that he composes some of the slickest deep house grooves and currently resides in San Francisco. If bassy, Dirtybird-esque sounds are what please your ears, like Fritz Carlton here.
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