While it seems that every frat has their own student DJ, some are making it big. DJ Eche Palante, from Pi Kappa Phi, was recently signed by Spinnin’ Records and is sure to get everyone on the dance floor.
What is your major?“Accounting and I have a minor in Finance.”
Are you a part of any extracurricular groups?“I’m heavily involved in Greek Life, especially with my fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.”
What inspired you to get into DJing?“My older brother, Joey has definitely been one of my biggest inspirations. He’s been in the music industry for years and produces under the alias Blush Response. He’s currently touring in Germany. What makes him truly unique is his dedication to leaving his mark on the industry in a non-commercial way. He constantly strives to be genuine as an artist and have an authentic sound. Because of him, I always aim to be creative and open minded to trying new elements in my music while staying true to my sound.”
How did you come up with your name and what does it mean to you?“I was chilling at the pool during a family vacation, and my uncle was helping me come up with a name. We thought about it, and he told me this Spanish saying “echa pa’lante” meaning “go forward”. Since my last name is Echevarria, I took “Echa”, switched it with Eche, and took the apostrophe out of “Palante” and got Eche Palante. To me, my name reflects on my pursuit to be a successful DJ. I want to keep moving forward creatively as an artist and as a brand. My sound changes and grows as I do and I want my fans to be apart of that experience.”
Who are your biggest musical influences?“Guys that are transforming the industry such as Party Thieves, Porter Robinson, Zedd, Ephwurd, JAUZ, Curbi, GTA and more!”
If you had to describe your sound in three words, what would they be?“Melodic, Happy and Funky. I really enjoy making my style of house music, even though when I DJ, I play music outside of those boundaries. Overall, I’d say my sound right now is a play off of tropical infused beats, which is the direction the industry is heading in right now.”
What sets you apart from other campus DJ’s?“Definitely that I also produce. I noticed that most of the other DJs, especially those in Greek life, do not actually make their own music. I’m signed to a record label called Spinnin’ Records that has artists such as Tiesto, Oliver Heldens, Borgeous, Sander Van Doorn and more! I’ve also worked closely with artists from Universal Music Group and I’m a resident DJ for the South Florida electronic radio station Evolution935 (93.5 FM). Being a signed artist has really opened my ear for music, as I listen to so many different types. Because of this, my DJ sets are very diverse, yet people still rage to it and love it. I don’t think you’ll find that from any other DJ on campus.”
How do you balance your DJ career with your academic and social life?“It’s pretty hard, but since I can DJ for the fraternity, my social life and DJ’ing are pretty linked. As far as academics, even though I study a good amount for my business classes, I still try to have blocks of time for my music, whether it’s simply finding new music or putting finishing touches on [an] original.”
What has your biggest accomplishment(s) been so far?“Definitely my record deal. My song, A Discussion Between Saxes, was signed to Spinnin’ back in March. It even got an official music video, which has reached over 200,000 plays on YouTube. The song has over 250,000 Soundcloud plays and over 300,000 Spotify streams. Artists such as Tiesto, Oliver Heldens and EDX have also played it in their most recent podcasts! I’ve also gotten the chance to DJ live at various clubs such as Coliseum, Eve, Bekkoi, STEAM, etc.”
Where do you see yourself in ten years?“Hopefully, I’ll be working with a music company or various artists as an entertainment lawyer. Within that, I also see myself keeping up my passion for DJ’ing.”
What’s up next for Eche Palante?“New original mixes and events.”