Collegiettes Really Should Be Currently Playing Playlist: DJs from UC Irvine

DJ Re-dak

Although he is only a third year, Omar Kader is about to gain Alumni status from the University of California, Irvine at the end of the quarter. Not only is Kader up one academic year’s worth of productivity more than typical students his age, but also apparently is capable of being productive in his leisure time as well. The Californian Rancho Cucamonga native was always extremely interested in the music scene and after watching a friend spin, decided to invest in his own personal equipment. After being taught the elementary basics of the turntables by a buddy, Kader invested a vast amount of time in disc jockey practice. This sideline musical productivity with school productivity in turn produced DJ Re-dak. With Kader’s admirable efficiency prowess, he is bound to capture success through all his conquests.

Favorite thing about DJing: How the crowd gives you motivation to always strive to perform better.

Genre of music: Top 40/House, Club, Hip-Hop

Musical inspirations: DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Vice

“DJ Jazzy Jeff. You know. From Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” – Omar Kader

Stranded on an island with one album: Graduation by Kanye West.

Affiliations: ASUCI

School-related gigs: Alpha Epsilon Pi and Sigma Chi Venue Party, Kappa Alpha Theta “KAT at BAT” Philanthropy, Sigma Phi Epsilon Venue Party, ASUCI’s Shocktoberfest.

For more detailed information, facebook him. 

DJ Slander

DJ Slander is a dynamic DJ-duo, a high-energy collaboration of our very own breed, Derek Anderson and Scott Land. Derek Anderson is currently a third year student at the University of California, Irvine, and originally from hometown Glendora, California. Scott Land is also a fellow Anteater, currently in his fifth year and originally from hometown Manhattan Beach, California. Who knew that an alliance between Glendora and Manhattan Beach (with sunny Irvine as a mediator, of course) would create a musical by-product that would exemplify Irvine’s artistic aptitude to everyone and their mothers? Having met in early 2009 on New Years, the two found a shared passion for music threaded by the love for electro. Seeing that there was a growing trend with music, especially in the electronic scene, our fellow zotzotzot-whoopers seized the opportunity to hop on for the ride, which eventually drove them to form DJ Slander.

Favorite thing about DJing: Being able to do what we do and give the people a good time.

Genre of music: Progressive House, Electro House, Dutch House, Trance.

Musical inspirations: Pendulum, Armin Van Buren, ATB.

Stranded on an island with one album: State of Trance 500, a 5-CD mix (cheater.) mixed by Armin van Buuren, Markus Schulz, Paul Oakenfold, Cosmic Gate & Andy Moor.

Affiliations: Kappa Sigma Fraternity

School-related gigs: Greek Week, Kappa Sigma’s “Le Carnival” Philanthropy, Kappa Sigma Venue Parties. Upcoming: Songfest and iFest.

“The most prominent UCI event a DJ can play is Songfest inside the Bren. We have an hour and half set, which should be really fun.” – Derek Anderson

For more detailed information, visit the DJ Slander page on facebook.com

DJ Akim

Alexander C. Kim: a friendly face on a certain book we have read and know all too well, in which many of you have probably friend requested at one time or another (guilty!). The young DJ was born in Folsom, California and is now currently a third year at the University of California, Irvine (don’t you have such an increased sense of UCI pride by now?) Fortunately for us anteaters, the turntable-stud began his humble DJ experience in Orange County. Coming from hip-hop roots, Alex Kim was very new to the electronic scene. Two years ago, Alex Kim was shown what he claims to be a very basic DJ software program by a friend. Intrigued by the possibility of conquering this system, Kim bought the program for himself and invested his effort and time into essentially teaching himself how to DJ. How much time exactly? Fourteen months. Four hundred and twenty days of mixing and mashing, starting count from the very first time using the program to his very first gig. Practice consisted of experimenting with different songs and mashing them into what would hopefully become smooth transitions, a long process of work that his roommates can bear witness to. What started off as what DJ Akim-himself dubbed as “a piece of crap”, would eventually become “sh*t that people could dance the night away to”. I’m no roommate of Alex Kim but having seen the disc jockey work the crowd and floor; I too can bear witness to a process of hard work paid off.

Favorite thing about DJing: Seeing your baby that succeeded, aka my DJ experience.

“People just think being a DJ is going up there and playing requested songs. But it’s like a show. There’s a set plan and it’s prepped. It’s not always perfect but you do it anyway and it plays out. Getting good feedback from the crowd and seeing people dance to your music is amazing.” – Alex Kim

Genre of music: Hard(er) Electro

Musical inspirations: Afrojack for simplicity. Soulwax for intricacy. Bloody Beetroots for a live show transitioned with household musical instruments and electro.

Stranded on an island with one album: Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Affiliations: Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity

School-related gigs: Student Center/ASUCI Election Week, Phi Kappa Psi “Fight Night” Philanthropy, Phi Kappa Psi Venue Parties

For more detailed information, facebook him.