By Ish Kumar, Second year, Anthropology
The student DJ. A peculiar and persistent species within the university ecosystem, but what about the archetypal student DJ prompts such a mixture of amusement and exasperation from the average pupil?
The idea of the student DJ automatically conjures up an image of some arrogant lad in a quarter zip, bopping nonsensically behind a pair of decks with a tacky tech-house track he downloaded that afternoon. For many, the stereotype is undeniably easy to mock. But if we strip away the clichés and occasional ego, the student DJ may be doing something surprisingly important for Bristol’s music culture.
Bristol has long been known for its vibrant and eclectic musical backdrop. From drum and bass to dub and sound system, trip-hop, techno, and house have all encouraged the city to thrive on the electronic dance scene over major commercial infrastructures. Many within the city have a profound passion for music, whether that be in some form of production, performance or consumption, thus, making Bristol the optimal breeding ground for DJ wannabes. This vibrant art scene cannot sustain itself automatically and must rely on a steady rotation of people willing to organise, promote, attend and perform these events. This is where student DJs enter the proximity.
With the turn of each academic year, thousands of new students arrive in Bristol, bringing along a passion for music that has been simmering in bedrooms and house parties for years. The University acts as a constant rotating conveyor belt of aspiring music performers. Whilst some are unfortunately just doing it for the attention and social media aesthetics, some are genuine music obsessives who have finally found a place that encourages their craft to flourish.
Student DJs are often forced to play the less glamorous gigs in the late-night music industry, weeknight slots, free-entry bars, warm-ups etc. These are not usually the type of gigs that build legendary reputations, but they are the ones keeping venues open and nights running. Without people willing to fill these more undesirable slots, many smaller events wouldn't happen and venues would collapse.
Student DJs also tend to have a wide breadth of connections so in turn, they bring along with them audiences. A big part of the culture is social, friends tag along for support, flatmates attend out of curiosity, societies venture on big group nights out. What can often originate as a small favour to a mate behind the decks can result in a packed and vibrant dance floor. In a city where independent venues are largely revered and constantly battling rising costs and uncertain footfall, this kind of crowd-building is vital to keeping the music scene alive and thriving.
Some student DJs do fall into categories that prove many criticisms correct. Many do in fact treat the craft a bit casually, the barrier to entry is lower than ever and whilst this accessibility is pivotal for inclusivity it also means the scene can occasionally be flooded by people who are more interested in the DJ image rather than the music itself. Those who have a personal invested interest in the craft acknowledge certain truths within the stereotype but claim a deep exaggeration. Student DJs indeed oversaturate the Bristol scene, as the city boasts the highest concentration of music artists in the UK, it makes sense for the student DJ population to correlate by simply being a ‘natural product of a great local music scene.’ But in order to get to the higher standings and be able to play at bigger events genuine talent must be hidden somewhere and so, those doing it for the vibes are ‘naturally funnelled out the industry.’ Perhaps the real question is whether one can differentiate between the performative DJ and those who pursue a real love for the sound.
A question that must be asked is the difference between the male DJ population and that of female DJs. Within my own experience I have met less women who have invested an interest in the Disc Jockey lifestyle than men. Despite many women indeed pursuing a DJ side hustle, the stereotype itself often only regards the men. Why do women not receive the same eye-rolling amusement as guys do when exploring this hobby? One can't help but wonder if the notorious DJ ego correlates to simply the male ego.
However most importantly, student DJs contribute to something quite hard to quantify: energy. The music backdrop thrives on participation and when people feel like they can be a part of the culture rather than purely just consuming it, they invest more deeply and fully. A city full of aspiring DJs can occasionally be annoying but it's also a city full of people actively engaging with music rather than just listening passively. And there is no doubt that the creative scene is what keeps humanity alive, in any shape or form.
So, whilst the stereotype may definitely exist for a reason, with some student DJs being truly insufferable, chasing status more than sound and who probably should not be allowed within a metre of an aux cable, there are some perks. Bristol’s music scene has always been messy, enthusiastic and slightly chaotic. It grows from all kinds of backgrounds, attempts to try new things, makes mistakes and occasionally uncovers hidden greatness. Student DJs, with their egos, USBs and all are an undeniable large centric force to be reckoned with.
Featured image: Arianna Balsamo
Would the city’s music culture feel quite as alive if so many student DJs weren't around to give it a try?
