Talent

Resides:

Hudson, WI

Education:

UW-River Falls B.S. in Health and Human Performance, Minors in Coaching and Outdoor Ed. Masters in Sport and Exercise Science from U of M – Twin Cities

Seven Words That Describe Me:

Outgoing, Enthusiastic, Optimistic, Confident, Funny, Easy-going, Loyal

Best Advice:

Keep your feet on the ground … and keep reaching for the stars.

Hobbies:

I like to play hockey in the old man’s (competitive) league. I like to go snowshoeing, hiking, camping, and most of all boating/fishing. When I have time, I enjoy woodworking and leathercraft in my garage. I also coach JV baseball.

Something No One Would Guess:

I can play the harmonica perfectly to “Piano Man”, but no other songs.

Favorite Music Artists:

Billy Joel, Queen, Elton John, Chicago, AC/DC, Metallica, Linkin Park, Avicii, DJ’s from Mars, DJ Joe Maz, Maroon 5, Mumford & Sons, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello, Pitbull, Usher, Rihanna, Ed Sheeran, Andy Grammer, Panic..at the Disco, Sublime, Garth Brooks, Chris Stapleton, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lady Antebellum, Dan & Shay, Michael Buble, Blues Travelers, Francesca Battistelli, Matt Maher

Genre Preferences/Specialties:

I enjoy all sorts of music, but most recently have been listening to KQ and Cities 97. I workout to my playlists on ipod and like to listen to iheart radio or pandora. I enjoy the “by artist” playlists on internet radio. I will sometimes nerd out and mix my own beats on a dj software I have and listen to that stuff too.

My Relationship With Music:

I’ve always loved to listen to music and try to figure out the lyrics or randomly make up my own to songs. My mother introduced me to piano lesson when I was in 1st grade and I was pretty good at playing the piano till about 8th or 9th grade, then sports took over. I played the trombone in the marching band and still have great memories from those days. I was in jazz band and participate in the pit band for most of my High School musicals. I became interested in DJing when I was in college and had a friend that was a DJ. I’ve been a DJ ever since.

Favorite Part About Being a DJ:

I enjoy getting to meet new people and seeing all the different wedding ideas that people come up with. One of my favorite parts of the night is the grand march and introducing the couple into the building or room.

Prounouns:

He, Him

Resides:

Burnsville, MN

Education:

B.A. in Media Communication and Production from Bethel University

Seven Words That Describe Me:

Flexible, Caring, Rational, Helpful, Detail-Oriented, Dynamic, Intuitive

Best Advice:

It’s your wedding day, and you deserve to enjoy it. Trust the professionals you’ve hired to handle the details, and trust yourself to relax and enjoy the day.

Hobbies:

I’m an avid lover of film, so movies like Dune, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and more Godzilla movies than I can count all shaped how I hear music. Outside of that I do freelance videography and photography, shooting short films, music videos, and other projects. I also spend as much time outdoors as I can, usually hiking with my Aussie, Kubo.

Something No One Would Guess:

I’m a longtime Dungeons and Dragons player, so if there are any wizards in your wedding party, we’ll get along famously.

Favorite Music Artists:

Bands like Muse, My Chemical Romance, Queen, and Pink Floyd on the rock side, and artists like Madeon, ODESZA, Crywolf, Flume, Zedd, and Woodkid on the electronic side. Very different vibes, but their songs are the ones I know by heart, and they’re a big part of why I care as much as I do about how music lands.

Genre Preferences/Specialties:

Electronic music is where a lot of my listening lives now, but I grew up on film scores, classical music, and rock anthems. What pulled me into electronic was the same thing the scores did, the way a track builds toward something. For cocktail hour and dinner, I’ve found that combining older soul artists like Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke with newer, funk infused pop acts like Lawrence, The Dip, and Allen Stone strikes the right balance. And as a film lover, I’ll take just about any music that tells a story.

My Relationship With Music:

Music has been central for me since childhood. I started playing guitar, bass, and drums at a young age, moved into running sound, and later ran sound in Benson Hall at Bethel and interned at a radio station as a live air DJ. Through work I’ve gained experience as an event sound engineer and DJ.

Favorite Part About Being a DJ:

I love providing an experience for others. When it comes to the dance floor, that shows up in how I build a set. My own personal favorites might not necessarily show up in the playlist. But what they give me is a feel for how a night should move. The goal is a floor that keeps everyone dancing, guests of all ages and musical preferences, from the first song to the last.

Prounouns:

He, Him

Resides:

Minneapolis, MN

Education:

Vassar College, B.A. Narrative & Child Development Bank Street College, M.Ed. Early Childhood Education University of Minnesota, Masters of Social Work

Seven Words That Describe Me:

Devoted, Attentive, Excitable, Detail-oriented, Curious, Flexible, Creative

Best Advice:

Do your best at everything that is under your control, and accept that the rest will happen how it will.

Hobbies:

I’ve always made a habit of making playlists for friends and family, but I also love making themed ones for myself (a fake soundtrack for a TV show, something to suit a certain mood, etc). I moved to the Twin Cities from New York City, and have been slowly immersing myself in all of the glorious outdoor activities you guys get up to here! Lately I’ve been rollerblading around my neighborhood lake and feeling very 90s while I do it. I also love reading, usually historical fiction or sci-fi/fantasy.

Something No One Would Guess:

I have synesthesia for sounds – I see colors in my head when I listen to music 🙂

Favorite Music Artists:

Early 2000s rap/R&B, boy bands, Billie Eilish, Drake, Arctic Monkeys, The National, Beyonce, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Glass Animals, Banks, Rihanna, Florence & The Machine, pre-2017 Kanye, alt-J, Motown classics, James Blake, Radiohead, Panic! At the Disco, Khalid, Ariana Grande, A$AP Rocky, Lord Huron, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Hozier, The 1975, Olivia Rodrigo, Haim

Genre Preferences/Specialties:

On my own I definitely gravitate to R&B and Pop – sometimes I wonder how I would’ve handled it if I’d been born in an era like Medieval times because I’m THAT dependent on a sick bass beat. I guess it’s for the best that I’m here now! That said, I’m well versed in a variety of genres and get such great pleasure out of playing what people love – in some ways I’d say my specialty is noticing the details in people’s favorite music and using those clues to find the next thing they’d like.

My Relationship With Music:

I feel powered by it–like I’m a battery that constantly has to recharge through my favorite music. I have visceral memories of the first time I heard a lot of my favorite songs, almost like my brain knew they were going to be important and made sure to save every piece of the data. I just love it–often in ways that are hard to explain, and that sort of feels like the point. Music communicates things we can’t in any other way. It’s such a powerful feeling for me that I’m constantly looking for ways to share it with others.

Pronouns:

She, Her

Resides:

Roseville, MN

Education:

San Diego State University, B.S. Hospitality and Tourism Management; Events, Attractions & Convention Management. Certificate of Meeting and Event Planning

Seven Words That Describe Me:

Outgoing, Organized, Reliable, Energetic, Optimistic, Friendly, Detail Oriented

Best Advice:

Always be yourself

Hobbies:

I manage non-profit fundraising events for a living. I wouldn’t call that a “hobby” per se, but it does take up most of my free time. LOL! A true hobby of mine would be dancing … I learned a form of swing dance called Lindy Hop in 1999 and have been dancing ever since. I traveled through Europe twice and all around the United States teaching, competing and performing. What I love most about dancing is how the music inspires the dance, and the dance inspires the music.

Something No One Would Guess:

I stay focused, execute well, and thrive under stress.

Favorite Music Artists:

Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Prince, James Brown, Maxwell, Lou Rawls, Usher

Genre Preferences/Specialties:

I love all types of music, but specifically enjoy Oldies/Motown, Classic Rock, Disco/Funk, 80’s, 90’s R&B, and Top 40’s Hip Hop. I developed a love for Motown/Soul/Oldies from a young age when my dad and I used to listen to music together. I was the flower girl at my cousin’s wedding when I was 4 years old and I remember dancing with my dad to “Old Time Rock & Roll” by Bob Seger. He taught me how to be inspired by the music. Since then, each genre of music drew me in with it’s own unique style.

My Relationship With Music:

I have always loved music. I remember listening to the music in the car when I was young, and got in trouble more than once for being too consumed with my headphones and paying no attention to anyone else. I attended every dance my grade school and high school ever held. I started in concert band in 4th grade with the flute, moved into percussion in 9th grade, and marched in drumline with the marching band through my senior year. After graduating high school, I learned a partner dance and haven’t stopped dancing since. I don’t remember a day in my life where music hasn’t inspired me.

Favorite Part About Being a DJ:

What I love most about DJing weddings is creating a comfortable environment where the wedding couple and their guests alike can celebrate this special occasion through laughter and music.

Pronouns:

She, Her

Resides:

Northfield, MN

Education:

University of Phoenix – Business

Seven Words That Describe Me:

Funny, Attentive, Punctual, Goofy, Generous, Optimistic, Musical

Best Advice:

Follow your heart.

Hobbies:

Making music, woodworking, biking, hiking, rock climbing, cooking, listening to podcasts on history, watching too many movies, bingeing too many shows.

Something No One Would Guess:

I lived in Saudi Arabia for a few months when I was a teenager; it was an incredible experience!

Favorite Music Artists:

The Doors, Nirvana, Bod Dylan, The Deftones, Soul Coughing, Queen, Tool, Jimi Hendrix, Ween, Ghost, Pinback, Soundgarden, Portishead, Radiohead, Atmosphere, Nick Cave, Misfits, Andrew Bird, Glassjaw, Otis Redding, Beck, Tom Petty, Bjork, Dead Kennedys, Ott, Modeselektor, Black Sabbath, Harry Belafonte, 311, The Stooges, Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Modest Mouse, Tom Waits, Pink Floyd, Ramones, Iron & Wine, Smashing Pumpkins, A Tribe Called Quest, Tori Amos, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Pixies, Ani DiFranco, Wu-Tang Clan, The Kinks, Tom Vek, LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, Underworld, Trentemoller, Sasha, Led Zeppelin, Meat Puppets, Miles Davis, Phaeleh, Phutureprimitive, Run The Jewels, Simon and Garfunkel, Thievery Corporation…

Genre Preferences/Specialties:

I enjoy a wide variety of music styles, so I can be perfectly happy listening to jazz instrumentals or classical followed by electronic dance music of some kind or rock and roll from just about every era. I have experience mixing electronic music by itself, rap and hip-hop blended with a variety of pop, and everywhere in between.

My Relationship With Music:

I have been working as a professional musician for my entire adult life, both as a member of bands, and as a solo musician; I live and breathe music. When I am not listening to my favorite artists, I am usually either making, or thinking about music.

Favorite Part About Being a DJ:

I love being able to bring my own appreciation of music to others and get them to move! There is nothing better than playing music for a group of people just trying to have a good time. It’s always fun to surprise people with an unexpected old hit, or a unique mashup of styles that really catches people off guard in the best way. Reminding someone of a song they almost forgot they loved to dance to, is a special thing to witness every single time.

Pronouns:

He, Him

Resides:

Minneapolis, MN

Education:

Summit Academy OIC – Carpentry

Seven Words That Describe Me:

Groovy, music junkie, foodie, resourceful, inquisitive, adventurous

Best Advice:

Be your authentic self.

Hobbies:

Bicycling has always been my favorite activity, but I also love hiking and being in nature as much as possible. I’m an avid gardener with many houseplants and when it’s warm out I grow herbs, vegetables and some flowers on my balcony (heirloom tomatoes are my favorite). Other things I enjoy on a regular basis are cooking, reading, making playlists, strength training, going for walks in my neighborhood, spending time with my loved ones, and attending concerts & comedy shows… I’m also a fan of napping.

Something No One Would Guess:

My previous profession was in construction. I’m happy with my carpentry skills but I do not miss being in filthy work conditions. 🙂

Favorite Music Artists:

Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley, Al Green, Bill Withers, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, The Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Michael Jackson, Hall & Oates, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Bowie, Talking Heads, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, A Tribe Called Quest, Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Outkast, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Kanye West, Missy Elliott, M.I.A., Rihanna, Doja Cat, Ari Lennox, Jill Scott, Anderson .Paak, Jungle, Jidenna, D’Angelo, Lauryn Hill, Chronixx, Koffee, Hiatus Kaiyote, alt-J, Kings of Leon, Kaleo, Gary Clark Jr., Brittany Howard, Laura Marling, Lucy Michelle

Genre Preferences/Specialties:

In my own time I simply play whatever I’m in the mood for. I’m really into jazzy stuff, soul, R&B, hip-hop, rap, reggae, rock and a healthy dose of folk/acoustic, but I listen to a lot more beyond that. I don’t discriminate against any genre and can get into anything when I’m playing for a crowd, as long as they’re moving to it!

My Relationship With Music:

I am constantly on the lookout for music and find that there’s nothing quite like the splendid experience of hearing something new to my ears. I have a knack for sharing that type of experience with others by exposing them to new artists or songs that I know they’ll love. On the other hand it’s just as gratifying bringing back music from the past to stir up nostalgia and good memories. Shout out to my dad who raised me on classic rock and helped shape me into the music addict I am today!

Favorite Part About Being a DJ:

One of the best things about being a DJ is having the ability to choose music that compliments the ambiance and overall mood of any given event, therefore I’m always equipped with a playlist to fit the vibe. When it comes time to dance I love seeing people of all ages have a memorable time with their friends and loved ones, and working the unique or “obscure” requests into the playlist that are special to the group is particularly gratifying. Over the years I have been exposed to so much new music that I didn’t know of previously, music of all genres and eras, so my library is endlessly expanding.

Pronouns:

She, Her

Resides:

Cottage Grove, MN

Education:

Institute of Production & Recording, Audio Engineering

Seven Words That Describe Me:

Caring, Honest, Punctual, Determined, Loyal, Wise, Energetic

Hobbies:

Basketball, drawing portraits, singing, and making beats.

Something No One Would Guess:

I’ve got a hidden talent of drawing portrait sketches.

Favorite Music Artists:

Alan Walker, Martin Garrix, Avicii, Imagine Dragons, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, The Weeknd, Calum
Scott, The Chainsmokers, Enrique Iglesias, Coldplay, Dean Lewis, David Guetta, Florida Georgia
Line, G-Eazy, Galantis, Green Day, Jason Derulo, JONY, Kygo, LEON, Maroon 5, Marshmallow, 24kGoldn

Genre Preferences/Specialties:

My favorite genres are house, EDM, hip-hop, and pop. I also listen to
rock, country and instrumental movie scores.

My Relationship With Music:

Music was an instrumental part of my childhood. My dad bought me a keyboard and I took piano lessons for years. Eventually I taught myself to play by ear and also picked up guitar. I now write my own music. I also have been the person that my family and friends turn to when music is needed. I enjoy picking songs that suit the event and interests of the crowd.

Favorite Part About Being a DJ:

I love seeing people dancing at weddings–especially people who don’t appear to be dancers who surprise everyone by busting out great moves. I also love how the first dance and father/daughter dance are beautiful cinematic moments filled with emotion.

Pronouns:

He, Him