Computer science junior Marco Frescas aims to transform the social landscape of UTD through his passion for music and DJing which brings vibrant events and a focus on electronic music to the community.
From his early fascination with electronic dance music to his involvement with Radio UTD, Frescas seeks to create a space where students can reflect on life. With DJ sets on and off campus, Frescas’ interest in EDM goes back to his childhood, when he witnessed the “EDM boom” — a period of growth for the genre from the late 2000s to 2010s. Inspired by artists like David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia, his childhood dream of becoming a DJ laid the foundation for future endeavors in producing music.
“[Music] has been following me since I first gained consciousness,” Frescas said. “I’ve [now] been able to just kind of lock myself into this little bubble of music.”
Computer science sophomore Henry Jones, who met Frescas through Radio UTD, said Frescas is a proficient and passionate DJ, whose talent captivated him early on. When Frescas joined Radio UTD, Jones said he influenced Radio to move from simplistic setups to professional DJ equipment, pushing for a shift towards more engagement with the station’s mixer and implementing live transitions between songs during events like DJ Fest. Jones said Frescas has an infectious passion that extends beyond performances.
“It is really his drive to be a performer. When he is up on the decks, it is him in his own world. Nothing else matters except the music and the crowd, and it’s a joy to watch,” Jones said. “You can see the drive behind his eyes. It’s infectious.”
Frescas said his involvement with Radio UTD has been instrumental in developing his DJing skills. Through his radio show and DJ sets, Frescas said he found a way to break out of his shell and confidently express himself. Reflecting on the structure of his radio show, he said variety and relaxation are important, aiming to provide show listeners with the calming effect of music. Frescas said music helped heal him and helped him communicate emotions when words fall short.
“Music speaks for me,” Frescas said. “And that’s really the power of that, you know? I want to just allow myself to see, to hear, just allow yourself to really listen to the music.”
Frescas said he discovers new tracks on platforms like Bport, ensuring variety and flow in his playlists for the radio show, considering factors like beats per minute and genre cohesion. Despite occasional challenges, like only garnering 2-5 listeners on his radio show, Frescas said he found solace in the opportunity to be able to share the music he loves. Having a platform to express himself creatively also led to one of the highlights of Frescas’ journey, his DJ set at the DJ Fest, where he won DJ of the semester.
“I’ve had about three or four sets, and although I suffer from imposter syndrome, hearing people praise my DJing and seeing them enjoy the EDM scene makes me incredibly happy and motivated to potentially bring more music-focused events to UTD,” Frescas said.
Frescas takes inspiration from his experience with raves and from artists like Spencer Brown, who revitalized the techno scene at Duke University. Frescas said he aims to grow rave culture at UTD, with a shift away from typical frat parties centered on drinking to gatherings that highlight music.
“It’s important to me because I’ve experienced the impact of these events myself and want to share that with others, especially at UTD, where there’s a need for more social engagement and positive experiences beyond just academics,” Frescas said. “The focus needs to go back to the music.”
Rajiv Prasad, a business management junior at North Lake College, has known Frescas for seven years. Prasad said he noticed the hold music has on Frescas from their first interaction, shown by his constant companion: a pair of earbuds. This attachment, Prasad said, has developed an understanding from a technical perspective of what the creation of any work of music is supposed to entail as well as an understanding of the emotional reaction music can elicit.
“His entire thing is music… he doesn’t seem to find anything more important than furthering the message of how therapeutic music can be to a person,” Prasad said. “If people were to pay closer attention to the music for just five to 10 minutes, they could find something beautiful in said music and in the community around them.”
Frescas said the power of music is to create meaningful experiences and foster connections, living by the motto “life is made of small moments like these” from the band Above and Beyond. Looking ahead, Frescas wants to organize events like “Open Decks,” a platform for aspiring DJs to showcase their talent and gain exposure to performing. Also, Frescas aims to release an EP on an established label within five years and produce an album while touring within a decade.
“I kind of have like a 10-year plan for myself … I want to show people that there’s a whole world out there, music-wise … there’s a social life out here that’s just waiting to be revived,” Frescas said. “And, hopefully, I’ll be able to find just someone out there who can share the same love for that.”
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