Natural sound: DJ music

The silence of Upper Kovler gymnasium echoes as it’s filled to the brim with tables, chairs, light up signs, and of course people dressed up in superhero costumes for the Dewey dance. Then BOOM (play nat sound of Colin DJing) ninth grader Colin Williams takes the stage and begins to DJ. Through listening and playing a wide range of music which has given him confidence, Colin has seen the profound impact music makes on people’s lives and emotions. Colin started playing music when he was one with the piano with lots of family having played music. He’s had a connection to music for his entire life which has caused a deep passion for it in him. 

Natural sound of the piano and musical instruments

Colin began his journey in DJing when he was around nine or ten years old. The first time Colin ever performed for DJing was at a festival in front of over 200 people. The huge give Colin lots of confidence to try out new music and feel connected to the music, which is the root of his passion.

Natural sound of the festival 

Colin Williams: “I was just trying stuff I’ve never tried before because I’m confident in my ability for how long I’ve been doing it and how long I’ve been doing music overall so that’s when my passion comes”

Colin would try mixes that he didn’t prepare or practice even with songs he didn’t know really well which was rare for him, but he was confident enough in himself through all his time DJing that he would be able to do it. He would have looped songs and then press a que which went to a certain part of a song which he would do without preparation, requiring a strong understanding of the music. 

Natural sound of Colin DJing

Colin is confident in his abilities because he’s been working with music for so long. He does a DJing gig about every other week which doubles in the summer and makes about $75 an hour which is a huge increase from when he only used to receive $25 an hour. This is a reflection of how his skills have improved as the amount of gigs and the money Colin receives from it requires lots of practice which has helped with his confidence. This confidence allows Colin to step out of the box of the traditional rules in music and take risks like with him switching songs without preparation. His passion and connection to music has completely changed his life. He’s also become a better musician and has gained a higher appreciation for music.

Colin: “I have an ear I appreciate having ’cause it makes music better for me and it makes DJing easier.”

Colin has listened to a wide variety of music from alternative to 2010s rap, with both Kanye West and Childish Gambino being huge influences on what he plays. 

Natural sound of music

Colin: “The amount of things that they do musically kinda like influences me.”

He used the comparison to basketball and sports with music with him saying it’s like watching an NBA player and taking inspiration based off that into how you play. 

Natural sound of basketball

Colin: “Anything that a person who does it better than you does and you start watching them do it it kinda like gives you that feeling I can be like that guy, I can be like that person, man I can be better than that guy.”

Colin has taken inspiration from their music with him making beats from their music such as Childish Gambino’s EP “Kauai.” Colin really feels a deep passion and connection to music especially because of the impact it can have on people’s lives. 

Colin: “I can see how people’s mood changes and like the bright things music brings to and brings people to, I enjoy that factor.”

But this isn’t just something Colin’s observed, it’s statistically proven. According to the Journal of Emerging Investigators, a research study from 2016 found about 69% of students experienced positive sentiments such as joy and relaxation when listening to music with Florida National University showing that studies have found music produces several positive effects on the human body and brain. The National Health Institute says that music offers youth a place to express and find their identity and emotions, as well as helps their social network development, creativity, and cognitive abilities. Colin believes people are able to connect to music because: “Every genre covers every section of emotion.”

Natural sound of laughing

With every emotion being covered Colin said music truly allows people to feel seen. 

Colin: “Music is always a consistent comforter. You could play music at any time. Music is there on your phone. Music is there on your laptop. Music is even there on your TV.”

Natural sounds

Colin believes that music has incredible power and can make a huge impact on people and their lives which is shown in the way it’s changed his life.

Colin: “Listening to music is very powerful and I deeply appreciate it so much.”

Colin has watched music change his life through giving him life skills and by the way it can change others lives by allowing them to relate to the emotions in the music. Colin believes that music will always be apart of him and plays such an important role in who he is.

Natural sound of his performances

Reporting from the U-High Midway, this is Karina Hans