DJs on the loose! Catch them at Boltini Lounge.
D J B O Z A K
whatsup! this is dj bozak. Third-person bios sound silly to me so I will just tell you about myself as if we are chatting over a drink. I got my feet wet as a dj in the local battle scene about ten years ago. From there I moved on to radio where I produced and hosted my own radio show called 'Needledrops' on WEFT 90.1 fm for 9 years. Halfway into my experience with radio I started to receive offers to play in front of people. Since then I have held down weekly residencies all over town, played at fesitvals, opened for nationally touring artists, provided music to accompany art exhibitions, and have played at various other special events. Recently I recieved some international recognition by being selected as one of the very few to participate in the Redbull Music Academy this year. I feel very fortunate to have been chosen, had a blast, and was turned on to a lot of cutting edge music that I have enjoyed sharing with my crowds back at home. I love to play ALL forms of music and love the challenge of finding ways to weave different types of music together in an interesting and cognizant way. You may even hear a scratch or two in the mix. I am currently playing on wednesday nights at boltini which is a great night for me as it's real condusive to putting together a mix that has a wide range and scope. Jazz, funk, hiphop, disco, downtempo, rock, electro, house, soundtracks, commercials, whatever! If it sounds good, then it probobly is. So enough of me, tell me about you...
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C H R I S O
DJ Bios seem, these days, to be so formulaic. DJ So-and-so has had this many years behind the decks. DJ So-and-so was influenced by DJ Blah.
What it really comes down to, though, is how the DJ sounds. Does the dj get your head moving to the music? Does the DJ's set make you reminisce about a favorite time or place in your life? Most importantly, does the DJ make you want to dance?
With his ear for great tracks, smooth-as-silk mixing, and love and respect of the music he plays, Chris O will.
Throwing down a blend of funky, techy, sexy, uplifting house music, Chris O's sets are anything but formulaic.
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D J E L I S E
DJ Bozak on DJ Elise:
" Everytime I listen to Elise DJ I hear something new. Whether its a record that's pushing boundaries, the way she is utilizing the equipment to make her tracks uniquely her own, or an unexpected song placed at the just the right time, there is always something fresh going on in her mix. And I live with her so I should have heard it all by now! I have recently come to realize how much of a downtown favorite she is as I have had to field many questions from complete strangers asking me when their favorite DJ will come back from her recent hiatus. Well, the break is over. She's back for all to enjoy."
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M E R T Z
For Mertz, it has always been simple: Find amazing music and share it with others.
Whether it has been hosting radio shows, covering electronic music in magazines, promoting, or DJing, Mertz has found ways over the last seven years to share the music he loves. In the last five years Mertz has made his mark in central Illinois spreading his house sounds live behind the decks to appreciative crowds.
"For me, DJing is the most visible way to tell if the music that moves me has any effect on other people," says Mertz. "Seeing people dance or having someone ask the name of a record I'm playing is all I need to keep me happy."
Despite growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Mertz's first real taste of DJ culture came in London on New Year's Even 1998-99. His first party was shared with about 12,000 strangers that night. That party hooked him on electronic music.
Returning to Bloomington, Illinois, Mertz instantly started Digital Groove, the first live mix show on the Bloomington radio. Every Friday night local DJs played a wide variety of underground sounds from house to techno to drum n bass on air.
Eventually, Mertz would move to Champaign to attend law school. Tired of just listening to music, Mertz got his own pair of turntables and learned to mix. Five years later Mertz has held down five different residencies in Champaign, including his Friday night house throwdown at Boltini Lounge. He also is a resident for the online radio station, Abduction Radio
His ear for great tunes has put him before crowds across the Midwest and playing alongside big names such as The Sound Republic, Bryan Jones, Colette, Justin Long, Pete Moss and Chris Grant to name a few. He's also shared the decks at gigs and residencies with his DJing partner, rising star and former Boltini DJ, J Phlip.
In addition to writing about the local scene, organizing several nights in town for local DJs and hosting a radio show in Champaign, Mertz also founded CUdance, a promotions group whose sole purpose is to advance the electronic music scene in Champaign-Urbana. He also was recently named music director at Boltini Lounge.
As he continues to play to new crowds in Champaign, the Midwest and beyond, the goal remains the same: keep sharing the music that moves him.
www.djmertz.com