Student duo Digita1 Frequency builds alternative party scene in Davis
Digita1 Frequency throws ‘the part[ies] for all the people that don’t go to the regular parties’
By LAILA AZHAR — features@theaggie.org
The DJ duo known as Digita1 Frequency, composed of Oliver Groszkruger, a second-year landscape architecture major, and Aksel Olsen, a third-year communication major, formed less than a year ago, when Olsen purchased a DJ board for his birthday.
“I was just messing around on it over summer and I brought it up when I came to Davis,” Olsen said. “We just did it for fun, practicing every day.”
The duo — who have been best friends since high school — cite their bond as central to their dynamic as DJs.
“The weaknesses I have, Oliver’s strong in those areas,” Olsen said. “So, we really complement each other.”
Groszkruger echoed this sentiment.
“We have really similar tastes — we have a lot of mutual respect for each other and we really value each other’s opinion,” Groszkruger said.
The two expressed discontent with the Davis party scene, sharing their hope that the parties they work to organize would serve as an alternative to Greek life.
“It’s the party for all the people that don’t go to the regular parties,” Groszkruger said. “It’s the party for the misfits and the drag queens and the people that don’t feel included. That’s who we want to cater to.”
They hosted their first party during fall quarter, in Groszkruger’s apartment, and advertised the event by passing out flyers on campus, hoping students would be interested in a free party.
“We didn’t know anyone, we were just like, ‘Do you want to come to this free party that we’re throwing?’” Olsen said.
Their first party had about 50 guests, and ended up costing them money, as they didn’t charge guests and handled all clean-up efforts themselves. About six months later, the duo sold about 700 tickets for their Picnic Day event — their biggest crowd yet.
Prior to their Picnic Day gathering, Groszkruger expressed both nervousness and excitement.
“I keep just thinking about walking up on the stage and plugging into my laptop and being like, ‘Holy f***, this is about to start,’” Groszkruger said.
At the event, Digita1 Frequency played a variety of music. They described their sound as EDM-adjacent, but still approachable for newcomers. Electronic Dance Music (EDM) is a style of music that includes more niche genres such as house, techno and dubstep. Characterized by high-energy beats and rhythms, this style of music is frequently played at raves and large-scale music festivals.
“It’s EDM for new, incoming people,” Groszkruger said. “It’s not electronic music for hardcore ravers or whatever. It’s definitely a lot of remixes [...] it’s an in-between. Like, we’re still playing a Fetty Wap remix, you know what I mean? So it’s a way to ease people into it that’s very approachable.”
An anonymous second-year at the event expressed appreciation for the environment of the party.
“I feel like this has been a really fun event,” the student said. “I like their music choices and the people here are really cool. Definitely a great choice for picnic day.”
The duo is guided by their own personal tastes, focusing on music they enjoy rather than attempting to impress others.
“I think we’re doing what we want to listen to,” Groszkruger said. “We play what we want to listen to and what we want to DJ. We don’t really care what other people are saying. And that’s why the support feels so much nicer too, because if I was trying to impress others, I feel like it would feel more fake.”
Both DJs said that they would enjoy being guests at their parties — something they believe to be a good sign.
“We always say that it’s kind of a bummer that we have to DJ,” Groszkruger said. “I would want to go to my party. I don’t want to DJ and have to be sober. I want to go to my party.”
Those interested in staying up-to-date with Digita1 Frequency’s events can visit their Instagram, @digita1frequency.
Written by: Laila Azhar — features@theaggie.org