Basement Rhythm: Local DJs make the kids dance

Brought together by their passion for music, four roommates at UCCS turned their obsession into a promise they aptly named "Basement Rhythm." The group is comprised of aspiring DJs and music junkies Jordan Arp (DJ Arpeggio), Andrew Cratty (DJ Detention), Matt Fryc, and Nick Junker (NickTunes).

Basement Rhythm formed, as explained by Arp, in order "to create a weekly music show that would start to excite more people about dance music, and get them away from the same old songs on the radio," for – as we have all experienced – the repition of commercials and songs on the radio is painful.

From Napster to turntables, these DJs developed their musical styles and passions over the years. Some members, like Cratty, enjoy Basement Rhythm because it gives them a reason to blast their favorite music and spend time with close friends doing something they all love.

By definition, dance music is composed, played, or both, specifically for social dancing. Basement Rhythm uses genres such as electro house, trance, progressive house, techno and underground hip-hop to guide our innate urge to dance.

That motivation urged the group to create a Facebook page and website this last year. Currently with 192  fans, the page provides free weekly downloads and information on upcoming events.

More than anything, the group's members are dedicated to sharing their talents, beats and creativity with willing listeners. As Cratty described, "It's the best feeling ever to see a big group of people dancing, loving the music you're playing, and just having a good time."

Similarly, Arp loves to work the crowd, manipulating his music to create the perfect vibe. Sarah Buckner, a UCCS student, praised Basement Rhythm, saying, "They were perfect for our party."

However, before the dancing can begin, members of Basement Rhythm spend long hours listening, downloading, and finding new music with which to mix. Sometimes, as Arp explained, "finding new songs can take nearly a week," especially when trying to mix music no one has heard before.

Since the group's launch in October, both the interest in electronic music and the group's download numbers continue to increase. As commented by Brian Kramer, a UCCS student and welcome guest to Basement Rhythm, "I think the group is a great idea. Too rarely do we see a small group of people really working hard toward a shared passion." As Kramer also explained, few people realize that what they might consider to be "the popular" music is actually based off House and Dance tracks.

The group hopes to erase the confusion involving the influence of house and dance music and help people embrace the dirty beats and well-crafted riff-lines of these genres. To read more about the DJs and download new mixes go to www.BasementRhythm.com.