Andrew Newman Brittany Nichols Sarah Noble Lauren Noblitt Allison Nolan Elizabeth O'Briant Shane O'Keefe Maurisa Orona Aris Ortiz Olutomi Osibowale DAKOTA BROWN From participating in a campus musical group to playing guitar on the front lawn, students enjoyed sharing their talents with one another. Sophomore Dakota Brown, also known as DJ WOND3RBREAD, always had what he called "an intense love for music." When Brown was in high school, he was appointed as the soundboard technician for the theater production department, where he was introduced to the technical equipment used such as soundboards and mixers. Because Dakota's iPod was full of music, he was always named the de facto "music player" when his friends got together. He said the next logical step was getting hardware for live mixing. With his passion and desire, Brown began to acquire the skills necessary to become a DJ. Brown said he learned to DJ through lots of practice. He also received help from 2013 alumnus and fellow disc jockey JT Graham, also known as DJ Spokk, who attended Dark Horse Music Production School in Nashville in 2013. When he was first getting started as a DJ in the summer of 2012, Brown only had a few gigs and was known as DJ Nightwing. Soon, Brown became the resident DJ at Searcy's Zion Rock Gym every Friday night. Brown worked private parties and Relay for Life. Brown shared his skills during I Heart HU Week, a week of celebration before Homecoming weekend, partnering with 2012 alumnus Harrison Eudaly and graduate student Stephen Sawyer to play music at the block party in front of Legacy Park. He said his name quickly changed to DJ WOND3RBREAD after a weekend with friends at Heber Springs. "I was reminded by my friends ... that I was whiter than Wonder Bread," Brown said. Graham roomed with Brown freshman year, and their dorm room became a small practice studio for their art. Graham said the small room could barely accommodate his large tower speakers, let alone all of the mixing gear, wires, bags and lights. However, they would still go through the hassle of arranging their equipment and practicing DJ technique. Graham said that his role in Brown's success was a matter of feedback and encouraging development. "This is what makes a DJ good: being creative and innovative with transitions," Graham said. Brown said there was no such thing as a "normal set" in his line of work. DJs had to be constantly prepared for the unexpected. Every show catered to a different crowd, so it could never be just like any other. "As a DJ you're a master chef," said Brown. "You have to be prepared to react to what the crowd wants. It's not just serving them one good song as a course. It is an overall meal composition that takes them through a journey and leaves them more than satisfied at the end of the night." In the fall, Brown roomed with another fellow DJ, senior Kreston Lee. Lee said that Brown was nice enough to take him under his wing, much like Graham had done for Brown. Lee said that because DJs were sometimes viewed as the "black sheep" on campus, that common interest provided a valuable connection. Brown mentioned the possibility of being a DJ as a career if he could make a living that way. However, Brown's higher goals were far more important than money or fame. "My goal is to share love and unity in the world through music, and ultimately be Christ's example through it all." Brown said. Reid Belew
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