Cami Padawer walks across campus in the early morning to make it to her 8 a.m. class. She’s only slept for three hours, and music still hums in her ears from the night before.

For Padawer, DJing isn’t a distraction from school but a hobby that’s  helped her gain confidence and enhance her college experience.

The student DJ lifestyle is about more than loud venues and free drinks.  Behind every set is a balancing act of deadlines, personal growth and long-term goals.

As more University of Arizona students step behind the decks, they’re learning that chasing their passion means navigating the strain of self-discipline and time management. 

The scene before the spotlight

Before DJ culture hit University Boulevard’s venues and downtown clubs, it existed in bedrooms and basements.

Coltin McKechnie, also known as Alex Anders, briefly attended the UA in 2017 and recalls an underground scene reliant on word of mouth.

“In 2018 and 2019, it started to shift a little bit and went a bit more commercial and consumer-heavy, more than it was underground,” he said.

McKechnie said areas like University Boulevard are a much busier space for dance music than they were 10 years ago.

McKechnie spent thousands of dollars on sample sounds and software over the years, building his sound long before student DJs took over the campus bar circuit, he said.

Though his time at the university was short, he still performs at shows around University Boulevard and supports student artists by creating online spaces for local DJs to connect and attending local events.

Off the grid

While some student DJs focus on University Boulevard bars and fraternity gigs, UA student Diego Medina, also known as Diego Medina (US), has carved out space in Tucson’s downtown scene. 

His music doesn’t follow mainstream trends, and he said it doesn’t always draw the typical college age crowd, instead attracting locals and music enthusiasts.

Medina said he chooses connection and personal creativity over popularity. Although his genre might not dominate social media or club playlists, it’s the sound he loves.

Medina is studying business, which he calls a backup plan in case DJing doesn’t become a full-time career. No matter how late a show runs, he said he’s committed to making it to class the next day.

“I just want to make sure that at the end of the day, I’m doing something I love, because if I’m not, then what’s the point?” Medina said.

Remixing the college experience

For Padawer, DJing has been life-changing. Her social life has bloomed, her confidence has grown and she still manages to make it to her 8 a.m. classes.

“I still have a 3.5 GPA, so I’m doing something right,” she said.

While many student DJs struggle with time management, she’s found a way to make it work. Instead of letting music interfere with school, she said it has guided her to what she loves.

“My whole life I have struggled with finding my purpose and true passion. Then I finally found it,” she said.

DJing has helped her meet new people and discover goals for her life and career in live events. 

Whether playing for a packed crowd or at a downtown bar, these DJs shape the culture of Tucson in ways far beyond the booth.  

“I just felt as a kid, I wasn’t as aware in general, and just maybe I felt like I wasn’t as understood, and just it was a lot of things, but I just want people to be understood,” Medina said.

And they don’t sacrifice their academic goals to do it.

“I took a final off of three hours of sleep one time. But I still got a B. I still did it. I’m still graduating,” Padawer said.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.