Kari, Dragonfly student opener, talks music and more – The Triangle

On Oct. 5, Drexel University hosted its anticipated annual concert, Dragonfly, known for hosting big-name artists. This year’s show packed the DAC with fans eager to see iconic headliner Tinashe and opener Slayyyter. For those who arrived on time, the night kicked off with a high-energy DJ set from Kari, a Music Industry student who opened the show. After the performance, I had the chance to sit down with Kari to get a look behind the scenes and learn more about the rising star himself.

Veronica Pagliaro: Congrats on your performance as the student opener for Dragonfly this year! Your set got the whole crowd moving, and now the people want to know, who is Kari?

Kari: My name is Colin Keenan, Kari is my DJ/production project. I’m 20, and I’m from Madison, Wisconsin. I’ve had a passion for music since I was a kid, watching DJ videos on YouTube from my dad’s iPod, and trying to figure out GarageBand on the family computer. I’ve been more seriously producing and DJing for over six years now and decided to pursue music as not only a passion but a career, so I ended up coming to Drexel for the Music Industry program. So, here I am!

VP: What was the process like for being selected as Dragonfly’s opener? What did being selected mean to you?

K: Dragonfly put on their social media that they were looking for student artists, so I decided to take a chance. I sent them a bunch of my music, and they selected me for an interview. I interviewed alongside a bunch of my really talented friends, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but that just made it all the more meaningful that they chose me. I guess they thought I fit with the headliners, Tinashe and Slayyyter, who are great artists, so [that] meant a lot. Having a setup like [Dragonfly] is really special. Professionally, it gave me a chance to get a lot of new ears on my music. I played a lot of my own stuff, and people responded positively, so it’s just good to know that people like what I’m doing.

VP: Dragonfly is one of the biggest Drexel entertainment events every year. Give us the scoop: what was the behind-the-scenes like?

K: Behind the scenes was so fun. The crew gets there really early [in the morning] to start the process. I got there in the afternoon and brought all of my DJ equipment. I had my own green room which was awesome. The whole Dragonfly team was so kind and helpful. I got to watch both of the headliners’ soundchecks, which was so cool. And then I did my soundcheck and talked to the light and sound crew. My soundcheck was when things got nerve-wracking, because I was finally up on the stage and seeing how the real thing was going to feel. After that, it was just a lot of waiting, eating food in the green room and putting some final touches on my set. Then it was just go-time! As an artist, the work happens in the weeks leading up to the show, but the crew is really putting in the work the day of, which I’m so appreciative of.

VP: Your opening performance really set the mood for the headliners. What was the process like to curate a set that aligned with the vibe of the show?

K: I honestly wasn’t told who the other artists were going to be until a few weeks before the show, so I had already started making my set a month or two before I knew the vibe. So I was just being myself and hoping that it would all come together, and it did. It was really up to the Dragonfly crew; they knew the vibe that they wanted, and they did a great job choosing the lineup accordingly.

VP: How did you prepare for this, or any, live performance?

K: I’ve done a lot of DJ performances, and they never go how you’re expecting them to. I always plan my sets, but have to keep in mind that reading the crowd and seeing what people are responding to can’t be predicted. Like, you might have to make a fast transition to get people amped up again. So, I always have a backup plan, extra songs and am prepared for anything. It’s a lot of work mentally, but it’s worth it. I think Dragonfly went the best it could’ve gone. It was probably one of my best sets yet, and I think it’s because I spent so much time preparing.

VP: Your set was so energetic and engaging. How do you incorporate your audience into your music choices or performances?

K: I try to put my own twist on songs that people already know, like old 2000’s pop songs flipped into the modern underground electronic scene. I want people to be able to sing along and dance while also enjoying a different style of music. Some pop songs just don’t hit the same after a while, so it’s my job to amp them up and make them more energetic. The key is to choose music that people know so that they’re engaged, but make it new so that they’re still entertained by it.

VP: Your music is so unique and versatile. What genre would you characterize yourself in?

K: Music is hard to label, and I try not to confine myself to one genre. The genre that I played on Dragonfly night is like a subgenre of hyper pop called hyperflip or dariacore. It’s where people put a million pop songs into one and just go crazy with the production. That’s what I’ve been playing a lot in my recent sets, because it includes the audience by giving them a new spin on familiar tracks. But I produce so many different genres aside from that in separate projects. Like, I have a band called Sub Mold which is grunge. I’ve produced rap beats, dubstep, hyperpop. I’ve gone through so many phases and just keep expanding.

VP: What’s a typical day like for you, balancing your studies with your music career, as a student-artist?

K: Balancing music and school can be difficult, but it’s rewarding. I go to school for Music Industry, so sometimes making music can feel like a job instead of a passion — music and homework can be synonymous. Both parts of my life are very intertwined, but I try to separate them as best as possible in order to keep my passion projects alive and separate from things that feel like work. What works for me is creating a schedule for myself, like I usually do schoolwork on weekends and personal projects on weekdays.

VP: How do you see your future as a musician?

K: I hope to just keep on doing what I’m doing and get more ears on all the areas of music that I’m working in -– the electronic scene, the rap scene, the grunge scene. I just want to continue to meet and connect with people through my music, and I want to make listeners happy.

VP: Where can we continue to follow your music journey?K: You can find me @kariofficial__ on Instagram, and I post mostly all of my music on soundcloud.com/karimusicc. I’m Kari on Spotify and have new music coming out on there soon. As far as upcoming events, my DJ collective, Helix, is always throwing events in University City. For that information, @helixhelixhelixhelixhelix on Instagram.