DJ 3Lau may not have many fans on campus, but the exposure provided by SEE’s Back-to-School Slam may change that.
Sam Kravitz, a freshman psychology major, was introduced to DJ 3LAU when she went to sleepaway camp with the artist’s sister.
She was the only one of her seven-person dinner table at South Campus Dining Hall who had ever heard of 3LAU.
The DJ is headlining Student Entertainment Events’ Back-to-School Slam tomight in a show that features rapper XV and indie band Carousel.
In a survey taken during 2012’s Art Attack, the highest number of students said they would definitely attend a 3LAU show over artists Best Coast, Theophilus London, Neon Indian, Toro y Moi, Gaslight Anthem and Azealia Banks, a SEE representative said.
The back-to-school concert is a slice of its year-round budget, which includes other concerts as well as comedy shows and events — not to mention the cost of venues for all of them.
3LAU is Justin Blau, a student at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in Top-40 hits infused with house music and has performed in cities across the country.
Andrea McDowell, a junior microbiology major who likes 3LAU’s music, said though the artist isn’t as big a name as Mac Miller — who headlined last year’s back-to-school concert — this exposure could help 3LAU.
“People that know him are really into him,” McDowell said. “It’s probably a good chance for him to get a better student base.”
While some students said they’d be interested in checking out a new artist, others said they wouldn’t attend the concert because they’d never heard of 3LAU.
Andrew Burans, a sophomore English and theatre major, said he isn’t impressed by SEE’s headliner choice.
“I’m probably not going,” Burans said. “Can we get some quality in this house? Just check out any of the indie-rock bands out there. They’re all really broke bands looking for places to play.”
SEE’s Back-to-School Slam is tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Stamp Student Union’s Grand Ballroom. Tickets are $8 for university students.
raghavendran@umdbk.com
