On any given weekend in Kent, pulsing beats fill the air, from bars and house parties to late-night student events. Behind the decks is senior Carter Morris, who’s balancing life as an architecture student with his growing career as a DJ.
Kent’s student music scene has quietly become a launchpad for young DJs. Places like 157 Lounge, Bar Lucci and student-run events have become testing grounds for up-and-coming talents, giving students like Morris the chance to hone their craft in front of live crowds.
For Morris, the journey started during his freshman year, when a fraternity brother asked him to take over as the DJ for Sigma Chi parties.
“I always loved listening to music but never really considered being a DJ or a producer,” Morris says. “So, I made the jump, bought my first DJ controller and just fell head over heels for it.”
Since then, he has transitioned from Kent house parties to gigs in Cleveland, Chicago, Orlando and even Florence, Italy, where he played for four months while studying abroad. What began as a side hobby quickly became a defining passion.
“Even if no one paid me a dime, I’d still be doing it,” he says. “That’s how I know it’s what I’m meant to do.”
Balancing DJing with his architecture degree hasn’t been easy. Morris says it takes grit, late nights and sometimes very little sleep.
“Architecture is one of the most time-consuming and hardest things I’ve ever done, but I’ve always been told you choose what you make time for,” Morris explains. “Because I love both, I dedicate all my time and effort to them.”
Preparation, Morris says, is what separates DJs from someone just playing a playlist. He spends weeks curating music and planning transitions depending on the event.
“I always start with song selection,” he says. “It’s about finding the balance between what people want to hear and what I want to play so the crowd and I are both enjoying the set.”
Networking has also been essential to his success. From shadowing other DJs to offering to play free sets just to get his foot in the door, Morris has built connections that have led to bigger opportunities. He now works with a manager who is helping him line up future gigs and expand his reach.
Dylan Wise, a fellow Kent State DJ who goes by DJ Delo and recently graduated, says Carter immediately stood out to him because of his creativity and passion.
“Carter is a very talented producer,” Wise says. “As someone who makes music myself, his sound selection, creative vision and knowledge of music are very impressive.”
Wise adds that Morris brings energy to every performance.
“He takes a lively approach when he performs, and the crowd really picks up on that vibe. His growth has been impressive; … [he] has secured some collabs with established artists.”
From Carter’s efforts to be unique, Wise says Carter has found his own identity and sound as a DJ.
“I think he 100% has what it takes to reach the main stage. Music is about consistency and marketing, and he’s dropping multiple songs a month while creating engaging promo along with it,” he says.
Morris credits his success to constantly putting himself out there.
“It’s putting yourself out there, taking chances, not giving up and sticking true to your sound and ideals,” Morris says.
While he’s built a strong presence in Kent, Morris sees DJing as something much bigger than a college side hustle. He has his sights set on major music festivals like Ultra, Tomorrowland and Electric Daisy Carnival, with the ultimate goal of becoming a touring DJ.
Wise is producing music full-time, showing just how far student DJs can take their craft once they leave campus.
For Morris, the message to aspiring DJs at Kent is simple: Start now.
“It’s a crazy hard learning curve, and it can be overwhelming and expensive,” he says. “But if you put the time into it, you can absolutely become a DJ. Start networking early, take the free gigs, play your heart out and the rest will come.”
From fraternity basements to dreams of festival main stages, Morris embodies the energy of Kent’s student DJ scene, where passion, persistence and community can turn weekend beats into lifelong careers.
“The biggest reward is genuinely how I feel when I’m DJing and making music,” Morris says. “Every time I DJ, I’m smiling ear to ear. I love this more than anything.”
Cameron Gillen is a web writer. Contact her at [email protected].
