Electric love sparks KBEACH jockey

When you walk into senior communications major Jack McCartney's apartment, it is very clear that he has a passion for electronic music.

His walls are covered with posters of electronic music artists, more than 400 compact discs are stored in crates throughout his bedroom, and more than 200 records are stacked near his two turntables.

McCartney shares his passion and knowledge with listeners of his radio show "Digital Subculture," on KBEACH, CSULB's Internet radio station.

McCartney's passion for electronic music began in the summer of 1995, when he participated in a high school foreign exchange program in Berlin, Germany. Visiting the city, he encountered the Love Parade, a massive electronic music party. The experience ignited his love for trance music.

During the Love Parade, over 300,000 electronic music lovers danced through the streets of Berlin. The unity of the people and their passion for electronic music was new to McCartney.

"I was always leaning toward the genre of electronic music, but it was that one event that started my love for it," McCartney said.

After one year of community college in Castro Valley, McCartney decided to leave Northern California to attend CSULB. Transferring as a sophomore in 1997, McCartney moved to Long Beach to live closer to regional electronic music record companies.

Since starting his radio show on KBEACH radio, McCartney has become a promotions intern for Nettwerk Records in Los Angeles.

"In the future, I hope to continue as an on-air personality on the radio, as well as work behind the scenes in the music industry," McCartney said.

"Digital Subculture" focuses on music from the electronic movement throughout Europe and the United States. A show that targets music lovers who want an alternative to top 40 music, "Digital Subculture" plays music that is rarely heard on mainstream radio shows. Listeners get a chance to hear electronic music usually found at underground gatherings.

"It's the music I want to listen to and can't hear on regular radio stations," says junior political science major Jeremy Cooper. "I listen while I do homework on my computer. I like 'Digital Subculture' because you hear different songs every show, not the same songs every day."

At first, "Digital Subculture" started off as a way for McCartney to share his favorite electronic music with listeners. Slowly his show evolved into having local guest disc jockeys spin on his show, such as CSULB's own DJ M-Soul and Orange County's DJ Trademark.

"I enjoy not only the performance aspect of mixing records live, but also the challenge of creating new soundscapes," McCartney said.

Not only is McCartney the electronic music disc jockey for KBEACH radio, but he is also the electronic music director, keeping in contact with music labels all over the country.

"Digital Subculture" can be heard Sunday nights from 7-9 p.m. and also on Thursday afternoons from 11-12 p.m.