KXSC Fest 2015 Official Lineup (Radha Vishnubhotla/KXSC)

Picture yourself in the middle of Founder’s Park. It’s four-thirty pm. The southern California sun is beating down on you. The air surrounding you is filled with transcendental tunes, festive food and an assortment of artistry. This afternoon, Founder’s Park is no longer just a study space between class periods, but a renovated are fueled by creativity and garnered through open-mindedness: Welcome to KXSC Fest, 2015.

KXSC Fest prides itself on being USC's only "extensive" music festival. Henry Begler, the Electronic Music Director for KXSC describes the event as "an entire day’s worth of “bangin' tunes that get in front of as many people as possible."

In addition to the live music performances, KXSC Fest will feature various community activities, performances and art installations. Some of the most noteworthy add-ons include festival-wide yoga and a 25-foot art installation designed and constructed by three of USC’s best architects. This inventive L.E.D. light-up tunnel was constructed 100 percent from scratch and serves as the entryway into KXSC FEST. According to Chris Robinson, KXSC Head of Operations, the tunnel is meant to instantly cause attendees to undergo a “transformative feeling” of “woah, I’m at a music festival.”

The “Digital Detox Space” is another highly anticipated add-on. Alex Zhang, KXSC Head of Sponsorship, describes the space as a “technology free hangout” where everyone is required to turn off their phone. The installation was inspired by a similar sub-section of the summer music festival, Outside Lands. KXSC Fest creators hope that these extra additions to the festival will keep festival-goers occupied for the duration of the art-infused evening. Paige Schwimer, KXSC General Manager, says that KXSC Fest is the sort of festival where there is so much to do that “you can easily spend the whole day [there], even if you don’t like a certain band playing.”

But what about the music?  Schwimer affirms there is “something for everybody” including an eclectic mix of electronic, hip-hop and indie-rock performances. This year’s headlining artist, DJ Dodger Stadium, consists of an electro-house music collaboration between DJ/Producer Samo Sound Boy and DJ/Producer Jerome LOL. Pitchfork rated their latest album, “Friend of Mine” a solid 8.0, proving that this electro-duo has displayed its “ability to mine authentic emotion from what might otherwise seem a particularly cerebral form of dance music.” Joining the stage alongside DJ Dodger Stadium will be De Lux, an LA-based band signed to Innovative Leisure Records. The band describes itself as a “post-disco dance-punk DIY duo that sound like they could have come out of 1979 or 1982 just as easily as 2013.” Supporting acts include Lavashark, Talk in Tongues, Gamebrand, Air Life and Muna.  

And even if live music isn’t your thing, for the first time ever, KXSC Fest is incorporating different performance mediums. Performing on an additional stage will be “The Altar-Collective,” a student-run literary collective established by USC Students. This stage will include spoken word and poetry performances throughout the day.

Robinson encourages people to come to KXSC Fest is significant because, ultimately “ it's a chance to put on something that’s real and that means something to the student body that attempts to integrate them with a higher culture through art and music."

Watch the recap of KXSC Fest 2014 here:

Reach Staff Contributor Natalie Raphael here.