Students seeking a deviation from the mundane monotony of Tigerland nightlife finally have the opportunity to get their party on — electro style.
If wild dancing, loud beats and a killer light show sound like a good time, then one of the biggest electronic and dubstep dance parties ever to hit Baton Rouge, the Electronic Takeover, is the place to be Saturday night. The TKVR, typically held in New Orleans, is invading The Varsity Theatre for a one-night event.
Chris Rengel, co-founder and DJ of the event under the name Swiss Chriss, said he and his friends Max Braun and Christoph Andersson “started the party” a year and a half ago in New Orleans.
“We felt there was a gap in the electronic scene in New Orleans,” he said. “We wanted to start something for college kids that had the new, fresh music coming out at the time. Electronic was really starting to get popular, and there was none of that in New Orleans whatsoever.”
The TKVR’s first trek to Baton Rouge was demanded by University students and is aimed at bringing Louisiana’s tepid electronic scene to life and completely revamp college students’ typical night out, Rengel said.
“We’ve already had a lot of kids from LSU attend our parties, especially over the summer,” he said. “There’s a lack of [an electronic scene] in Baton Rouge, and there’s definitely a market for it. Kids like electronic music.”
Rengel said he enjoys every bit of his involvement in the Electronic TKVR.
“I just love planning parties, throwing parties for people, seeing that they’re having a good time and playing music,” he said. “It’s my dream.”
Electronic music has become a phenomenon, especially among college students, Rengel said.
“College kids like to party,” he said. “It’s the music of our generation. It’s just what people do now. Electronic music is coming in and taking over the mainstream. It’s just what people want to hear.”
Students shouldn’t pass up the party Saturday night, Rengel said.
“It’s something people won’t want to miss, especially since it’s our first time in Baton Rouge,” he said. “We have an awesome time in New Orleans, and a lot of LSU students can vouch for that.”
Max Braun, co-founder and organizer of the TKVR, said the public has taken to the event exceptionally well, and he’s pleased with the sensation it has become.
“It’s the only party where the people who come are all young and just as old as the people on stage playing the music,” he said.
Although University students have frequented New Orleans takeovers, Braun said traveling back and forth every weekend is a hassle.
“We decided to move it up to Baton Rouge in hopes that it might spark an interest in the people of Baton Rouge to come down to the next New Orleans show or might create an interest for the people of New Orleans to come out to the next Baton Rouge show and experience it in a different place,” he said.
Braun said he’s excited about mixing things up and taking the TKVR to Baton Rouge.
“I want to meet a lot of new people and have them hear Christoph and Chris’ songs,” he said. “They have been putting out releases and getting some national press.”
Students seeking a new sound, a new scene and one of the most epic parties of their lives should come to the TKVR, Braun said.
“You’re going to get to hear a lot of new music that you won’t have heard before, and we pride ourselves on production, so there’s going to be a lot of really good lighting, really good sound and a solid lineup,” he said.
Lauren Edwards, psychology senior, said she was shocked when she found out the Electronic TKVR was coming to Baton Rouge.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I’d been a few months back to one of the shows in New Orleans and had such a wild time. All my friends have been talking about the show Saturday for weeks.”
Electronic music has its own culture, according to Edwards.
“It’s neon colors, [and] it’s dancing till your legs fall off,” she said. “It’s just fun, crazy music that really gets people going. And the Electronic Takeover encompasses everything that partying is supposed to be.”
Katherine Doucet, psychology senior, said she’s just getting into electronic music.
“It’s been around for a while, but I’m starting to get a feel for it — and I’m liking what I feel,” she said. “I’ll definitely be out there Saturday.”
 
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Contact Cathryn Core at [email protected]