An established New York-based DJ and Loyola alumnus is set to return to New Orleans on Dec. 8, bringing with him over ten years of performing experience.
Performing under the name DJ Coolhand, Luke Joachim, A’14, has garnered an impressive list of accolades since graduating, putting his music industry studies degree to good use. Today, Coolhand has toured the United States, opened for the likes of the Wu-Tang Clan, Young Money and Miguel, and currently maintains a DJ residency at The Delancey, a lounge and music venue in New York.
“The only reason I have any level of success in this industry is because I show up to venues and answer emails,” Coolhand told The Maroon.
Coolhand began DJing in high school in his hometown of Oakland, California, by attending audio engineering programs after school. He steadily began developing his interest in a music career.
“Oakland is a historically rough town, and while I loved hip-hop from a young age, I found hip-hop culture to be very competitive. Electronic music was much more welcoming and I found DJing to be an open, eclectic format. I began learning how to mix vinyl tracks and worked to promote shows in high school,” Coolhand said.
By Coolhand’s senior year of high school, he was playing packed nightclubs across the San Francisco Bay area.
The producer said that Loyola’s music industry studies program was key to navigating the challenges he faced in his career.
“In a cutthroat industry like this, there can be a lot of false promises from people you meet,” Coolhand said. “The Jesuit ideals I learned from Loyola and the tribe of like-minded individuals I found in the major help keep me professional and humble.”
Coolhand’s peers and professors in the music industry studies program are impressed to see how far he’s come since graduating two years ago. Tony Stancampiano, music industry senior, fondly remembers Luke as a humble artist and classmate.
“It was a pleasure to know Coolhand. Whether it was through music or just conversation, he had a way of relating to everybody. It doesn’t surprise me at all to hear about his recent collabs; he’s got the talent and, more importantly, the attitude to cut it up with the industry’s best,” Stancampiano said.
When asked what advice he could offer aspiring DJs and artists, Coolhand emphasized that artists need to be creative in order to host a great experience.
“DJ’s need to be able to read the crowd, be it a wedding, a bar mitzvah or a club, and play to the audience based on what they see. I’d recommend exploring all different types of music, learning to beat-match and putting yourself out there so others can discover you. Above all, you can never give up on learning your craft,” Coolhand said.
DJ Coolhand will perform at Barcadia, located on 601 Tchopitoulas Street, on Dec. 10 from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
