By Alana McCarthy Light
Six-minute read
Pass Da AUX, LLC, a DMV-based media company dedicated to capturing and elevating up-and-coming artists, first got organized in 2016. Since then, PDA has developed into a well-rounded editorial team that manages an impressive roster of clients, event series, and professional development opportunities for creatives.
These interviews introduce the editorial team.
Olumide
Olumide, from Riverdale, Maryland, oversees meetings, talent scouts, manages Pass Da AUX social media, and edits footage. The project manager founded PDA with a few friends.
With IT as his day job, and as an artist himself, he recognized the abundance of DMV-local rising talents and aimed to provide them a platform gratis.
“I know how hard it is to get placed on lineups or find shows. People are saying this is their first time ever performing, and we let them be on a stage with people.
“We get interviews, document the journey, document their come-up, document the performance, [and] just give them everything they might need as a starter kit to take to the next level,” Olumide explained.
PDA currently operates in DC, however, Olumide intends to further the LLC’s reach across the United States. The co-founder began with an idea, then a commissioned logo, then a venue: Noble Lounge.
A joint effort with the brand Virginia Got Now brought VA artists out on stage alongside PDA’s DC-based artists. For further collaboration, Olumide aspires to have a mini-stage at the Broccoli City music festival.
Olumide appreciates “seeing what they're able to achieve from when they first started, any type of big festival - like Live Nation, what they're doing.” His dream: PDA appearing at major shows and festivals.
Abel
Pass Da AUX’s producer, Abel, organizes media production and logistics for shows. He has a background in music videos and event management.
Originally from PG County, Abel organizes many events, including benefit concerts and a video game convention, because, in his words, “I like making spaces.”’
PDA provides artists “a physical space where people who truly enjoy both hearing music and creating music can celebrate each other,” Abel stated.
He joined PDA in its early days after working closely with Olumide on music videos. Abel noted that he admires Olumide’s strong leadership skills and feels motivated by such.
Some noteworthy local artists, according to Abel, include 3ohblack, Shon Ski, and Odyssey. Abel dreams to partner with a large venue, like Colorado’s Red Rocks amphitheater, to showcase lesser-known artists to the world.
The producer particularly enjoys PDA’s silhouette series, where the team films “a bunch of artists in a photo studio one day.” Abel reflected that the shoots turn into a laid back experience of simply “feeling each other’s songs.”
Jessica
Graphic designer and social media marketer Jessica creates fliers and logos, as well as provides advice to those who wish to pursue their passion. Originally from Mexico City, MX, she believes that “it takes courage to share your talents with strangers.”
Jessica enjoys meeting new people through Pass Da AUX and seeing their “alter egos” when they take the stage. She stressed the importance of supporting others consistently.
Artists who inspire her include “Logic, Wale, Rico Nasty, Pharrell Williams, Missy Elliott, L.E.A.N., Trilla Kay, Mishon, Jade J, Chelly the MC, Annisse, Kay L.A., Luvvars, Grxzzly, [and] BYRON of PG.”
Kalen
“First and foremost, we are for the artists,” stated Kalen, who initially joined Pass Da AUX as a journalist for the organization’s September 2023 show. In time, the 757 native became PDA’s editor-in-charge, as well as co-creator and Executive Producer at its Vinyl and Vibes series.
“It became something that was permanent, that just grew for me, trying to be an asset for the team,” Kalen explained. He added on how enjoys improving upon projects.
With Pass Da AUX’s silhouette series and its events which combine live interviews with performances, local artists receive a premier opportunity “to tell their story, their way, at their beginning,” commented Kalen.
Kalen thinks of the back to school show as one of his fondest Pass Da AUX memories. During this event, PDA sponsored a classroom and dropped off supplies directly to its teacher. Ensuring “that every student had a backpack with them with some supplies in it was something really gratifying.”
DMV artists KP SKYWALKA, Ari Lennox, and Rico Nasty inspire Kalen. However, his goals for PDA reach beyond DC’s metropolitan region.
“I want to take Pass Da AUX to New York. Of course, we're going to keep [it] in DC, but I think that it's time that we start spreading out our wings. I definitely want to sell out a lot more shows, and to put campaigns around the shows that we're doing,” Kalen explained.
“We're getting to a point where now we can use our audience to start working with companies to really use that leverage that we built up for ourselves. We've reached thousands of people on a monthly basis,” he continued.
For example, Kalen would like to bring in more Crosley products or even a sponsorship to PDA shows, as he personally owns a Crosley record player. He added that he would love for Pass Da AUX to work with a clothing or hat brand.
Danny
Inspired by a love of producing reggaeton, R&B, hip-hop, and EDM music, Danny, or artist name BYRON of PG (BPG) brings resource management and professional advice to Pass Da AUX. As his name suggests, BPG comes from PG County, Maryland. The collaborative artist honors his Mexican roots in his work.
Danny has proficiency in the music softwares Kontakt and FL Studio. He describes his PDA contributions as “curating and organizing resources [and] supporting artists with the tools they need to grow.”
The producer feels motivated to foster creative community, empowerment and experimentation in the DMV scene. “One of my favorite moments was seeing a track come to life from a simple melody or drum pattern. Watching artists collaborate and build something that feels genuinely unique and powerful always reminds me why I do this,” Danny reflected.
Danny has strong beliefs favoring teamwork. Because of the myriad of rising talents in the DMV, artists having resources to help with their journey has immense vitality. Pass Da AUX, LLC provides access to unlocking the “potential” that Danny admires in many.
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