MSU Museum, The Cadre launch three-part electronic music series

The Cadre, a student-led booking collective, is hosting a three-event series in collaboration with the Michigan State University Museum, showcasing electronic music and local talent.

The first event is planned for Saturday, Sept. 20, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the museum’s temporary location on the sixth floor of the MSUFCU building in downtown East Lansing.

Each event will feature four DJs: James Connor, Esmii, Jyle and Rinbossanova, offering an inclusive space where everyone can enjoy music and community. Admission is free with a recommended donation.

The collaboration between The Cadre and the MSU Museum was sparked by the two organizations’ first event, “Techno: The Rise of Detroit’s Machine Music Exhibition,” a student-driven techno event that was met with enthusiasm and high attendance.

College of Music professor and MSU Museum CoLab Studio Creative Director Mark Sullivan has been working closely with those involved to ensure The Cadre establishes itself as a registered student organization. 

“These events embody the museum’s commitment to creating a third space for students, a place that supports wellness, creativity and community outside the classroom,” Sullivan said in a press release. “By partnering with The Cadre, we are not only supporting student leadership but also connecting the museum to contemporary music culture in meaningful ways.”

The main goal for Zachary Oliver, co-founder and organizer of The Cadre, is to increase collaboration and involvement among members of both organizations. Each event will be centered around the art of music rather than the party itself, he said. 

“I personally came from the Midwest emo scene and there’s a lot of booking collectives that have come out of that,” Oliver said. “There’s the adjacent hardcore scene, so we kind of tried to structure ourselves based off that tradition as well and do something a little different with it.”

Oliver said the idea of creating another exhibition with the MSU Museum came from his friend and DJ JJ Rolaine during a study-abroad trip earlier this year. He has worked with Sullivan to organize the event ever since. Oliver wanted The Cadre to be different from most music communities that are exclusive to specific groups and offer a diverse range of sounds and talent to provide an open community experience.

Each event will not only showcase different kinds of music in the electronic sphere, but will also raise money for a cause. Saturday’s show will fundraise for All of the Above Hip Hop Academy, an organization dedicated to youth development through hip-hop culture and the arts.

Later events will showcase the Allen Community Center and Trumbullplex, a cooperative community space based in Detroit.

“We’re just revisiting people that we’ve previously collaborated with and given everybody a good scope of who is who, what, where, and why,” Oliver said.

Students and community members interested in attending Saturday’s first event are encouraged to register here.