Do you ever wonder who’s providing us with the trendy, upbeat, and diverse music we have at Franklin events like Homecoming and Winter Formal? He’s actually nearby. You’ve most likely passed him in the halls at least once or have had a class with him. Or, you may know him as our current senior class vice president for the class of 2024. It’s none other than our very own Izea Paz, who has been DJing since his sophomore year.
Paz grew up in the world of DJing and was heavily influenced by his dad, who worked as a DJ. He recalls his dad bringing him to some of his events, where he watched how his dad operated. This became something important to Paz, who felt a lot of admiration for his dad. As Paz started getting more into music, he also began experimenting with his dad’s equipment. Luckily, he had someone there to answer his questions and guide him.
With admirable dedication, Paz eventually saved up enough money from part-time jobs to buy equipment for himself. It was during his sophomore year that he truly began to invest his time and energy into DJing. He spent the year honing his skills and perfecting his craft, and by his junior year, he was ready to share his talent with the world, DJing at events under the name Bonus Beats Ink.
At the heart of DJing is a deep passion for music, and Paz embodies this. He is not just a DJ, but an avid record collector — with a collection of around 900 records and growing. His father, Dominic Paz, shares, “I really enjoy going to the record store with Izea and digging in the crates trying to find the records to add to [our] sets or find the records that [we’ve] been looking to find for years.”
Izea Paz’s favorite genre of music is old-school Hip Hop and conscious rap, like The Roots and Tupac. When it comes to creating a list of songs to play at events, he has a good idea of what kinds of songs the Franklin student body likes, noting that Spanish songs have been popular. When he DJs for other schools, he asks them for a playlist and adds songs based on the vibe of their list. Parker Lievre, a Franklin senior and a friend of Paz’s, says, “When I heard Izea DJing [for] one [of] the first times, I felt really proud [of] him. I could tell that this was something he was good at, and he always proves that on stage.” Charlotte Storrs, another Franklin senior and friend of Paz’s, says, “[He] is super confident while DJing … he always [takes] criticism or suggestions from the crowd.”
Looking ahead, Paz is committed to Oregon State University (OSU)’s Honors College and he plans to major in mechanical engineering. However, he also plans to keep DJing in college, seizing whatever opportunities he can get. Furthermore, he hopes to continue DJing for Franklin events whenever he’s available. Paz sees his time at OSU as a good opportunity to network, and envisions himself continuing to DJ as a side job.
For aspiring DJs, Paz gives three pieces of advice. One, choose good music for your setlist because that’s often overlooked. Two, get to know your mixer — a DJ’s main piece of equipment — because each mixer is different. And third, practice makes perfect! “However much you put into it is how much you’re gonna get back,” he states. Paz also adds that knowing music theory and using YouTube can definitely both be helpful during your DJ journey.
Paz is described by friends and family as kind, caring, and hard-working. He has made a significant impact on our Franklin community. His music has helped bring Franklin together to enjoy school-wide events that are looked forward to year after year. A Homecoming and Winter Formal with no music would surely not be successful. To support Paz and continue to follow him through his journey, make sure to check out his Instagram @bonusbeatsink_, and next time you see him at an event, tell him thanks!
