Hi-hats pierced the air and rhythmic bass rumbled through the floors of Agard. It was a Friday night, and the new Williams Electronic Music Society (WEMS) was hosting an “open decks” event in conjunction with WCFM — an opportunity for newbie DJs to show off their skills.
Taking inspiration from the electronic music community across the pond in the U.K., Silas Fleissig ’26 and Lola Weber ’26 founded the group after returning from the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford.
The pair was pleased with their “open decks” debut event on Sept. 26. “It was a great vibe, good turnout, and people really loved the music,” Fleissig said. “I think it proved that Williams students are looking for the kind of events we want to host [even though] they don’t really exist right now, giving us momentum for the future.”
The club has attracted quite a crew of DJs. At the open decks event, novice members queued up to twist dials and push faders in the corner of Agard. The DJs pumped an eclectic mix of electronic dance hits, familiar pop remixes, and underground experimental tracks through the speakers surrounding the packed dance floor. Aspiring DJs waited in line for their turn to learn how to wrangle the professional-grade equipment and mix their favorite tracks for the live audience.
Weber grew up in Los Angeles and Berlin, two cities with significant EDM cultures. She told the Record that she has always had an interest in electronic music and sees potential in bringing the genre to the College. “We wanted something like that at Williams,” she said. “Although not to that capacity [found in Europe] because there aren’t a lot of people here.”
Contrary to popular belief, the art form is not limited to clubbing music, Weber explained. “I think for [WEMS], I’d like to expand the way that people define electronic music at Williams,” she said. “Which isn’t just party music, but it’s a lot of ambient music and experimental music. And there is also a much richer history than I think people see on the surface level.”
According to Fleissig, the club’s mission includes providing students with a beginner-friendly creative outlet, building community, and helping students pursue available opportunities in electronic music at the College.
Will Jokela ’29, a member of the club, was among those given time to spin at the “open decks” event. “You can tell that everyone in the group is very passionate,” he said. “The atmosphere is filled with conviviality.”
Beyond offering students the opportunity to create music with her equipment, Weber also wants to create a space where the history of electronic music can be shared. “Electronic music is really an American creation, and it’s a historically Black form of music,” she explained. “Whereas people, I think, normally associate it with Germany and European countries, and they have a misconstrued understanding of where it comes from.”
The roots of house and techno music can be traced back to Chicago and Detroit, respectively, Fleissig explained. The club hopes to explore this history by sharing documentaries and information with members. The club’s founders already have some ideas for upcoming events, including an ambient listening night in the fall, a forest rave in the spring, more open deck nights, and mixing workshops in potential partnership with the audio production spaces at the College.
The nascent club has already attracted nearly a hundred members and is continuing to accept new ones of all experience levels.
Members like Jokela cannot wait to see the club continue to grow. “I’m looking forward to accessing all of the great opportunities [WEMS] has for its participants,” he said. “And [watching] how they can spread that culture to the broader Williams community.”
