Senior Smeal student Stephen Farley began DJing on a small board in his freshman dorm after learning a few basics from his roommate. Three years later, he found himself on stage at THON 2025 performing his own set, and he continues to play at venues all over State College in the months leading up to graduation.

Even before he became a DJ, Farley had always loved music. He grew up in Sayreville, New Jersey, which he claims helped foster his knowledge and appreciation for the craft.

“I think where I grew up made me very passionate about music, just because it’s a very diverse area, all different types of music,” Farley said. “I literally listened from pop music to country music, rock, rap, pretty much any genre you can think of.”

When Farley got to Penn State, his freshman roommate had some experience from high school DJing and “showed him the ropes a little bit.” Farley went home over winter break, bought his own board, and taught himself the basics.

“I kind of took off and ran with it, just looking up different YouTube videos and through that, that kind of helped me teach myself,” he said.

Farley started mixing EDM music, eventually taking those skills and applying them across all genres.

His first audience consisted of some friends at apartments before he performed his first gig.

“At the end of freshman year, I did my first real set at a fraternity party, and then sophomore year, I started doing formals, other fraternity socials, and things like that within Greek life,” Farley said.

While many amateur DJ careers rarely go beyond events like that, his junior year brought about countless new opportunities.

“I started getting venues downtown like Stage West,” Farley said. “From Stage West, I got into The Basement, and then from The Basement, I got into Champs.”

Farley remarked that it was cool to be able to get more “professional” jobs, especially ones that could get him seen on a wider scale. He even did some corporate events like galas and non-profit fundraisers.

“I knew I had to up the ante as far as the type of music selection I was playing to be able to make sure that I was playing music that was suitable for all different types of crowds,” he said.

Despite all of his gigs, his set at Champs last semester is still one of his favorites.

“Even though it was at the very start of my senior year, it is still one of the highlights of my entire year,” Farley said.

His connections throughout town helped him create a real name for himself, leading him to the THON stage.

From that first Champs set, Farley was offered the chance to DJ at the THON 5k at the finish line and then ultimately THON itself. His primetime slot directly following The Fray also aided his recognition.

“THON was something I always wanted to DJ,” Farley said. “Once I started DJing, I was like, ‘This is one of my goals I have before graduating.'”

The buzz Farley generated from THON came at a good time because he just recently went through a rebrand. He developed the name Steve Frisson, a change from his previous name, Big Steve, to start playing under.

“The definition of frisson is a feeling or sensation of excitement and emotion that’s usually brought by a certain type of music or sound,” Farley said. “That’s what I want to bring to my sets. I want people to be able to feel the music that I’m playing.”

With his rebrand, he hopes to become more of a brand rather than just a DJ, and he even hopes to get into producing.

Despite all his performances, Farley still manages many extracurriculars on campus as well as success as a supply chain systems student in the Smeal College of Business.

“I definitely sacrifice a lot of sleep,” Farley said with a laugh.

After college, Farley plans to move to Philadelphia for a job, but he hopes to continue DJing in some capacity.

“I draw a lot of inspiration from David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, who is also a former DJ… He said what was cool about it was he was able to tap into his creative side and use that side of his brain while also working analytically,” Farley said. “I think that’s something I want to do, too.”

As far as advice for people who hope to DJ like him one day, Farley thinks that anyone should try it out.

“Be open-minded and just really try to tap into your creativity,” he said. “Over time, everything will start clicking for you.”

Farley also relies on the unbridled support from his family and friends who always come out to his sets.

“It really makes me feel fulfilled when I have my friends come out and they are having a great time, saying this is one of their favorite nights out,” Farley said. “That’s what motivates me, that’s why I DJ.”

Despite the notoriety he has attracted over his short career, it’s about much more than that.

“I DJ to uplift people, to make the most of an environment,” Farley said. “That’s why I do it”