Musicians and bands often spring up in Athens during the years students attend Ohio University, but some are able to continue success after graduation. OU alumni Mike Genovese and Danny Johnson are each working to carve out an individual niche in the music industry.
After graduating from Ohio University in 2003, Mike Genovese took a job at NASA, but three years later he returned to his college love of music.
Genovese now lives in Columbus and works for Battelle Memorial Institute, a non-profit applied science and development company, but continues to regularly perform as an acoustic solo artist. He has played with musicians including Matt Wertz, Mat Kearny, and Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers.
While at OU, Genovese studied finance, management information systems and business pre-law. After his graduation, Genovese took a job offer with NASA and worked there for three years as a contracting specialist.
These jobs are good resume builders
but my passion is music Genovese said.
Even before his years at OU, guitarist Mike Genovese had an interest in music.
I've always had the buzz to perform and write music said Genovese, who taught himself guitar when he was in high school.
His freshman year at OU, Genovese usually played at the old Front Room. The band Red Wanting Blue let Genovese perform with the band at different clubs and venues.
They kind of took me under their wing
Genovese said.
This past February, Genovese performed at seven sold-out shows while touring the Midwest as an opening act for Corey Smith. They played venues ranging from 500 to 1400 people.
Genovese will finish his first album this summer. Most of the recording was done in Nashville, Tenn., but Genovese plans to have concerts in Columbus and Cleveland promoting the release.
I'm sticking my head out there and trying to make a career out of music. I'm finally at the point where I have a product and a CD
Genovese said.
Danny Johnson, or DJ Self Help, has always known that he wanted to be a DJ.
Now Johnson, a 2008 Ohio University alumnus, is performing around the state, but will return to Athens this Saturday for International Dance Night.
When he started at OU, Johnson studied sociology because he thought it was a safe route
but he later switched his area of study to music production.
I knew I should be doing music
Johnson said.
By the end of his sophomore year, Johnson had paying gigs, such as Dance or Die at The Union, 18 W. Union St., and International Dance Night at Casa Cantina, 6 W. State St.
It took me awhile to rise through the ranks
he said.
After graduation, Johnson went back to his hometown of Cleveland to continue DJing and found a venue at club B-Side.
In January, Johnson moved to Columbus to expand his DJing ground and usually spins at Sweatin' Dance Party at Circus, 1227 N. High St. Today and next Thursday, he will DJ at the Outer Sounds Festival at Oldfields on High Street in Columbus.
Johnson has also done collaborations with other artists, including a remix on the song When I Grow Up for fellow OU alumnus,
Ruckus Roboticus.
In August of 2008, Johnson came back to Athens to record and produce the band Our Cat Phillip's first full length LP, Apart of Someone. The album was produced at the Radio and Television building on campus.
Recently, Johnson had one of his remixes on a compilation album distributed by Tiker Puking Tiger Records, and Ninja Tunes Record Label released Johnson's own mix tape, Ritalin Bounce.
The release of his own CD allowed him to be on the Internet show Solid Steel Radio, based in the United Kingdom.
Even with his early success, Johnson plans to continue working towards a career in the music industry.
My ultimate goal is to make a living from DJing
producing and composing music
Johnson said.
