Slimmed Down Records is returning to its roots in 2025.
Slimmed Down Records (SDR), founded by Darius Caloia, Sci ’25, and his brother Dante Caloia, ArtSci ’23, is rebranding as they head into the new year. The collective, which hosts electronic music events, provides a platform for DJs to share their content under their brand, and releases mixes—with expansion into other areas on the horizon, has plans to shift to a more underground sound, veering away from the mainstream.
Born out of the brothers’ shared love for electronic music, SDR began as a way for them to share the music they enjoyed among likeminded friends.
“[Dante] was DJing at the time, and I was in second year. We would always mix together, and we would always do shows together, but there was never really an official name it was under or anything,” Darius Caloia shared in an interview with The Journal.
Growing up, the brothers’ creativity was encouraged by their mother who has a thriving career as a comedian. Darius Caloia discussed how her success
showed him pursuing a creative profession is possible. “If you do it for 20 years and you actually care about it, and put your ion into it, it’s fully achievable,” Caloia said.
By creating SDR, the founders created a space for likeminded friends and individuals to share music and collaborate, but also to encourage potential venues to take them more seriously as students with an established brand to them.
SDR wears many hats, but events are where they shine. “Our main focus—or where most people would see us—is with events, putting on shows, doing club takeovers,” Caloia said.
Caloia highlighted how SDR’s rebrand involves showcasing genres that don’t always appear in the usual student clubbing circuit, describing the collective’s main genre as deep tech. Additionally he hopes to attract DJs of other genres to SDR whose styles are different.
Inspired by DJs like Nic Fanciulli, Paco Osuana, and Chris Stussy, and the model of record label Mood Child, electronic music is important to Caloia.
This move towards the underground is a return of sorts for SDR.
“As we got bigger, and as we grew into more opportunities, we shifted more mainstream, as more people started coming out. Now, it’s just trying to kind of go back to our roots, and really do whatever’s true to us as artists,” Caloia shared.
Artist autonomy and commercial viability is a balance that isn’t always easy to strike. Caloia has found approaching it from a business mindset helps, asking, “what do they [clubs] want from this? What can I provide to them? While still trying to keep the artistic vision uncompromised,” he said.
Caloia’s time at Queen’s has allowed him to get to know the crowds he plays for, and their taste. “It’s been great being a student
here, cause I think I can really reach crowds personally, or just get to know people, see if people like the same style of music, and then pick similarities between them, and kind of tailor the events around that,” he shared.
“I think everybody’s grown over the past four years, and growing with them, you kind of understand where everyone’s headspace is at.”
The recurring event series that began in late 2023 “Then There Was House” will continue into the winter semester, as well as the introduction of “EXPO.” “EXPO” will run twice a month in collaboration with Nite Entertainment, giving the performing DJs more freedom to explore different genres. Hosted at the University Tavern, the events will have a traditional booth setup, and a dance-focused feeling, with the first event on Jan. 10.
This series, along with the rebrand, is a journey Caloia is excited for.
“I’m a little bit nervous because it is something new, and it’s a bit of a risk. But I’m excited. It could be kind of the beginning of a new chapter, which is nice.”
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