Relatively new to the scene, Dillon Hargrave came into the game from yet another perspective. As part of a live, electronic jazz duo, Hargrave started doing more programming and listening to electronic music and saw deejaying as an outlet for his creativity that would allow him much more independence. Now, roughly three years later, Hargrave has become one of the premier up-and-comers on the local scene as DJ Dilation.

As can many of our DJs, Dilation can bounce through an array of styles, touching on house music to hip-hop to ’80s, but he has really established himself within the electronic music genre. He most often incorporates a house feel in his live mixes. Dilation also has a residency at Electric Circus in Tulsa on Friday nights, as well as in Stillwater a couple times a month.

As a casual listener, what’s most impressive with Dilation’s mixes is his ability to add a more organic, natural feel to his electronic mixes. Although the surface usually has an electronic shimmer, his incorporation of vocals and synths warms things up without sounding particularly retro.

Dilation is another DJ who often employs both digital files and turntables, but by his own admission, he moved into the transition in a backwards manner.

Coming from an electronic music background, he started out using laptops, which provided him a more organic feel when mixing.

Dilation’s rapidly blossoming talent can likely be attributed to the fact that he keeps his ego in check and is a quick learner, not only willing, but eager to work with other DJs. As such, he’s shared time with Robbo, Lynn K, Heady P, Just Jon and Moody, amongst others, giving him a well-rounded perspective on his role as a DJ.

Of his style, Dilation admits that he’s all about staying in the moment, reacting to the audience and keeping things moving.

“I don’t know if it’s just ADD or what, but I like to switch songs every two minutes or so,” he said. In turn, his mixes are active and fresh, which keeps his audience involved. As word gets out and he continues to play around town, Dilation is definitely one of the main young players to keep an eye on.