Nick Delfino performing for the ASPB’s Battle of the DJs at Anisq’Oyo Park. (Sara Stevens / Daily Nexus)

UC Santa Barbara’s Associated Students Program Board hosted the fourth annual Battle of the DJs on Feb. 20, bringing five student DJs to the Anisq’Oyo Park stage to compete for the coveted opening slot at the Extravaganza music festival.

Five contestants took the stage that night: Cheddarness, Estrexxa, Kings Club, Lucuma and Nick Delfino. They were each given about 20 minutes and had complete creative control over their performances. With only about five days to prepare their sets, the DJs utilized their skills and expertise in hopes of blowing the audience and judges away.

This was the first time the competition was hosted outdoors, starting at sunset and bumping beats into nightfall. The event was free for students and community members with a turnout of nearly 100 people crowded around the grass park, sitting on blankets or dancing to the music.

A panel of four judges lined up at a table in the front with pens and paper, specifically critiquing the DJs’ technical skills, composition, creativity and audience responsiveness. Two of the panel members are co-managers of production at EOS Lounge, a nightclub in downtown Santa Barbara. They are also past collaborators with the Associated Students Program Board (ASPB) and were asked personally to come out for this competition. 

“We are looking to find some new DJs [for EOS] and get involved with the people out here, see who’s a great fit for us,” said Cole Brandt, one of the co-managers. 

Laith Jaroudi, who performs under the name Cheddarness, is a fourth-year psychological & brain sciences major. He was the first DJ to perform and has been producing music for eight years, starting with rap and now focusing solely on techno. This was his second year competing in Battle of the DJs, the previous time being in 2025. 

“After the first one, I had so much fun. I thought ASPB did an excellent job with the sound system,” Jaroudi said. “Being able to [play music] with the University was a huge opportunity for me before. I came to do it again just because I feel like I have fun playing music that makes me a bit uncomfortable.” 

He admitted that the genre of music he produces is considerably niche, since hard techno, psytrance and hardstyle tend to be more underground. Jaroudi was grateful to have the opportunity to share his music at this event.

“The culture outside Isla Vista is growing, so I want to bring it here and just see if people have fun like I do,” he said. 

The next artist up was Estrexxa, the stage name for fourth-year psychological & brain sciences major Citlali Ibarra. Ibarra’s set brought a large audience, crowding the outdoor venue. Her musical stylistics had a more gothic tone as she entranced the crowd to dance with flow and steadiness.

As night came about, the sets became intense with hefty beats and hyped performers. Kings Club was a duo, featuring fourth-year data science major Daniel Park and fourth-year chemistry major Joan Ortiz. They came dressed to impress in suits and remixed a deep bass, performing house and techno music. Lucuma, the stage name for Luca Nacamu, fourth-year physics major, incorporated mainstream songs with remixes of sirens and various sound effects. Delfino, a third-year sociology student, was the closing act and danced to his own beat, taking up the entire stage while focusing on more rap-based music and delivering an intense finale.

The differing artists’ work varied but remained unique to their brand images, ranging from mainstream upbeat remixes to gothic techno vibes and everything in between. Regardless of what styles were blasted through the speakers, the crowd was lively and full of energy. They were constantly dancing, moshing, singing and cheering like crazy during every performance.

After each DJ finished their sets, entertaining the rowdy audience and entrancing the judges, the night came to a suspenseful end as they rallied the audience to announce the winner of the contest: Estrexxa.

Citlali Ibarra, also known DJ Estrexxa, was announced as the winner of the fourth annual Battle of the DJs. (Sara Stevens / Daily Nexus)

Ibarra has only been DJing as Estrexxa for about two years, but nevertheless spent countless hours leading up to this moment, perfecting her cohesiveness, sound congruency and diversity of song choices. 

“There’s so many creative people at UCSB, when I got here I just really had no clue. I felt really lost and I started DJing on my own, literally learning from YouTube tutorials alone in my room,” Ibarra said.  

“I think that finally getting gigs and playing has introduced me to so many different people, a lot of new creative people and a lot of DJs that are really, really inspiring,” she added.

As the evening concluded, each of the competitors found one another to congratulate each other’s efforts and talents and celebrate the eventful night. 

“I’m really grateful that I started [DJing],” Ibarra concluded.