While some find fun in tossing around a frisbee as an enjoyable pastime, junior business management major, Kevin Eman, enjoys spinning a different kind of disc.
Eman, or “DJ Kev,” has become one of the most easily recognizable faces on campus due to both his skills on the basketball court and his ability to bring musical energy to any event he takes part in as a DJ. He has been performing live for over two years and is starting to solidify himself as an up-and-coming entertainer.
While his presence is most known in Topeka and its surrounding areas, his former home is nothing like Kansas’ capital. Eman was born and raised in Miami. He came to Washburn for one reason: to pursue a career in professional sports.
“I’ve always wanted to pursue a professional athletic career, and I didn’t have any offers or interests back home in Miami,” Eman said. “I reached out to a couple of colleges, one of them being Washburn. The only coach that got back to me was the assistant coach here.”
Jordan Banks, assistant coach for Washburn’s men’s basketball, told Eman that there was an open spot on the junior varsity team and it was his if he wanted it. Eman joined the team his freshman year and was moved up to varsity by the end of that year.
Eman began his collegiate journey in 2021, but his path to being a DJ started much earlier.
“The Swedish House Mafia was the first DJ group I had ever seen in my life,” Eman said.
It was that show where then 15-year-old Eman fell in love with the environment of music shows.
“The lights, the production scene, the crowd jumping and going crazy, just having a good time. It was like, I just love that energy. And I have a lot of it, and I want to share that with others,” Eman said.
It only took a few years for Eman to turn an idea into reality as he began working on his disc jockey skills.
“I picked up seriously DJ’ing during COVID,” Eman said. “That’s where I started staying in my bedroom, just for a full year and DJ mixing, playing around with it.”
Eman practiced his mixing skills with his family and friends present to see what their thoughts were on his music. After mastering his craft, he decided it was time to perform in front of a live audience.
On Sept. 26, 2021, Eman gave his first performance at a Washburn toga party. Ever since then, he has DJ’ed for several events, including a formal for Washurn’s Kappa Sigma chapter.
“He made [the formal] fun and refreshing,” said Colton Cattoor, a sophomore psychology major and Kappa Sigma member. “He played songs we asked for but he also put his own spin on it.”
Eman also does many different shows in Kansas City and Miami. The biggest show he has done was a silent disco for over 500 people for the Breakaway Music Festival in Kansas City.
“That was an experience I’ll definitely never forget,” Eman said.
Many students at Washburn enjoy Eman’s music and appreciate his unique talent.
“[He does] really well,” said Caylee Douglas, sophomore business marketing major. “He is great at drawing in a crowd.”
Douglas has attended many of Eman’s events and made many great memories.
“My favorite memory is when I typed in a song on my phone that I wanted him to play and put it on my head so he could see it from far away. Once he saw it, he played my song,” Douglas said.
Eman keeps all of his fans updated on his upcoming shows by posting to his Instagram page, k.emanmusic. As his following grows, so will his talent on the turntable.
Edited by Aja Carter and Larissa Morgan
