DJ Thien

A listener should not expect the same tired Top 40 hits during a DJ Thien set. Instead, they should look forward to a body-moving, heart-pulsing straight-schooling in the art of the electronic dance music. With 12 years of DJing experience, and extensive knowledge of electronic dance music, Thien is prepared to help Raleigh broaden its musical horizons and further immerse itself within the genre. Thien is one of the few artists who will return to Hopscotch for a second consecutive year.

“I am passionate about music and I am pretty invested,” says Thien. “I have gone through it all. I have seen it all. I lived through the rave days and watched it progress. The crowd at Hopscotch this year can expect a good time.”

Thien began DJing in high school due to a love of, and curiosity for, music.

“Initially my friends and I only had access to vinyl,” Thien said. “I was lucky enough to gather friends who had a wide variety of musical tastes. We would visit record stores two or three times a week.”

Despite Thien’s broad musical palate, which includes jazz and classical, his sets are comprised mostly of rave and dance music. He has regular shows in Raleigh at Busy Bee Café and Five Star. While Thien says the electronic dance scene is still relatively new to Raleigh, he sees potential.

“Raleigh is so open to something new,” he says. “I love seeing it progress and people enjoying the music. The best thing is exposing someone to something new, and them coming up to tell you afterward that they had a great time.” —Maggie Faircloth