by Mike Smith
Daily Lobo
Although many UNM students might not recognize Joshua Arellano's name, they might recognize his face, his hat or his dance moves.
Known as "that techno guy," "that dancing guy" or "that guy with the stereo" to the students that walk by him, Arellano has become a common sight around UNM, dancing to electronic music every Tuesday and Thursday with his stereo.
He stands near the SUB, wearing a button-up shirt, peaked cap and a well-trimmed goatee and mustache.
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"It started out as an expression of music to kind of get people to understand what I've been listening to, but it's evolved and become more about exposing people to electronic music," Arellano said. "Unfortunately or fortunately, I've also taken on a kind of persona. I've met between 125 to 150 people outside of campus that recognize me as 'that techno guy.'"
Arellano plays a mix of electronic music on his JVC Kaboom Box - some techno, some house, some drum 'n' bass - and does so for a variety of reasons. He runs his own record label, Pure Energy Records, an independent label created for emerging artists. He hands out fliers and promotes local raves, parties and concerts - in person and online with his Myspace account - and also wants to create an interest in the power of music.
"The music is one thing, but getting people involved to go out and get involved with these local independent artists and promoters that are making something happen in our community, that's another," Arellano said. "Getting people away from the Clear Channel-owned world and what the corporate world wants you to consume - that's important. The only way Albuquerque will ever find its own culture is by finding itself through its own music and its own scene."
Arellano said sound has positive powers and is a type of therapy. He said he first danced in front of people on a happy whim late one night in 2000 - in the parking lot of an Albuquerque Taco Cabana - and has been playing music and dancing around UNM since 2002.
"I've always had that need to dance - and to spread the music," Arellano said. "This semester, though, I'm trying consciously not to dance as much - trying to let people just focus on the music more."
However, UNM communication and journalism professor Bruce Noll said he doesn't consider what Arellano plays to be music.
"I know that he was warned the other day not to do it anymore, so I was trying to protect him from the police coming back," Noll said. "I believe in freedom of speech, but there's no speech here - it's just a boom box blasting."
Student Julie Grace disagrees.
"He makes me smile every day that I come here," Grace said. "Seriously, I was in a crappy mood when I came here - but not anymore."
Arellano said his average week involves a hectic alternation between working full time at Walgreens, promoting his record label and local events, attending UNM as a business management major and only barely finding time for what he calls his "techno dance parties."
He said finding time for the music is worth it, though. He said he has a small core of 15 to 20 friends and fans who often cluster around the music to dance and talk, but many others respond gratefully to his presence.
"The most important thing about everything is a smile, a nod, a group, someone dancing as they walk by," Arellano said. "Just being a part of creating that little bit of energy - that positive energy - is all worth it."
