San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

Emancipator frees clouded minds

Courtesy  of Keith LeWinter
Courtesy of Keith LeWinter

An awkward looking twenty something stands alone on stage with a pair of headphones halfway over his ears. He gives a shy self aware smile at the audience before launching into every beautiful sound combination known to mankind.

The soundscapes are lush and in the wash of the heavy bass, tinkling melodies drift in and out of focus. Emancipator takes the crowd on a journey and for those that take the ride it can be life changing. Although there are those that may dismiss it as simple dance music or electronica it is something much deeper. Simply allowing oneself to close their eyes to the external illusory world around them to focus on something pure and real is all it takes to be instantly hooked.

Utilizing elements from hip-hop, jazz, and rock music, Emancipator crafts a live experience that is designed to remove the audience from reality. Enlisting the help of live instrumentalists to provide a saxophone or guitar does nothing but add to the already overwhelming experience. Looking into the crowd, one can’t see someone whose head isn’t bobbing, whose feet aren’t tapping, whose mouth isn’t hanging open in astonishment, unless that person has already slipped into a blissful music-induced coma. The music played at an Emancipator show is incredibly lush and beautiful but sadly there are no live videos that even get close to illustrating the experience of being there. When the music finally comes to a close and the thunderous applause subsides it is only the happy memory that one was there, that one experienced something that pure that one can only try and relive.

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San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
Emancipator frees clouded minds