Record Club builds community one spin at a time
Strobe lights flash as the bass of music fills the Back Alley, pulling students away from the grind of deadlines and into something louder and brighter. On a campus often blurred by busy schedules, the AU Record Club is dedicated to establishing a sense of community and escapism through music and dance.
Founded by students with a deep curiosity about music culture, the Record Club aims to turn passive listening into an immersive experience. Whether it’s through dancing, singing, writing about music, photographing events or simply showing up with friends, the club offers a space where students can connect through music.
Club president and freshman Regis Dzenga traces the idea back to a student event last fall where he noticed something missing: the engagement between people and the event.
“I was like, this is alright, but it could be better,” Dzenga said.
Originally from South Africa, Dzenga grew up in a culture where music and dance are woven into everyday life. Bringing that energy to Augustana became a driving force behind the club’s creation.
“I do recognize that in certain places and in certain backgrounds, it's a lot more personal with people's musical experiences,” Denzga said. “They may not be as open to that, so we've really tried to make it a place where it is just you expressing how you feel about music personally.”
Each event blends performance with participation. Student DJs keep the music rotation across genres, while attendees can jump into karaoke, compete in Kahoot trivia or take part in crowd-judged “best dressed” runway walks.
The emphasis on inclusion is shaping the club into more than just a social event—it’s a cultural exchange. Club secretary and junior Hannet Sedlak said that music creates a window into perspectives that might otherwise go unseen.
“Music is a great way to branch between a lot of different cultures,” Sedlak said. “Even if I don’t understand what they’re saying, I can feel the emotion behind it.”
For students like senior Julian Ruano, creating a space free of judgement is what will allow the Record Club events to thrive.
“There’s a lot of social pressure when you’re out in public,” Ruano said. “It seems that in order for you to feel that sort of no pressure zone, you have to feel like everyone there has the same understanding.”
Even in its early stages, the club is drawing significant attention. Its first event, Winter Shutdown, took place February 28 and brought in around 120 students — a turnout that shocked Dzenga, considering it’s a new organization.
“I think one thing that stands out about our club is that we’re really good at making people care about us,” Dzenga said.
Still, Dzenga views these early successes as just the beginning. The first few events have served as a testing ground, with bigger ambitions for the fall semester to come.
Even though the activities for each event vary, the goal is constant interaction—giving students a reason not just to attend, but engage. A variety of vinyl records chosen by club members are awarded as prizes to encourage attendees to branch out from their usual playlists and discover something new.
Record Club’s next event, “Afro Bash,” will take place April 25 in the Back Alley. In collaboration with the African Student Union, the club hopes to build on the momentum of their first gatherings and continue expanding their reach across campus.
“There is no red tape with the Record Club,” Denzga said. “I want to dare clubs to be more innovative and creative, and if that resonates with you, come join us.”
