By: Chey Slowblade
When five individuals with different sounds come together to form a DJ collective, they’re doing more than just that – they’re building a beautiful community around the music.
Since moving to El Paso as an artist, I’ve been intrigued with how the arts and music communities work and flow here. Do people look out for each other? Is there true support for one another? How is everything interconnected? Is there a healthy blend between talent and standing up for something bigger than just oneself? Not wanting to compare this city to others, I’ve found that these particular communities in El Paso have highly gifted individuals with a strong sense of expression–not only through themselves, but also as a reflection of their El Paso and borderlands surroundings.
There’s something young and fresh about the arts and music scenes here as well, especially with the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) nestled in the mountains. An up-and-coming DJ collective called FREXH PRODUCE is a perfect example of all the above. I came across this magnetic group of DJs while bartending at Neighbor Good. They come in promptly, on time, and ready to go every Friday through Sunday as resident DJs. Playing a blend of hits from oldies to pop legends to EDM sounds and R&B – I had to know who these guys were. FREXH PRODUCE is made up of Emi Mayorga, 23, Diego Lopez, 22, Matthew Montes, 23, Joaquin Platt, 23, and Pablo Rangel, 22. I had the pleasure of interviewing one of these DJs, and my now friend, Mayorga.
Photographer: Steven Santamaria
Q: The name FREXH PRODUCE is captivating. What does it mean to you?
Mayorga: Everything we create is new, different, and fresh. It reflects what we embody both as a brand and as individual artists. Our mission is to curate a culture of innovation that remains grounded in the roots of the 915. We live by the ethos “you have to know where you came from to know where you’re going”. The music, the art, and the culture are all about feeling good and staying true to that spirit.
Q: Who first brought you all together as a collective? What shared moment, dream, or realization led you all to form FREXH PRODUCE?
Mayorga: Matthew and I first met at a party and talked about collaborating in some way. A couple of weeks later, Matthew introduced Joaquin and Diego, who were DJing as a duo at the time, to me. From there, the idea of curating events started to take shape, and not long after, Pablo joined to help build the vision.
Photographer: Chey Slowbalde
Q: How do you split creative duties such as beat-making, track selection, visuals, and promotion? Is there a natural division of strengths?
Myorga: Creative duties are shared based on who steps up for a particular role or offers to take it on. What matters most is that everyone in the core team is capable of handling any task when needed. It never feels forced because the flow is natural and our interests are aligned.
Q: What’s one of the most memorable moments you’ve had while playing a set together?
Mayorga: Each event carries its own magic. Right now, the moments that stand out most are when we’re all together as a full group. With Diego and Matthew in Austin and the rest of the team balancing busy schedules, it is rare to align. Whenever it happens, the energy is unmatched and electric.
Photographers: Chey Slowblade, Steven Santamaria, and Xander Salais
Q: Working collaboratively isn’t always easy. What is one challenge you’ve faced as a collective, and how did you power through?
Mayorga: We keep things fair by sticking to majority rules and taking a vote. The priority is always what is best for the brand, and that perspective helps us move forward.
Q: How do you see FREXH PRODUCE contributing to the local music scenes in El Paso and Austin?
Mayorga: We see ourselves as part of the pulse of each city. Our approach is to tune in to what people want and then deliver it while also giving them a taste of who we are.
Q: Do you collaborate with up-and-coming local artists or producers?
Mayorga: Absolutely. Collaboration is at the heart of FREXH PRODUCE. Working with artists and producers in any capacity is always a joy, and lifting each other up is part of the culture we are building.
Q: Describe your dream FREXH PRODUCE party. What’s your ideal setting for one of your events?
Mayorga: My dream FREXH PRODUCE party would be in a garden or super market full of fruits and veggies. Where everyone is dressed in the theme, with lots of colors and variations of what a grocery store fruit section would look like.
Photographer: Chey Slowblade
Q: What’s next for FREXH PRODUCE?
Mayorga: We want to continue growing as a community of artists who are free to express themselves without limitations. We will work with people who not only align with our interests, but also challenge us to be more creative. I like to think of our parties as hospitality. Not only are we making people dance, but our mission is to have regulars at our parties.
Q: Down the road, what do you want FREXH PRODUCE to be known for, locally, regionally, or beyond?
Mayorga: We want to be recognized as a brand and a community that shapes culture through music and connection. If people can look back and say that FREXH PRODUCE made an impact on both the music and the community, then we did our part.
Q: Where does FREXH PRODUCE have residencies in El Paso?
Mayorga: International on Sunday nights, Good Times on Saturdays, and Neighbor Good on Fridays-Sundays.
Q: Where can people follow you on social media?
Mayorga: On Instagram at @frexhproduce , and all of us individually at @emilianooo (Mayorga), @dieggoolopez (Lopez), @j._fletch (Platt), @just.montes (Montes), and @ppablorangell (Rangel).
With a sound like walking through the fruit aisle in the supermarket, there are endless flavors of mixes – colorful, vibrant, and always fresh – when it comes to the DJ collective, FREXH PRODUCE. Their vibration makes hips move, embraces love, and fills the room with energy that’s all about having a good time.
