Cole T

The team at Coat Check are thrilled to introduce Cole Terrazas, a.k.a. Cole T, on this month’s edition of editorials featuring rising stars and underground talent. Cole is a Los Angeles native, yet well-traveled DJ and producer. He has performed in dance music hot spots around the world such as Miami, Ibiza, New York City, and Chicago. Growing up in a musically inclined family and surrounded by the melting pot of cultural influence that shapes Los Angeles, Cole is the definition of being the product of one’s environment. His sound, his approach to the art of DJing, and his ability to connect with any crowd, both large and small, are all a reflection of this.

Cole’s interest in music, and in sound systems in particular, began at a very young age while growing up in Los Feliz and Glendale, CA. His parents constantly brought him to concerts of all genres and sizes, but it wasn’t until he experienced The Rolling Stones at Dodger Stadium that he felt the true power of a proper production. The early beginnings of his DJ career began with experimenting in mixing vinyl at home. In 7th grade, Cole’s father purchased him his first digital mixing board with the hopes of having him as a resident family-party DJ, and for Cole to begin taking on gigs wherever he could. With the drastic increase in accessibility to music via the internet, Cole became obsessed with educating himself on dance music both of past and present: “ Learning about this whole culture became my school outside of school.”

Before finding success as a DJ, Cole’s career as a performer began as a singer and guitarist. He earned the incredible opportunity of back-up singing for rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at their 2013 Coachella performance. Cole would continue for a short stint in rock leading a small band, before eventually organizing his first event as a DJ. As many first events go, Cole described it as: “ Completely illegal. Completely epic. ” Set in a local Los Angeles skate shop with blacked out windows, drinks hidden from sight, and a pair of dads (including his own) running security, you can’t ask for a better beginning to a career as a DJ. Playing everything from house to hip hop to Jamaican dancehall tracks and trap edits, Cole felt this was the first time he truly connected with his audience and it inspired him to pursue the path he is on today.

In true Southern Californian music-lover’s fashion, Cole began attending (sneaking into) Coachella in 8th grade, and has returned nearly every year since. It was here that his interest in and passion to be a part of dance music would truly be solidified. When asked how this experience made him feel, Cole responded with: “Free and connected - artists are allowed to break barriers sonically and it gave me the opportunity to listen to audio systems pushing frequencies I enjoyed. I need to feel bass throughout my body at a show.” As many of us would agree, there is no feeling quite like this one, and it left Cole in a state of fascination. He remembers thinking:

“ So this is what they do here? I want to do what he is doing… I don’t understand all of it, but it seems okay not to. I feel connected.”

As Cole continued to experiment and discover his identity as an artist, he found the missing piece to the puzzle in Ibiza, where he chose to move for a full summer season. Here he would play unique and intimate after-parties, network, and build relationships with some of his favorite names in the industry. “ Electronic music showed me just how big the world is, and that through it I could have the opportunity to not only travel and see amazing things, but be surrounded by amazing musicians and creatives while doing it.” Cole’s appreciation for dance music and the community that surrounds it grew immensely after this experience, heavily impacting his sound and his personal development.

When asked to describe his musical style, Cole seeks to find a balance between experimentation and comfortability. Within that balance lies the groove, the energy, and the looseness emblematic of his musical experiences and multiculturalism. “I love the heavy sounds of Germany, the glitchy minimal grooves of Romania, the dance and club culture of Spain, the soul and vocals from New York, and the West Coast Hip Hop basslines from Los Angeles.” Combine all of these elements, and you get the powerful, versatile, and infectious sound that defines Cole T. “I enjoy the party,” Cole says. “There is a time and a place for serious somber reflection at shows, but my events are not currently for that. My live sound is for release, both physically and emotionally.”

Learning the ropes on vinyl prior to venturing into digital gave Cole a foundation that not many artists possess in today’s scene. “This made me have a unique style in the way I mix. Digital can be so static and I love the loose, unpredictable nature of vinyl which I carry through my mixes. I love syncopation, layering tracks to create something new in a live set, breaking rules - purposely having things off time and f****** things up just to bring them all back together, a beautiful tension into resolution.” Cole continued to describe his style as a DJ and addressed the topic of pre-planning a set, which is very common particularly as DJ’s reach the top tier of fame: “Djing for me is an art form and it’s important to have all the paintbrushes at your disposal - but I never would be interested in tracing a painting, just like I would never be interested in replaying a set or pre planning to the point where it looses the magic spark that can only be created in that moment.”

Many artists draw inspiration from others’ music, both recorded and live, but what completes an artist and makes them stand out is the way they carry themselves - “the music is just one part, but their swag, their brand, their bravado completes them” as Cole describes it. Amongst his favorites, and a man who is known for this kind of aura and presence, is 50 Cent. “He showed me that there is more to being an artist than just your music.” Sonically, Cole draws inspiration from legendary DJ and producer Luciano, who he admires for his “unparalleled authenticity” and a catalog that matches the caliber of his live performances. “A true pioneer of the early minimal sound, he showed me how atmospheric elements can create a world for groove to live within.” Others that Cole is influenced by are house heavyweights like Loco Dice, who he models his DJing style use of FX after, and Kerri Chandler, whose productions proved to Cole that “you don’t have to sacrifice power for soul - they can live together in a harmonious groove.”

There is no better learning opportunity than seeing the best in the business perform in person. When asked about transformative experiences like these, Cole had three that instantly came to mind. The first was Ricardo Villalobos at Space Park Miami in May 2021. At a time when much of California’s music scene was still struggling to recover from the pandemic, Cole needed an escape and the Real Ricardistas provided him with one. Cole was in awe of his “daring and relentless style combined with his unique stage presence… it was a rollercoaster of a set.” The next was Music On Pacha in 2022, where Cole saw a b2b featuring two of his all-time favorites Loco Dice and dance music icon Marco Carola. Finally, and on the more intimate side of events, Cole was present for Apollonia’s debut in his home city with Dialogue LA. The legendary trio consists of Dyed Soundorom, Dan Ghenacia, and Shonky, who combine for a one-of-a-kind sound played mostly on vinyl.

In terms of his own events and performances, Cole has no preference for venue or crowd size as long two boxes are checked: “both need a good sound system and a crowd that’s open to dance and explore themselves through music.” Cole has had a busy end to 2023 and start to 2024; he played a multitude of shows in Miami for Art Basel and Miami Music Week alongside East End Dubs, Chase West & Beltran at Sound LA, and House of Blues Chicago for Cinco de Mayo. Looking down the road, Cole’s top pick for places to perform is the DC10 Terrace for Circoloco Ibiza.“The Terrace is at the core of dance music as we know it today. Listen to any live set of Tania Vulcano from the 2000’s there… absurd.” Cole’s many hours spent dancing here have inspired him to one day return the favor.

Cole is also the founder and collaborator with Relentless Rinse (RR), “a party series featuring an elevated vibe and party-centric atmosphere without the trashy or stuck-up energy that LA sometimes attracts.” When it comes to production, Cole sees himself as a bit of a lone warrior. When it comes to production, Cole finds a balance between being a self-proclaimed lone warrior and a collaborator. “It’s important for me to strip back the unnecessary and force myself to dedicate personal time in the studio, allowing me to naturally experiment and make mistakes.” However, future collabs are in the works, and Cole has several label releases planned for the end of the summer that have received support from the likes of Marco Carola and the Martinez Brothers. 

When asked for his perspective on the current scene, Cole responded by sharing what many have come to realize with the rise of dance music in the last several years: “DJing has never been more accessible or oversaturated.” Yet, what many purists and fanatics fail to recognize is: “This is not reason to complain. People have different tastes and preferences, but I know what kind of party is my kind of party.” 

It is important to remember that dance music is meant to be shared, and we all must embrace this mentality as our fan base and family continues to grow. That being said, staying true to your sound and your style are paramount in this ever-changing industry, and Cole’s ability to do just this will continue to propel his career forward. The team at Coat Check is very excited to see what the future holds, and we look forward to the next time we share the stage or the dancefloor with Cole T.

Cole has a busy summer schedule ahead, so if you are lucky enough to be in town for one of these you will not regret attending. For our New York followers: Cole T will be on the ticket for Fisher’s July 5th Tek Support show, hosted at their new venue The Storehouse, which was built in collaboration with the team from legendary British nightclub Printworks. The following night on July 6th, Cole will be making his debut at Laissez Faire NYC, an “eclectic and unapologetic” club featuring a surround-sound 4-point Danley Sound Labs system. And finally, Cole will be returning home on July 12th to headline a Los Angeles show near the beach presented by RR. Stay tuned for updates.