By Athena Flores, Aug. 27, 2024
Cal Poly Pomona student artists ANT and Zombieloaf pumped up a sold-out crowd at Bronco Fusion.
CPP’s Bronco Fusion provides an opportunity for students to see some of their favorite artists perform live. However, the event also introduces the audience to emerging CPP artists and sheds light on the talent featured throughout the campus community. This year is no exception as two of CPP’s very own performed alongside Grammy-nominated rapper JID.
DJ ANT and rock band Zombieloaf answered a few questions to give the audience a better idea of who they are and where they hope to go as both artists and individuals.
Anthony Robbins aka ANT
By day, criminology student Anthony Robbins is a self-proclaimed introvert and lives an average student life. However, at night, Robbins transforms into a DJ performing genres from house to techno to reggaeton. Starting his career just under a year ago, Robbins has performed at numerous events and is beginning to make a name for himself. Going by his stage name, ANT, Robbins brings an outpour of rhythm and energy as soon as he steps behind his equipment.
Q: What led to the discovery of your passion for performing music?
A: I went to my first festival, and I fell in love with house music. My childhood friend also started DJing and wanted me to do it because an iron sharpens an iron. We just wanted to see who could do better. I also joined a fraternity, and like every event had the worst music out possible, and I just thought I could do better and learn on my own. I think that energy that you get when you get the crowd live and jumping is so contagious. I just crave it. That’s how I knew I really loved doing this.
Q: What does your creative process look like when you are DJing?
A: I think it just depends on your environment. For instance, if it’s Bronco Fusion, I know the demographic is very different. Not everyone just listens to EDM or rap, so the goal is to bring different elements together in one set. If I’m playing at a venue or an event where it’s just EDM, you just get creative and think what are some good songs they haven’t heard? It’s also about reading the room. If you see people aren’t vibing to what you’re playing, change it up.
Q: How does your personality shine through to your artist identity and the music you make?
A: It’s very different honestly. In person, I’m very introverted, but on the stage, I get very energetic and the other side of me comes out. I can get really awkward when I’m out, but on stage, it’s kind of how I can express my full self and not care what anybody else thinks. Once I play those first two songs, and I get the rhythm and the feel of the crowd, I just come out.
Q: How did this opportunity come to you and how do you feel about performing at Bronco Fusion?
A: I feel like I almost manifested it. When I first went to Bronco Fusion two years ago, I had a blast. I thought of it as a goal to achieve in college and I just kept telling myself I would love to play here. I became friends with the opener from last year, and he kind of told me how he did it and that only motivated me to work harder and network with CPP students.
It sounds like a fun challenge. As long as the crowd likes it and as long as I know that I gave it a hundred percent, I’m happy no matter what.
Q: How do you think you have grown as an artist in such a short time?
A: I wouldn’t say it’s a lot, but it’s a really good start. There’s always going to be people better than you, and there’s always going to be people mentoring you. You always have to stay learning. For example, I went from DJing rap to house to techno to Latin. It just changes, but that also makes you grow, learning the art of different music and the importance of it.
Zombieloaf
Made up of CPP students Damian Torres and Jack Blake and accompanying non-CPP friends Xander Vasquez and Dan Pastor, Zombieloaf is a band reminiscent of ‘90s grunge legends like Sound Garden and Pearl Jam. Whether it is diving off the stage into the crowd or singing songs about mac and cheese, the band’s carefree and energetic personality is evident in their performances.
Q: Would you say everyone in the band has different personalities from each other? How do they shine through in your music?
Damien Torres: I think we all do have our own unique personalities and bring something different to the band, but at the same time it is super simple for us to get along. I think we’re all just pretty good at what we do. Like Jack is always such a beast; he just comes out doing some crazy stuff (on the drums). And Dan has a visual aura, so he’s about the performance, not just the music. And I think me and Xander are just there having a good time.
Q: What is the creative process like when you are writing and making music?
DT: It kind of depends. Sometimes we make it individually and bring it to the group, and other times we just like jam something out. We just wrote a song recently that we made in the studio, and we just started playing and we all thought, “Yo, that’s the one.” So, we just float off of that energy. As we play it together, we just work out the kinks.
Jack Blake: It’s like 30 minutes of talking then practice and then another 30 minutes of talking.
Q: How do you feel about performing at Bronco Fusion?
DT: I’m a little nervous but I’m like more excited than I am nervous. Once we go up there, it (the nerves) usually go away and we just get in the zone.
Q: Since you are all students, are there any parallels between your student life and your passion for music?
JB: Lots of parallels. Damian and I both do music for our schooling. It’s not like having to switch your mind back and forth because I feel like I’m always in a mindset with music and school. It’s not like I have to focus on one and watch the other fall apart.
Xander Vasquez: A lot of things. I get tired, but it’s still cool because it’s what we love to do. Sometimes it can feel like a job because I’ve been working all day and then driving all day and then going to practice, but I don’t think of it as a bad thing because we all really believe in what we’re doing, and it never feels not worth it.
Q: What do you hope to gain from this experience?
JB: I would love to tour. I feel like we’re just starting from my point of view. It feels like after each set, we just get more and more positive reactions and more people enjoying what we’re doing. So, it does feel like an upward trajectory, but we’ll see what happens. If you look too far into the future, you’ll just make yourself disappointed because it doesn’t always play out how you expect it. Every time we get a new offer, it is a surprise and it’s super exciting.
Feature images courtesy of Anthony Robbins and Zombieloaf