As each a longtime DJ and a talented metalsmith, Esteban Joseph is bringing one thing totally distinctive to the digital music group: intricate, handcrafted USB necklaces.
Glossy, sturdy and in contrast to anything in the marketplace, Esteban’s work has shortly gained recognition, turning his small enterprise right into a coveted model. His bespoke designs have caught the eye of John Summit, Diplo, RÜFÜS DU SOL’s Jon George and Keinemusik’s Rampa, amongst many others.
They are much greater than mere equipment. They’re meticulously crafted funding items designed to be each useful and visually putting.
Earlier than launching his jewellery enterprise, Esteban was an expert photographer and content material creator, working with manufacturers throughout the globe. Whereas profitable, he discovered himself feeling unfulfilled, he tells EDM.com, and continuously creating for others fairly than for himself.
Round that point, he began immersing himself within the digital dance music scene, attending raves and DJing for enjoyable. The shift in perspective led him to discover metalsmithing by advantage of a course at a group studio in Chicago.
Inside two weeks, he knew he had discovered his true artistic path. He spent years refining his craft, investing in gear and growing items for pals earlier than finally taking the leap into full-time jewellery design 9 years in the past.
As a DJ, Esteban seen what number of artists sported fundamental plastic USB drives round their necks, seeing a possibility to raise the look whereas sustaining the practicality of a DJ’s most important software. So he started designing USB necklaces that blended performance with inventive craftsmanship, and the response was speedy.
c/o Esteban Joseph
What began as a private undertaking quickly advanced right into a full-fledged enterprise, with DJs worldwide in search of out his distinctive designs. Esteban has since created a whole lot of items, every one distinct, reflecting his one-of-a-kind fusion of jewellery and expertise. His background as a photographer and filmmaker additionally permits him to carry an inventive storytelling aspect to his model, capturing his items in a means that resonates with the dance music group.
“I put everything into each piece I create, knowing that when someone wears it, it becomes a representation of me out in the world,” he says.
Esteban approaches his designs with an engineer’s mindset, making certain that each piece is as useful as it’s lovely. His USBs are fashionable but in addition constructed to final, crafted utilizing premium supplies. He says he prioritizes sturdiness and pace, incorporating high-performance SanDisk Excessive Professional {hardware}, the identical expertise trusted by DJs at main festivals.
Most of the drives he makes use of are water resistant, shockproof and temperature-proof, with learn speeds of as much as 400MB per second. He presents a spread of storage choices, from 256GB and 512GB drives to a 1TB solid-state USB 3.2 drive, making certain that DJs have the reliability and capability they want for his or her units.
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His artistic course of is as distinctive as his designs. He presents each customized items and ready-to-ship models, permitting for a mixture of construction and spontaneity. For customized orders, he collaborates intently with purchasers to carry their visions to life, with costs beginning at $1,000 for silver and $2,000 for gold.
His ready-to-ship items typically start with inspiration from a selected gemstone. Quite than sketching or planning extensively, he works intuitively, he says, to let let the supplies information the ultimate design. This method permits each bit to really feel deeply private and one-of-a-kind.
“This process is creatively satisfying because there are no constraints, allowing me to really connect with the work,” he explains. “Making handmade jewelry is an ancient craft, and mastering the alchemy of turning a stone into a finished piece is a deeply rewarding process. Understanding the materials, like how metal reacts to heat and stress, requires patience and a deep connection to the craft.”
A slew of main DJs have grow to be followers of Esteban’s work, with collaborations forming naturally over time. DJ Tennis was one among his first main supporters, commissioning customized USBs for his Life and Dying label and incorporating its distinctive chook aesthetic. Diplo was referred by RÜFÜS DU SOL and really wore his necklace to Tremendous Bowl LIX, celebrating the win of his hometown Philadelphia Eagles together with his USB round his neck. These collaborations have continued to develop, with artists often reaching out for brand new designs.
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As his model continues to develop, Esteban is contemplating methods to develop whereas sustaining the standard and craftsmanship that set his items aside. Whereas he at the moment crafts each piece himself, he is exploring the thought of launching a extra reasonably priced line that retains the identical degree of artistry however is extra accessible to a wider viewers.
He takes pleasure in creating not simply USB necklaces, but in addition distinctive bracelets, rings and different jewellery items. His objective is to be a one-stop store for curated model, the place somebody who buys a USB necklace may additionally uncover the right companion piece to enhance it.
For now, Esteban stays devoted to his craft, mixing his love for dance music and jewellery into one thing really one-of-a-kind. Yow will discover out extra at his web site.
