As each a longtime DJ and a talented metalsmith, Esteban Joseph is bringing one thing solely distinctive to the digital music neighborhood: intricate, handcrafted USB necklaces.
Glossy, sturdy and in contrast to the rest in the marketplace, Esteban’s work has rapidly 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 practical and visually putting.
Earlier than launching his jewellery enterprise, Esteban was knowledgeable photographer and content material creator, working with manufacturers throughout the globe. Whereas profitable, he discovered himself feeling unfulfilled, he tells EDM.com, and always creating for others relatively 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 neighborhood 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 in the end taking the leap into full-time jewellery design 9 years in the past.
As a DJ, Esteban observed what number of artists sported primary 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 creative craftsmanship, and the response was quick.
c/o Esteban Joseph
What began as a private mission quickly developed 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 know-how. His background as a photographer and filmmaker additionally permits him to convey an inventive storytelling ingredient to his model, capturing his items in a means that resonates with the dance music neighborhood.
“I put every little thing into every bit I create, figuring out that when somebody wears it, it turns into a illustration of me out on the planet,” he says.
Esteban approaches his designs with an engineer’s mindset, making certain that each piece is as practical as it’s stunning. His USBs are trendy but additionally constructed to final, crafted utilizing premium supplies. He says he prioritizes sturdiness and velocity, incorporating high-performance SanDisk Excessive Professional {hardware}, the identical know-how trusted by DJs at main festivals.
Most of the drives he makes use of are waterproof, shockproof and temperature-proof, with learn speeds of as much as 400MB per second. He affords a variety 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 affords each customized items and ready-to-ship items, permitting for a mixture of construction and spontaneity. For customized orders, he collaborates carefully with purchasers to convey their visions to life, with costs beginning at $1,000 for silver and $2,000 for gold.
His ready-to-ship items usually start with inspiration from a selected gemstone. Moderately than sketching or planning extensively, he works intuitively, he says, to let let the supplies information the ultimate design. This method permits every bit to really feel deeply private and one-of-a-kind.
“This course of is creatively satisfying as a result of there are not any constraints, permitting me to essentially join with the work,” he explains. “Making handmade jewellery is an historic craft, and mastering the alchemy of turning a stone right into a completed piece is a deeply rewarding course of. Understanding the supplies, like how metallic reacts to warmth and stress, requires persistence and a deep connection to the craft.”
A slew of main DJs have change into followers of Esteban’s work, with collaborations forming naturally over time. DJ Tennis was considered one of his first main supporters, commissioning customized USBs for his Life and Loss of life label and incorporating its distinctive chicken aesthetic. Diplo was referred by way of RÜFÜS DU SOL and truly wore his necklace to Tremendous Bowl LIX, celebrating the win of his hometown Philadelphia Eagles along with his USB round his neck. These collaborations have continued to broaden, with artists recurrently reaching out for brand new designs.
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As his model continues to develop, Esteban is contemplating methods to broaden whereas sustaining the standard and craftsmanship that set his items aside. Whereas he at the moment crafts every bit himself, he is exploring the thought of launching a extra inexpensive 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 additionally distinctive bracelets, rings and different jewellery items. His purpose is to be a one-stop store for curated model, the place somebody who buys a USB necklace may also uncover the right companion piece to enrich 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. You will discover out extra at his website.
