In the dynamic world of entertainment, where wedding and event music often falls into the clichéd or formulaic, Dart Collective has carved a distinctive niche, redefining the boundaries of live music and entertainment. From its inception in 2013 as a response to the founders’ struggles in finding genuine musical connections for their own weddings, Dart Collective has evolved into a powerhouse of talent and a pool of the best entertainers for parties and couples planning their wedding.

Over the past ten years, Dart Collective has grown into a live music and entertainment company boasting a refined roster of artists, many of whom tour with chart-topping icons when not collaborating with Dart. From intimate gatherings to high-profile events, including appearances at the White House and serving notable clients like Sydney Sweeney, Joey King, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Dart has become synonymous with elevating events through personalized musical experiences. Learn more about how this group came to be, and why they’ve become the ultimate choice for live music at weddings below.

Can you provide some insights into Dart’s journey from its inception as an exclusive DJ collective in 2013 to its current status? How has Dart evolved over the past 10 years?

Before Dart Collective began, we (Jesse Kivel and Michael David) were touring internationally with our own respective bands. The time came when we were both getting married, and we each realized there was no reliable way to hire performers that we’d actually connect with on a musical level. Our choices were a club DJ that we’d hope was professional – or a cheesy wedding singer who didn’t get the kind of music we wanted to hear. This struck the idea to create a collective that would subsidize artist income with private events and weddings in between touring. We had accrued an assortment of talented friends along our musical journeys, and knew we could get started with an aesthetically-minded, professional vinyl DJ set that fit weddings. 

What started as a DJ collective grew to include numerous live musicians and performers, all with the same goal of offering a more customized and personal approach to music curation at weddings and special events. There was a path for service that could be even more elevated, unique and stylish; a chance to bend an industry that hadn’t moved in a more creative way. This evolution allowed us to offer a more diverse range of entertainment services and experiences, transcending traditional wedding entertainment, and providing access to a caliber of talent that is otherwise hard to reach. 

As a result, Dart Collective was established in 2013 as a live music and entertainment company with a completely refined roster of artists – many who choose to perform with Dart when they aren’t on tour with chart-topping icons like Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Leon Bridges, The Killers and many more. Over the last decade, we’ve been fortunate enough to partner with esteemed event producers and private clients from the deserts of Morocco to private islands – even the White House. We often serve high-profile clients such as Sydney Sweeney, Joey King, Lily Collins and Gwyneth Paltrow, Formula 1 x Ferrari, Van Cleef, Capital One, among many other NDA, top tier clients.

Dart offers a wide range of music services, from DJs and bands to sound technicians. Could you elaborate on the motivation behind this diversified approach and how it benefits your clients?

Touring with renowned names like Beyoncé or opening for artists like Kacey Musgraves might seem glamorous, but the reality is that substantial portions of earnings go to managers, booking agents, audio and tech crews, and production teams. Additionally, there’s pressure to immediately start working on the next album once a tour concludes. Despite the promise of streaming revenue, artists often receive a minimal fraction per stream, making it challenging to sustain their livelihood. Our motivation behind Dart on the artist side is to provide a platform for artists to showcase their talents in intimate settings, flexibly filling the gap between major tours. This unique blend of experienced artists from various musical backgrounds ensures that our clients receive top-notch entertainment while also supporting talented musicians seeking stability beyond the unpredictable music industry economics.

This approach also benefits our motivation to deliver a holistic and personalized musical experience for clients. Whether it’s the mood-setting expertise of our DJs, the live energy of our bands, or the flawless audio delivered by our sound technicians, we offer more than just a service. It’s more than just getting people on the dance floor; it’s the responsibility of making events that are memorable, while remaining truly reflective of a client’s unique tastes and visions. 

You mention providing a customized and personal approach to music curation for weddings and special events. Could you share some examples of how Dart tailors its music services to create unique experiences for clients?

At Dart, we are all working DJs and musicians. Music is our passion and we want to share it with you and your guests, whether that means digging through vinyl crates for that one song you have to have, or customizing a repertoire list for one of our bands to flawlessly execute, our main goal here is to elevate and personalize your event so that it uniquely represents you. Despite our attention to detail, we are not elitists and we do not take ourselves too seriously. These events are supposed to be fun, inclusive experiences and we want to only enhance that feeling by playing the best music we can. Whether it’s getting down to LCD Soundsystem or setting the mood with Paul Simon, we want to offer something a little different that will still connect with you and your guests.

For us, customization goes beyond the surface level. It’s about understanding your nuanced music preferences, so we take the time to connect with you, to learn about that one song that holds a special place in your heart, or the tracks that make you want to dance like nobody’s watching. Our goal is to strike the right balance between universal hits that get everyone grooving and more ambitious, personal songs that resonate with you on a profound level. Your event shouldn’t just be a playlist; it should be a soundtrack that tells your story.

One of Dart’s key principles is the passion for music shared by all team members. Can you tell us more about how this passion translates into the work Dart does for its clients?

Our team’s shared passion for music is the driving force behind every event we curate. It’s not just about playing tunes or serving as a background element; it’s about creating an immersive sensory experience that resonates deeply with our client’s unique styles and preferences. We’re able to offer this because Dart provides a sense of belonging and connectivity, turning what can be an isolating job into a collaborative and communal experience. Stepping cold onto a stage to perform at one of the most memorable days of someone’s life can have a certain emotional intensity that comes with it. Having this community and logistical machine behind allows for the relationship between musicians, DJs, and guests to be more easeful and collaborative in nature. Today’s most discerning party host wants music to actually be a pillar of their event, and our artists love this because it’s an infusion of two-way energy – similar to what they get on world-class stages, but in a more intimate setting. 

Dart strives to enhance events without taking itself too seriously. How do you strike a balance between providing high-quality music and ensuring that the events remain fun and inclusive experiences?

We believe in enhancing events without losing the essence of celebration. While we prioritize high-quality music, we ensure that our events are infused with an atmosphere of joy and inclusivity. Our curated playlists and live performances are designed to cater to diverse tastes, fostering an environment where guests not only listen but also engage and revel in the music for that night to remember where you just get completely absorbed in the moment. While our understanding of music could bring us into far flung and esoteric musical spaces, we keep it fun and inclusive by not taking ourselves too seriously and making sure the music we select has a “big tent” approach. Meaning we are picking cool, well curated songs that also connect with the broader crowd.

What is Dart’s process for digging through vinyl crates or customizing a repertoire list to meet the specific requests and preferences of clients?

When it comes to customizing music, we’re meticulous. We take the time to understand our clients’ musical tastes, delving into their requests and preferences. Our musicians have a remarkable ability to resonate with what couples genuinely love. By tapping into this exceptional talent, our clients, whether hosting private parties or weddings, feel like they’ve discovered an exclusive gem. They get to enjoy the unparalleled skills of world-class artists they recognize, leaving their guests in awe. We also go beyond traditional norms, incorporating an aesthetic blend of unparalleled sound, costume, and cinematic flair.

With performers located in different states, how does Dart ensure a consistent and high-quality service across various locations? Are there any special considerations for destination clients?

We’ve mastered the art of delivering a consistent and high-quality service, regardless of location, thanks to our network of exceptional artists and technicians.

Dart’s goal is to elevate and personalize events so they uniquely represent clients. Could you share a memorable success story where Dart successfully achieved this for a client?

For Joey King’s wedding, Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix) triggered the wildest moment of the entire three-day wedding weekend. (They had just re-entered the after-party space after leaping, fully clothed, into the pool. And everyone got swept away in this moment.)