Skip to main content

Drummer Feature - Steven Apostolo


It is no secret that many members of the SSS family are from up north - New York to be specific. Steven Apostolo, Split Second Sound's LED Percussionist, comes to us from Queens NY and met Vinny in the summer of 2017. He is the one and only LED Percussionist for SSS and the only one in the Carolinas.

A live percussionist is a very popular add on with DJs in the north, but in Charlotte, it was unheard of...until now. Steven says “Up north, the weddings are a staple. If you have a DJ, you add a percussionist,” but Steven had to start from scratch in the south. “The culture is different here. Not many people understand the percussionist concept, so having that live entertainment is key, and what sets me apart is the LED lights. It is visually eye catching,” Steven says. Steven custom built his LED kit to separate him from the competition. The drummer compliments the DJ and vice versa, but timing is so important. Steven prides himself on not only his marketing skills for expanding in the south, but also being great at keeping up with our DJs beats.


Steven comes from a music family whether it is bass, drums, piano, or keyboard. He instantly gravitated towards drums as a little kid. At just 14 years old, he was in a pop punk band playing at local shows. Fast forward to 18, Steven got involved in tribute bands like Blink 182, Top 40, and Fleetwood Mac. Although he has been in Charlotte since April 2015, there are certain things he does miss about the Empire State like the food and family, but he says he does not miss the traffic and wasted time in the commute to work.


What is Steven’s favorite part of being with SSS? He says it is playing at all of the different venues. “In New York, all of the events were weddings and many at the same place with the same format,” Steven says, “But in North Carolina and with SSS, I get to do weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and at so many different places too with different crowds!” The benefit and satisfaction of people enjoying the music and having a great time is what inspires Steven. He believes in never having an end to practicing. It is all about always trying to improve and never accept the learning is over. “I am always pushing myself to not only be great at what I am good at but trying to perfect what I may not be that great at,” Steven says. So, what motivates him to continue growing within SSS specifically? He is the only person of his kind now, but he always remains at the top of his game by being confident and walking into a gig like it will be the last he ever plays.

If Steven could meet any celebrity, it would be Rod Serling, who is the creator of Twilight Zone. Steven says, “That is my favorite show, and I admire how he was way ahead of his time. He is such a genius!”


Steven plans on continuing to grow his brand because he says the loyalty factor with Split Second Sound is huge. “You can do a sister’s birthday party and then do their cousin’s wedding and so on. SSS has a huge following and positive brand,” Steven says. We could not be happier that Steven came on board with Split Second Sound. He is a part of the family and allows us to have the only DJ and LED Percussionist Combo in the Carolinas. Steven books up quickly, so be sure to contact our office if interested in adding a “live feel” to your upcoming wedding or event! Videos on him in action are available at www.splitsecondsound.com.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DJ Feature - Chris Pounds

While all of SSS MC/DJs are exclusive, Chris Pounds is also our full-time DJ, so we are sure you have seen his face around at many of our events! When first moving to Charlotte, he DJ’d at the same club every Friday for 3 months knowing every song that would be played after the next, after the next. That situation was not allowing Chris to take his craft to the next limit, which led him to inquiring with Split Second. Although his mixing was top notch, he still completed our training process to learn how to run a wedding, master his coordination & interaction, and truly learn the SSS way and understand the SSS brand. Chris’ love for spinning started at a gymnasium party 30 years ago. He saw a friend on the turntables, began learning the fundamentals of spinning & creating music, and started his official DJ career in his early 20s. He puts high emphasis on himself on how to not just get guests on the dance floor, but keep them there all night. He pushes himself to entertain by...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vendor Spotlight of the Week - Mint Museum Uptown

  As one of the most recognized icons in Uptown Charlotte, the Mint Museum Uptown is a name all Charlotteans know and love. The convenience to all the major hotels and convention center makes it sought after by many. Their cultural and high image is unmatched whether hosting an event or touring the museum. Tom Martin serves as the Director of Special Events to oversee all rentals, venue & beverage services, and vendor management marketing. Weddings are the bread and butter of this space due to the very classic, beautiful style that eludes Charlotte history. Between the metal and glass, the contemporary look gives off an urban feel surrounded around all uptown hotels and building. Aside from weddings, The Mint Museum is also home to many large galas, fashion shows, and corporate events. Tom takes great pride in presenting his space as the excitement of the clients that want to hold their events there is very contagious. As a museum, it is a cultural backdrop that create...
Post a Comment
Read more

DJ Spotlight of the Week- Derek Andreas

Let’s shine the spotlight on Derek this week! Derek started DJing at the young age of 15 years old when he took over a friend’s family DJ business. Through going to gigs with them, he fell in love with music. Derek met Vinny while running in a 10K that he was DJing. At first, Vinny did not have a spot for Derek within the company, but Derek was very determined to join the SSS Family and did not give up. He actually showed up at Vinny’s house to play for him and to be considered as a SSS DJ. After seeing his skills and attention to detail, Vinny knew he had to give him a shot. He went through our extensive training process like all DJs with us, and now Derek has been with us for eleven years. He contributes his success in this industry and with Split Second Sound to the dedication of our DJs and the drive to get better at every single event. When asked what characteristics make him stand out as a DJ, Derek said, “I believe in being extremely prepared at each event. I wa...
Post a Comment
Read more