ESPN has hired DJ Rob Swift to spin in-studio for ESPNU’s new live late-night entertainment show UNITE which debuts Monday, Aug. 27 at midnight ET on ESPNU. Swift will be the first daily on-set musical element for an ESPN show and the network’s first in-house DJ.
Swift will mix his own beats using two turntables, in addition to overlaying music, Monday through Friday live from Bristol, Conn., on the set of UNITE. His music selections will accompany the show’s highlights and debate daily.
“We knew music would be a core element for the show and we needed music versatility to branch the spectrum of topics UNITE would cover,” said ESPN music director Kevin Wilson. “We’ve followed Rob’s career for some time now, and when we started planning the music direction for UNITE, it didn’t take long for his name to come up,”
Practicing a DJ style called turntablism, Swift scratches new rhythms and blends using only his hands on vinyl, spinning at variations of 33-1/3 resolutions per minute.
“Swift has staked a claim for himself in the music community with the range of music genres he works with regularly. He brings a fresh perspective to everything from classical Bach to Linkin Park,” said Wilson.
Swift has a long history of collaboration working with musicians such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Herbie Hancock, and is well known for his role with Linkin Park on the mainstream hit “It’s Goin’ Down.” This is the DJ’s first television role. He will join college football analyst Danny Kanell, comedian Reese Waters and sports host Marianela Pereyra as the fourth voice on the show each night. Swift will premiere with the show on Monday, August 27 at midnight on ESPNU.
DJ ROB SWIFT (@DJRobSwift): Full Bio
DJ Rob Swift Photos: https://bit.ly/NrTBoP
About ESPNU
The 24-hour college sports television network airs more than 650 live events annually and offers over 600 original studio shows. ESPNU has seen a steady increase since its inception on March 4, 2005 and is now in over 73 million households. The brand is also available in high definition on ESPNUHD, now in over 20 million homes. The network has long-term carriage agreements with all 10 of the top multichannel TV providers – Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DirecTV (Channel 208), DISH Network (Channel 141), Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon FiOS TV and AT&T U-verse.
-30-
For media interviews: [email protected]
