Meet the girls who created guys night

MEET THE GIRLS WHO CREATED GUYS NIGHT

The two-woman duo Marble takes on sexism in the DJ industry.

WORDS BY Shelbie Goulding

PHOTOS BY Sophia DelCiappo

"Chi Chi” by Trey Songz, featuring Chris Brown, starts to play just before 11 p.m. on Thursday, the time Water Street Tavern starts building a crowd for Guys Night. As many lip-sync by the bar waiting to be served pitcher cocktails, a brunette and blonde female duo named Marble bounce to the beat. Brookelyn Goupil and Jocealyn Leon, both 22 years old, pitched the iconic Guys Night idea to Water Street Tavern two weeks before winter break 2018, and it’s been a social empire since.

The two DJs didn’t start off as Marble. “Everyone kept asking us what our name was and we just kept saying Brooke and Jocealyn,” Goupil says, “but it just didn’t sound right.” They didn’t know until a rapper invited them on tour and asked what their name was. “I went ‘Marble!’” Goupil says. “I’m all about food always and I thought ‘marble cake’ because I’m blonde, she’s brunette.” Both the rapper and Leon ended up liking the name.

Goupil and Leon have been friends since they were born. “Our moms were best friends in high school so then we were forced to be best friends,” Goupil says. “It worked out ‘cause we’ve been best friends ever since.” Growing up, the two would dance, play sports and do cheerleading

together. They both went to Kent State and transferred to Cleveland State together, where Leon finished her associate’s degree in marketing. Goupil is currently finishing her degree in broadcast journalism back at Kent State. They have had almost every job together as well. “My first job and her second job was John Rich Jewelers,” Leon says, “and ever since then we kind of went back and forth with each other.” They both currently work at a club called Magnolia, while Leon works at Burntwood Tavern and Goupil works at First Watch. They DJ together as a side job and a fun hobby.

Marble started mixing music this past summer. The pair got hired by XIV Productions in Cleveland, and that’s where the idea to become DJs began. “The guy that owned the studio was originally a DJ and then he stopped to produce his own music,” Goupil says. Leon was intrigued by the idea, especially after attending a big concert. “The DJ was Zedd and we were blown away,” Leon says. “That’s when it really sparked.”

When they first started mixing, their neighbors didn’t care for the noisy hobby. “We were horrible at first,” Goupil says. “Yeah, we weren’t good,” Leon laughs. With time and practice over several months, they eventually found their sound, which Leon describes as music that gives people energy – something they can sing and dance to. They usually mix current pop and hip-hop songs, along with throwbacks within the same genres. After finding their sound, they got their first gig.

While they wouldn’t consider the first gig perfect, it was a learning experience. It was at a restaurant named Granite City: a nice, sit-down restaurant. “People were sitting and eating a nice steak and we were like, ‘Wow, this place is nice and serious. What are we about to play?’” Leon says. “There were tablecloths and candles lit. This place was so boujee,” Goupil agrees. “Like bro, we don’t have Frank Sinatra.” After that, the gigs got better as they continued to play at colleges, clubs and restaurants.

The DJ duo Marble mix a playlist at Guys Night.

Leon says there are not many DJ duos in the industry, especially female duos. “We’ve definitely seen difficulties recently,” Leon says. “We like to present ourselves in a professional way, and we want to be given the same opportunities as guys.” Some female DJs mix music in bikinis, but that’s not the way Marble wants to be seen. “We want to be up there with them but not be seen as sexual objects,” Leon says. “We just want people to have a good time and enjoy our music.” She says their style is low-key. The two bounce off of one another’s energy in order to keep their style balanced, fun and professional.

Goupil says she sees people mock her on social media as well. “We’re down-to-earth people,” Goupil says. “People get an idea of who we are before they even talk to us.”

Regardless, the duo keeps bouncing to the beat and mixing music, ignoring the sexism and social media trolls. They plan to stay strong and make Thursday nights at Water Street Tavern a good time for college students.

SHELBIE GOULDING | sgouldi1@kent.edu