“We’re just trying to enjoy life longer with the people and music we love.” A simple objective, yet one that has the potential to echo throughout music venues far and wide.
The mind behind this bold, yet straightforward objective is a tastemaker by the name of Jesse Boyer, who, along with his partner Katie Duggan, hope to bring some reinvigorated energy to the dancefloors of Philly with their new collective – Transmit.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jesse when I was living in Philadelphia back in 2021 and have been enjoying his events ever since. At the time, Jesse was working with The Rust as the New York-based collective started making their mark on the city of Brotherly Love. Right off the jump, it was clear to see why such an esteemed crew like The Rust would look to Jesse to carve out the space – the guy knew how to throw a party.
Alongside Ryan Karolyi of Aspire Higher – another crew that River Beats has had the pleasure of covering – Jesse has helped define the scene that now exists in Philly. But as cultures and scenes evolve, so do the people who contribute to it, and as a result, their ambitions.
Today, Jesse walks in a new direction as he steps away from The Rust and into his new role as co-owner of Transmit with his partner Katie Duggan. As a couple who met through music, they hope to use their new collective to help other fans make their own dancefloor memories.
Recently, we got the chance to speak with Jesse regarding his vision for the future and what the Philly music community can expect.
MV: What is Transmit?
JB: We wanted to start a brand that represents our love for electronic music and the community around it. Katie and I met through music and love bringing people together in music-forward settings. With Transmit, you can expect events of all shapes and sizes including our free monthly show – “Feel This” – at Say No More, curated hangs in listening rooms, collaborations with some of our favorite parties in the city like The Shakedown at The Barbary, takeovers at local festivals like Fishtown Music and Arts Festival, and of course Warehouse on Watts parties with our friends Aspire Higher. More to come as far as Transmit x Aspire Higher parties go, but that’s a conversation for later.
MV: When and why did you make the decision to start your own collective?
JB: It’s been a thought for a long time, but really came to fruition in 2024. With The Rust being from NYC and me from Philly, I never felt like I could really dive into the local Philly scene the way I wanted to. I’ve always had a passion for house, jungle, garage, and club music, but for the last five years, I’ve focused more on the bass side of things under The Rust umbrella. They built such a solid foundation in that community, but after a few years dipping my toe into more dancefloor-oriented music with Submersion, I felt like it was time to pivot and get back to my roots.
MV: What will be different and what will be the same?
JB: My work with The Rust evolved to curating a dozen or so shows a year in Philadelphia, mainly at Warehouse on Watts and a few other venues in the city. With Transmit, you’ll see more unique curations at diverse locations with a larger focus on the Philadelphia “club music” side of things rather than heavy bass-driven projects.
MV: In what ways will The Rust, Transmit, and Aspire Higher collaborate as it pertains to Submersion?
JB: The Rust will still be involved in Submersion as a marketing partner. That’s essentially what Aspire Higher, The Rust, and Transmit all are. Yes, Ryan and I represented those brands before and while we worked on Submersion, but Ryan and I individually (outside of our respective companies) own Submersion. We buy and curate talent together, pick the staffing together, are on every call together, and oversee everything about Submersion together. You will also start to see some more Transmit and dancefloor-oriented vibes trickling into the Submersion lineup, but this has been a goal of ours for a while now.
MV: What’s your favorite part about the Philly music scene?
JB: There are so many parties happening here that you’re never short of options. Over the past few years, especially after the trials and tribulations around the pandemic, it has been incredible to see so many passionate collectives and artists working together to create events in Philly. It’s really inspiring to see parties like “The Shakedown” by Worship Records, which has lasted for the past 25 years, or any of the new promotion companies and monthlies work hand in hand to ensure success across the board.
MV: Does Transmit have plans to expand outside of Philadelphia?
JB: Sure! There are loads of collectives out there that we would love to collaborate with. As for right now, our roots are in Philly, and this is where we plan to grow. However, we’re always interested in collaborations or a curated takeover here or there in the right space.
MV: Why is it important for Transmit to be community-oriented?
JB: Community is everything, that’s a given. You feel better being around people who love the same things you do. Community is what drives Transmit, and it’s also proven to make you live longer. We’re just trying to enjoy life longer with the people and music we love.
MV: What makes Transmit events different from others in Philadelphia?
JB: We really want to bridge the gap between collectives and communities throughout the city. There are a lot of acts from the “bass” side of things that also appreciate DJing house/club music and we want to give them an opportunity to experiment with their creativity. So we pride ourselves on being able to provide an outlet and audience that is super receptive to new sounds. I also love pushing artists to step out of their comfort zone to perform sets they don’t usually get booked to perform (just like with our Submersion bookings!).
MV: Will there be any unique immersions, production, or stand-out features for Transmit events?
JB: Transmit will be hosting different events throughout the city, each one tailored to a unique vibe and hosted in various venues. Every space will offer its own character and personality, so we want to embrace that by using the environment to experience new things. No two parties will feel the same.
MV: What impact do you hope to leave on the scene?
JB: We want to help shape a scene that’s not only inclusive and welcoming but also one that prioritizes quality curations and intentional experiences over clout or hype. Long-term, we hope people remember Transmit as a project that gave artists a platform, gave people a space to dance, and encouraged everyone to stay curious about what’s next in electronic music. If we can inspire people to dig deeper into music, support their local scenes, and connect more meaningfully on the dance floor, then we’ve done what we set out to do.
For all future events, like the debut of Transmit’s brand new series “Feel This” at Say No More on Thursday 6/12, and to keep up with everything they’ve got going on, follow the links below.
Follow Transmit:
Facebook | Instagram
“We’re just trying to enjoy life longer with the people and music we love.” A simple objective, yet one that has the potential to echo throughout music venues far and wide.
The mind behind this bold, yet straightforward objective is a tastemaker by the name of Jesse Boyer, who, along with his partner Katie Duggan, hope to bring some reinvigorated energy to the dancefloors of Philly with their new collective – Transmit.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jesse when I was living in Philadelphia back in 2021 and have been enjoying his events ever since. At the time, Jesse was working with The Rust as the New York-based collective started making their mark on the city of Brotherly Love. Right off the jump, it was clear to see why such an esteemed crew like The Rust would look to Jesse to carve out the space – the guy knew how to throw a party.
Alongside Ryan Karolyi of Aspire Higher – another crew that River Beats has had the pleasure of covering – Jesse has helped define the scene that now exists in Philly. But as cultures and scenes evolve, so do the people who contribute to it, and as a result, their ambitions.
Today, Jesse walks in a new direction as he steps away from The Rust and into his new role as co-owner of Transmit with his partner Katie Duggan. As a couple who met through music, they hope to use their new collective to help other fans make their own dancefloor memories.
Recently, we got the chance to speak with Jesse regarding his vision for the future and what the Philly music community can expect.
MV: What is Transmit?
JB: We wanted to start a brand that represents our love for electronic music and the community around it. Katie and I met through music and love bringing people together in music-forward settings. With Transmit, you can expect events of all shapes and sizes including our free monthly show – “Feel This” – at Say No More, curated hangs in listening rooms, collaborations with some of our favorite parties in the city like The Shakedown at The Barbary, takeovers at local festivals like Fishtown Music and Arts Festival, and of course Warehouse on Watts parties with our friends Aspire Higher. More to come as far as Transmit x Aspire Higher parties go, but that’s a conversation for later.
MV: When and why did you make the decision to start your own collective?
JB: It’s been a thought for a long time, but really came to fruition in 2024. With The Rust being from NYC and me from Philly, I never felt like I could really dive into the local Philly scene the way I wanted to. I’ve always had a passion for house, jungle, garage, and club music, but for the last five years, I’ve focused more on the bass side of things under The Rust umbrella. They built such a solid foundation in that community, but after a few years dipping my toe into more dancefloor-oriented music with Submersion, I felt like it was time to pivot and get back to my roots.
MV: What will be different and what will be the same?
JB: My work with The Rust evolved to curating a dozen or so shows a year in Philadelphia, mainly at Warehouse on Watts and a few other venues in the city. With Transmit, you’ll see more unique curations at diverse locations with a larger focus on the Philadelphia “club music” side of things rather than heavy bass-driven projects.
MV: In what ways will The Rust, Transmit, and Aspire Higher collaborate as it pertains to Submersion?
JB: The Rust will still be involved in Submersion as a marketing partner. That’s essentially what Aspire Higher, The Rust, and Transmit all are. Yes, Ryan and I represented those brands before and while we worked on Submersion, but Ryan and I individually (outside of our respective companies) own Submersion. We buy and curate talent together, pick the staffing together, are on every call together, and oversee everything about Submersion together. You will also start to see some more Transmit and dancefloor-oriented vibes trickling into the Submersion lineup, but this has been a goal of ours for a while now.
MV: What’s your favorite part about the Philly music scene?
JB: There are so many parties happening here that you’re never short of options. Over the past few years, especially after the trials and tribulations around the pandemic, it has been incredible to see so many passionate collectives and artists working together to create events in Philly. It’s really inspiring to see parties like “The Shakedown” by Worship Records, which has lasted for the past 25 years, or any of the new promotion companies and monthlies work hand in hand to ensure success across the board.
MV: Does Transmit have plans to expand outside of Philadelphia?
JB: Sure! There are loads of collectives out there that we would love to collaborate with. As for right now, our roots are in Philly, and this is where we plan to grow. However, we’re always interested in collaborations or a curated takeover here or there in the right space.
MV: Why is it important for Transmit to be community-oriented?
JB: Community is everything, that’s a given. You feel better being around people who love the same things you do. Community is what drives Transmit, and it’s also proven to make you live longer. We’re just trying to enjoy life longer with the people and music we love.
MV: What makes Transmit events different from others in Philadelphia?
JB: We really want to bridge the gap between collectives and communities throughout the city. There are a lot of acts from the “bass” side of things that also appreciate DJing house/club music and we want to give them an opportunity to experiment with their creativity. So we pride ourselves on being able to provide an outlet and audience that is super receptive to new sounds. I also love pushing artists to step out of their comfort zone to perform sets they don’t usually get booked to perform (just like with our Submersion bookings!).
MV: Will there be any unique immersions, production, or stand-out features for Transmit events?
JB: Transmit will be hosting different events throughout the city, each one tailored to a unique vibe and hosted in various venues. Every space will offer its own character and personality, so we want to embrace that by using the environment to experience new things. No two parties will feel the same.
MV: What impact do you hope to leave on the scene?
JB: We want to help shape a scene that’s not only inclusive and welcoming but also one that prioritizes quality curations and intentional experiences over clout or hype. Long-term, we hope people remember Transmit as a project that gave artists a platform, gave people a space to dance, and encouraged everyone to stay curious about what’s next in electronic music. If we can inspire people to dig deeper into music, support their local scenes, and connect more meaningfully on the dance floor, then we’ve done what we set out to do.
For all future events, like the debut of Transmit’s brand new series “Feel This” at Say No More on Thursday 6/12, and to keep up with everything they’ve got going on, follow the links below.
Follow Transmit:
Facebook | Instagram
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