Get To Know: Between Friends & DJ Diesel

Welcome back Penn Staters!

As the first week of classes comes to an end, one of University Parks most exciting events is getting ready to take place on the HUB Lawn. LightsUp, a joint effort between SPA (Student Programming Association) and Movin’ On is back and has a great night planned.

BETWEEN FRIENDS

BETWEEN FRIENDS, the iconic sibling duo made up of Savannah and Brandon Hudson, is the opener for the night following the amazing student acts. BETWEEN FRIENDS has been all over the country this year, playing a whole slew of different types of shows. From smaller college shows to the Bud Light stage at Lollapalooza, this duo has picked up quite a bit of attention from their irresistible charm and intriguing sound.

Their 2025 album, “WOW!” was the duo's fourth album and created a lot of conversation around their work. Hits like “JAM!” and “You & Me Time” began to pop up all over the place, and other songs like “iloveyou” and “affection” from their 2019 EP “we just need some time together” have also consistently popped up on the list of their most popular songs.

Coming fresh off festival season and playing some big stages like Gov Ball, Osheaga, and Lollapalooza, BETWEEN FRIENDS has received a ton of attention. These two have been creating all kinds of conversations, and are continuing to push new ideas of what pop music could sound like.   

DJ DIESEL

Keeping up with the first week back excitement, the headlining act for LightsUp is none other than DJ Diesel aka NBA legend, Shaquille O’Neal. Now I’m sure the history of Shaq is something that most people are aware of, having a 19-year career in the NBA, four-time NBA Champion, and all around basketball icon. Along with being an icon, Shaq has a long list of “side quests” that he is known for, and taking on the DJ Diesel title is easily his most exciting one.

Having the catchphrase, “Where is my moshpit”, DJ Diesel consistently brings the heat to every set he puts on. Solidifying his name in the EDM world has been nothing short of impressive, having a solid hip-hop and dubstep sound and at this point, over 10 years of experience playing some of the biggest stages in not only the EDM world but in music as a whole.

DJ Diesel has a list of projects he helped produce alongside artists like Lil Jon, Steve Aoki and Blackway. Shaq is a legend in almost every sense of the world, and his love to the craft of making music all while being a basketball icon is something that makes him one of the more intriguing artists around today.

Make sure you stop by and catch these two on Friday, with student performers starting at 6 p.m. and BETWEEN FRIENDS opening at 7 p.m. with Shaq following. See you there, Penn State!