As the afternoon sun shines on the Après Chalet patio of the Goldener Hirsch restaurant, groups of thirsty skiers and passersby find themselves walking to the beat of the music blasting through the speakers. As the après DJ, C3R3AL, spins tracks to match the crowd’s energy with music spanning ge nres and generations, you would never know that the face behind the booth is just 11 years old. Marley Meddock, that’s his regular kid name, began his first season as an après DJ in January at Goldener Hirsch, where he plays from 2 to 4 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. “We were sitting in the car listening to house music, and Marley started bouncing his head and humming along. I told him, ‘You could learn how to play this, if you like it,’ and his eyes just lit up,” said Matthew Meddock, Marley’s dad. What started with a car ride and a shared love of house music turned into a fateful connection with Spencer Flower, a former DJ who toured club circuits across the before settling down next door, launching Marley from beat-matching basics to spinning sets for Park City ski crowds. “I got into electronic music when it was all getting started almost 20 years ago,” said Flower. “I taught myself to DJ and ended up doing it for 16 years. I’ve been out of it for probably six years now, and got sucked right back in when Marley wanted to learn.” Marley’s introduction to mixing beats began in the garage with Flower’s decade-old equipment, which matches beats exclusively by audio rather than the modern equivalent with often easier-to-learn visual cues. Marley Meddock practicing in his garage. Credit: Photo courtesy of Summer Meddock“It was hard at first. The beats would all be going at once and the two songs playing at the same time with the words singing at the same time, and it was a lot. I started learning that if you had the bass down, then it could sound better together and kept learning tips like that. I felt like I was getting better,” said Marley. Once Marley figured out audio matching beats and working on mixing tunes with Spencer the old school way, the pair moved onto the modern equipment, which Marley mastered in a day, said Flower. A few months of practice, professional business meetings with the Goldener Hirsch team and a few logo designs later, C3R3AL launched his career, playing for his first-ever audience at the restaurant patio on Jan. 2. “That was a really good crowd. It was a whole ton of random people I didn’t know but they were dancing and having a good time, and it helps make me less nervous,” said Marley. The name C3R3AL comes from Marley Meddocks love for the breakfast food. He said he can see firing off cereal cannons into the crowd in the future. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordAs he got used to playing for people two, three and more times his age, he noticed his confidence growing. From interacting with new people, adults and navigating professional relationships to feeling steady in his own capabilities as a music master, Marley’s confidence translated across other aspects of his life, even making him a better skier, he said. “I find it a lot easier to talk to people now. At the beginning, people would say, ‘Good job!’ or come up to say hello, and I would just nod at them and say thanks, but felt really shy. But I’m a lot more comfortable with people and interacting,” he said. Matthew and Summer Meddock, Marley’s mom, attend every set, often with other friends and family to support Marley. Some of C3R3AL’s family dancing to his set in February. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park Record“It’s been a learning lesson at times, him being in a scene of adults. There are a lot of teaching moments, but it’s always fun when people are out there enjoying it,” said Summer. “It’s neat to watch him step into something that would make me, as an adult, nervous and watching him have that courage. It is so valuable to take those opportunities when they present themselves, teaching about people and what he can bring into that space, show up and be a light for people.”Similar to the guidance and support Marley has felt in his DJing from Flower and his parents, Marley’s love for skiing began with his uncle, Kyle Cartwright. Marley started skiing when he was 6 years old, and in the five years since has landed his 360 and learned to ride switch this season.“My uncle skis a lot, and I wanted to be just as good as him. He and my dad took me on my first double black on Jupiter this year,” said Marley. Marley Meddock is an avid skier when he is not playing sets. Credit: Photo courtesy of Summer MeddockMarley’s goal this season was to ski Jupiter Peak at Park City Mountain. Cartwright, Matthew and Marley skied Scott’s Bowl together, making for Marley’s favorite day of the season. “Marley keeps surprising me. He just dropped into the run in front of me, and the next thing I know, I’m following him through the trees. I started crying, like, Are you kidding me?” said Matthew. Next to filling his own invoices for C3R3AL merchandise and other expenses, Marley’s skills in DJing have extended to help him learn the piano this year. He has found points of connection in music to help meet the crowds around him where they are, whether it’s their favorite ’90s song or matching the beat to their dancing feet. “That’s part of the goal, aside from him finding something that he seemed to really enjoy, it’s the teaching moments. This season has been a trip seeing Marley progress in this as a skill that most people don’t have. It’s really impressive,” said Matthew.Marley’s final set of the season is Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Goldener Hirsch patio.C3R3AL has been playing sets at the Goldener Hirsch throughout the season. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordThe post 11-year-old Après DJ, C3R3AL, lights up the crowd with confidence appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less