On the morning of Marathon Monday—one of Boston College’s most beloved holidays—campus will be teeming with life as students wake up early to prepare for the day’s festivities.
Alongside food vendors, free breakfast, and BC’s cheering section at the infamous Heartbreak Hill, students will have the option to celebrate MarMon at the annual Mile 21 Concert, which will be headlined by Two Friends this year. They will be performing at the Mod Lot at 10 a.m. for a paying audience.
But who is this DJ duo? Matthew Halper and Eli Sones, who became friends in middle school, officially began DJing under the name Two Friends in their senior year of high school. Throughout college and beyond, they have devoted themselves to producing for other artists and writing their own music.
Two Friends specializes in electronic dance music (EDM) and house music, sticking to the tried-and-true formula of pounding beats, catchy or familiar melodies, and high-intensity remixing.
For students who will be setting that early-morning alarm, throwing on a flamboyant costume, and heading out to find some organized fun, it might be worthwhile to learn some of Two Friends’ discography. Here are some notable picks to listen to in preparation.
While different from the tradition of live performances at the Mile 21 Concert, the Two Friends DJ set is guaranteed to consist of popular, recognizable beats. In particular, the “Big Bootie Mixes” will provide exciting mash-ups of well-known songs that have taken over the internet or past Billboard chart-toppers that have become classic earworms.
“Big Bootie Mixes” were born on SoundCloud in 2013. Over the past 13 years, Two Friends has consistently been pumping out approximately hour-long listening experiences about once or twice per year. Unpredictable and overwhelmingly nostalgic, the mixes amassed a fandom that eagerly awaits new drops of their favorite workout, late-night drives, or party soundtracks.
Last summer, Two Friends released “Big Bootie Mix, Vol. 26,” their newest installment in the celebrated series. To give you a taste of what to expect, the mix features sped-up, popular tracks by everyone from Charli XCX to Central Cee to Michael Jackson. The pair even drops in the Jesse Bloch remix of “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphys.
“Big Bootie Mix, Vol. 10” is also worth mentioning, as it was released in 2016. Considering the recent internet comeback of the 2016 aesthetic—signature for its rosy Instagram filter and the generation-defining release of “Closer” by The Chainsmokers—any songs from this edition of the “Big Bootie Mixes” will be especially exciting and transport the audience back to the good ol’ days. These mixes are Two Friends’ claim to fame, and if there’s anything like them in the Mile 21 set, it is sure to be a highlight for concertgoers looking to dance and sing along to digitized throwbacks.
At their start, Two Friends got recognition for their official remixes of pop hits, such as Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die,” blink-182’s “I Miss You,” and Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead.” Additionally, they have a remix of “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers, which would be an especially fitting song to play at the Mod Lot.
Around the time of their performance at Coachella in 2023, Two Friends dropped two of the most popular originals of their career. “If Only I (feat. Bebe Rexha)” is a carefree pop song with Two Friends’ electronic production and a repetitive chorus about fleeting good times with a lover.
“If only I could stop the sunrise, we could lay here all night / If only I could learn to freeze time, I’d hold you forever / If only I had one more day, I’d love you 25/8,” Rexha sings.
With wholesome lyrics about love, “More Than Yesterday (feat. Russell Dickerson)” brandishes a fuller-sounding instrumental with punchy horns and a catchy beat drop.
Continuing with Two Friends originals, “Wish You Were Here (feat. John K)” is a heartfelt song focusing on missing someone special. It has mellower feelings than a typical Two Friends track. “Looking At You (feat. Sam Vesso)” is another notable high-tempo love song with synth-heavy production.
Most recently, Two Friends announced their foray into country music—of course, with their EDM beats and production style still in the mix. Now, fans are anticipating the upcoming Big Boots EP, which will feature new singles such as “I Need Tomorrow” and “Under The Table.” These newest releases add a little diversity to Two Friends’ repertoire and could be satisfying additions to the set for die-hard country fans.
Two Friends’ style of busy mash-ups and danceable, catchy tunes might be a pleasant surprise for those concerned about the familiarity of the set list. If you’re willing to pay the five dollars to attend, Two Friends blasting hyper hits in the Mod Lot might be just the thing you need to get revved up for the rest of the day.
