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# Diplo and Switch bring mash-up beats to the Echo on Sunset
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/get-wild-with/
- Published: 2007-09-21T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T02:55:22.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Diplo Eccentric DJ comes to L.A. to showcase his unique blend of contrasting styles*

*By EMILY SKEHAN I Special to the Daily Press*

Before Girl Talk spun Elton John on top of the Notorious B.I.G. and long before Kanye sampled Daft punk, there was Diplo. The Philadelphia-based party DJ — perhaps better known as Sri Lankan/English artist M.I.A.’s producer — will bring his eclectic beats and mash-ups to Los Angeles this Friday along with fellow turntable wizard Switch.

The two artists will amp up the crowd at the Echo on Sunset Boulevard, spinning a high-energy show characterized by Diplo’s funky mix of southern crunk, Brazilian baile funk and ‘80s rock.

Diplo — born Wesley Pentz — whose alias derives from the species Diplodocus, a reference to his childhood love of dinosaurs, got into the DJ scene in a rather unorthodox manner.

“Just being in a metal band and it sucking forced me to DJ,” said Pentz. “I helped to relate a lot of new styles in current music and I’ve gotten better at it.”

The artist added that if he had to sum up his sound in a few words they would be: “Turn it up.”

The club artist was born in Mississippi and runs a club and music collective in Philly called Hollertronix, but still feels a connection to Los Angeles.

“L.A. is always hit or miss for me,” said Diplo, “but the past three shows have been really huge — at the Echo and some warehouses downtown and in Hollywood.”

The city isn’t just good for spinning, Pentz noted.

“I’ve got lots of good people in L.A. and I hope that one day I can move here and raise lots of babies,” he said.

Diplo’s favorite career moments include working on M.I.A.’s albums “Arular” and “Kala,” and gigs in Mexico City, Tel Aviv and Philadelphia. He is currently working on a sort of underground “NPR for the streets” project dubbed Mad Decent Radio.

Diplo and Switch rock the Echo starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $23 in advance, available at www.ticketweb.com. Minors beware, the show is 18 and over. For more information, visit attheecho.com.

What should audiences expect at the DJs’ show?

“Fire and a chance to get naked and swing from rafters,” said Pentz. “Live wild animals, too.”

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/092107-20_01.jpg)

(Photo: BY EMILY SKEHAN I Special to the Daily Press)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 21, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092107.pdf?ref=smdp.com)