Sound Check with Ben Austin

North Carolina native Ben Austin was selling out DJ sets by the time he graduated high school. Back then, he’d rent out anything from a church to a local theater, then he’d bring in sound, lights, and stage design to host a house music night for hundreds of teenyboppers. Little did he realize at the time that his love for curating authentic experiences for people to connect through music would become the future foundation of a business.

In 2023, Austin launched Loose Ends Entertainment, a Charleston-based house music DJ collective and event company. Ever since, he’s been transforming under-utilized spaces around town into immersive house music experiences, from the outdoor platform on top of The Refinery to the swanky lounge on the second floor of Legami on King Street. We caught up with Austin to learn more about his mission to build a community around house music in the Holy City.

How did you get involved in the High Tide Music Festival? Edward Holt, the founder of High Tide, has been my best friend for 18 years. In early 2020, as I was preparing to move to Hilton Head, South Carolina, he called and asked if I wanted to get involved in the festival, knowing my background in event curation and DJing. Since then, I’ve contributed in a variety of ways each year, such as partnerships, sponsorships, and event coordination.

You perform every year as DJ Baustin. What is it like playing the main stage? It’s my favorite time of year—I love it. The main stage is the largest I’ve ever played, which makes the experience incredibly humbling. But for me, it’s also the realization of a vision I’ve carried for a long time. Each year, it feels like a creative activation—a space where I can express myself to the fullest extent.

What’s your personal creative process as a musician? I don’t believe DJ sets should be planned. I never play the same set twice, and I don’t map them out in advance. Instead, I tune into the environment—it’s ultimately a form of meditation. I have to stay fully present, reading the room and feeling the energy, because that’s something you can’t predict. To me, that’s where the art of DJing really lives: in the ability to respond in real time. It becomes a true flow state.

Tell us about the vision for Loose Ends Entertainment, which you started in? Loose Ends started as a way to build a community around house music. I wanted to give the crowd that already comes to High Tide something consistent year-round—beyond the festival itself. It was important to me not to replicate experiences that are already saturated in Charleston. At its core, we’re creating community through something more unique.

How would you describe your events to someone who hasn’t been to one yet? It’s an immersive experience. We curate everything—from the lights and sound to the space and decor—so that the energy flows naturally throughout the night. When everyone connects through this experience, especially dancing to house music with its hypnotic, repetitive rhythm, something magical happens. You get pulled into the moment, and without even realizing it, you connect with the people around you on a much deeper level.

What do you want Charleston’s music scene to look like in the next few years? I’d love to see people be more open to new music experiences, no matter the genre, the venue, or the DJ. What I really love about what we’ve done with Loose Ends is that we’ve been able to sell out every single show, not because of a headliner DJ, but because of the experience itself. Building a scene that thrives on that connection—that’s a beautiful thing.

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SOUND BITES:

• One word that defines your vibe? Flow.

• Favorite venue to play in Charleston? The Refinery.

• Indoor club or outdoor party? Open-air outdoor club.

• Best post-set meal? Sushi from Shiki.

• First song you’ll play at High Tide this year? I couldn’t tell you.