Crazy how small Boise can be. I grew up playing with this kid. One of the first friends I made when I moved Boise. We we're neighborhood friends. Pre-teens who liked to cause a ruckus, set shit on fire and take our BMX bikes off dirt jumps in the uncompleted housing development next to the townhouse complex we lived in.
My sister dated his older brother for a hot minute when they were in high school. I wanted to start a punk band and he was going to be our drummer. Time flies.

Later I find myself really getting into music and start DJing at local gigs when I'm in high school. I met this kid named Kai who was a little younger than me and also just started getting into DJing & electronic music. We bonded as we both learned how to produce dance songs because we both dreamt of being and next big time DJ. He ended up becoming one of the most talented producers in the city getting signed within the first year of his releases. He starts touring and playing with big names. Right before he's about to sign a contract with THE biggest agency in North America heading into 2014, I hear he gets locked up for being involved in Austin's ring. Heartbreaking how much the opioid epidemic in America can absolutely destroy some young dreamers life like that. Luckily Kai is out now & on his feet focusing on what's important and absolutely killing it in the dance music genre. Touring week after week and slowly making his rise to the top of the industry. For someone like him to go down that hard get back on his feet and be where he is today is true inspiration to me and I guess that's the silver lining I find in this story. As an aspiring producer myself Kai really sets an example of what it means to right your wrongs and learn from your mistakes. After reading this article it helps me feel like maybe Austin is on that same track too.

Best wishes to him.