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You might wonder what profound artistic outlook might lead a DJ to mix as masterfully as Denver artist Peter Vaughan. Believe it or not, he always steps behind the decks with a simple intention: to smile and have fun.


Peter ignores fleeting trends, sticking instead to the soulful style of deep house that has remained his calling card over the past decade. He’s well versed nonetheless, equipped to play everything from techno to drum and bass on the spot if the setting calls for it. Recent years have seen him grow even more deeply rooted in the underground. He’s a repeat booking at Denver clubs like 1134 and Bar Standard.


Music lay in the cards for Peter Vaughan Stimson from day one. Growing up down the street from the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, it was only a matter of time he dove into the arts headfirst. His first concert was The Beastie Boys at Red Rocks, and electronic musicians like Fatboy Slim and Dirty Vegas shaped his budding music taste. 


Peter first experienced dance music in its proper context when The Crystal Method played the newly opened Beta Nightclub. He immersed himself in the nascent sounds of early dubstep pioneers like Skream and Benga thanks to the gatherings organized by influential Denver bass music outfit Sub.mission. Before long, West Coast festivals called his name, opening a world of music to him during a pivotal time in his life.


It also happened to be a pivotal time for dubstep itself. A rift had formed between the genre’s dreamy, contemplative roots and its in-your-face Stateside incarnation. Peter Vaughan remained loyal to the former. Taking such a stand helped him forge a deep personal connection to underground music as a whole — be it dubstep, drum and bass, techno, breakbeat or house.


As immersed as he was, it was only a matter of time before Peter Vaughan started DJing himself. His debut 2012 gig saw him warm up the decks for drum and bass DJ and producer Nu:Logic at the now-defunct Denver venue Casselman’s Bar & Venue. DnB wouldn’t remain at the core of his repertoire for long, though. He soon arrived at his dynamic yet nuanced deep house sound signature, getting booked to open for the likes of Till von Sein and Julio Bashmore.


Peter doubled down on DJing more than ever before during the pandemic. He put in work, practiced, and even managed to build his brand, treating his time away from clubland as an opportunity to invest in his passion. By the time live events turned back on, all his hard work paid off. Peter Vaughan re-emerged as a permanent fixture of the Denver nightlife landscape.


Clubs like Bar Standard and 1134 routinely play host to Peter’s DJ sets, which have grown to blend deep tech and minimal with his time-tested flavor of deep house. He’s also no stranger to performing at local staple Club Vinyl and maintains a residency at upscale cocktail bar The Goldfinch. Outside of clubs, music lovers can also hear Peter’s selections via his Perspectives mix series on SoundCloud.


Peter Vaughan surpassed an exciting milestone in 2024. After spending considerable time toiling away in the studio, he released his first-ever music recording: the You Knew This Was Coming EP. It encapsulated a fusion of the style heard in his DJ sets with a flavor all his own. It would be the first of many. Once Peter opened the floodgates, the ideas kept on flowing.


A track plays that will freeze the current moment in your mind as an immortal snapshot of the night. You didn’t even notice it come in — but now that it’s here, it commands your full attention. Glancing at the booth, you see Peter bobbing casually to the rhythm, a knowing grin radiating from his face. The groove is his heartbeat and soul is his guiding star. It’s plain to see, and even easier to hear.


For a sample of the Denver underground, look no further than Peter Vaughan. Trends come and go with the ebbs and flows of dance music, but rest assured he’s not going anywhere.

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