Protege was born Justin Zachary Gotcher August 6, 1990, to a small town in Southern Oregon. Protege grew up struggling for success in the sometimes suffocating and isolated atmosphere of this small hometown. Although geographically, Medford, OR (Pop. 75,000) is not physically secluded from the rest of the world, the small town mindset of most of its residents and lack of opportunity in the way of career advancements, leave many looking for an outlet.  

It happened that Protege found his relief and release through music. He was fascinated by every level of musical production from a young age. Protege has always been A passionate song writer and recording artist, since the birth of his artisanship as A whole. Like all of us, he's faced many of life's hardships, whether out of uncontrolled circumstance or self infliction. A past filled with obstacles, has become just that; an obstacle. Set backs and mistakes never to be corrected, but exemplified and overcome. So that future actions lead not to self destruction, but are used to lead the growth as an individual; to know what's best for the preservation of his future at stake. Like most, Protege (as an artist & a person) is not immune to or ignored by life's hardships, giving him ample life experience that reach beyond his young age. 

Now 23, Protege is looking forward to showcasing his debut E.P. 'Fantasy2Reality' with the help of his management and marketing team; joining the growing coalition of artists under the name of future industry leader, Prolyphic Sound. There's no doubt that Protege is working his way to becoming an industry player in every local, regional and national market. With one career destination clearly on his mind, Unimaginable Success.

"Growth is the basis to all success." ~ Protege

As an artist, he constantly reminds himself of one ideology above all: That your craft as an artist is priority number one. Always evolving, always revolutionizing. Ultimate perfection may never be achieved, but Protege likes to remind us all that it can still be pursued. 

DJ & Producer with passion for
House | Deep-Tech | Minimal
Digital & Vinyl

Booking: dm | e-mail: mulo-underground@web.de

https://soundcloud.com/discovolante
https://instagram.com/353colletti


------------2025-----------
31.12. | New Year's Eve @ Who killed the Pig | GI
19.12. | Alles Freunde e.V. - Weihnachtsdorf | GI
18.12. | Scarabée | GI
12.12. | Disco Volante - Klubcafe| Breda / NL
11.12. | La Barcería - Afterwork Party | GI
05.12. | Stained Showcase @ Pracht | FFM
04.12. | 353 Afterwork @ Who killed the Pig | GI
21.11. | Disco Volante - Flohmarkt @ Prototyp| GI
06.11. | 353 Afterwork @ Who killed the Pig | GI
01.11. | Sticker Collektive Halloween @ Outzeit | GI
31.10. | Kuddelmuddel Halloween Edition | FFM
18.10. | Minus:ONE - Tiefgarage | GI
16.10. | Lächel Mal BBash @ Ulenspiegel | GI
02.10. | Stained @ Scarabee | GI
13.09. | NY‘s Summer Closing @ Outzeit | GI
30.08. | Wir sind Kult. - Microfestival | GI
21.08. | Nacht & Nebel - Scarabee | GI
21.08. | Disco Vola(h)nte - Bootsfete | GI
16.08. | Laugana Afterparty @ MUK | GI
15.08. | Laugana Afterparty @ Outzeit | GI
09.08. | private event | Aartalsee
26.07. | La Barcería - Day Drinking Deluxe | GI
19.07. | private event | GI
18.07. | Secret Bunker Rave - Sticker Collective
12.07. | Soundzeit @ Outzeit | GI
11.07. | TCW pres. Bounce & Balls Afterwork | GI
05.07. | Nachttanzdemo Aftershow | GI
28.06. | Hidden Open Air x Stained | GI
26.06. | Disco Vola(h)nte - Bootsfete | GI
21.06. | James Wood Festival | WZ
12.06. | Disco Volante - Scarabée | GI
07.06. | Zurück zu den Wurzeln Festival | BER
28.05. | Tanz aus dem Mai - Wald&Wiese x STND | GI
24.05. | Rave & Sun Festival - MINUS:ONE Stage | GI
14.05. | Lächel Mal Afterwork - Ulenspiegel | GI 
30.04. | Tanz in den Mai - VOLYM x Nachtschicht | GI
11.04. | STND / w. Acid Morizzle | GI 
03.04. | STND - Scarabée | GI
06.03. | Stained pres. STND - Scarabée | GI
22.02. | STND / w. Matchy | Outzeit | GI
15.02. | QVN Fasching | MuK | GI
14.02. | VOLYM x CE | MuK | GI
01.02. | STND Label Night | Outzeit | GI
24.01. | TIMELESS Club | FB
16.01. | Pracht | FFM

Mekel reveres and respects the power of his chosen art form. The singer, songwriter, and producer recognized music's impact at a very young age, treasuring it as a gift. At only eleven-years-old and without any formal training, he would get behind the keyboard at a local youth program in Memphis, TN and play for hours in front of a packed house every single Sunday. For the young performer, it became about inciting physical, emotional, and spiritual change with nothing more than a beat, a melody, and a smile.

Decades later, nothing has changed on his full-length major label debut, The Legacy... [By Virgin Records]. In fact, he's only gotten better at impacting emotions.

"I started making music so I could help put everyone at ease," he says. "Each Sunday that I came into this building, people were crying, praying, and repenting. My creativity had to be sharp to consistently come up with songs on the spot that reflected the emotion of the room. I had a responsibility early on, and I realized music could make you cry, make you dance, or even change your life."

Receiving Pro Tools and a computer as a gift for his 22nd birthday, Mekel divided his time between recording hundreds of songs in his bedroom, working to help his family, and put himself through college. After casually making a Facebook page in 2010, he quickly developed a fervent following online. A flood of booking requests came in from around the country, and his statistics began to skyrocket. Fulfilling his fans' appetite, he released his first independent album, Legend of a Kasanova, selling out the pre-orders from his studio apartment.

Mekel describes his own music as fun and youthful while at the same time signifying deep meaning. “R&B music is about stories. Some of those stories can be meaningful and still be fun. I never choose a song that I can’t relate to in some way, shape, or form. My music will always reflect who I am.”

When asked about his first experience in a Honolulu studio, Mekel responded, “My producer was amazed at how well I did in the studio the first time. He said I took to it like a duck takes to water! And the studio band couldn’t believe I had never been into the studio prior to this experience.”

Mekel’s voice is rather developed for a 26-year-old since his studio performance required little to no tuning. That doesn’t mean that Mekel doesn’t seek constant improvement and constructive criticism in all areas. “You can be a performer and not be an artist, but I am an artist. I have spent time studying and researching everything I can about the music industry and becoming an artist. I am not only honing my songwriting skills and guitar and piano playing, but I am also developing my total package including my image and my stage presence, right down to learning how to read a teleprompter if the situation ever arises for me to do so. This isn’t just a dream of mine, this is a goal that I am determined to achieve and I won’t give up.” Mekel takes and applies all the advice he receives from the Honolulu music industry professionals he works with and who serve as mentors to him.

His single "BE-Lieve IT" lives up to its name. Written and produced by Mekel, the track glides from an energetic verse into a heavenly refrain that instantly shines and soars--living up to its title.

"This song is for those people who never stopped believing and always saw me for who I was," he reveals. "It's a letter to the ones in your life who were there when you were nothing, they were there when you became something, and they were there when you lost everything you had again. It's a tribute to everybody who helped me become who I am."

Mekel affirms, "I'm like a refresh button. I'm here to bring the power back to the person with the songs. It's about quality music, and it has to be distinguished, strong, and absolute."

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