Dylan Drazen’s soulful, uplifting house and disco style has granted him a lot of recognition, especially through his mixtapes like the Barbecue series. Originally from NYC and now based in Miami, we are fortunate enough to be featuring his first appearance in NYC in a while with a special daytime set at Paradisco on May 19th. Check out our exclusive interview with Dylan and join us Sunday.
OXD: What inspired you to become a DJ?
DD: I was instantly drawn to electronic music when I first heart it at the age of 10 in 1985 when I saw an Art of Noise video on MTV. Then I discovered more music through NYC radio, such as WNYU and when Hot 97 was a dance station. I grew up in an affluent white suburban neighborhood on Long Island and had zero outside influences when it came to soulful music, but for whatever reason I knew that I loved R&B and rap as a teenager, and that naturally progressed into a love for deep, emotional and uplifting house music. I have always told my friends that I believe I was a large black woman in a previous life.
Even though through my name I became known primarily as a hard techno DJ, my inner soul and roots definitely were and still are house music in its purest form. My Barbecue mix from 2001 is the best example of this. It is unfortunate that it’s difficult to find a large market for this kind of music, and that is why it has been on the back burner throughout my career. But be sure that on every plane ride to Spain for a techno gig, I would secretly be listening to soulful house music on my iPod. :)
OXD: What’s your favorite venue in NYC currently?
DD: My favorite venues in NYC are all closed. The Limelight was my first true love. I discovered the NYC scene in the early 90s by sneaking in as a teenager. The club kids loved me because I was a twink, but I loved going there for the music. But for current venues I’d say my favorite is the basement at Greenhouse. It really captures that small, intense sweatbox feeling that underground house craves. I also have a very specific memory of going to the original Sound Factory Bar to hear Frankie Knuckles back in 1993. In the side room there was a DJ playing a new track by a little known band called Black Science Orchestra. I was instantly keyed into the feeling of an underground, inclusive vibe. I knew that this was for me.
“Homosexuality is becoming so accepted in our culture recently, almost on an exponential level, to the point where there might not be “gay” or “straight” venues anymore.”
OXD: Who is the DJ you admire the most?
DD: The DJ I admire the most is Derrick Carter. I learned to mix by watching him. When I decided to learn how to DJ, my first goal was to learn how to make a technically sound mix. He is able to fit two tracks together like they were made for each other, like a hand in a glove. Before the age of the computer and all of these tricky tools we have now, he did it the old fashioned way, using his hands and his ears, all the while swigging a beer like it was nothing. It’s because of him I learned how to match beats and program a long set. But now that we have these high tech tools, I do not shun them because “I can get by without them.” I use them to further express myself.
OXD: We live in a time where gay house and disco fans like ourselves are going to non gay venues to discover fresh and new music. What do you think this means for the future of NYC’s nightlife?
DD: I am just old enough to have experienced the NYC scene when the gay clubs had it right, when straight people would come to our nights to hear what was really going on – but young enough to have been a teenager when all this was still going on, so it had a profound impact on me. With the sad passing of one of my NYC heroes Peter Rauhofer, I am reminded of those final years when the gay scene was at the forefront of club music. But slowly as the 2000s progressed, the scene flip flopped, and gay clubs were infested with pop music and the gays had to resort to going to straight parties to hear good music. One the one hand it does not bode well for the future of NYC’s nightlife, but I truly feel that the purpose of going out is not to be segregated or only feel welcome because you are gay, or straight, or black, or whatever. We don’t go out because we have a specific, hedonistic agenda. We go out to have fun, to enjoy ourselves, the music, and celebrate life. And if there’s a party that gives us that, then we go. Homosexuality is becoming so accepted in our culture recently, almost on an exponential level, to the point where there might not be “gay” or “straight” venues anymore. Maybe we are in the process of getting it right, where inclusiveness and equality really does mean that. Everyone.
That said, I really applaud Occupy The Disco for trying to “reverse the score” and promote quality music back to the gay scene, to guys who might be too young to remember when we had taste. I’ll bet it’s an uphill battle. On the set I’ll do for you on May 19, I plan on championing the history of all this music I speak of, during those years that meant so much to me. It will be a combination of timeless classics, “Barbecue” favorites, and current jams. There is so much music out there that I hold dear on a very personal level, and I plan on conveying that to the audience on that Sunday afternoon.
OXD: Finally, What are your top 5 tracks at the moment?
While a lot of great music seems to come from Australia, Plastic Plates–the alias of Sydney’s Felix Bloxsom–is probably our favorite musical discovery from the land down under. The producer and DJ has wowed us with his remixes, original songs and various live sets in the past and we’re excited and honored to be the first to feature him at a gay party in NYC at this Sunday’s extra special edition of Paradisco. Learn more about our favorite Aussie with our exclusive Spotlight interview below.
OXD: What inspired you to become a DJ?
PP: Hanging out too much in nightclubs! But, seriously though, it was just another extension of music. Especially once I started producing dance music, it goes hand in hand… I probably wouldn’t be doing so much of it if I wasn’t a producer.
OXD: What’s your favorite venue in NYC currently?
PP: I’d say Le Bain… Output has an amazing system too but Le Bain is always fun. Good sound system, hot tub (I’ve never been in it) and the best view while you use the loo!
“In my experience I’ve always gravitated to parties where there’s a mix of everybody and if it’s happening more and more then THANK GOODNESS!”
OXD: Who is the DJ you admire the most?
PP: There are so many for different reasons but my friends back in Oz who I learned from are definitely on the list: the late great Ajax, Gus Hoodrat, Black Angus. The most fun dancing for me in recent memory was the dynamic residency at Sankeys in Ibiza for a few weeks last summer (Solomun, Hosh, David August etc.).
OXD: We live in a time where gay house and disco fans like ourselves are going to non gay venues to discover fresh and new music. What do you think this means for the future of NYC’s nightlife?
PP: In my experience I’ve always gravitated to parties where there’s a mix of everybody and if it’s happening more and more then THANK GOODNESS!
OXD: Finally, What are your top 5 tracks at the moment?
1. Stuffa: ‘Keep On’
2. Box Of Wolves and Christa Vi: ‘Boy (Cyclist Remix)’
3. Touch Sensitive: ‘Show Me’
4. Sono: ‘Keep Control (Chopstick and Johnjon remix)’
From working an odd hours late night college radio show to now touring the globe and maintaining his own record label, Tim Sweeney is a true story of homegrown success. Sweeney started the world-famous show Beats In Space Radio in 1999 while still a student at NYU and it continues to air every Tuesday 14 years later. The show grew steadily overtime and his success soon parlayed into working with DFA records, scoring the soundtrack for various video game releases and even starting his own label, which shares the same name as his radio show, Beats In Space. Sweeney is a massive talent and we are over the moon to be featuring him at Paradisco this Sunday, May 5th. Check out the exclusive interview below and come celebrate Cinco de Mayo with his forward-thinking brand of daytime music at the Great Lawn at THE OUT NYC.
OXD: What inspired you to become a DJ?
TIM: It was going out to raves as a teenager in Baltimore and just seeing everyone dancing in what felt like another world. After seeing and feeling that, I just wanted to do it all the time!
OXD: What’s your favorite venue in NYC currently?
TIM: David Mancuso’s Loft Parties. He does these over on 2nd Avenue near Veselka. You can tell how much effort is put into each one of his parties with the sound, the lights, the balloons, the food and most importantly, the amazing people who show up.
“I hope we get more mixed parties. That’s what it’s all about for me. You need all kinds of people to make a party really go off and I think that’s what we all want.”
OXD: Who is the DJ you admire the most?
TIM: I admire David Mancuso, Optimo, Prosumer, Harvey, Horse Meat Disco, Jeff Mills, Andrew Weatherall, etc… a lot of people! But it’s people who push things and have original ideas. I get bored listening to the same thing all the time.
OXD: We live in a time where gay house and disco fans like ourselves are going to non gay venues to discover fresh and new music. What do you think this means for the future of NYC’s nightlife?
TIM: I hope we get more mixed parties. That’s what it’s all about for me. You need all kinds of people to make a party really go off and I think that’s what we all want… a party! Open minded people, great music and the party will follow.
OXD: Finally, What are your top 5 tracks at the moment?
1. Amor (Selvagem Edit) – B.I.S. Records, Inc
2. Matthew Dear: ‘Fighting is Futile (KiNK Remix)’ [Ghostly] Listen
3. Dimitri From Tokyo: ‘French Affair (Dimitri From Tokyo Edit)’ [Disco Deviance]
4. Joey Newman: ‘The One You Love’
5. Manhooker: ‘Club Anonymous (Roctiv Extended Club Mix)’
Sparber has become a fixture of New York City nightlife over the years. With his new focus on production as half of DONKEY and continued love of disco, house and booty beats, he’s becoming one of the most in demand DJs around town. He’ll be giving us his take on a daytime set at Paradisco this Sunday, April 8. Check out our exclusive interview with Sparber below and be sure to catch his set this Sunday at THE OUT NYC.
OXD: What inspired you to become a DJ?
SPARBER: I grew up expressing myself through music—first with piano, then saxophone and guitar—so sharing my music through DJing and production seemed like the next logical step for me.
OXD: What’s your favorite venue in NYC currently?
SPARBER: My favorite venues at the moment are the basements of Open House and National Underground in the East Village because they have decent sound systems, cheap drinks and, most importantly, the great DJs that are Michael Magnan (Open House on Fridays at 11:11) and Ryan Smith & Ron Like Hell at Wrecked (monthly below National Underground).
“I grew up expressing myself through music—first with piano, then saxophone and guitar—so sharing my music through DJing and production seemed like the next logical step for me.”
OXD: Who is the DJ you admire the most?
SPARBER: David Mancuso who founded a party called the Loft more than 40 years ago is by far the DJ I admire most. His ability to bridge genres as well as educate and entertain his listeners year after year is a testament to his genius.
OXD: We live in a time where gay house and disco fans like ourselves are going to non gay venues to discover fresh and new music. What do you think this means for the future of NYC’s nightlife?
SPARBER: What does it mean for NYC nightlife now that groups of gays are going to non-gay venues for music? I suppose it means that we’ll have a better chance of scoring amongst mixed crowds. For nightlife, I can only hope it means that mixed parties like Ladyfag and Seva Granik’s recent Shade party will become more commonplace.
OXD: Finally, What are your top 5 tracks at the moment?
This Sunday, April 21st, Paradisco will be showcasing the work of one of OXD’s favorite local DJs, Sean B, as we move to the Great Lawn outdoor space of THE OUT NYC. Sean has been actively contributing to NYC’s gay nightlife for the past years through some of the most popular parties in town, Spank and Xanadude, as well as releasing original productions under his moniker, Best Mate. We had a chance to speak to him and get some of his thoughts on house music scene in NY.
What inspired you to become a DJ?
First off, I’ve always been a dancer and that experience along with studying percussion for twelve years not only drew me to become a DJ, it has shaped my approach to thinking about DJing and creating a dance floor experience. While I was in school in Santa Cruz in the mid 1990s I started throwing underground loft parties in in San Francisco – which happened to be an incredibly inspiring time to be involved with dance music. After I moved to NYC in 1996 I connected pretty quickly with some like-minded people and began DJing out and continued throwing parties.
“We went through a time here where it was nearly impossible for a Manhattan or even Brooklyn venue to be able to sustain without a overly-styled bouncer/bottle service vibe that catered to the young affluent set but killed 99% of everything special about NYC nightlife.”
What’s your (current) favorite venue in NYC and why?
I love the energy at 12-turn-13 loft where we often have Spank and Mister Saturday Night also hosts many of their events. It’s a warm space that welcomes you in and has hust the right size dancefloor. I also have a place in my heart for the loft above Public Assembly where we throw Xanadude, it has an ‘anything can happen here’ feel which I think is critical to NYC nightlife. We went through a time here where it was nearly impossible for a Manhattan or even Brooklyn venue to be able to sustain without a overly-styled bouncer/bottle service vibe that catered to the young affluent set but killed 99% of everything special about NYC nightlife. I think it’s not only incredibly inspiring to see Output promoting great sound and stellar DJs as the draw but an actual turning point. I’m looking forward to joining Horse Meat Disco there Sunday May 26th!
Who is the DJ you admire the most and why?
DJ Cashmere aka Green Velvet was the first DJ I heard who transformed and reworked records at a level that stunned me. But I think that there is a part of San Francisco in my DNA from al the nights out listening to Markie, Jenö, Garth and then some NYC with Junior and Danny… I supposes that equals admiration and inspiration in a way. But truly right now my biggest inspiration comes from all the people around me creating music and promoting a dynamic take on dance music right now.
We live in a time where gay house and disco fans like ourselves are going to non gay venues to discover fresh and new music. What do you think this means for the future of NYC’s nightlife?
I think it’s really great to see gay music fans discovering new music and leading nightlife, I love what Occupy the Disco is doing!
