6 DJs spinning this NYC Pride weekend spill the tea on their first Pride, their ultimate anthems and more
For many LGBTQ people, the familiar sounds of four-on-the-floor kick drums, pulsating bass lines and hi-hat beats have always meant more than just elements of a danceable piece of music.
Moving to the beat under a disco ball, surrounded by chosen family has given generations of queer and trans people a sense of community and the freedom to be who they are — whether they danced to Sylvester’s 1978 disco hit “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real);” Madonna’s 1990 ballroom anthem “Vogue;” or Kylie Minogue’s 2023 viral sensation “Padam Padam.”
So what better place to celebrate Pride in New York City than the dance floor? Here’s a look at what some of the groove makers and soul shakers responsible for keeping the tradition alive have in store for this year’s celebrations, along with their memories of their first Pride in the city and who they would love to see at their parties. See you on the dance floor!
Luke Howard (of Horse Meat Disco)
Gay, 53, based in London, U.K. Pronouns: he/she/they. You can see him spinning — as part of the DJ collective Horse Meat Disco, alongside Severino Panzetta, James Hillard and Jim Stanton — on Sunday at the Knockdown Center.
First New York City Pride: 1994. It was the 25th anniversary of Stonewall Riots plus NYC was hosting The Gay Games. I went to a party at The Roxy and saw live shows from disco legends Loleatta Holloway, Vicki Sue Robinson and France Joli.
Favorite Pride anthem: “I Was Born This Way” by Carl Bean
Current Top 3: “Freak Me Now (Horse Meat Disco Remix)” by Jessie Ware; “Brighter Days” by Gideön; “Freak At Night” by Amy Douglas
What’s your ideal crowd? We think of ourselves as the queer party for everyone, so that crowd please! And of course, people who love to dance to good music!
How else are you celebrating Pride this year? We’ll be celebrating Pride in NYC, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, LA, Seattle and London to name but a few…
Morabito
Based in Manhattan. Pronouns she/her. You can see her spinning Sunday night/early Monday morning at Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil at Red Eye NY.
First New York City Pride: Oh, probably 1983 or close to that. I remember people jeering and praying for us as we rode by on a float. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling; it was jarring and tragic, but memorable.
Favorite Pride anthem: “Freedom” by David Morales featuring Janice Robinson
Current Top 3: “Call My Name, by BLOND:ISH; “Tra Tra” by BLOND:ISH, Nfasis, Hugel; “Ohh My Music” by Diego Infanzon
What’s your ideal crowd? A crowd that is willing to go along with my music journey and is open to new music.
How else are you celebrating Pride this year? I’ll be playing in Toronto on Saturday; I’ll hang out after my set and enjoy the last DJ set. On Sunday, I head back to NYC, I’ll take a long disco nap, and then it’s off to Red Eye.
Evan Ipock, aka Bare Naked
Queer, 23, from Bushwick. Pronouns: he/him. You can see him spinning on Sunday at the Eagle float at the NYC Pride March.
First New York City Pride: My first real NYC Pride was in 2019, when New York hosted World Pride and celebrated the 50-year anniversary of Stonewall. The sheer amount of people that descended upon the city was inspiring, in and of itself, let alone the energy that was palpable in the air the entire preceding week. It was the last great Pier Dance! With an iconic midday to sundown set by the legendary Morabito, and an admittedly unforgettable performance by the one-and-only Madame X, it’s an experience that I won’t ever forget!
Favorite Pride anthem: “It’s Raining Men” by The Weather Girls
Current Top 3: A snappy house jam: “Smooth Operator (Cezar Nedelcu Remix)” by Sade; genre-bending NYC fire: “Chemical” by Victor Calderone and Avision sithering Berlin-style hard techno: “Saint and Sinner” by David Löhlein
What’s your ideal crowd? As a DJ, nothing beats the exhilarating feeling of a dance floor fully engaged, both emotionally and physically, with my musical journey. Being a fan of darker techno, witnessing the crowd embracing the intensity and groove of a harder beat always ignites my passion.
How else are you celebrating Pride this year? This year is definitely a marathon. [After spinning at parties in Cherry Grove, Fire Island; at Rebar in Chelsea and on the Eagle float at The March], a proper Monday morning dance floor moment at Redeye, with Morabito, promises to be the icing on the cake!
Nita Aviance (of The Carry Nation)
From Brooklyn, pronouns she/her. You can see her spinning — as part of the New York City-based DJ and production team The Carry Nation alongside DJ Will Automagic — on Saturday at Get Wrecked & Carry Pride at the Knockdown Center.
First New York City Pride: 1999. I remember we were all dancing at Twilo on Sunday morning when the clock struck noon and Junior Vasquez turned off the music and told us all to go to the parade, which we did…and then turned right around and went back to the club the next night for the closing party. EPIC
Favorite Pride anthem: “Love Pride” by King
Current Top 3: “Radius Clause” by Devoye; “Nothing Without You” by Gideön & Mandel Turner; “X” by Shyboi
What’s your ideal crowd? A super diverse mix of open-minded music fans.
How else are you celebrating Pride this year? Every year we split our pride between NYC and Glastonbury festival [U.K.] where my partner in The Carry Nation, Will Automagic, and I have been coming for the past ten years to play the legendary venue NYC Downlow, a markedly queer space in a festival of around 200,000, that raises money for multiple charities, such as The Human Dignity Trust and Refugee Community Kitchen.
DJ RuBot (of Occupy The Disco)
Gay, 42, Manhattan, pronouns he/him. You can see him spinning — as part of Occupy The Disco, a gay DJ collective based in New York City, alongside DJ Tad Haes — on Sunday starting at 3 p.m. at Le Bain.
First New York City Pride: My first NYC Pride was in the summer of 2004 and I went to a party at the Frying Pan called “Color Me Queer.” Most of the Pride flyers I saw at the time catered to the muscular, white gay male “Chelsea” aesthetic and CMQ was definitely NOT that. I think it was the first time I felt comfortable celebrating Pride that encompassed my whole identity as a Gay Indian American, but we also celebrated other cultures as well, and the iconic venue with the Hudson as a backdrop made it absolutely unforgettable.
Favorite Pride anthem: “Together Again (Tony Humphries Remix),” by Janet Jackson. I love that this song is a celebration of all of Janet’s friends she lost to AIDS. It pays homage to all those we lost before us.
Current Top 3: “Horizon Red” by Made by Pete and Zoe Kypri; “Earth Song (What About Us)” by Anelisa Lamola, Revival, Greg Gould, Kathy Brown; “Enkama” by Peppe Citarella feat. Eduardo Vargas
What’s your ideal crowd? Tad and I have worked very hard to make the crowd at Le Bain as diverse as possible to effectively represent the city and music that inspires us so much. The community we’ve curated at Le Bain (where we have had a residency for the last ten years) is wonderful: it has become very diverse and everyone is friendly and interested in engaging with people they may not know. The music is the centerpiece of the action and it’s so exciting to see people of all ages, races, genders and abilities come together and express their joy. That’s the ideal crowd!
How else are you celebrating Pride this year? Occupy The Disco is opening the night at Ladyfag’s Ladyland Under the K Bridge [party] on Friday night and on Saturday I’ll be attending Get Wrecked and Carry at Knockdown Center, which is thrown by our other DJ duo friends: Wrecked and The Carry Nation.
G I N A
Trans, bisexual, 33, Philadelphia, pronouns: she/her. You can see her spinning Sunday night at House of Yes.
First New York City Pride: Embarrassingly my first NYC Pride was last year, 2022. I got to see two of my favorite DJs, Octo Octa & Eris Drew play to a sold-out crowd at Knockdown Center alongside my partner and one of our besties.
Favorite Pride anthem: “Immaterial” by Sophie
Current Top 3: “Hard (Boys Noize Remix)” by Sophie; “Double Tap” by LSDXOXO; “Padam Padam (GINA Void Mix)” by Kylie Minogue
What’s your ideal crowd? Open-minded people, preferably queer but I will DJ to anyone who doesn’t just want to hear hits or make requests and are ready to actually dance and not just stand there.
How else are you celebrating Pride this year? I’ve been celebrating Pride all month, and I’m very much looking forward to relaxing after this weekend LOL!! Between Philly Pride, my birthday weekend, Folsom Street East and now NYC Pride I think my heart is going to be extremely full.
