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PAPER <3s NY and PAPER <3s the DJs that keep us moving. That\u2019s why we\u2019re proud to present <\/em><\/em>The Tear<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/em>,<\/u> our mix series highlighting the best DJs spinning in the city we call home. In July, we <\/em><\/em>shared a mix by Jek and djfix (Earth Dog Records)<\/em><\/em><\/u><\/a>, a lean and bouncy hop scotch through sounds and styles. Today, we\u2019re excited to present a mix from <\/em><\/em>DJPT<\/em><\/em><\/u><\/a>, one of our favorite DJs whose transcendent mixing is equal parts curation and creation.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA bit less four-on-the-floor, please!\u201d That\u2019s resident New York heavyweight DJPT\u2019s<\/u><\/a> (Petey Avila) biggest hope for the future of the NYC nightlife. It appears that DJPT is being the change he wants to see in the world; his mix for The Tear is a dense bramble of contrasting rhythms, textures and massive sonic swings, a world away from four on the floor robotics. <\/p>\n Per his percussive aspiration, the motion that this mix inspires is a sort of thrilling churn, inspiring the body to slink and circle. It\u2019s a clear representation of the DJ\u2019s IRL offerings, whether he\u2019s playing at scene center Nowadays or at underground hotspots like Nocturnal Emissions<\/u><\/a>. \u201c[This mix is] heavily inspired by the club music I heard when I started going out here [in NYC] in 2016, tracks with a lot of character, rhythmic quirks and big bass,\u201d DJPT shares. \u201cThere\u2019s also a fair amount of music from the UK, a place that I feel that New York nightlife has always welcomed and been in conversation with musically.\u201d<\/p>\n DJPT\u2019s The Tear mix begins with the quiet purr of percussion before Dance Hall vocals come in to announce the rush ahead. Staccato horn chords march forward and suddenly we\u2019re spinning with a hyperdrive edit of \u201cIS IT\u201d by amapiano star Tyla. Soon enough, the sounds of ballroom, reggaeton, and acid-hued synths create a collage and bleary momentum as the harried listener tries to keep up. When asked about the sounds that inspired this mix, DJPT refers to mixes for outlets like The FADER<\/em> and DIS Magazine<\/em> from the 2016-era of NYC nightlife he fondly remembers. \u201cTo me, [those] mixes prioritized a DJ\u2019s sonic vision and bold mixing choices rather than constructing a consistent energy for the entire runtime,\u201d DJPT says. \u201cLots of big blends, not really background music.\u201d In line with his inspo, you can try to put this mix on in the quiet background, but just expect to find yourself soon in sudden, unstoppable motion. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The prompt for the mix was \u201cthe past, present and future of NYC nightlife.\u201d What sounds inspired you for this mix?<\/strong><\/p>\n This mix is an assortment of tracks from some of my favorite New York\/East Coast producers of the moment and (in my opinion) NYC club classics. It\u2019s heavily inspired by the club music I heard when I started going out here in 2016, tracks with a lot of character, rhythmic quirks and big bass. There\u2019s also a fair amount of music from the UK, a place that I feel New York nightlife has always welcomed and been in conversation with musically.<\/p>\n Structurally, I was inspired by mixes of that era too, for platforms like The FADER<\/em><\/em> and DIS Magazine<\/em>. To me, these mixes prioritized a DJ\u2019s sonic vision and bold mixing choices rather than constructing a consistent energy for the entire runtime. Lots of big blends, not really background music. They definitely feel more adventurous than a lot of mixes do today.<\/p>\n Where was the first set you played in NYC?<\/strong><\/p>\n I played a Pride party at H0L0 in 2019 with my friends Sterling Juan Diaz<\/u><\/a> and Sheher Preisler (aka the icon Yungklonopin<\/u><\/a>). About 45 minutes into my closing set one of the CDJs emergency looped and none of us knew what was happening so we called it a night. Great party though!<\/p>\n Favorite NYC nightlife memory?<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometime in 2016 I heard LSDXOXO<\/u><\/a>\u2019s edit of \u201cCan\u2019t Get You Out of My Head\u201d at China Chalet and it lowkey changed my life. I hadn\u2019t heard the original song in a very long time and hearing it again sounding like that blew my mind. Still chasing that high to be honest. Honorable mentions go to Club Night Club Halloween 2019, DisCakes NYE 2020 and Byrell the Great<\/u><\/a>\u2019s set at Nowadays Nonstop in August 2021 (still the best dancefloor I\u2019ve ever been on).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Favorite set you\u2019ve ever played?<\/strong><\/p>\n Last April at Bossa Nova Civic Club for sure. Byrell asked me to play a night he was putting together and coming out of a somewhat dry period for bookings, I knew I had to go as hard as I could \u2014 and I did! It was raw. A lot changed after that set and I\u2019m very grateful for him and that night.<\/p>\n Biggest nightlife pet peeve?<\/strong><\/p>\n Uninspired and predictable lineups. It\u2019s frustrating to see some promoters continually book DJs who are always playing together for their party. Shake it up! When you put together a lineup of DJs who might not usually play with each other, special things can happen. It can definitely bring new energies out of everyone on the lineup.<\/p>\n Biggest DJ inspo?<\/strong><\/p>\n Forever and always Juliana Huxtable<\/u><\/a>, Bobby Beethoven<\/u><\/a> and Shyboi<\/u><\/a>. They made the first mixes I have saved in my endless SoundCloud mix playlist and every time I hear each of them play now it\u2019s so special. Also constantly energized by my many peers\u2026 Sevyn Love<\/u><\/a>, DJ DEADNAME<\/a>, Alexis De La Rosa<\/u><\/a>, DILUVIA<\/u><\/a>, BATTYGYAL<\/u><\/a>, Eros<\/u><\/a>, enfleshed<\/u><\/a> and Blessing<\/u><\/a> to name a few. Each of them inspires me to step my pussy up every time I hear them play.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What makes NYC nightlife unique?<\/strong><\/p>\n I haven\u2019t partied in many other places, I\u2019m not too sure! Anyone want to fly me out? I can\u2019t imagine though that many nightlife hubs in the world strike the perfect balance of being lit and being creatively stimulating like NYC does. It seems like other cities choose to go for one or the other. <\/p>\n Biggest hope for the future of NYC nightlife?<\/strong><\/p>\n Respecting and booking the DJs and organizers who made this corner of New York what it is today. Taking risks on fresh talent. Money to keep good things going. More raves, less club nights. A beginner\u2019s course on basic club etiquette. And a bit less four-on-the-floor, please!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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