As a music enthusiast, I crave new sounds nearly every day. I hunt for them, searching far and wide. I cast my net across all arenas to find the roughest, most intricate deep cuts. The DJ not only does this, but shares them with the masses- inviting us all to the dance floor.

I was catching up with my dad last weekend and ended up on a 2-hour nostalgia tour as he reminisced about his career as a DJ in New York City. Throughout the 90s, he traveled across the 5 boroughs spinning vinyl at all kinds of parties.

“The DJ plays for the people,” he said, telling me he spent countless nights swapping records with friends to ensure he had the perfect 45’s for each set. Marangue, dance hall, hip hop, he played everything. Back then, it was the DJ’s duty to adorn the night with songs that suited the audience’s vibe.

Fast forward to 2025, where it seems we have more DJs than doctors, and people party very differently. House parties aren’t so often centered around listening to music or dancing. We catch up with friends, drink heavily, and maybe smoke a few extra cigarettes than needed- night over. You might splurge on a ticketed event to really work up a sweat.

Within the current landscape of New York City nightlife, I’ve noticed two much-needed shifts in protocol:

1. Come as you are- no, seriously, be true to YOU.

2. Trust the tracklist

It seems to me that today, DJs have taken a proactive stance to expand your taste and listening routine. DJing has become less about adapting a set to the audience and more about inviting willing listeners to embark on a journey of sound. Unlike streaming music at your leisure, the DJ lends you their curious ears, attention to detail, and taste. What takes hours of listening, crate digging, and mixing results in a handcrafted sonic blend ready for your discovery. The music DJs play not only reflects their dedication and appetite for this art form but also mirrors the pillars of their artistic identity.

I am always willing to relinquish my requests for the person behind the turntables. I think we should all just throw our hands up and march to the beat of the DJ’s drum. Here are some of my favorite DJs who challenge us to keep our minds, hearts, and ears open to the diverse sounds of our world:

Majestic isn’t even the word.

This song paints the hero’s journey. An old coworker of mine once told me the brass section of Minnie Riperton’s “Les Fleurs” made him feel invincible- one of the most triumphant songs he had heard. The song is so transcendent, the perfect blend of gospel, phychadelica and RnB. Vortex (and the Lazarus score as a whole) manages to harness a similar blend of sonic power, enough to command your full attention.

A perfect ray of sonic light.

Nick Hakim's angelic falsetto never fails to make me instantly feel at ease. The way this song cradles my soul reminds me of the summer before college, when I discovered Bermuda Triangle. Britany Howard's commanding voice produces a similar reaction within me- neo soul bliss!

I really enjoyed this collaborative EP. The beats and groove feel classically Dean Blunt- the vocals from Elias Ronnenfelt are heartfelt and heavy. As I chronically spin Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley on vinyl, artists inspired by them have stuck out to me more these days. This is an amazing project to listen to for this transitional season. Everything I listen to during springtime feels more impactful than at any other time of year.