Explore the rise and fall of New York City's '90s club scene, from iconic clubs and influential music producers to the impact of Mayor Giuliani's policies. The podcast discusses the booming popularity of house music, the unique experiences of DJ Kevin Aviance, the influence of remixers like Masters at Work, and the prevalence of excess and intensity in '90s nightlife.
The thriving nightlife scene in New York City during the 1990s attracted thousands of revelers to mega clubs like Limelight and Sound Factory, while producers such as Joey Beltram and Frankie Bones were creating groundbreaking music, defining the sound and atmosphere of the clubs.
The decline of the 1990s club scene in New York City was caused by Mayor Rudy Giuliani's policies, resulting in the closure of many clubs and negatively impacting the communities that called them home, marking the end of an influential era of dance music history.
Deep dives
The Vibrant Nightlife of 1990s New York
The podcast episode explores the thriving nightlife scene of New York City in the 1990s. Mega clubs like Limelight, Sound Factory, and Palladium were at the center of the party scene, attracting thousands of revelers every weekend. Producers such as Joey Beltram, Frankie Knuckles, and Damon Wilde were creating groundbreaking music during this era. However, the decline of the club scene was catalyzed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani's policies, which led to the closure of many clubs and heavily impacted communities. Despite this, the podcast celebrates the New York nightlife of the past and the panelists discuss their experiences with dance music history.
Exploring the Personal Journeys of Gladys Pizzarro, Lenny Dee, and Kevin Aviance
In this panel recorded at RA's 24-7 party in nowadays in 2018, Strictly Rhythm co-founder Gladys Pizzarro, DJ and producer Lenny Dee, and drag superstar Kevin Aviance share their personal stories and perspectives on the 1990s club scene. They discuss their involvement in the music industry during that time and the impact of electronic music, from house to techno, in shaping their careers. The panel highlights the importance of influential figures like Junior Vasquez and Francois K. in defining the sound and atmosphere of the clubs.
Evolution of Music and Remix Culture in the 90s
The podcast episode explores the evolution of music and remix culture in the 1990s. The panelists discuss the influence of artists such as Junior Vasquez and Hex Hector in creating iconic remixes and pushing boundaries with their music. The rise of major label remixes and the connection between the underground and mainstream music scenes are also explored. Additionally, the panelists reflect on the excess and intensity of the 90s club culture, driven by the rave, hip hop, and house music scenes.
Changes and Challenges in the 90s Club Culture
The panelists discuss the changes and challenges faced by the 90s club culture, including the impact of gentrification, rising rent prices, and the policies of Mayor Giuliani. They reflect on how these factors affected the club scene, pushing it underground and leading to the emergence of illegal warehouse parties and rave culture. The panelists also express their optimism for the current club scene and its future, highlighting the importance of creating personal connections at clubs, letting go of phone distractions, and supporting artists and creative spaces.
"We were doing parties in Staten Island that were completely packed; Manhattan didn't want anything to do with us." Three New York visionaries discuss the city's '90s heyday.
'90s nightlife in New York conjures images of Party Monster, jacking disco house and a rotating cast of mega clubs that saw thousands of revellers pass through their doors each weekend. From Limelight and Sound Factory to Palladium and countless others, clubbing was hitting its stride in New York, while producers like Joey Beltram, Frankie Bones and Damon Wild were producing game-changing 12-inches. But it was also the beginning of a decline, catalysed by the rollout of Mayor Rudy Giuliani's discriminatory policies that slowly gutted the club scene and the communities that called it home.
To honour Resident Advisor's partnership with Wire Festival in Brooklyn this weekend, we're revisiting a panel recorded at our 24/7 party at Nowadays in 2018. We tasked the beloved Brooklyn fanzine Love Injection with presenting discussions covering five decades of dance music history. In this panel, Strictly Rhythm cofounder Gladys Pizarro, DJ and producer Lenny Dee and drag superstar and vogue performer Kevin Aviance spoke with journalist (and former RA staffer) Max Pearl about the rise and fall of the city's club scene during its golden decade. They also discussed how the city was sequestered, forcing many artists at the vanguard of '90s-era techno to make music and throw their own parties as the scene grew and shifted beneath the weight of city-wide reforms.
"We were doing parties in Staten Island that were completely packed; Manhattan didn't want anything to do with us," said Lenny D. "So when we were doing it, we were making parties out in Brooklyn. A lot of music at that time was made here in Brooklyn—Joey Beltram, Frankie Bones, Tommy Musto, Damon Wild. So we had this scene where we're making great music, but no one's letting us play, so we're just going to do it ourselves."
Listen to the episode in full.
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