For the Record is a conversation series where we speak with all manner of music heads — DJs, music journos, indie label captains, record shop owners, listening bar kingpins, et al — about their stories + the music that makes them.
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Few DJs could adequately represent the last three decades of New York nightclub history - no less do so with such iconic credentials as Justin Strauss. Since he was 17, when his first band was signed to Island Records, Justin has had a career that reads like a Who’s-Who of the music scene, spinning at nearly every dance club that you’d ever want to go to.
Starting as DJ at New York’s legendary Mudd Club, he spun his way through The Ritz, Limelight, Area, Tunnel, M.K., Life, Centro Fly and more, pioneering his own distinctive sound, and becoming one of the most sought-after remixers and producers not just in New York, but in the world. He has worked with the gamut of artists - Depeche Mode, Hot Chip, Sergio Mendez, Tina Turner, Jimmy Cliff, B-52s, Luther Vandross, 808 State, Malcolm McClaren, Skinny Puppy, Goldfrapp, LCD Soundsystem to name a few and on over 300 records!
MUSIC MENTIONS
Early years, from being in a band to becoming a DJ:
- The Beatles
- The Rolling Stones
- The Kinks
- The Who
- James Brown
- Chuck Berry
- David Bowie
- Milk ’N’ Cookies
- Island Records
- Roxy Music
- Sparks
- Robert Palmer
- Top of the Pops
- New York Dolls
- CBGB
- Sex Pistols
- The Mudd Club (NYC)
- Studio 54
- Max’s Kansas City (NYC)
- Paradise Garage (NYC)
- François Kevorkian
- The Limelight (NYC)
- Aria (NYC)
- Tunnel (NYC)
- Danceteria (NYC)
- Hurrah (NYC)
- Palladium (NYC)
- The Ritz (NYC)
- Webster Hall (NYC)
- Prince
- Kraftwerk
- Human League
- Depeche Mode
- Gang of Four
- Tina Turner
- Afrika Bambaataa
- Liquid Liquid
- ESG
- Spotify
Q&A
- Vinylmania (NYC)
- Optimo
- James Murphy
- The Dare
- Deewee
- Soulwax
- Fat White Family
- Paranoid London
- “Brat” by Charli XCX
- “B2B” by Charli XCX
- Hot Chip
- Joe Goddard
- Marcus Marr
- Max Park
- Prince Language
Discovering music today (30:42):
- Clubs, DJ’s & Friends
- Bandcamp
- Beatport
Favorite clubs in NYC right now (38:52):
- Gabriela (NYC)
- Good Room (NYC)
- Night Moves (NYC)
- Public Records (NYC)
- Nowadays (NYC)
- Outer Heaven (NYC)
- Jean’s (NYC)
- Baby’s All Right (NYC)
First album ever purchased (45:01):
- “Meet The Beatles” by The Beatles
Most recent album purchased (45:45):
- “Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience)” by Decius
Artists discovered in the past year (46:48):
- Decius
- Otha
- Charli XCX
- Sleaford Mods
Desert island discs (49:44):
- “Computer World” by Kraftwerk
- “Revolve” by The Beatles
- “In the Jungle Groove” by James Brown
Current and upcoming collab projects:
- Each Other
- Extra Credit
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