This Friday we’ve gone Stateside. All round native New Yorker and general go-to music guy in the city, Steven Rojas delivers an exclusive mix for your weekend kicks.
One of New York’s best known (and best dressed) DJs, a.k.a the dapper guy behind the decks of the Grand Hotels, Steven Rojas radiates that east coat vibe with infectiously upbeat, sunny side up, eclectic mixes that make your feet move without prompt. Merging golden oldies with punk, new wave and beachy tracks, Rojas fills a dance floor faster than anyone before. While the skies stay grey on this side of the pond, transport yourself through the immortal words of Elvis and The Beach Boys in a summer lovin’ weekend mix.
How did you start off in music/DJing? One night my friend Sean FightCats took me to the Annex located in the Lower East Side for a party called Ruff Club. Sean was friends with the owner of the Annex, Jason Baron and asked if we could go downstairs and “DJ”. With no one downstairs Jason said it was ok so Sean and I went and DJ’ed from one speaker, a half working mixer and two sad looking CDJS sitting a top of a small bar table. The following week we asked if we could come back and Jason agreed, so we came back with some friends. Within a month, Ruff Club’s basement had become the home to the then dubbed ‘Ruff Kids’, and we had grown into a trio that included myself, Sean FightCats and Mike Nouveau.
What’s your trademark sound? I’m not sure if I have one, my music choices go from oldies, punk, hip hop, rock and indie all the way to top-40s. If you can dance to it and it’s good, why not play it?
Any favourite places to DJ? My favourite spots around the world to DJ are my homes away from home, the Soho Grand and Tribeca Grand, Le Baron in Paris, and for the summer Surf Lodge in Montauk.
Who do you listen to when you’re not DJ’ing? Tommy Saleh.
Where are the best secret hang out joints in NYC? Some of my favourite spots to frequent include: Hudson Clearwater, Cafe Cluny, Rubirosa, Cafe Delmano, Randolfs and Keens.
How has NYC’s vibe affected your music? New York’s vibe is fast, just the way I like my music.
What’s on your summer soundtrack for 2012? This summer my playlist has lots of 50′s and 60′s surf music and remixes. Much of music has come form listening to DJs like Prince Language, Chelsea Leyland, Mike Nouveau, THE MISSHAPES, May Kwok, David Katz, Justin Miller and Mia Moretti, they are the true DJs.
Text: Felicity Carter
