Sullivan Room, one of New York City’s most favorite underground hot spots, recently celebrated the release of their first compilation CD. The CD was mixed and compiled by Sullivan Room resident, DJ Fame, who is associated with Open Bar Music. Open Bar Music is handling the CD’s distribution and tour for the renowned DJ and producer.
I caught up with Fame at the Sullivan Room party where he was also celebrating three years of residency with the club. Before things got too crazy, we relaxed in the back room and talked about everything from what went into the compilation, to the current dance scene in New York.
First of all, tell me about how you got started here at Sullivan Room, and what lead you to organizing this compilation?
Well I was working for Serge, the owner, and I was working really hard for him so one night, about three years ago, he gave me a shot here opening for John Creamer, and he loved it. I’ve played here every month since then. It’s the longest running residency anyone has ever had at the club.
That’s awesome. I know for the people who have been frequenting Sullivan Room over the years, it’s especially exciting to have a mixed CD out. Right now there is so much minimal all over the city, and after hearing a lot of bloopy-bleepy music everywhere, it’s nice to know you can always count on this club to hear some bangin tech-house. Can you tell me about what went into compiling the CD?
I came up with the idea about a year and a half ago. We’ve never done anything like this before. I handled about 90 percent of the work, compiling all the music and taking care of everything. I came up with a proposal and presented it to Serge. I’ve brought in about 24 DJs from all over Europe to play here. The CD is not only a reflection of me, but I only bring people in here that I personally like their stuff, so the CD includes a lot of good people. I’d say that 90 percent of the tracks on the compilation are from people that have played in the club. That was really important to me; it keeps it “real Sullivan Room.” I also squeezed in one of my tracks at the last minute.
A great track I have to say, “Name it X.”
I only had to leave out about five tracks, only because they didn’t fit stylishly. I couldn’t fit everyone. A lot of people put out compilations for labels and they can only use certain tracks, I’m pretty happy that I was able to put something together like this; I would play every track on the CD. It took about eight months to put together, and it’s doing pretty well now.
Well, it’s a great gift to New Yorkers as well as to anyone else who hears it.
Really if you think about it, there are not many clubs here in New York that have compilations. I think of this as something like Fabric or Ministry of Sound project. For me, that’s what Sullivan Room is here, a real staple for underground music, and it’s always been like that.
I know you are also planning to tour with the release of this CD. What can party- goers across the globe expect to experience at one of your events?
Basically we’re just trying to bring the same sound and vibe of Sullivan Room. All the people that come here are music appreciators so, the places we are doing with the tour are going to be of the same sort. Right now we have Kosovo lined up, England, then probably Italy, and Mexico. Tech-house isn’t the biggest sub-genre of house anymore in the states, so it’s cool when we get to do something in the states to push the New York sound, or what I feel is the New York sound, somewhere else. In Europe, they just understand.
Let’s talk about the United States for a minute. I mean let’s face it, outside of our own worlds, electronic dance music is not the mainstream here. Do you think with the growth of satellite radio and the accessibility of so much digital music that this will change?
It’s a tough call. In England for example, there are a number of radio stations that play electronic music. It’s not even considered mainstream or commercial, it’s just accepted. In New York it’s a little bit different here, but we’re all trying to do the same thing, and that is to try to get music heard all over the world. Even if you have to give people a commercial remix to show them something new….as far as underground stuff, it’s not that easy. Most DJs and producers have other jobs. I’ve been lucky. We all hope it picks up, and it’s been picking up locally. A lot of people have been trying to pull it together and have been working really hard. There has been a large upward slope in the last two years.
What’s next for you?
Well right now I’m working with Solid Groove, probably one of the top five most sought after producers in the world; he’s kind of taken me under his wing. One EP is already coming out in a few weeks.
What style is that gunna be?
Jackin dance floor stuff; there is also remix of a popular freestyle track. We used logic for that. I have about 25 tracks done that we’re shopping around right now, and eight or nine have been signed in the last few months. I write a song a week easily. It’s my full focus.
Well I’m looking forward to checking out all of it. Everyone should pick up Sullivan Room Volume 1 cause it’s rocks. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m hearing the beats from in here and I say we start celebrating this three year residency and get our grooves on.
Let’s go. I’m with you on that.
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