Hi, I’m Dash!

I’m a music curator, director of creative programming, DJ, and community builder. I’ve always been fixated on the idea that every moment and experience in life was made better and more meaningful with the right music. This theory started me on a lifelong journey of musical exploration and a prolific and multifaceted career that has spanned a decade and a half.

MUSIC

I started making music when I was nine. A passion for writing and creating music blossomed in high school and by my early 20s, I had released several full length albums, collaborated with artists like K. Flay, Fat Tony, Danny Brown, Despot, Das Racist, and Moguai and released numerous Hypem Charting remixes. My work was featured on MTV, The Seattle TImes, Pitchfork, New York Magazine, Earmilk and Vice and I was nominated for an Independent Music Award for Best Alternative Hip Hop Album.

DJING

While studying International Relations at City College of New York, I began DJing and quickly became hooked. By the time I graduated, I was DJing multiple times a week at some of NYC’s best venues. I’ve always loved rocking a party, but there’s more to it than that. It’s not just about connecting with people, but connecting people to the experience of being in a specific place at a specific time. The right music played at the right time in the right way can conjure someones past, excite them about the future, and allow them to fully appreciate their present.

CURATION

Over time, regular gigs turned to residencies, and residencies turned into jobs at different venues across the city booking and managing DJs, talent-buying, and creating playlists. The latter responsibility provided a new opportunity to further explore how music could be used to enhance people’s experiences. Over the years, I developed a philosophy on how to curate soundscapes for spaces based on the nature and brand identity of the venue, types of service(s) provided, and the demographics of the customer base.

FRIENDS AND LOVERS

In late 2014, I became the Director of Programming for a little-known DIY space in Crown Heights Brooklyn called Friends and Lovers. Within a couple years, it became one of the most celebrated and cherished independent venues and dance clubs in NYC and has been on numerous best-of lists and featured everywhere from the NY Times, to Time Out, Brooklyn Vegan, Gothamist, the Infatuation, and more.

COMMUNITY

Fundraising and providing a space for not-for-profits and progressive causes was always a significant part of my programming. Yet it wasn’t until the pandemic forced us (and the entire industry) to shudder our doors for a year, I became galvanized to help my community. I founded FnLBK Radio which raised over 10k for out of work NYC DJs in exchange for various monthly DJ mixes. I helped organize food and toy drives, and worked with local mutual aid groups to install a community fridge outside of our venue. I also teamed up with other leaders in the industry to create Nightlife United - an action an advocacy group that provided over 105k in emergency grants for independent nightlife venues and the folks that work at them with a focus on BIPOC and LGBTQIA individuals, and owned and led spaces.

GET IN TOUCH

If you’re interested in working with on something creative and amazing, let’s talk! DROP ME A LINE.