Co-producer of the rave-tastic EUWHORIA parties that are seizing the queer femmes and their friends like a fever, Xana 101 is spinning the soundtrack of a stylish & sexy summer. [Cover photo: Hadriel Gonzalez / Cyb3r Bull]
Thotyssey: Hi Xana, happy Pride Month! You just came off of, what, three gigs this weekend? “Kittypool,” “Xenasphere” and a house party! How did it all go, and how did you make it through all that?
Xana 101: Hiii Thotyssey! Not to drag it, but I had four gigs this weekend, lol. I started Thursday playing a pride event for Queer Capita on the Amazon Music rooftop. And I’m about to get ready for gig #4 after this… all I can say is, thank you Yerba Mates.
Amen! In general you have been a busy bee lately, with DJ gigs and producing your own stuff. Did the Xana Explosion take you be surprise, or did you foresee all this?
It was a surprise for sure; I never really expected to be received with as much love and respect as I have. I started DJing two years ago, and within those two years I’ve learned so much… but honestly, I still don’t really feel as though I’ve truly exploded yet.
If the boom hasn’t happened yet, it will at any moment!
Can you tell us a bit of your origin story: where are you originally from, and was music always a part of your life?
I’m a born and raised New Yorker: born in the South Bronx, and raised all over New York. I mention that because I feel like everywhere I spent some time growing up influenced my music selections. I grew up bouncing between my dad’s home in Richmond Hill, Queens and my mom’s in Hicksville, Long Island–two very different communities that both influenced my life in a huge way. Music would be the factor that really tied it all together. I kept that iPod on me, and always loaded with new music. I started experimenting with making music in high school, but ultimately it wasn’t until last year when I started taking production and songwriting more seriously.
Have you formally released any of your own music to the public? What’s it sound like, in regards to genre or vibes?
I have one single out, “Rave Cloud” produced by my partner Cyb3r Bull. I conjured this track for the sole purpose of playing it at a Halloween rave in Atlanta: “Haunted Kandi Mansion” hosted by Malware Cafe and Brainworld. I love to describe it as a cinematic audio experience; it feels like a scary movie to me, but also you can’t help but move your body to the piercing rhythm.
Genre-wise, it’s giving a little gabber, a little schranz–I hate boxing anything I make into one genre, because that’s not really how I make music. I’m just putting sounds together that I think work well. That’s kind of how I DJ as well; I’m an open format DJ, and usually whenever I spin I love to blend different styles of music together to really create a unique vibe.
Love that! The Kids These Days need to be exposed to different sounds!
How did you begin as a DJ?
I learned how to DJ at a community workshop hosted by Powrplnt two years ago. DJ HD, Pauli Cakes and a few more well-respected DJs were sharing their skills and experience, and provided a hands on workshop to learn the basic skills of handling a CDJ. Since then, I worked on expanding my skills by watching YouTube videos, and by going out to see my favorite DJs and just watching how they spin. Once I got comfortable with that and did a few gigs for little to no money, my partner and I started our own event series EUWHORIA at a bar (now closed down) called No Aloha. Now EUWHORIA is being held at Nowadays, and that might be our biggest flex.
Tell us about your DJ sound, when you have full freedom over your nights.
I feel like as a DJ, I live at the crossroads between the hardcore electronic music scene and the club music scene–and that’s where I live as a partygoer, too. I love music, period. So whenever I have control over what I can play, I always take full advantage of that–and I just play whatever the fuck I want… and the girls always live. I especially love flipping a pop music track live. Like, it’s not every day you hear a JT Jersey club x hard techno x acid blend. If I’m not blowing someone’s mind, I’m not doing my job.
EUWHORIA and several other recent nightlife brands have this loyal and tight-knit following of trans, nonbinary and femme partygoers, often in Brooklyn and Ridgewood venues. You have the name recognition now, but it must have been challenging in the beginning to cultivate this community, right? What’s the key to making an event feel inclusive and safe, as well as fun and edgy?
Shoutout to the trans, enby, and femme partygoers for real–they’re the ones that really get it. That actually know how to get lost in the music, but not get lost in themselves and be messy at the club.
Going to be so real with you, it was challenging at the beginning… but it is definitely just as challenging right now. What’s made it easier to navigate, though, is the connections I’ve made with other producers and DJs in the scene. Shoutout to Soo Intoit. Soo has shared a lot of what she knew about event production and about community itself with me throughout my journey in nightlife, and honestly without her I don’t think EUWHORIA, or even Xana 101, would have made it as far as it has.
So all that is to drive the point that I think the key to making an event feel inclusive and safe and fun and edgy is to really be tapped into the community around you. Otherwise, who is really showing up?
EUWHORIA joins forces with another brand, Club Kitten, for a June 21st party at Trans-Pecos in Ridgewood!
Yes, super excited for our collab with Club Kitten; Angel is a real sister to me. I love working with my queer fam during Pride Month.
We’re actually hosting a two night Pride extravaganza at Trans-Pecos. Night One is EUWHORIA x Club Kitten, and Night Two is “Critical Hit.” We’re calling this weekend “Eternity Bond,” in another effort to show solidarity between queer collectives and to spread the love as far as we can. The girls and gays can expect what they’ve come to love from us: hard, fast, cunty dance music. Pauli Cakes headlining Night One and Estoc headlining Night Two… at Trans-Pecos! Like, y’all need to read that again… that never happens. Not to mention the rest of the lineup is stacked with local queer excellence.
You and Angel form the b2b DJ Duo FERAL, and you and Soo together are the Spiral Sisters! Are you part of any other duos or groups in the booth?
Only one other. I recently debuted a b2b with my DJ daughter Selene; we released a mix last week that we recorded from a fried ass Saturday night at a random warehouse in Williamsburg called “Fae Fatale.” It’s a real push and pull between sounds with a throughline of puss that just really makes you feel like a fairy on fire.
Oh, and actually I do have another b2b with LUNATICA called “Diviniteas” that we debuted at Pride last year. I love going b2b with my sisters; it feels a lot like we’re battling Pokémon. “Charli XCX ‘Von Dutch Remix,’ I choose you!”
Back to the gigs! On June 22nd, Crystal Visions and Uklon present “Soft Opening,” featuring you and others in the booth! That looks super cxnt. What might go down there, and how can the children get on a list to learn the exact location?
“Soft Opening” was a last minute addition to our Pride plans this year, but they came in hard. Fashion, Venus, Malice… I applaud Uklon and Crystal Visions for booking all dolls, outside of their own collectives, for a warehouse rave during Pride. That’s one way trans allies can be using their own platforms to help uplift trans people in their communities. Girl, there’s only one to get on the list… RSVP on Shotgun at the link in my bio!
“Cirque du Cocaine” is another upcoming event, June 23rd at Eureka’s in Brooklyn!
“Cirque du Cocaine” is not for the faint of heart, honey. Put together by my love Cholita aka Kurt Cocaine, this is a night by freaks, for freaks. The emphasis is on the freak shows by the fabulous lineup of performers, and we are all basically doing this for free in an effort to fundraise for two of our trans family members who are currently dealing with housing issues. So in addition to getting an electrifying night of music by me and Purp and a beautifully curated selection of uncensored freak shows, your coins will change the lives of trans folks around you.
Then Tuesday June 25th, it’s “Homecoming” at Bossa Nova Civic Club with DJ Paperdoll and company.
Paperdoll tapping me in to drop some techno heat! I’m super excited to play at Bossa Nova again; not many venues have three decks, but when they do I feel like it’s a little treat for the DJs. I haven’t gotten many non HXC techno gigs in a minute, so I’m excited to get in my bag and lock in for something really special for “Homecoming.”
And this is probably unusual for you: you’ll be DJing a drag show at All Night Skate on June 27th starring Silly Brown and Amygdala!
Yes! I love DJing for drag shows–I’ve only done one or two, but it’s such a different vibe than the usual gigs I do. I love getting to play that fun gay pop shit, and mixing in the rap girlies. I know a thing or two about being gay…
Looking ahead, EUWHORIA returns to Nowadays on July 11th with another stellar lineup! I was just reminded by Hope 808 that Nowadays has a No Phones on the Dancefloor policy, which forces everyone to live in the moment! That must be heaven for a DJ in these times.
Yes! I’m really excited that we were able to bring Fortified Structures, Kimkilla, Sexappeal and my sister Soo Intoit to Nowadays. We love tapping into the different music scenes in Brooklyn, and curating a night that brings them all together. And yes, the No Phones in the Dancefloor policy is really special–I’m tired of seeing what I look like from the Dancefloor, lol.
And on August 2nd, you, Cyb3r Bull and a crew of other great DJs will “Escape” to Brooklyn’s Paragon!
Right boo! Cyb3r Bull and I will be taking over the basement at Paragon all night long. This is a first for us, so we’re taking it extra seriously. Paragon is one of our favorite venues, so we feel a duty to uphold the vibes in the cuntiest manner possible.
A busy summer so far! Is there anything else to plug as far as gigs, projects, etc?
There’s so many things always going on; nightlife never ends, especially in NYC. And I’m a real creature of the night. You can always get the tea on what’s going on during the week on my IG story, because I can’t help but to post a million times a day.
As for projects, I am working on my debut EP. I’m taking my time with this, for real. My first single “Rave Cloud” was a stream of consciousness creation and was very well received, so I feel a slight bit of pressure to make sure what I do next is even better.
Can’t wait for all of it! Okay, a closer I often like to ask DJs: what’s your best advice for a baby DJ off the bus who wants to make it big in queer NYC?
My advice is to build a community to back you in your hometown before you try to come make it big in NYC. We have enough baby DJs born and raised here, to be honest. But if you’re really That Bitch in your hometown, come flex what you got! Talented people will always attract other talented people (good and bad).
Buttt if your hometown was the kind that did not allow you as a queer individual to thrive in any way, come to NYC. Follow the queer producers, DJs and hosts on IG. Go out to the events they’re promoting, and see where you catch the vibe that you feel most comfortable and really speaks to you. The rest will work itself out.
Practical wisdom indeed! Thanks, Xana, and Happy Pride!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for DJ Xana 101’s upcoming appearances, and follow them on Instagram, Twitter, Soundcloud and their website.
Thotyssey 