An MTV producer and rising star in New York’s DJ scene, Joe Michael keeps the beat going this summer all the way to Madonna Worship.
Thotyssey: Hello Joe! We’re already flying through August… how has summer been treating you?
Joe Michael: Hey! This summer has been crazy busy… but I’m also finding the time to have a lot of fun, too. I always liked mixing business and pleasure; there is no joy in being serious all the time.
Agreed! You’re both a DJ and TV producer… is it easy for you to enjoy new music and programming just as a casual consumer, or are you always looking and listening to things with a technical eye / ear?
Usually it’s always with a technical eye and ear. It’s hard to turn it off, since my whole week is consumed by creating and threading stories. So I enjoy listening to and dissecting the production of a song, and seeing what melodies and harmonies blend together when DJing. Also, being a producer at MTV–it does help blending my two loves, which are music and television. Even though we don’t play a lot of music videos anymore, we still use music to drive narratives of our content. DJing is essentially the same as TV producing; I’m just producing through audio instead of visual.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re from originally, and how this tech / sonic journey began?
I’m a born and raised New Yorker! My family and I are Brooklyn Italians. At every family function there was always disco, 80s pop and freestyle music blasting. So I grew up on a lot of Donna Summer, ABBA, The Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, Madonna… and I always had 103.5 KTU on in the car. So I feel like that all really helped shape my love for dance and pop music. You can always count on that type of music being played at every Italian wedding!
Tell us what your role is at MTV.
I’m a post producer for the specials team, so I work on reunions for shows like Jersey Shore and The Challenge. I went to school for TV production at Seton Hall University, and I started as an intern / production assistant back in 2017 on the TRL revival–so I got to work with a lot of music and TV talent. That show didn’t last long, but my team just transitioned onto specials and now reunions. Working my way up the ladder! I sometimes forget how iconic MTV is, and how many amazing musicians and artists I look up to got their start there. It’s still finding its footing in the streaming age, but I feel like it’s finally getting there with reality TV content driven by music.
Can I send you my petition to bring back Real Friends of WeHo? Just kidding! But don’t you think the kids carried a bit too much about that? It likely would’ve gotten better over time (and maybe in a different time slot)!
I truly think that show would have been fine if it didn’t steal Drag Race’s spotlight. I’m unsure who came up with the idea to put it in the time slot it was in. I wish someone asked my opinion! But unfortunately, I’m not in programming.
Maybe they can give it another shot! Now of course, the entertainment industry is in a weird time with the strikes; that probably doesn’t affect a lot of what you do directly, but they could make way for a lot of interesting changes down the road, right?
Since I work in reality TV, it doesn’t affect me directly because reality stars aren’t in a union. But I fully stand with the strikes, and hope they can reach a deal soon. This industry isn’t for the faint of heart, and is a constant hustle. Creatives need to be compensated for their work. It’s not easy.
How did you get into DJing and nightlife?
I always was the friend to make playlists, so I always enjoyed being in control of the vibe. Back in summer 2021, I had COVID–as one did. I saw my friend Boyish Charm had just started DJing, and I was super curious. They showed me the ropes and the program they use, so I just started experimenting and having fun with it in my quarantine bubble. I sat for hours, mixing and self-teaching. I was eager to DJ for a crowd, so eventually Boyish was the one that gave me my first gig at their birthday at Phoenix Bar!
After that, I started making mixes just for fun–and I just started DMing bars and NYC DJs those mixes in the hopes that someone would listen and start booking me. I got the attention of Nicky Boom Box; we DMed for a little, met up for drinks–and he got me my first reoccurring gig at Hardware Bar for “Bye Brunch!” with Jacklynn Hyde and Boudoir LeFleur. [Editors note: in summer 2023, Petti Cash has been filling in for Boudoir while the latter does Fire Island shows.] And from that, I met more and more people in nightlife… and I got booked more and more through 2022 into this year.
DJing is the only thing I have felt that has ever come easy to me. Everything else, I had to really sit down and learn. So I’m happy my talent has spoken for itself. And from that, I’ve made a lot of good friends from nightlife–like Nicky. I’m really happy with my progress–with only being in it for two years–and I’m excited for my future. I love being the soundtrack of queer joy.
Are you DJing anywhere else regularly during the week?
That’s my only reoccurring gig. With my job as a TV producer, I don’t want to overwhelm my schedule because I do need my own time to rest and enjoy life. So I like to pick up gigs on Fridays and Saturdays whenever I can. I’m at Metropolitan Bar a lot for “Dial 559” with Janelle No. 5 on Saturday nights. That’s one of my favorite gigs to do; I love Janelle and her family’s drag, and her parties are always fucking lit.
And every so often I’ll be at the Rosemont on Fridays for “The Zoo” with Luis Fernando, and I just started doing Saturdays, too, with P_A_T and his party “Fake Nudes.” DJing in Brooklyn just hits, and is so fun.
You’re gonna be in Brooklyn as part of a big show on August 25th: “Madonna Worship!” That’s Chauncey Dandridge’s long running all-Madonna dance party making its 3 Dollar Bill debut on the 25th!
Oh my God, it’s such an honor to be part of that… and I’m so happy Chauncey asked me to do it. He’s such a sweetheart, and has given me great opportunities this year–like The Urban Bear’s Pride party.
It’s gonna be an epic night, with many pop-up performances! Do you have a favorite Madonna era?
That is so hard. I’ve always said if I can go back in time and experience one concert, it would be Madonna’s “Blond Ambition” show. I’ve watched Truth or Dare so many times. If I had to pick an era, it would probably be Confessions on a Dance Floor. I was around 10 years old, and I remember being a little closeted kid doing choreo to “Hung Up” in the pool! But that album has had such an influence on my taste of music. Ray Of Light, Music, and American Life are also really up there for me as well. There’s just so much to pick from! I’m excited to play some deep cuts I don’t usually get to play.
Do you have anything else coming that the children should be made aware of? Like, are you a remixer at all yet?
Not yet, but I would love to get into remixing one day. I feel like it’s in the cards for me. As for right now, just look out for me in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and keep on dancing with me. I would love to reach other cities one day soon, too.
Excellent! Let’s conclude with: what’s the most annoying song request you’ve gotten, or have been getting, in the booth!?
I am very sorry, but most of the time I will not play a song by a straight cis man. And on the other end of the spectrum, I am not playing a Broadway showtune, lol!
Both fair! Thanks, Joe!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for DJ Joe Michael’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Instagram.
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