The Eagle NYC’s Joshua Ruiz flies high on the hottest of beats.
Thotyssey: Hi Joshua, how has the month of May been treating you?
Joshua Ruiz: Hi there, May has been great! It’s set to be the busiest month of my young DJ career, with some pretty high profile gigs. So I’m definitely excited!
She’s all over the globe! A DJ has to be adaptable of course, but when you have full creative control over your nights, what do they tend to sound like?
Great question! I’ve recently launched my own event in NYC, “Tribal Sessions,” to do just that! Having full creative control over the entire process where you can expect heavy tribal drums, hard stabbing synths with a Latin-Afro twist that I’ve made my own over the years.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re originally from, and the music you grew up with?
I am a born and raised New Yorker–originally from Cypress Hills, Brooklyn and now living on the Upper East Side. I grew up listening to the DJ legends of NYC like Danny Tenaglia, Victor Calderone, Rosabel and the late great Peter Rauhofer–all of whom have greatly influenced my sound and musical direction.
What clubs or bars were you going out to in your early nightlife days?
My early club days were in Miami, where I moved for college in 2010: Mansion, Twist, Club Space and Mekka were my early stomping grounds.
Miami is still, like, the danciest city in the Union, right?
Hmmm….interesting question. Nightlife in Miami has drastically changed over the years due to political reasons… especially South Beach, which was once gay paradise. It’s still a very fun city, but NYC hands down has the most diverse array of options when it comes to wanting to go out and dance.
The Eagle in New York of course is an iconic venue, and a few years ago it became an even bigger situation thanks to an expansion and a re-energized dancefloor.
Yes! It has definitely reinvented itself as one of the premier gay venues across the country for house music lovers. My first gig there was in July of 2023, and I have been a resident ever since. The best part about playing there is the freedom of musical expression. It’s such a diverse venue, with so many people visiting from across the globe who are there to get down and dirty!
Do you ever get distracted by, say, sexy dancing guys around you… or are you always in the zone when you’re DJing, lol?
Haha! I am most definitely in the zone when I am playing. Every once in a while I’ll interact with the dancers, because they do give me energy behind the booth! There’s nothing like a fierce dancer / gogo getting down to the beats.
Your next “Tribal Sessions” there is May 24th.
Yes! This Friday, starting at 10pm. Our first event had huge success, so I’m hoping this one is even bigger and better!
Looking ahead, I see you’ll be at The Meadows this Pride Sunday morning for an Joe Roszak after hours production, “Action!”
Yes! Opening for the amazing Tom Stephan. It’s going to an incredible event with great music… and of course, all the boys!
What else is coming up for you?
After I spin the Eagle on Friday, I hop on flight to LA to spin Masterbeat’s Basic Training mega event at the Exchange Hollywood, which is set to be the biggest and most illustrious gig of my career to date. June 1st, I head to Atlanta to play XION after hours. Super excited and grateful for all of these opportunities.
A well travelled DJ! Okay lastly: do you have a prediction on who might have a Song of the Summer?
I don’t have any predictions yet…but if we’re on that topic, DJ / producer out of Chicago Brady Prince has been putting out some amazing music and deserves all the glory and praise for his hard work! He’s also a member of our community, which makes it that much more special!
We loof gorward to hearing it! Thanks, Josh!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for DJ Joshua Ruiz’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and SoundCloud.
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