Let’s drop in with DJ Dropo, co-parent of “Good Friday” at Red Eye, which turns one year old this week!
Thotyssey: Hello Alex, thanks for chatting with us today! January is already racing by… how is the New Year treating you so far?
Alex Dropo: Thanks for having me, I’m stoked to be chatting with Thotyssey! Fourteen in and 351 to go. Honestly, 2025’s been treating me pretty good so far. I’ve been working on some new projects, getting back into the groove creatively, and just trying to lay low and be productive when I can. Last year was quite frankly chaotic.
I hear that! I’ve seen through some of your social media posts that you were maybe going to leave NYC for good at one point, right?
This makes me giggle. You are not wrong. I’ve left New York three times over the past decade–two times for career and life adventures and once ’cause, well, I’m one of those New Yorkers that GTFO in 2020. Each time I left, I had this notion I’d never come back. Boy was I wrong, in November 2023 I officially made it my 4th time moving to this ever-changing, yet resilient, city. I love her, she hates me… so New York is home. There, I said it.
What are your thoughts about the state of nightlife today? It all seemed pretty grim post-lockdown, but political reality aside I think we’ve recently been seeing a upswing in folks going out again.
Pre-lockdown New York nightlife was looking pretty grim. The surge of large scale clubs sucked the money away from the local small / midsized nightclubs, forcing the majority of them to close their doors. What I’ve observed post-lockdown is madness. The nightlife has resurged, the energy, the creativity, the chaos. A renaissance has emerged. There’s plenty of pros and cons to this new rush of partiess and party goers… but lets not get that deep today.
Amen! Can you tell us a bit of your origin story? Where are you from originally, what sort of music did you grown up with, and how did DJing come to be?
I grew up in Alabama and moved to Massachusetts when I was eight. My music taste is shaped by curiosity—I never obsess over one genre, just wanted to hear everything. When I moved to New York at 21, I was still figuring out who I was–but live music, theatre, and parties became my escape, where I felt free to be me.
DJing didn’t come until I moved to the LES with two friends in 2018 who had DJ gear. I’d sneakily play around with the controllers when they weren’t home—at first, it was a disaster! But my roommate Dawson took me under his wing, showed me the ropes… and that’s when I got hooked. Now, it’s all about connecting with people through music. A big influence in what my sound is now and where it’s going derives from the places I’ve lived and traveled, introducing me to so many different sounds and cultures.
How might you describe that sound today?
Haha, where do I begin? Genres don’t matter to me. It’s more about the story each song tells that captures my attention. I do love happy, fun, silly sounds, so I incorporate a lot of that into my sets. Minimal house and techno have opened my eyes to bridging gaps in the world of genres. So to confuse you more, my sound today is about creating drawn out moments of tension that have big releases. Blending familiar vocals with unfamiliar beats. I’ll be posting some sets on my SoundCloud the next few weeks, so if that confused anyone go check out my page and have a listen.
Sounds like a journey! Have you had any all time favorite gigs or DJ moments?
My favorite moments. Now that I’m thinking, a year ago I took a risk and moved to NYC on a whim to pursue my dream of being a full time DJ. I felt extremely vulnerable and feared failure, still do. And to add to that I have social anxiety through the roof. I throw a party with two friends, Dawson and DJ Mitch Ferrino. They are my Knights in shining armor and so incredibly talented at their craft. Not only have these two helped me navigate this wild wild industry, but they have created one of the best parties in New York City. The moments that stand out to me have all been while playing this party. It’s a monthly event that’s gives a communal house party vibe with a focus on good music and building a friendly community. Our 1 year anniversary of “Good Friday” is coming up this Friday with a very special guest, Kim Ahn, at Red Eye in Hell’s Kitchen.
Excellent! What else needs to be said?
Keep an eye out for upcoming events on my Instagram and make sure to get tickets for “Good Friday” before they’re gone!
And this is my final question: what’s your best advice for a new DJ on the scene?
Stay true to you, put in the hours… and have fun, y’all!
Thanks, DJ!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for DJ Dropo’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram & SoundCloud.
Thotyssey 