This native New Yorker is spinning some of the city’s (and by his account, the world’s) best clubs: Sterling Juan Diaz!
Thotyssey: Sterling, hello! Thanks so much for talking today! How was your summer, and your Labor Day Weekend?
Sterling Juan Diaz: Summer’s been pretty good to me, honestly — made a lot of changes in my life, and grew in a bunch of ways. It’s bittersweet that it’s winding down, but I’d say it’s been one of the better summers of my life. Labor Day Weekend kind of felt like the culmination of it all; I spent a lot of time with friends and loved ones, and it felt like the perfect bookend to the past few months .
Glorious and cathartic! Is there anything about those life changes you’d care to discuss?
One of the bigger changes was moving back to Brooklyn (I was living uptown for a while, back with family), and really taking a moment to prioritize my mental health and how I was showing up in life and my career (I have a nine-to-five).
Nightlife is a tricky business for anyone trying to navigate mental health, congrats for finding a way to do that! I bet part of your process is setting firm boundries and limits, and making whatever downtime you can for yourself, right?
Yes. I took a bunch of time to shift focus to myself, actually. I DJed a lot less than I normally do this summer.
So being the globetrotter that you are, New York is your actual home base?
NYC has always been and will always be home, no matter where I go. I’ve been lucky to get some bookings outside the city, but honestly there’s nothing like home.
How might you describe your sound in the DJ booth these days, and has it evolved over time?
I’d say my sounds has definitely evolved; I’m coming up on ten years of DJing. These days, I feel like I’m spinning more for myself than I have in the past — playing music that I truly connect with. Maybe that’s a heady answer, lol! I listen to everything and appreciate all kinds of sounds. At the end of the day, I like to describe my sound as generous, sincere and here with you.
What sort of music did you grow up listening to?
I’m Dominican, but also from NYC. So, a lot of Spanish music at home: batchata, merengue, etc. But then everything out in the city: a lot of hip hop and r&b. But also “gay,” so, lol… pop too. Then I had an indie moment, a rock moment. Still in the rock / punk moment maybe, lol.
Probably the best DJs are the ones with very open minds and tastes! Can you listen to and enjoy music like a “normal” person lol, or are you constantly deconstructing it in your head?
Very “listen to music like a normal person.” I like to think the reason I got into DJing was because of my love for going out. I’m definitely a party goer / raver / first.
How did your DJ career begin?
I was always the designated aux guy at parties for friends. One day my friend asked me to DJ her birthday, and I DJed it off my phone… and was kind of embarrassed, so I taught myself. The rest is kinda history.
Have you had an all time favorite DJ moment or gig?
Definitely sets that I play with my friends that go well. I tend to spin a lot with homies, Sekucci being one of them. I can’t pinpoint one specific moment, but it would def be one of those where we’ve done / created something together.
This is a hot take, but I feel like these days the better music is being played in the straight or mixed clubs like Basement and Nowadays. The gay bars are clinging to Top 40 without much innovation, for the most part! Am I wrong, or being unfair?
Have to agree, in a way. But what really makes a space “straight” or “mixed” in 2025? The lines feel way more blurred these days. Spots like Nowadays or Basement might not be exclusively queer, but they’re deeply shaped by queer culture and people. And honestly, they’re some of the best clubs in North America. The artistry and innovation happening there is really cool, and a lot of that comes from the care that goes into making sure all kinds of folks feel seen, welcome, and respected there. With that said, exclusively queer spaces still hold a big spot in my heart.
Well said! Speaking of Nowadays, you’ll be there as part of the DJ lineup for The Spectrum’s “Gaze the Haze” party this Thursday! What can we expect from that night?
The Spectrum is such a formative party for me, so I’m really excited to finally play it; it lowkey helped shape me as both a person and an artist. I love the Nowadays sound system, so I’ve been pulling tracks that really work on that dancefloor. Expect a set that’s a little cunty, a little weird — but definitely considered, lol.
What else is coming up for you?
It’s still unannounced (mostly cuz I need to work on the flyer lol), but I’ll be doing my party “SIMPULSO” at Bossa Nova Civic Club on September 19th and I’m pretty excited about it. Otherwise, some other cool things are coming up that I don’t think I can talk about just yet!
Okay, then lastly: what’s your best advice for a baby DJ who wants to make it big in NYC?
Go out, and like, really immerse yourself in the scene. Pay attention, appreciate what’s happening, and focus on how you can contribute to it instead of just trying to benefit from it, or use DJing for clout. Take your time, basically… and do it for the right reasons.
Thanks, Sterling!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Sterling Juan Diaz’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Instagram and SoundCloud.
Thotyssey 