A producer and DJ playing some of the city’s hottest clubs and parties who works behind the scenes with an important collective and recently happily married in a throuple… Eric Umble shares it all. [Cover photo: Marco Antonio]
Thotyssey: Hi Eric, thanks so much for talking today! By the time this will be out, it’ll be October… how was your September?
Eric Umble: September was fantastic! I had my second party as a new resident DJ at “HARDER” at the newly renovated 9 Bob Note space (the renovation is really amazing, by the way); l had a beautiful experience playing a downtempo set for Silence Please (I love playing chill energy); I had the joy of DJ’ing a dear friend’s birthday party; and yes, had a blast last weekend playing at the Exley and for XOXA at Jupiter Disco. I enjoy playing for queer spaces so much, and the Exley is such a chill vibe. I had an amazing time playing B2B with my dear friend Justin Caron (Eggz) at the Exley, who is also co-founder of “Hot for You” and “Sheila” parties. And, closing Jupiter on Saturday was such a blast. We had a packed dance floor all the way until the end.
My full-time role is as Development Director for TRIBE, a non-profit multidisciplinary arts collective based in Brooklyn. So my weeks are full these days, though I’m deeply grateful for all of it, and so honored to be part of the work — both for TRIBE and out and about as a DJ / promoter.
Tell us more about your work with TRIBE, and that org’s mission.
Absolutely! TRIBE is a collective inspired by the Afrofuturism movement, which states we have a responsibility to tell new stories and create a brighter future that is different and shines more luminously from our past. The collective platforms, uplifts, and centers the voices of artists of the global majority and brings audiences and community into experiences that humanize Black and Brown bodies.
The work is truly incredible — often with great emphasis on dance, though our collective also includes musicians, visual artists, poets, scenographers, dramaturgists and others. We produce 30 to 40 performances a year around the world, and create in-house — both large-scale, evening-length works, alongside smaller dance and visual works and more.
It’s an honor to work with TRIBE as their inaugural Development Director. I focus on raising contributed revenue through grants, board engagement, and individual giving, and I help build community around the work and assist with stewarding the organization’s relationships. We have a three-year home residency at the Flea Theater in Manhattan and an upcoming production, TRIBE: Luminescence, occurring November 13-15.
Many congrats on your recent throuple marriage!
Thank you! I feel so fortunate. The love we receive in our lives from our community truly makes all the difference and helped make our family possible. I am so grateful.
Is there anything you want to speak on regarding how important it is to have this grounded foundation in these crazy times, and if it’s difficult to navigate a three person relationship?
We have been together since 2015… and yes, we put a lot of work into building our family. But the work of healing and growing together is lifelong, and I’m honored to walk alongside John and James. They both inspire me so deeply, and their support and love is an extraordinarily powerful in my life.
I firmly believe that investing in each other, in building community, caring for each other, and loving each other is what will help us all survive — not just this dark moment, but in life. We can all help each other heal. We need each other to heal. We can all contribute to building community with our neighbors (near and far) and our loved ones. Thinking about what’s possible here gives me hope.
As far as DJing goes, can you describe what your preferred sound is? Also, what have been some career highlights for you?
Of course! (From my bio) I am heavily influenced by Detroit techno, Chicago and New York house, and, coming from my background as a clarinetist, experimental modernism. I love to explore the intersections of multiple musical genres in my sets to create techno-forward sonic worlds that evoke queerness, modernity, and urban life while striving to articulate our shared contemporary music.
This brought me to Berlin for the first time in 2018, where I was performing Stockhausen’s Inori with the Lucerne Academy Orchestra at the Berlin Philharmonic. While I was there, I had a transformative experience on the dance floor of Tresor, and this was one of the moments I realized that dance floors and techno could be powerfully healing.
From that point, I decided I really wanted to DJ and I started making mixes in my apartment. In February 2019, I threw my first ever “FACETIME” as a free event in the bar room at H0L0, and I haven’t stopped!
Big highlights for me include: DJing for VOID in Philadelphia, the Orange Room in Detroit, our home town techno club BASEMENT, bringing “FACETIME” to Nowadays for three beautiful editions, and throwing my first large-scale rave last May at the Chocolate Factory. I feel super fortunate to have a home for “FACETIME” at Bossa right now, which feels so resonant given Bossa had such a deep impact on me. Playing at Techno Cabin back in 2021 was also a major highlight, and connected me to my first ever techno community. And now, becoming a resident at “HARDER” also feels like a major highlight. Every opportunity to share is such a gift, and I am deeply grateful for all of it — every gig. Every opportunity to share. I also feel so fortunate to have worked with so many of my artistic heroes over the years.
What are your thoughts on the state of dance and nightlife today? Phones and changing social habits keep many people from being fully engaged, properly behaved, or coming out altogether. On the other hand, there are more and more people being drawn to music-centric venues where phone use is discouraged or prohibited. Are we in a good, bad, or interesting place right now?
As far as phones go, speaking from my own experience, my relationship with my phone is one of my biggest challenges in life… and I’m sure I’m not alone in saying so! I find it very detrimental to my mental and spiritual health, and difficult to set good boundaries. It separates me from myself, from spirit, and from others. So, I have a lot of compassion for folks who have trouble with their phones, or don’t realize the party happening around them is happening in real life, and not on their phone.
That said, I encourage no phone usage on the dancefloor because the dancefloor can be a space where we connect with each other and ourselves, and give ourselves a break from being plugged in. Magical things happen when we’re present with each other. A lot can come up when we allow ourselves space and time to be with ourselves. I’ve found that “FACETIME” generally has a good phone culture, and folks are respectful and present. I definitely prefer dancefloors without phones myself… for my own good! It’s also important to be mindful of how phone usage might impact someone else’s experience. Many people find it distracting and annoying. I think it’s all about being aware of the space you’re taking up and trying to help support the experiences of others by attuning to the energy you’re bringing into the space.
I find it disheartening that our industry has become so tied to Instagram — a platform that extracts profit from our community building and creativity, and that seems to reward brand cults and ego over substance. In these dark times, I wonder if we can start to think more carefully and critically about how, and by what methods, we share news of our parties.
In terms of the state of dance music and nightlife, shortly after the pandemic in New York it seems like there was this explosion of creativity; a rich renaissance in the nightlife community. So many new parties, new super talented artists, new energy, and a lot of folks doing very creative and meaningful things. It is /was a rich and generative moment, from my perspective.
That said, the economics of the industry continue to be extremely challenging, especially in an expensive city like New York. And, I think the state of the art form is very, very fragile. We can’t take it for granted. Support your local underground! Buy a ticket(s). Buy a beverage at the bar. It makes a difference.
Speaking of “FACETIME,” the next edition will be a October 10th dance marathon on Stagg Street in Brooklyn!
Oh my gosh! I’m super excited for next Friday’s party. It’s our first 12-hour “FACETIME,” so I’m interested to see how the energy flows throughout the night / morning. We have an incredible lineup of artists that I’m honored to work with. I often open my own party (I love opening and helping to set the tone), and that is also the case on the 10th. “FACETIME” strives to articulate the sound of techno in New York City as expressed by local and regional artists who are active here, and our party on the 10th will do just that. I absolutely love the space, and I’m excited to see how “FACETIME” feels there. Entry is also free before 12am, with all other tickets under $30, for folks who are looking for a high-quality DIY queer techno party that doesn’t break the bank.
Then Saturday the 18th, you’ll be at the Chocolate Factory for “The HARDER Ball!” That will be another epic night!
Ah yes! Often at “HARDER” I play house (which I love), though I originally got into DJing through Techno, and at the “HARDER BALL” I’ll bring a proper techno set for the smaller dance floor, which will be really fun. Really looking forward to this one. I played the “HARDER BALL” in January 2025, and it was definitely a major highlight. I love the energy of a big queer party. The lineup on the 18th is really incredible, and I’m excited to see what the night has in store for us.
What else is coming up for you?
On October 27, I’ll be back at Bossa playing Techno for a new grassroots party called “Kismet.” I’m really looking forward to that and grateful to be involved.
“FACETIME” continues our residency at Bossa on Saturday, November 8. The lineup is TBA, but I promise it is fire. Will be such a special night, and our last “FACETIME” of the 2025.
And on November 22, we will have “HARDER” residents’ night at 9 Bob Note, playing alongside Mark Holcomb and Ricardo Tavares. Playing harder house for this one.
Also, just want to mention again TRIBE’s upcoming performances at the Flea Theater November 13-15! It will be luminous.
And if interested please join the “FACETIME” mailing list if you wanna stay connected with us off the gram.
Finally, what’s your best advice for a baby DJ who wants to be successful in NYC today?
Enjoy yourself. Make it beautiful. Think about your “why.” Allow yourself the space to be where you are and enjoy the journey, because you can’t be anywhere but exactly where you are. So, I have found for myself, there is no sense getting worked up about what isn’t. You are whole and enough and complete every step of the way, and you have something valid to say. I believe that being an artist is a lifelong pursuit of discovering meaning, richness, and truth in our lives. It might take many forms and paths that we don’t necessarily expect. Trust in your unfolding. Dig deeper. We are all sites of revelation and we have a responsibility to transform.
Think about our stakeholdership in community. How can we contribute, affirm, uplift others through our practices? How can we be responsive and accountable? How can our practices be bigger than our personal aesthetic goals and priorities?
How can we build spaces that serve as a utility, not only to affirm the “artist,” but to create a vital home for communities to stick together, heal, support each other, care for each other, and transform together? My hope in these times is for music to serve as a catalyst for community-building, witnessing, and mutual care. And we all have to think about the ways in which we contribute.
Shamel Pitts, Artistic Director of TRIBE, often brings forward the words of Toni Morrison in our work together: “if we serve, we last.”
Thank you, Eric!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Eric Umble’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Instagram, LinkTree, SoundCloud and his website.
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