A truly iconic representative of the ever evolving sound of New York nightlife as well as one half of a vital DJ duo, Michael Magnan is keeping us joyfully on our feet this November.
Thotyssey: Michael, hello! Thanks for chatting today! So I see you were spinning at “Battle Hymn” on Halloween, how did that go?
Michael Magnan: Hi Thotyssey! Halloween was lit — our best night yet at the new Friday night space in Brooklyn. I played a very late set from 5-7am, and the energy was off the charts.
Love that! I’ll come back to “Battle Hymn” in a bit, given that you’re on regular rotation there. But in general, how might you describe your DJ sound today, as far as what you like to play and how you like to play it?
It’s usually tailored to the crowd and venue for each gig. I generally play a very heady mix of bitchy house and techno for most sets. This coming Sunday I’m playing “Hot For You” at Parkside Lounge, and that has more of a disco vibe. So I’ve been pulling a lot of classics out, and I have a ton of great Paradise Garage era edits that I don’t get to play so often. I love an assignment, and doing the research!
This may be too loaded of a question, but who are some of your favorite DJs over the years: those who inspired you, and maybe even some who are killing it today?
Too many to name! I came of age in the heyday of Danny Tenaglia, Supa DJ Dmitry from Deee-Lite and Armand van Helden DJing and producing, so they are like the Holy Trinity of sound that imprinted on me. More currently I love Tama Sumo and Lakuti; they absolutely blow my mind when I hear them play. And locally, we have no shortage of truly talented selectors running the NYC clubs in 2025.
Indeed! I feel like this is a really interesting time for a New York club DJ. There is so much complaining across the board about partygoers being disengaged and unsocialized, but also there is a true “no phones” music-centric crowd very much on the rise as well. What has been your observation regarding the current moment?
I think most people are pretty respectful when asked to not be on the dancefloor staring at their phones. Maybe it does need to be said so that people are at least aware that that’s annoying to others. I wouldn’t personally be a cop about it; it doesn’t affect my dancefloor experience. I’ve gotten yelled at by floor monitors for checking the time on my phone, and like…calm down.
Can you tell us a bit of your origin story: where are you from originally, and was music always a part of your life?
I grew up in Rhode Island, lived in DC for college years, and moved to NYC right after in 2000. I was very obsessed with dance music from the age of 12, when house music first started trickling into radio hits in the early 90s. I spent my teen years exploring and collecting what little dance music was commercially available to me, pre-internet. A lot of my adult life has been dedicated to retracing a lot of music I heard on DJ mixes and filling in the blanks. That was more for fun; I didn’t really start DJing in public until about 2003.
What were some of those early DJ gigs”
The earliest gig was doing a party at BBar (RIP) every Friday night; that lasted about two years. When that ended, I had a new job the following week working at The Cock where me and Telfar DJ’d at Linda Simpson’s “Slurp” party every week for another few years. From there I met Nita Aviance, who brought me into the fold at Mr. Black. That led me to work at “Vandam” with Susanne Bartsch and Kenny Kenny, and later working with Ladyfag at a string of very fun parties that we’re still evolving. I can give you bullet points, but a lot of it is a blur.
You also compose / produce original dance music and remixes; I can’t imagine what kind of brain and skillset are required for that! Do you always walk around hearing random sounds like birds or traffic or construction work and think “that would make a good mix,” lol? Or is it a more specific process?
DJing is definitely my forte, and I do have some productions under my belt… but I wouldn’t consider myself super prolific in that regard. It takes me a frustratingly long time to work out the puzzle of putting a track together. But certainly, I like to think in those terms of taking something unexpected and making it a sample.
Writing this as an ambulance is stuck in traffic outside my apartment.
Lol! You and Daniel Fisher aka Physical Therapy are a major DJ and production duo, Fatherhood! How did that colab come about, and what is the special sauce that makes you two work so well together?
Daniel and I met in 2010, I believe? He’s a few years younger than me. He’d come to Mr. Black and was eager to dip his toes into DJing. We share a sensibility for the same music, and very organically started playing together. Maybe if I had any hand in getting him in the DJ booth, he returned that tenfold in teaching me the basics of producing music. I think we both hate being pigeonholed into being one kind of DJ, and take pride in weaving together wildly different genres.
As you mentioned earlier, “Hot For You” at Parkside Lounge is this Saturday! What can the children expect for that night?
It’s a six hour set, so I’m gonna take my time and let the music ride. I think I have enough music pulled for a four day non-stop adventure… but as with all my gigs, I don’t overthink it. I’m gonna read the room and let nature take its course.
Then Friday, November 21st you return to Ladyfag’s latest incarnation of “Battle Hymn,” which is weekly at a venue called Refuge in Brooklyn! How have you been liking this new version of “Battle?“
It’s been fun! The venue is still a work in progress, with a whole lower level set to open this winter. The sound system is exquisite, and handmade by the man who built the Sound Factory in the 90s. It’s a great honor to touch those knobs and dials!
Then the very next day, you’ll be joining Greg Scarnici at C’mon Everybody for “Daddy Dick!” We can only imagine what that night will look like, but how do you think it will sound?
I haven’t played at that venue in a minute — very excited. I’ve known Greg for eons, so I’m excited to cut up with that one… I’m sure we’ll be keeping it sexy, groovy and fun.
What else is coming up for you and Fatherhood?
Daniel and I had planned on getting back in the studio this fall. Our last EP was in 2024, so hopefully getting a new one ready for 2026. Plus a few fun gigs on the horizon that haven’t been announced yet.
Exciting! Okay, lastly: what might be your best advice for a baby DJ who wants to make it big in NYC?
I’d say obviously having a genuine interest in music is paramount, and learning about what else came before is crucial. Take your time and really teach yourself the craft. Do it for the love of it, have patience, and don’t make it a vanity project.
Thanks, Michael!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Michael Magnan’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Soundcloud. Stream music from his DJ duo project Fatherhood across multiple platforms.
Thotyssey 