On Point With: Will Jack

DJ and producer Will Jack has us all the way plugged in this Spring! [Cover photo: @samshannyc]

Thotyssey: Hi Will, thanks for chatting today! How is March treating you so far?

Will Jack: Thanks for inviting me to chat! It’s treating me well, thankfully… despite the terrifying and tragic sociopolitical realities we’re in. It’s been a really busy first half of the month actually, but after this weekend I’ll have some time to rest. So I’m looking forward to that.

Yes, the world is on fire in a bad way… but you’ve been burning it up in the best way!

Ha, thanks! I’m just trying to do my thing, and am glad people have enjoyed it.

How is it out there, in your opinion? Is nightlife thriving, suffering, or just in a state of flux?

I mean, shit’s fucked; let’s be real. Everyone seems to be struggling right now. I think nightlife is thriving, but the reality is that when things are difficult out in the world, people seek outlets to let loose and forget about all the problems they’re dealing with. The scene keeps growing and there’s always new stuff, and I think people are particularly hungry to blow off steam and the stress from the chaos and fear we are creating and living in through the system.

Nightlife is always in a constant state of change though, and it’s changed a lot since the pandemic. But the rate of change feels more stable to me now.

Can you share a bit of your story with us: where are you from originally, and was music always a big part of your life?

I grew up in Olympia, WA on a llama farm. I’m the youngest by 12 years, and my brother was a guitarist in local grunge bands; he was a huge influence on me musically at an early age. I taught myself piano as a kid (though never kept it up), and played trombone through school and in jazz band until I had an instructor I really didn’t like.

After that I got really into hip hop in high school and always loved lyricism and beats, so I started freestyling with my friend as MC DMT. We eventually formed a hip hop duo, released some music and solo EPs. My EP released in 2012, so this was nearly 14 years ago. We did this from like 17 years old until we were 20, so the whole time we were putting on our own shows or being escorted into places as minors if it wasn’t all ages. I remember a lot of performances in Olympia at an iconic little spot named Le Voyeur.

Anyways, I moved to Portland, OR in 2013 and came out of the closet… and a lot shifted. I continued to rap and even performed Blowpony in 2017 for Pride with Laila McQueen and Peppermint.

At that point I was working in clubs and embedded in queer culture, so I started a monthly party with some friends named Switch — and that went on for three years even after I moved to NYC from Portland in 2019. It’s fizzled out now. But yeah, that all got me into djing and throwing parties. And now I’m here!

What’s your DJ sound like today, when you’re in charge of the booth?

It depends on where and what I’m playing. I play different sounds at ANIMAL than I do at my party TOSSD, for example. But I started as an industrial techno DJ under the alias Novail, and these days I’m pegged more as a house DJ. Right now I’m really vibing with slower, sleezy techno-house and electro — darkroom music.

You often DJ some of the sexier parties out there. Fusing sex and music has always been a big part of queer nightlife, but it’s certainly having a major moment again! Do you totally enjoy that, or does it sometimes get to be overwhelming as both a DJ / producer and partygoer?

Good question! I personally think sex is inherent to nightlife and a core element of it. The utopia to me is a place we can all exist and fuck (if we wish to) freely and without judgement and shame, regardless of who we are. But I also go to a lot of parties and play a lot of gigs that don’t incorporate sex, and I don’t bring sex to them. Time and place, really. I love a party that’s not centering sex, or doesn’t have it at all. It has and can definitely overwhelm me.

To get deeper on it, I think of the vibe and sound of a party as places on a multidimensional and endless range of space. I believe space is plentiful and endless. That’s why new things constantly evolve out of existing things, or harness unique energies. So as a partygoer, I go to places that fit my energy. And as a DJ I play music to share some of my story or feelings… and that’s not always a sexual one.

This Friday is Freak NYC at H0L0! The night is looking pretty epic, with an amazing DJ lineup including yourself.

Yeah, it’s a big weekend for me — I’m excited for Freak! It’s a new party being led by Graeme Schulman, a figurehead behind Seattle’s Lotion collective who now lives in NYC and is kicking this off with some good friends of mine in the mix. The lineup is fantastic, and relates to what we just covered — they’re wanting to create a sexy, fetish focused party, and the bookings are firmly rooted in NYC connecting up-and-coming talent with established legends. I’m closing after Lauren Flax, 6-8am, and plan to carry the energy forward for a final release and bright conclusion.

Then you’re part of another after hours affair when the party you produce, TOSSD, returns Sunday morning to Telos Haus with another hot DJ lineup!

TOSSD is my baby I produce with a longtime friend I knew from Portland’s scene, Giovannii. It’s a fully-DIY after hours party that runs for 12 hours on Sundays starting at 5am. We’re really focused on tossing together different pockets of the scene to curate unique sonic journeys and commingle social circles to inspire new networks. This year we announced two new residents, DJ DEADNAME and Sevyn Love, and have a lot of fun projects on the horizon that I can’t share about… yet!

March 28th has you at Basement in Ridgewood for the sixth anniversary of a party there, Altær!

I’m really excited for Altær! It’s an honor to open [venue section] Studio for their anniversary, and it’ll be my first time playing at Basement. Auspex, the producer, DJ and promoter behind Altær, was an early influence of mine when I moved to NYC and has become a friend over the years. It’s been amazing to watch his career and party grow. It’ll be a really special and celebratory night.

And looking ahead to April 11: CvnTea at Happyfun Hideaway!

CvnTea is a two room Saturday evening party that Harrison Diaz / Haute Du Jour throws. For this one, he’s taking over Happyfun Hideaway and creating an outside dance floor to contrast the music going on inside. It’ll be cute. There’s a suggested $15 donation. I love Happyfun; it’s a place I’ve frequented since moving here, and is where I played a lot of my early DJ sets in the city. I always like to play there when I can.

Is there anything else coming up for you?

TOSSD has a lot of upcoming projects that we’re really excited about–some unique collaborations and spinoff club nights, takeovers, and of course our DIY that will be ramping up in frequency this year. Keep an eye out for those.

Also, ANIMAL has some awesome new things coming, one in particular being TRANIMAL, a night curated and dedicated to transgender DJs and community, so I recommend supporting that party. The next one is March 24 with Eva Loveless and Siete.

And finally: what’s your best advice for a baby DJ who wants to make it big in NYC?

Generally this: Focus on learning the history, the legacy, finding the sounds you like and having fun with it. It’s a party after all; it should be fun. While you do that, build your community and build with that community, because the best way to get bookings is to book yourself.

Thanks, Will!