As summer approaches, Kristopher Schooner aka DJ KRIS TOPH3R has the soundtrack of the season for all the men, boys and beyond.
Thotyssey: Kris, hello! Thanks for chatting today! April is nearly in our rear view already, how did the month treat you?
KRIS TOPH3R: I blinked and it’s already over! I’m so looking forward to the sun coming back and getting everyone’s Vitamin D levels back up.
Summer used to be Peak DJ Season in NYC, but all these homos nowadays are leaving the city… or just sitting home! Am I exaggerating?
I think it’s still very thriving! There’s always something to do, and I actually have a more optimistic stance that people are finding ways to come back out and experience the day and nightlife. Getting the word out for any party has challenges, especially with how many options there are in New York. But I think we’re all growing sick and tired of scrolling Grindr to get out and build some community again. And based on how the crowds have been the past month, I think we’re looking forward to a great summer.
Amen to all of that! You DJ in lots of very different spaces… would you say you have an overall sound that you prefer?
Yeah, it’s so cool that I get to share so many different genres. I feel most at home when playing more electro, house, and hypnotic techno styles—especially in the case where I have three or four decks available. It really optimizes the workflow where I can experiment live and take some crazy turns.
I very much look up to DJs like Eli Escobar and Juliana Huxtable, for example, in how they craft their sets in ways that tell a story. Most good music should tell a story, and as always the dance floor informs me of where I should take us next.
Can you share a bit of your origin story with us: where are you from originally, and was music always a part of your life?
My parents wanted to be rock stars! They toured around the northeast and Canada through the early 90s. I was born in Conneticut, but when my parents divorced I ended up in Manchester, NH where I graduated high school.
I became interested in electronic music at a summer camp; one of the counselors did a tap dance piece to this very bizarre track that I found out was Daft Punk’s “Technologic.” I was exceptionally intrigued not only in how they produced their tracks, but also how they remixed their work for their live sets.
The same experience happened when I witnessed Lady Starlight opening for Lady GaGa for Artpop. Unfortunately, software and hardware were beyond my means for a long time. I made mashups that were pretty fun, though! I found myself learning to compose classical music in high school while also performing in theatre productions.
After turning 18 I started in the Boston and Providence nightlife scene, working the bar at Machine where they’d play some crazy deep cuts in between the remixed Top 40 stuff. Meanwhile I was a gogo boy, and also dabbled in some promoting.
I came to New York in 2019 to hustle as an actor; I went to the William Esper Studio after Covid, and after an extended work drought I found myself desiring to get music back into my life.
Have you had any all-time favorite gigs since you started DJing? How about any super weird moments, lol?
My top 3:
- We did our charity party MELT at H0L0. We had multiple curve balls in planning, but with only four days of promo we were able to get a couple grand for ACLU… which was a joy. I also got to bring out some more politically charged pieces.
- Playing LATEXXXED is always a blast, and we really put a lot of work into it. It’s one occasion I can really bring out some deeper cut techno. It’s also the first party I played, so growing with it from a bar backroom to proper club spaces has been wonderful.
- Debuting at the Eagle in March was a great moment for me. I much prefer all night sets because I get to move through so many different sub-genres and have a complete journey together.
For the “weird”: some things you just have to come out and participate in to know, it’s more fun! But one weird thing is: I witnessed a prerecorded set once; that’s weird. I think most people have a low opinion of that. But what can you do?
Are you excited for Madonna’s recently announced Confessions of a Dancefloor II, or might it be Meh?
it’s such a cool project! I admire Staurt Price’s production style a lot, and so glad she’s working with him again. Especially with his remixes; he’s really good at assembling music in a way that is incredibly emotional and cinematic. It always feels from the heart and tells a story. You really can get lost in it.
Also excited for some of her collabs on it too. I’m sure we’ll hear how they’ve grown as artists working together, too. Looking forward to everyone having it on repeat this summer, and I hope there’s a remix EP to get some alternative takes!
Anything else exciting you about music lately, pop or dance or otherwise?
Charli XCX is doing alt rock again, if I heard that right? I think that’s really cool she’s returning to some analogue stuff. I’m hoping it’ll be a new homage to some of the True Romance and Sucker vibes that made me love her when she was starting out.
There’s rumors of Beyonce also doing a rock album, too. that will be banging if it’s true.
Let’s talk about what’s coming up for you! You’ll be back to two of your home bases this weekend, starting with The Rosemont in Brooklyn for a special Saturday one-off “Cerulean Blue,” which appears to be a Devil Wears Prada themed evening with a catwalk contest! What can you tell us about this night, and spinning at The Rosemont in general?
It’s gonna be hella queer, cunty, and majestic… and we might have gotten something cute to give away to the winners, too! I love working with Carlo and all the hosts– especially Troy Edwards, who I swear works almost every party I’m on–and I’m especially excited to play with Hope 808 again!
Rosemont is fun because while the crowd is usually looking to hear more of the hits, they are also curious enough that I can sneak in the occasional house track—and they’ll usually respond very well to it. I genuinely love the whole team there; it’s a great community and it’s always a pleasure to pop in!
Rosemont generally skews twinktastically youthful, while The Eagle NYC is traditionally the home of the man’s man! You’ll be back there Sunday with resident Bobby Duron!
it’s so great to be back there! Everyone there is so professional and kind. As I mentioned, I love playing longer sets a lot. Scene-wide it’s not very common unless you’re a bigger touring act. So being trusted to guide the dancefloors journey through the whole night isn’t just great fun for me, but also quite the privilege.
Gonna talk nerdy: it was my first time on the V10 mixer which sounds wonderful, has some great on-board FX, and is well tuned for electronic music as well. I can really fledge out my whole collection and use a riskier virtuoso mixing style, improvising three decks. It’s quite fulfilling, and looking forward to it.
A newer hit party you’re a part of, LateXXXed, arrives at The House in Brooklyn on May 15! I’ve heard things, lol, but what can you tell us about what goes down there? I’ve always been fascinated by, and maybe a bit weirdly frightened of, latex!
I love this party A lot; we ran a handful of parties on Thursdays at various venues for the past year. We love keeping this party fresh, and we’re excited to bring the experience back this time. We’re now on a Friday Night at The House in Bushwick, where we have two floors of kinky fun in store!
The cool thing about it is: it’s a great party not only for those who are in the kink community, but we want it to be a safe space for the kink curious to come and explore as well.
It is latex forward, but we love when folks come in with other types of kinks. We get a lot of pups actually, which is quite fun! While fetishwear is highly encouraged, wearing all black is just fine, too. And yes! I love the performances because there is always something fascinating in store.
What else is coming up for you?
I’m really looking forward to the Pride and summer season. Can’t wait to announce some stuff soon!
Excellent! Okay, lastly: what your best advice for a baby DJ who wants to make it big in NYC?
I’m still the baby DJ, but from what I’ve learned so far… it’s really a tough business, and it takes a lot of time to get the trust.
I think someone has to first of all be nerdy about music, in addition to learning to have a discerning taste. That takes time. My first few mixes sucked so bad because I didn’t have taste yet. Now even though I love so many different types of music, I only download and play stuff I like; and I’ll think about what works for the crowd that night.
Also: building thick skin. Not every slot performs. I’ll usually sell well, but once in a while you will have an empty floor. Once in a while you might play a song that doesn’t quite fit the way you wanted, and poof, you clear the floor. And the reality is: friends are great, they all show up to the first gig; but they’re not gonna pull up to everything. So you have to be okay with all of that, and learn how to deal with what you’re given.
Being part of the community is really important, too. This is where I struggle a little, because I work a serving job that conflicts with a lot of stuff. But being a part of the community and making friends with people goes such a long way. Most gigs come through referrals.
Even when I crash out, I get back up because I genuinely love and feel passionate about what I’m doing, and the community I’m playing a part in. Someday, you get something from it.
Thanks, Kris!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for DJ KRIS TOPH3R’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud and LinkTree.
Thotyssey 