From major record store owner to in-demand DJ to Burning Man star, Ben Wild continues to ignite the world of nightlife and club music.
Thotyssey: Ben, hello! So I see that on Saturday you were spinning at Mad Radio in Brooklyn, how did that go?
Ben Wild: Mad Radio is honestly my favorite room to play in NYC right now. The sound is ridiculous, and they stream everything on YouTube, so the energy extends way beyond the room. I’ve been doing a monthly there called “Wild House”, where I invite DJs I genuinely love to come play with me. This past Saturday was Hector Romero, which was pretty special—he just locked in and took the room somewhere. I love the energy he brings to the booth! I’ve also had Tedd Patterson, Benny Soto and IPOK so far. And we always end up going B2B, which is my favorite part. It stops being about “my set” and turns into a real conversation.
As a DJ, do you notice a difference in room vibes when the floor is mostly queer folks, versus a straight or mixed space?
For queer folks, nightlife is sacred. It’s a space outside the normal world where we get to drop in and actually be ourselves. People come alive in joy, celebration, community, and self expression. I’m really honored to regularly play some iconic queer spaces: Fire Island’s Meat Rack (hallowed queer ground), “Swirl” at 3 Dollar Bill, and this year I’m playing the Pines Party, which… I mean… it’s basically gay Coachella.
I also love playing mixed spaces. That’s part of what I appreciate about Mad Radio; they really understand the importance of the queer community in nightlife and make intentional space for us. I’ll be throwing their Pride party this year on June 27.
where are you from, and what was your relationship to music growing up?
I’m New York through and through. I started DJing at 19, and somehow here we are, 30 years later and I’m still loving it. Before that, I was just fully obsessed with music: digging, collecting, trying to figure out why one track hits and another doesn’t. At 22, I opened Halcyon Records in Brooklyn, which turned into this clubhouse for DJs, collectors, and general music nerds. It was less a store and more a place where people argued about records for hours, which was honestly the best education I could’ve had.
Dancing has always been a primary form of creativity for me. I can dance all night to a great DJ like Danny Tenaglia or Tedd Patterson, and in the booth I’m basically doing the same thing. I can’t stop moving!
I’ve always been interested in the feeling side of music, what it does to people, how it shifts a room. DJing is just me chasing that in real time.
Halcyon Records was a major institution!
Yes, Halcyon was such a special community. I can’t believe we pulled it off at such a young age, and got such great feedback and publicity.
Do you weep for the loss of analog, or are you maybe encouraged that it seems to be making a comeback of sorts?
I have no worries about the ever-evolving landscape of music and technology. I’m confident vinyl will continue its cycle of going in and out of favor. In fact, I’ve been playing a lot of all-vinyl sets recently. People want it.
Similarly with the AI boom we’re experiencing, DJs and nightlife are one of the few areas that are safe. People are always going to want to see a human leading them on a sonic journey. They’re always going to want to dance and connect and kiss and feel other humans.
We are tribal animals. We have been dancing to the drum around the fire for millennia. It’s in our DNA. We just happened to be doing it with moving lights instead of around a fire now.
How did your association with the Burning Man festival come about? You’re part of the GlamCocks camp, right?
My Burning Man camp is actually the Future Turtles, but I get the confusion; we’re basically sister camps with the GlamCocks. And I love the GlamCocks. Our camps collaborate a lot and produce a bunch of events together, both on Playa and off. There’s a shared spirit of big energy, high expression… all very queer and very communal.
This Friday we’re throwing our fourth annual “Swirl” party at 3 Dollar Bill, which really captures that vibe. It’s queer burners, friends, the curious. It pushes everything a little further: more expression, more connection, more chaos in the best way.
And as you said earlier, you’ll be back on Fire Island for Pines Party Weekend where you’ll be spinning the Saturday, August 1st pool party along with DJs Lakuti and Josh Meltzer.
Yes!! I can’t believe that I’m part of that epic lineup and that extremely special celebration. The Pines Party and FIP are so very sacred to me. To be able to contribute in this way is a dream come true. I’m planning to lean into something fun, sexy, and a little unexpected for that set. I can’t wait to turn it out!
What else is coming up for you?
Let’s just say that there will be some magical musical moments happening in the Meat Rack this summer. I’m playing the GlamCocks West Hollywood Pride event in LA on June 13, I’ll be at 5HTP, and Burning Man is very much in motion. We also do a Burning Man Decompression weekend every year in September in Fire Island Pines; this year it’ll be Sept 25-26. I’ve got some exciting guests coming through for my Wild House residency at Mad Radio, too. And I’m the resident DJ for Daniel Gold’s “Leg Up on Life” at Sony Hall where we bring together choreography and drag acts, all in support of The Trevor Project. It’s a good mix!
A Hot Girl Summer indeed! In conclusion, what’s your best advice for a baby DJ who wants to make it big in NYC?
Go out and dance! Go support other DJs. Get to know the DJs you love. The best DJs I’ve known over the years are surprisingly humble and approachable. They genuinely love talking about the craft and sharing tips, tricks, and music. Learn all the rules from them… and then break those rules in your own beautiful way.
I also love helping DJs who are just getting started. If you’re reading this and have questions, DM me on IG and mention “Thotyssey.” I’ll send you some of my custom hacks to make Rekordbox way more usable.
Love that! Thanks, Ben!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Ben Wild’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Facebook, Instagram, LinkTree and SoundCloud.
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