DJ, producer, host and musician Boy Cordero is keeping you all sorts of entertained this Pride Month. [Cover photo: @loloholder for @Adventuresofredwood]
Thotyssey: Hello BC, thanks for chatting with us today! How are things treating you this Pride Month so far?
Boy Cordero: It’s been a kii! I’m definitely trying to pace myself—steady wins the race. Pride is always such a special time and I’m excited to be behind the decks spreading joy, bringing people together through music, and celebrating our community.
You have multiple roles in NYC nightlife. If someone were to ask you “what do you do exactly,” how might you respond?
I like to think of myself as a minister of nightlife—the club warden, if you will. Over the last nine years, I’ve worn a lot of hats in NYC nightlife: DJ, host, producer, curator, and community builder. At the core of everything I do is creating spaces where people can connect, express themselves freely, and experience joy through music and culture.
Whether I’m behind the decks, on the mic, or producing an event with Black Market, my goal is always the same: to bring people together and help create unforgettable experiences. So I guess “nightlife ministry” is probably the most accurate job description.
You are originally a North Carolinian, right? What was “day life” like for you there, and what was nightlife like if you started there?
Honestly, I really only knew day life growing up in North Carolina. I was a church boy, a marching band kid, and very family-oriented. Most of my world revolved around school, church, and home.
I didn’t get to experience much nightlife before leaving for college in Boston. The closest thing we had were the occasional teenage “Y” parties and one gay club called Cici’s that everybody knew about.
But when I discovered New York nightlife? Baby, I was forever changed.Suddenly I found these spaces full of creativity, freedom, music, fashion, and community. It felt like stepping into a whole new world. I’ve been a club kid ever since, and in many ways that experience helped shape the person I am today. Finding myself, finding my light at a Ladyfag Holy Mountain party is treasure I’ll always hold dear.
Does anything stick out as a very memorable experience in your years from your early nightlife gigs?
One of the biggest moments in my journey was when DJ Moma and Eli Escobar gave me my first hosting opportunity and residency at Le Bain on Wednesday nights. I didn’t even know a Wednesday could be that poppin’! Le Bain has been a huge part of my life ever since, whether I’m behind the decks or hosting. nine years later, I’m still holding it down.
What’s your DJ sound like today?
My sound is disco, soulful house, strong vocals, gospel influences, and electric rhythms. I’m obsessed with ’90s house—Frankie Knuckles, Junior Vasquez, and the Sound Factory era—so a lot of my sets are rooted in that uplifting, emotional dance floor energy. Sounds that make you feeeeeeeel it!
You also make original music!
It’s so funny, because I just left the studio earlier! I’m working on releasing a project that I’ve been sitting on since 2019. It’s been an emotion journey getting back in the groove. Heartbreak can be a crippling thing. But I’m back in the groove and hopefully will release a single this year! I’m obsessed with funk, and what I call bedroom jazz! That’s my sound.
You’ve likely seen a lot of change in nightlife since you got here in regards to people’s habits and style, a venue’s inclusivity, sound, look, tech, etc. What are some changes that you truly approve of, and what is an area where we need improvement or maybe even has gotten worse?
One thing I love is seeing more Black queer curators taking up space in venues and scenes that haven’t always centered us. We’ve made real progress, but there’s still plenty of work to do.
As for what’s gotten worse? I’m not the girl that polices the girls, but I do think we’ve lost a little bit of the dance floor culture. Sometimes people are so busy documenting the party or kiki-ing in the bathroom that they miss the music, the energy, and the connection happening on the floor. To me, the magic is still in being present… that’s the funny thing.
You produce and DJ events under the Black Market brand across the city. Can you tell us about how that came to be, and what the brand is exactly?
Black Market is a music collective founded by myself and my boys Nate, Kal, and Ondre. Honestly, it was created out of spite—we saw a void in nightlife and decided to build the thing we felt was missing.
Two years later, it’s grown into something much bigger than we ever imagined. We curate events that celebrate the diaspora, uplift queer POC artists in electronic music, and create spaces centered around community, culture, and the dance floor. This year we even threw our first party outside of NYC, which felt like a huge milestone. The funny thing is, we’re really just getting started.
You’re flagship recurring party Birthrite is making a stop at the Pines Pavilion for a special Juneteenth edition on June 20th. Then Birthrite will be at 3 Dollar Bill on Pride Weekend Friday, with a great DJ lineup including Eli Escobar!
Pride just wouldn’t feel like Pride without my DJ dad, Eli Escobar, taking over the Birthrite dance floor and teaching the girls a thing or two in Magic 101. 🤣Some of the most magical moments I’ve ever had on a dance floor have been with Eli behind the decks—I want people to experience that feeling. I want the girls seeing stars and glitter in the air!
We’re also bringing in Vertel from Berlin, an incredible Black selector, and Brooklyn favorite Halle Cherry to deliver the bad gyal vibes. The lineup is stacked, the energy is going to be through the roof, and it’s shaping up to be a real high time in the Lordt. Hallelu!
And the party doesn’t stop there… kids can skip on down to Absurd Conclave at 5am for Afterglow aka Pride Friday night / Saturday morning afters, with another great DJ lineup! Afties can be truly magical, right?
Oh totally! Black Market’s own Nate will be facilitating the Afties with two of our residents Honey Cafe and Fried Platano keeping us dancing until midday! It’s gonna be so cunt! A pride to remember!!
Looking ahead to July 4, Black Market is coming to Signal with Bodega Sessions! What will that vibe be?
Doing some more techno activations at Signal seeing what girls respond to it, Bodega Sessions was Kal’s idea… totally different from our Birthrite party. Black Market has something for everyone. Bodega Sessions originally started as a cute DJ session in our favorite rave bodega. I’m excited… so much more coming from all four members.
What else is coming up for you?
I’m excited to play my first Frolic Weekend in Provincetown for Juneteenth weekend! Frolic is a festival weekend created for gay and trans POC. First time in Provincetown, and I hear nothing but amazing things!
Excellent! And in closing: what’s a professional, artistic or personal goal of yours within the next few years that you’d like to see fulfilled, no matter how big?
I think the goal is to produce my first festival for my community! We dont have many spaces like that for us! So I’m definitely looking to play a lot more festivals, last year I played my first festival at Ladyland and it felt like a dream! Keeping my eyes on the prize!
Thanks, BC!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Boy Cordero’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Instagram and SoundCloud.
Thotyssey 