NYC’s queen of gothic 80s analog and the creator of SYNTHICIDE, music journalist and DJ Andi Harriman has a book on the way and dancefloors to slay.
Thotyssey: Andi, hello! Thanks for chatting with us today, Happy 4th! How was your Pride Month?
Andi: Hi and thank you! The past two weekends were super crazy (it was my birthday last week, love Cancer Season). I got to see Thunderpuss DJ at Paragon on Pride Weekend, that was an interesting one! I also went (attempted?) to go to the parade; it was so nice to celebrate.
You have a pretty wide range of genres, eras and artists in your DJ repertoire! If someone asked you to describe your sound, what might you say?
I wouldn’t want to limit myself genre-wise, but I would definitely describe it as nostalgic. I love referencing 80s and 90s music as much as possible in my sets through samples, edits, or specific sounds.
You’re known for being an OG spinner of vinyl for many of your sets! What is it about vinyl that is still so relevant, and is it a challenge to pick what you want for the night and drag it all out to the gig each time?
I’ve always been obsessed with digging and collecting since I was a pre-teen, so it’s second nature to me. It connects me to the past and to other DJs that spend their time in record stores, searching for that one 12″ remix that can bring a set to the next level. Digital doesn’t provide that sort of physical experience—it’s not for everyone, but going on the hunt for the perfect record is exhilarating to me.
I love the challenge of building a set. It gives me the opportunity to dive into my collection, to go to record stores, and to shop on Discogs, just to tell my story exactly how I want it to be told.
Younger folks are all getting into analog now and buying physical copies of records, DVDs, etc. because they realize that they don’t really have any “ownership” of their music when it’s just streams. Do you think that having music in physical form helps create a bond with music and musicians that Spotify and Apple can’t replicate?
A thousand percent. Physical media is a great way to show off your favorite movies and records. There’s a sense of belonging and a connectedness when you’ve got something to hold on to.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re from, and what sort of music and art you were into growing up?
I’m from a small town in southern Virginia’s Appalachian Mountains, a place where there were no malls, no movie theaters—nothing at all. And as it was before YouTube and other means of finding music, I was limited to the radio or whatever I saw on TV. I loved Miami Vice and all its 80s iconography, trance and Eurodance megamixes on the radio after midnight, and also the Lord of the Rings soundtracks!
Before you were a DJ, you were a music journalist. You’ve written a book about the goth scene, and another about The Cure’s album Disintegration is on its way. What was that process like of transitioning from a writer to a DJ?
My book on Disintegration comes out later this year, which is super exciting! I would like to say I DJ and write simultaneously, even though there’s not really a market for music journalists anymore. I translate that love of research, conceptualizing and storytelling through my vinyl digging. In my opinion, connecting the dots between styles and genres, uncovering a long lost record, and putting together a DJ set is very similar to writing. They are both intimate forms of communication.
When did you officially become a New Yorker, and what are some things you like to do here on your downtime?
This year is my 15th anniversary in NYC… am I a New Yorker yet? I love going to see older movies on the big screen at theaters like Metrograph and Nitehawk, I’m a massive cinephile when it comes to certain types of movies (erotic thrillers, body horror). Most recently I saw Lost Highway at the Angelika. I also love hanging with my 80s friends and going thrifting. I also do a lot of record shopping for fun—A1 and Academy Annex are my very favorites. But most of all, I love walking the city… there’s so much to see and it never gets old.
Do you have a lot of experience creating original music and remixes?
I’ve been producing for about ten years. I wouldn’t say I’m efficient at it—I’m a really slow producer because I use all analog gear and record sequences straight into Ableton—but I love doing it when I have the time.
There are, of course, tons of women DJs in New York… but a ton less then there are men. And I imagine, even fewer women who work largely with vinyl! Do you think women DJs share a certain sense of community and support?
I think a lot of women do! It’s important for me to have a woman in every lineup I curate with SYNTHICIDE. I’m going to use my platform with every opportunity I get.
What are your thoughts on the state of nightlife today? Folks are flocking to dancefloors with good music, and are spending money on big dance party events, but they’re not so much supporting their local bars and arguably still navigating that post-Covid antisocialization and stay-at-homeness. Phone addiction is also rotting all our brains, and arguably nobody’s dancing quite like they did in the Olden Days!
I’m feeling pretty hopeful about nightlife here in NYC. Clubs are packing out (I can’t speak for bigger venues, as I don’t attend them) around Brooklyn every weekend, and even weekdays too! I’m noticing an uptick in attendance—I think it’s because we need music and dancing so much right now. The dancefloor is a place of healing and happiness.
If you could visit or revisit one era of nightlife or music via time machine, where might you go?
Oh easily the 1980s. I’d go to Area, Danceteria, Palladium, and the Mudd Club… Limelight, too! These clubs were the pinnacle of creativity and freedom, where artists and musicians collaborated and found community. People dressed up, the clubs had theme nights and decorations, DJs mixed genres (I am especially a super fan of the late Anita Sarko), it really doesn’t get better than that moment in time.
AI is completely evil and a threat to original music making and curation, right?
Oh, absolutely.
Three of Hearts is a DJ trio consisting of Rok One, Danny White and yourself! How did this collab come about, what’s your collective sound like, and what makes you all work well together?
The three of us are longtime friends, so it only seemed natural to collaborate. We each have our own specific style, but we all converge at 80s synth music.
SYNTHICIDE is a party you created for Bossa Nova Civic Club in Brooklyn occurring usually the first Thursday of the month. But on July 11th there’s a bonus SYNTHICIDE at Good Room, where Three of Hearts will be joined by DJs Veronica Vasicka, Arvin T and S4M23! Can you tell us how this party came about, what the overall vibe is, and what might be unique about the Good Room version?
Good Room is always special because it’s a great venue. The sound, the people, the two rooms. Veronica Vasicka of Minimal Wave will bring an 80s underground vibe to acid and housey tracks. The Bad Room [a space within the Good Room venue] will be grimy and sleazy, just the way we like it.
And then the next Bossa Nova SYNTHICIDE will be August 6th!
But first on Friday the 10th you will be spinning AUTOMESSE at 3 Dollar Bill’s 9 Bob Note along with DJs Ben Manzone, Junior M and Saia! What’s that gonna be like?
I’m not sure, but I think it’ll be fun. Junior M is a great DJ, so I also trust his curation!
Looking ahead to June 30th, you’ll be filling in at Gabriela for owner / resident Eli Escobar’s Romance Thursdays! You’ve frequently played that club, what makes it great?
I feel incredibly lucky to be a resident there—it’s my favorite venue to play, and the sound is impeccable and the booth is insanely comfortable. I’ve played so many of my favorite sets there. Gabriela is great because of the care that goes into every aspect, and I’m also able to really go so many directions with an all-night long. It’s hard to fill Eli’s shoes, but I’m super excited for the challenge / adventure.
What else is coming up for you?
My book on The Cure’s Disintegration will be out on October 1st via 33 1/3 Books.
Finally: What might be your best advice for a baby DJ who wants to make it big in NYC?
Don’t do it for the money. Be kind to promoters and club staff. Most of all, keep digging and never stop trying to improve your skill.
Thanks, Andi!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for DJ Andi’s upcoming appearances, follow her on Instagram and SoundCloud, and download and stream her music across multiple platforms.
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