This Weekend: NYU DJs Celebrate Valentine’s Day on the Dance Floor

This Friday at 10 p.m., NYU student DJs will transform Astor Place Hairstylists from a barbershop into a dance party.

This Friday night, the humble exterior of a classic New York barbershop will be filled with fun rhythms and good vibes. Each DJ is sure to bring something different to their performance and create a dance party worthy of love.

Astor Place Hairstylists is a historic East Village establishment and more recently one of New York City’s hottest clubs. Located on Broadway, just a short walk from Washington Square Park, this iconic salon has been featured in magazines and television since it opened in 1947. The underground storefront is iconic and most NYU students have probably spotted it while walking around campus. But few students are aware of the eccentric dance parties that take place at this nostalgic art-decorated barbershop.

Quincy Davis is an NYU sophomore studying music recording. He is also the founder of Astor Place DJ shows and has been WSN interview last December for his participation in the event.

“I started DJing at music camp in sixth grade,” Davis said. “It was just because there was a talent show and I didn’t want to play the piano. So I started DJing. I got up and played the worst dubstep of all time. Sixth grade! In front of a full, full audience of people.”

Davis went through a talent show in high school and found his niche in the quirky and classic New York barbershop. He worked to perfect his craft, thinking carefully and putting effort into creating his sets.

“When I do something at Astor Place, I know I want to do a lot of house music, so I just go from there,” Davis said, “I think about time, place, and context. Recently, I’ve been listening to music that I think sounds good next to each other, all within the preset categories.”

Davis has played three successful shows at Astor Place Hairstylists and it looks like there are more on the horizon. His next show, titled “House of Love”, will take place on February 10. Davis will be joined on his new show by Astor newcomers Annabelle Kline and Del.

Yvonne Song, an NYU sophomore studying collaborative art, is a new addition to the Davis lineup, but no less impressive on its own. Song is a certified videographer, but she is new to the DJ scene. (The song has since been dropped from the show on February 10.)

“I only really got into it last summer when my friend took me to the DJ’s studio to watch her rehearse the set,” Song said. “At the same time, another guy from the NYU fraternity sold me his board for cheap, so I started out as a bedroom DJ!”

In the year since she learned how to mix, Song has been performing at clubs with big names like DJ Topgun. A regular performer on New York City nightclub scenes, Song curated and developed her sound, landing in what she describes as “house-tech and boiler room style”. She says she draws inspiration from artists such as RÜFÜS DU SOL, Southstar, James Hype and John Summit.

As her personal style developed, so did her intuition. Song spoke about the importance of serving the crowd.

“You really have to freestyle on the spot because you have to read the crowd,” Song said. But in the end, she “just wants everyone to shake their butts.”

Who doesn’t love making great music?

In the months since Davis’ first Hairstylists show, this unconventional venue has become a new destination for NYU students to create, collaborate and dance without limits. The House of Love is no different. The show, which starts at 10pm, will have a vague but fitting Valentine’s Day theme that’s sure to paint the crowd pink and red, so come dressed and ready to dance.

Davis, speaking about what Astor Place newcomers need to know about Love House, says: “It’s not a club. This is a dance party. I feel that the difference is that in the club the music is secondary. The music always comes first on this show.”

Contact Leah Philidor at [email protected]