Cult DJ Doss Turns The Party Up with First New York Show

Doss performs at Nublu in the East Village.

In a city bristling with nightlife, how do you throw a party to remember? For Doss, the main ingredients are a good disco ball, an intimate East Village haunt, and a curated lineup of rising DJ stars that represent a new frontier in the city’s post-pandemic downtown scene. To mark the release of 4 New Hit Songs, the Texas-born DJ’s first EP of original music in nearly eight years, Doss lit a fire at Nublu last Friday night with her first live set since 2019. The lineup, which included Hood By Air’s Shayne Oliver, internet legend Goth Jafar, Abby, and Nick León, was lovingly crafted, as Doss explained before the show, to give the people “what we’ve all been craving.” The party did just that—after a night packed with hot sets and a hotter dance floor, Doss’s performance was an electrifying homage to New York City’s club culture, stoking the energy with samples of Benny Benassi’s “Satisfaction,” Azealia Banks’s “Fuck Him All Night,” and lots of Lady Gaga (one of Doss’ more famous fans).

What did we learn from Doss? That we don’t need a giant warehouse and an exorbitant cover charge to have a good time. All it takes is an old-school downtown hole-in-the-wall filled with great DJs and a crowd that’s ready to dance the past year goodbye. Below, Doss joined us to reminisce on her highly-anticipated return to the stage with some exclusive Polaroids, and to share a few memories from an unforgettable night. Don’t go anywhere, the party’s just begun.

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Shayne Oliver.

 “The whole night felt positive, like a total refresh of nightlife. I felt really joyous, because we were all there for the same thing: to just have fun. It’s not about being scene-y or competitive.”

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Alaska.

“I think the pandemic made people really step back and remember what their priorities are. People were so desperate for connection. Being around other people, I think that the negativity and arrogance, or anything that could have come with a night out, was totally gone, and that was the biggest flip for me. I hoped that that would happen, but you never know what to expect. It was just warm.”

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Goth Jafar.

“I knew a couple of our DJs personally like Shayne and Abby. My manager knows Nick, and I’ve followed Goth Jafar on Twitter for a while now. I think she’s amazing. It was just really about connecting these dots, even if we’re from different genres or corners of the world. Even though it may have been a bit random, it all began to make sense as the night went on.

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“When I’m making my own music, it’s an extremely personal and interior process. When I’m DJing, I want it to feel like the opposite of that. To connect with a large audience and lose myself in that moment along with everyone else in that space. I tried to pick songs that people feel familiar with in some way, like the remix of that Benny Benassi song. And I just love Azealia Banks. I’m so glad she’s releasing music again.”

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“I thought I would be more nervous to be back onstage because the show was sold out, even though it wasn’t the biggest crowd. There was a lot of anticipation built up. I was really just exhilarated. The space [Nublu] was also so inviting and crazy with the bleachers vibe behind the DJ booth. Everyone was so hyped. It was just so fun. I felt super ecstatic.”

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Special Thanks: Polaroid