Interview with Lloyd Harris by: Juan Izguerra

Q1: First things first- you just moved into a new apartment. How was the move?

Good. I had the unfortunate luck of moving 2 weeks into the original lock down when everything was super frantic. With no access to a rental car, Uhual, movers or friends I had to move my whole apartment via shopping cart. It was a humbling experience but I got it done. This past move was cake in comparison.

Q2: I visited New York for the first time in 2016. Over the years and visits, your name would come up a lot and I felt like I knew you even though we hadn’t actually met. In 2021, I started to immerse myself in the “DJ Scene,” and then I saw your name even more. I began listening to your mixes and even got the chance to see you play at Magik City in Greenpoint, where I was really blown away. You have a very fresh style that I really enjoy, lots of New Wave, Synth-pop, Downtempo and other fun music. Could you tell us your musical roots and what inspired your taste?

Well my father was a bit of a Dj and collector when I was a kid so I grew up a bit spoiled. That and I think I've always been a natural reactionist. If everyone is going right I'll more than likely go left. And while that's not always the smartest way to move in life I think that attitude has informed my music tastes. I like playing different stuff. I like the challenge of bringing people over to my side of the room and potentially changing their idea of what dance music can be.

Q3: The pandemic has been a bit of a topic of discussion for me in interviews, especially because I believe it really gave people the time to step back from what they do and approach things differently. What has changed in your DJ’ing compared to where you were in 2019? It seems that you’re getting booked up pretty often at some great spaces. Do you think the scene has changed in general since the pandemic, or do you see more of a change in regards to yourself as a DJ?

The pandemic was a really scary time for me. I lost friends. I lost work. I lost my apartment. In many ways I lost my identity too. However I think one of the ways I was able to combat those feelings of dread was by consistently putting out mixes every week. And for me it became less about the party and more about the music. I felt like a kid again discovering Tribe Called Quest samples. Through those mixes I was not only able to explore different textures but I also grew a small fan base of people who maybe didn't know me for those sounds. I think when the time came to play again not only did I have a new outlook musically but an audience to go with it. And it's been getting better and better with every party. I'm really lucky!

Q4: New York has a very rich dance culture with a deep history attached to it. There’s plenty of books on it that detail things like The Loft, Paradise Garage, and so on. What do you like about DJ-ing in New York?

I like the variety. There's an audience here for everything and a venue to match. I've lived here for 20 years and this post-pandemic energy New York is experiencing is better than any other I've ever seen. There's something happening here that is very unique to right now so I try to take every opportunity to enjoy it. While I can't help but put on for my city, New York really is the best place to be right now.

Q5: I think inspiration comes from those who are around you. Maybe that can be debated based on experiences, but I’m curious to hear what inspired you to DJ?

Honestly, I've always seen DJing as a means to share music. When I was in middle and high school I was deep into Rare Groove and I think playing Hip Hop samples for my friends really informed the way I see music. I can still see their reactions to this day. I get the same thrill playing to 1000 people as I do mixing on The Lot Radio, playing records for friends at home or even selling at a record fair. To me it's all about sharing music with people who love it.

Q6: Lastly, Could you tell us a bit about this mix?

Not sure what to say. It's a chill mix of 80's tunes I found on my past trip to Mexico City and I hope you like listening to it as much as I did making it.