Justin Strauss & Second Contact

Who they are

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  Justin Strauss

  New York City · 125 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Bio Few DJs could adequately represent the last three decades of New York nightclub history - no less do so with such iconic credentials as Justin Strauss.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Bio Few DJs could adequately represent the last three decades of New York nightclub history - no less do so with such iconic credentials as Justin Strauss. Since he was 17, when his first band was signed to Island Records, Justin has had a career that reads like a Who’s-Who of the music scene, spinning at nearly every dance club that you’d ever want to go to. Starting as DJ at New York’s legendary Mudd Club, he spun his way through The Ritz, Limelight, Area, Tunnel, M.K., Life, Centro Fly and more, pioneering his own distinctive sound, and becoming one of the most sought-after remixers and producers not just in New York, but in the world. He has worked with the gamut of artists - Depeche Mode, Sergio Mendez, Tina Turner, Jimmy Cliff, B-52s, Luther Vandross, Malcolm McClaren, Skinny Puppy, Goldfrapp, to name a few (see full list) – and on over 200 records! Much of the new dance crowd that goes to hear Justin DJ today, whether at subMercer, The Standard, Highbar, Soho House, or Love, doesn’t necessarily know his history; they simply love his spinning because he always keeps them dancing and surprised, seamlessly mixing between choice classics, delectable rarities and innovative beats. For Justin, no genre or style is off-limits – he can and will mix anything, so long as he can keep the crowd enthralled. His self-proclaimed mission is “connecting the dots” between what might otherwise seem disparate musical periods and styles, while introducing exciting new sounds. He does so with infectious passion, subverting preconceptions about what’s old and new, and inspiring young DJs with his masterful skill and ever-youthful spirit. But Justin Strauss doesn’t stop there. As half of the production duo, Whatever/Whatever, he continues to produce and mix records, working on remixes for the likes of LCD Soundsystem, Beyonce, La Roux and more. In fact, he doesn’t stop at all. Like the amazing city he’s dedicatedly kept dancing since 1980, Justin just keeps going. Coming Soon. a/jus/ted . New project with Eddie Mars. 2013
  SoundCloud ↗Discography ↗
  Synth-pop on 46, Pop Rock on 21, House on 34 and Disco on 13. styles on their catalogued releases

  Released on DFA (1) and Demon Records (1); their RA profile also lists Southern Fried Records, Under the Shade, Dither Down, Plant Music and 3 more. labels on their catalogued releases and on their RA profile

  Recently at Nightmoves, Gabriela, The Chocolate Factory · often with Seth Magoon, Mike Guimond, Amelia Holt, none of them here that night

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  Second Contact

  New York City · 46 bookings since Aug 2023

  “Second Contact is a New York City–based DJ and collaborator whose driving force behind the decks feels like seduction through control.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Second Contact is a New York City–based DJ and collaborator whose driving force behind the decks feels like seduction through control. His practice lives in the charged space between discipline and abandon, shaped by a shared dialogue and individual instinct. Moving fluidly between downtempo, dark wave, EBM, and progressive trance, his sets unfold in long, deliberate arcs that privilege tension, texture, and trust. Rather than overwhelm a room, Second Contact cultivates atmosphere. His selections linger, tease, and breathe, inviting dancers inward while leaving space for unpredictability. This same sensibility extends beyond the decks, ruled by a deep desire to cultivate community, draw inspiration from the unlikeliest of places, and build something from nothing through exchange rather than ego. His approach favors intimacy over spectacle and curiosity over dominance; his DJ sets result in a physical, quietly sinister, and visceral atmosphere designed not to command attention but to hold space and engage in play. Stepping away from any spectacle, Second Contact plays with the uninhibited, open-minded queerdos and freaks; an intimate tremble that demands total surrender from those who’d rather be lost in the secret than found in the light. Second Contact believes the most powerful moments on a dance floor come from anticipation. His approach is rooted in restraint, timing, and emotional intelligence, letting desire accumulate before release. His sets ask for patience and, in turn, reward surrender; slowly, but surely, creating spaces where dancers feel held, challenged, and quietly undone. Over the past few years, Second Contact has become a familiar presence in New York City’s most respected rooms, including Nowadays, Mansions, Nightmoves, Bossa Nova Civic Club, and Good Room. Internationally, his sound has carried to adventurous and discerning dance floors across Europe and beyond, including Sameheads, Salon des Amateurs, Post Bar, as well as scenes in Tbilisi, Georgia and Mexico City, where he operates in the high-stakes gap between discipline and abandon for the those who celebrate openness and risk and welcome the pursuit of creativity and expression instead of the easily digestible and familiar. As Honey Trap mainstay and resident, he shapes the cadence with a patient hand whether setting the tone at the opening doors or driving the final hours at close. His sound at Honey Trap leans into the series’ core–synth lust, hot tracks–bringing the dancefloor into a place of shared trust and communal rapture. Second Contact’s long-form sensibility extends naturally into radio with his guest mixes appearing on well-regarded The Lot Radio, Kiosk Radio, and Mutant Radio.
  SoundCloud ↗

  Recently at Honey's, Bossa Nova Civic Club, Night Club 101 · often with Amelia Holt, Miles Mercer, Simic, none of them here that night