WERK, Nita!
DJ Nita Aviance Has a Thing or Two to Teach the Children.
When I first heard the term “ball,” my young Midwestern mind imagined a scene Cinderella. I was quickly corrected, given a copy of Paris is Burning and discovered what balls are all about: the houses, the runway, the pageantry! One of the first houses I heard of was The House of Aviance, and for good reason. I recently had the chance to kiki with the one and only DJ Nita Aviance. I was beyond stoked. This man started the late and great Opaline, helped make Mr. Black the hottest club of the last decade and has won multiple Glammys for Best DJ. He’s pretty much the shit. Here’s what Nita had to say! —Matty Slick-Haxx
AntiTwink: Why did you start DJing?
DJ Nita Aviance: DJing was something I did as a hobby in high school, but I never really thought of it as a career. I was always obsessed with music, especially electronic, but I only ever worked on the production side of things. But as a performer my body craves a stage. So when Formika gave me a platform I jumped on it.
How did you start running with The House of Aviance?
As soon as I moved to NYC in the late 90s I was out every night of the week, and this was the house for me. A multi-culti band of freaks pushing the limits in all they do. Don't get me wrong, they put us through the ringer—early morning runway class at Twilo on the regular—but I'm proud be a part of one of the most loved and loathed houses in NYC.
What are you looking forward to the most this summer?
That has got to be the Tubway Tri-Umph Tour. We're taking the show on the road again this year for Pride on the West Coast. Gant Johnson, Colby B, EnSubtitles and I are hitting up Seattle and San Francisco for this year’s festivities.
Your range is astounding and the affect you have had on the NYC community is huge. What would you say to the younger generation that is just starting to get their feet wet with nightlife?
Well, if the kids are really listening: Don't ever be afraid to do something different! This goes out to DJs especially. There's a lot more music out there than what is fed to you by the dying machine we call the music industry and it is your job as the DJ to educate the children. They will never know how sick it is until someone smacks them in the face with it. This, of course, goes for everyone: promotors, [club] owners, drag queens, club kids. I mean, c'mon, let's take it to the next level.
What songs are you dying to get your hands on and give the DJ Nita rework?
I'm constantly getting turned on by new music, but my favorite thing I just put my spin on has got to be Missy Elliott's "Hot Boyz," which I worked on with Adam Joseph under the name "Brooklyn Is Burning." We'll be droppin' that real soon, just in time for the summer madness, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.
What was your favorite event you worked in the past year?
One of the most intense gigs I played was my Sunday morning residency in the basement of Timmy Regisford's Shelter party. Each week I played from 5am till 12 or 1pm, and the kids down there made me work. It was an amazing mix of people. Plus, it was also nice to be able to draw a through-line for them over such a long set. You know I like a journey.
Favorite NYC hangout?
Honestly the best parties I've been to all year have been at lofts. Go figure. But my fave party is Mandy Graves and Jools Palmer's Bassment on Wednesday nights, not only ’cause I have a monthly residency as the BOOKWRMZ—Michael Magnan and my side project—but also because all my favorite DJs play there. You ain't gonna hear bettter beata right now.
If you could work with one producer, who would it be?
That's a virtually impossible question, you know? But at the top of my head right now, I'd have to say Tom Stephan.
What's coming up next for you? What can we expect?
I have a bunch of remixes for One-Half Nelson, Escandalo and Kuxann Suum out this spring, as well as a few under the monikers Brooklyn is Burning and BOOKWRMZ. I've also helped to curate Ericka Toure's Ericka Reworked! remix album, as well as acted as co-producer on four of the mixes. Plus, you'll finally be getting some original material from me later this year. Oh yeah, and my website, www.djnita.com has turned into a blog where you can get all the info you need from me—and then some!
