059 For the Record || Justin Strauss

For the Record is a conversation series where we speak with all manner of music heads - DJs, music journos, indie label captains, record shop owners, listening bar kingpins, et al - about their stories + the music that makes them.
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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, Hot Chip, Sergio Mendez, Tina Turner, Jimmy Cliff, B-52s, Luther Vandross, 808 State, Malcolm McClaren, Skinny Puppy, Goldfrapp, LCD Soundsystem to name a few and on over 300 records!
MUSIC MENTIONS
Early years, from being in a band to becoming a DJ:
The Beatles
The Rolling Stones
The Kinks
The Who
James Brown
Chuck Berry
David Bowie
Milk ’N’ Cookies
Island Records
Roxy Music
Sparks
Robert Palmer
Top of the Pops
New York Dolls
CBGB
Sex Pistols
The Mudd Club (NYC)
Studio 54
Max’s Kansas City (NYC)
Paradise Garage (NYC)
François Kevorkian
The Limelight (NYC)
Aria (NYC)
Tunnel (NYC)
Danceteria (NYC)
Hurrah (NYC)
Palladium (NYC)
The Ritz (NYC)
Webster Hall (NYC)
Prince
Kraftwerk
Human League
Depeche Mode
Gang of Four
Tina Turner
Afrika Bambaataa
Liquid Liquid
ESG
Spotify
Q&A
Vinylmania (NYC)
Optimo
James Murphy
The Dare
Deewee
Soulwax
Fat White Family
Paranoid London
“Brat” by Charli XCX
“B2B” by Charli XCX
Hot Chip
Joe Goddard
Marcus Marr
Max Park
Prince Language
Discovering music today (30:42):
Clubs, DJ’s & Friends
Bandcamp
Beatport
Favorite clubs in NYC right now (38:52):
Gabriela (NYC)
Good Room (NYC)
Night Moves (NYC)
Public Records (NYC)
Nowadays (NYC)
Outer Heaven (NYC)
Jean’s (NYC)
Baby’s All Right (NYC)
First album ever purchased (45:01):
“Meet The Beatles” by The Beatles
Most recent album purchased (45:45):
“Decius Vol. II (Splendour & Obedience)” by Decius
Artists discovered in the past year (46:48):
Decius
Otha
Charli XCX
Sleaford Mods
Desert island discs (49:44):
“Computer World” by Kraftwerk
“Revolve” by The Beatles
“In the Jungle Groove” by James Brown
Current and upcoming collab projects:
Each Other
Extra Credit