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DJing in New York

Learning Processes of Underground Club DJs

DJing isn’t just about mixing tracks; it’s a social process, an urban history, and a radical form of community learning in the heart of New York’s club scene.

DJing in New York offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at how underground Electronic Dance Music DJs in New York learn their craft, build careers, and navigate the ever-shifting world of nightlife.

Through immersive research, Eva J. Egolf reveals how DJing is more than a technical skill—it’s a deeply social process, rooted in friendships, enculturation, and access to professional networks. From honing beatmatching techniques to navigating the politics of club culture, these DJs rely on community as much as individual talent. Situating DJ learning within broader conversations on race, gender, and LGBTQ+ identities, this book expands our understanding of popular music education and the role of electronic music in shaping urban cultural history. It will be an illuminating resource for music educators, scholars of EDM and club culture, and those fascinated by the intersection of music, identity, and underground nightlife.
 

236 pages | 6.69 x 9.61 | © 2025

Art: Art--General Studies

Music: General Music


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Reviews

"A much-needed study of DJ learning processes, the book is also a valuable document of recent New York City club scene history, and will appeal far beyond its intended academic readership."

Ethan Hein, NYU

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

 

Introduction

 

Part I: Playing in New York

Chapter 1 Historical Overview

Chapter 2 Programming

Chapter 3 Mixing

 

Part II: Portraits of Learning

Chapter 4 Learning from Masters and Old-Timers

Chapter 5 Peer and Group Learning

Chapter 6 Learning as You Go

 

Part III: Lasting in Nightlife and Nightlife Lasting

Chapter 7 Evolving Technology and DJ Learning

Chapter 8 Enculturation

Chapter 9 Friendships

Chapter 10 Underground Rising

 

Extended Set

Bibliography

Index

 

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