With one hand on the turntable (and the other gripping a silver spoon), DJ Berrie isn’t what you’d expect from someone the New York Observer dubbed a “trust fund DJ.” Sure, his father made a killing marketing the infamous Treasure Troll doll of the ‘80s, but Berrie’s success is far from a fad. In fact, the cherub-cheeked 22-year-old has been in the game for over six years, getting his early start at age 16 with a residency at New York’s Dorsia nightclub. But it’s his coveted resident status at some of the most exclusive spots in America—Tao Las Vegas, Tenjune and Marquee in New York—that lend to his street cred and keep clients like Puff Daddy, Veuve Cliquot, and Paris Hilton knocking at his door.
Clubplanet pulled up a chair to one of the youngest veterans in the nightlife industry to chat about bottle service, DJ beef and battling the stigma of privilege.
Clubplanet: How’d you get your start?
DJ Berrie: I bought turntables and records when I was 13 years old and after DJing events for my school and throwing house parties for my friends, I eventually made a promo CD. I pitched it to a club called Dorsia who actually liked it and put me on as an opener—that was my first jump into the game at the age of 16.
CP: What was it like playing 21-and-over clubs before you were of age?
DJ Berrie: For me it was a privilege to play for all these different walks of life. I never felt that there was a barrier. I’ve always done my research—classic house, funk and soul have always been a part of my music and those are the roots of everything. If you don’t know them, the crowd will sometimes test you. You always have to be up on the classics and groundwork before everything else.
CP: And now, you play all the high-end spots like Tenjune, Pink Elephant, and Marquee. I guess it’s fair to say you’re on the “pro” side of the bottle service debate.
DJ Berrie: You know, everybody has arguments about club life, where it’s going, and how bottle service killed New York. I started going out before bottle service hit, so I understand that the culture was completely different back in the day when all the cool people were hanging out in one spot. My take on it is that bottle service obviously watered down club life, but in the same way, it’s made so many more spots available and diversified the industry. I’d say it’s good and bad.
CP: In what way?
DJ Berrie: If you want to go to a club and be with all the hot models and stock brokers buying bottles, you can do that. But if you want to hit a club in the East Village, or go to APT and spend $10 and hear good music, you can do that, too. It’s just broadened the options. People will have to learn that you can still have a good time if you find the right place.
CP: What’s your preference when you’re not DJing?
DJ Berrie: APT is an awesome spot on Mondays and Wednesdays; it’s very unpretentious and always good music. I like to sometimes check out Pacha, like when I went to hear David Guetta spin. With all the house acts from overseas, the energy there is amazing.
CP: You’ve often been compared to Steve Aoki and Samantha Ronson—not for your music, but for your parents’ deep pockets. How do you feel about being labeled a trust fund DJ?
DJ Berrie: I mean, I understand how people feel about that. But I know other DJs who had privileged upbringings, and I don’t judge them. And if they’re dope and their music is ill, they’ll get respect that way.
CP: What do you think is the biggest music trend right now?
DJ Berrie: Electro house.
CP: Really? I often hear electro is on the outs since it hit so huge on the mainstream charts last year.
DJ Berrie: Uh, I think not. I love it and I think house music in general is growing on people. Electro house might be the trend in house right now, but hip-hop singles are getting watered down and everyone is totally over Soulja Boy and that entire sound. They’re looking towards house and its energy. If it’s not electro house, house is growing in places you’d never expect. These open-format hip-hop parties are gradually turning into house parties. If anything is dying out, it’s definitely mash-ups. That was a huge trend last year, but the mash world is slowly coming to an end.
CP: True. How about travelling? You’re a resident DJ in all these different cities and it must be hard to travel back and forth all the time.
DJ Berrie: Travelling is probably the best perk of being a DJ—I get to play for different crowds, learn about different cultures, and see the world. It’s amazing. It’s totally worth the toll it takes on my body.
CP: How would you compare the scenes in Miami, New York and Vegas?
DJ Berrie: That’s pretty easy. Vegas people are on vacation, so matter what, you’ll get an awesome energy. Miami is similar to Vegas more so than New York because everyone there is already in a party mode or atmosphere. Miami is made for parties—there’s a mile radius of clubs for not that large of a population. It’s one of my favorite places to play in the states. In New York, it depends on what night or event you’re doing. It’s about lifestyle and networking at the same time. New York is about having a good time while drinking as opposed to Vegas and Miami where people are dancing and wiling out. But New York is much more diverse than Miami and Vegas.
CP: Do you agree that there’s a lot of beef in the New York scene right now?
DJ Berrie: The difference between New York and LA is that DJs in LA link up together, which is a good thing. What I love about LA is that they have DJ crews and everything. In New York, it’s a lot more individualized and people are competing for the same jobs. But I don’t think there’s any real beef. People are always gonna talk, and if they wanna talk that’s cool. It’s a good thing that they’re talking in the first place.
CP: Would you always call New York home?
DJ Berrie: New York is always home for sure. The diversity is the best thing about New York.
CP: What’s your dream DJ gig?
DJ Berrie: DJing for the Olympics. Tïesto did it—that’s probably a landmark for any DJ to have.
CP: Do you take requests?
DJ Berrie: Yeah, definitely. I always take requests from people who know how to ask. If you come over to the DJ booth and spill your drink all over my stuff, your request might not be heard. But in the end, you’re playing for the people and you need to win over your crowd.
Catch more of DJ Berrie at:
Saturday nights at Tao Nightclub Las Vegas.
Tuesday nights at Tenjune New York.
Thursday nights at Marquee New York.
For more info, go to www.myspace.com/djberrie