Interview: NYC's Top DJs On Their Favorite Gigs, Best After-Hours Spots, And More!

Sam French

At just 23 years old, Sam French is the youngest DJ on this list, but he's already had a career most people twice his age would envy. 1-Oak, Avenue, Finale, and Marquee are just some of his regular spots, with Miami andVegas mega-clubs also part of his routine. And despite his busy schedule, he's still a student at Columbia. French originally DJ'd in his hometown of Los Angeles, where he had to get to the clubs before the security just so he wouldn't be denied entry. After grabbing the attention of a few New York club owners, he flew across the country and started played "hipster" bars in the East Village. Over the last few years, he's built a reputation as one of the best big-room DJs in the city, but if you meet him don't be surprised if he's more interested in discussing the refined narratives of modern Danish cinema or the Met's newest exhibit rather than the new Avicii album. Stay up to date with Sam French at @djsamfrench Where can we see you play? 1Oak, Finale, Darby just closed until reopening, Marquee, and for out of town I do Wall in Miami, 1Oak Vegas, and just came back from Japan. Every Tuesday I do a party at 1Oak with DJ Erock. Favorite album of 2013 so far. I really liked Delta Machine by Depeche Mode. It was refreshing because David Gahn still has it. And you can hear their blues influence, but they still kind of have their techno sound in some of their songs. Also, Calypso by Queens of the Stone Age was a good one. I loved Yeezus, and I think the album was so important for music; people want new sounds. Also the new Alunageorge album was good. Favorite song of 2013 so far. I'm gonna go with Pusha T "Numbers on the Board." I love Pusha's voice, I think he comes really hard with the beat. It's crazy, but it's so simple. I think Disclosure's "You & Me" with Eliza Doolittle is amazing, I might even put that as one of my top songs of the year. Song we'll always hear you play. Dorrough and Nitti "Get Big." It's like a southern rap song I play almost every set. I've never heard anyone else play it. I just love it, it's not even new anymore, but I still play it. Maybe "Like a Pimp" by David Banner, I play that every night. Weirdest request you've ever gotten. I'm gonna have to get back to you on the name, but it's a song that came out of the Netherlands for Queens Day, and Richie Akiva from Oak asked me for it. I know Richie, and he got on the mic and requested it and it's the most absurd drum n' bass, techno, song I've ever heard, and we were just staring at each other like what is this? What song do you trust to turn the crowd up? In the major, big super-clubs, I'll usually head towards "Ay Ladies" by Tyga, or "Ball" by T.I and Wayne, I kind of like this return of bounce music that's going on. Sometimes "Locked Out of Heaven". [Photos via]