MORABITO. — DavidXDaisy

Morabito.

The name itself strikes a chord if you have a memory on a dancefloor to her sound. It’s the Madonna of the queer house music scene, really. When you first started going out, maybe you too did not know that Morabito is a woman, and assumed it was a man’s moniker. But Morabito represents the women in our DJ booths who hold queer audiences in their palms for some of the greatest moment’s of our lives. And I want to be sure we all show gratitude for them, and not let misogyny have a home on our dancefloors.

I often reference Morabito’s work in my writing and more often find myself moved by her music, stepping in time to the beat of her references, experiences, and perspective shaped by deliberate intention and pure talent. I still say her Pines Party 2019 Sunday night function at Pavilion is one of the best sets I’ve ever heard. As I write this, I’m currently listening to Part 1 of her Pines Party Weekend 2021 set for “The Closing Event.”

Prior to her spinning this Sunday at Ultramaroon in Hell’s Kitchen, I am very thankful that she had some time between gigs to discuss her career, gender in the DJ booth, Fire Island, and New York nightlife at large.

* * *

DXD: When and how did you get your start in NYC nightlife?

M: I had a gig in Cherry Grove in the summer of 1987 that was set up through Manny Lehman, whom I worked with at the time at Vinyl Mania records. I was also doing house parties here and there. Additionally, I frequented the clubs I wanted to play, and they were the clubs where I loved the music and where my tribe was. People who heard me started talking about what they heard. Eventually, I got a gig at Michael Fesco's weekly Sunday Tea dance, 20/20, in the early 90’s.

That led to other gigs, including Fire Island, and after any event I played where I played well, buzz kept growing, and the gigs became more consistent. However, my career didn't take off for me until 1994.

DXD: Who were your influences for developing your sound and how do they still inspire you today?

M: When I was a budding DJ, my influences were Michael Fierman, Terri Sherman, and Robbie Leslie in the very early days.

After that, music shopping became my most significant influence; I'm an avid shopper, sifting through thousands of tracks each week and buying what I like. I suppose one can say that music shopping is the most important influence on my sound. I follow various genres, hundreds of producers/DJs/remixers, and labels on Beatport.

DXD: I’ve noticed you like to share about your musical selection process leading up to an event. Tell us more about that process and what happens prior to loading your first track for us.

M: I have three music folders on my computer in Traktor, "New Tracks," "Older Tracks," and "Classics." First, I make another folder for the event I'm playing; let's call it "Event M." I then put all the tracks from the "New Tracks" folder into the "Event M" folder. There are about 800 new tracks in the "New Tracks" folder at any given time. Then I do a process of elimination. I go through each track visually and most often drop the needle on it for a few seconds or more and decide if it's something appropriate for that particular evening. Depending on how many hours I play, I can end up with 200-400 tracks in the "Event M" Folder. I then go through the "Older Tracks" folder and do the same thing, and I might add about five to ten older tracks to the "Event M" folder. This part is much quicker; I just scan the "Older Tracks" folder. I rarely go through the classics; it would need to be a particular event to do that. Next, they then go to Rekordbox, where I then transfer everything over to a thumb drive.

I have all the music also on my iPhone in iTunes, and I listen to it all week at the gym, shopping, cleaning the house, etc. Because I have so much music and different styles, doing this is my way of getting familiar with the feeling of tracks and keeping them fresh in my head before an event.

DXD: In 2004, you were the first female DJ to play The Black Party. How did it feel to break that barrier in that moment?

M: I'm super proud of breaking that barrier. I did it; it's an achievement and also opens the door for others. Other women broke barriers in the male dance scene, such as Sharon White, who played the original "Saint." And because she did it, it made me feel it was possible.

Breaking the barrier for the "Black Party" was a bonus given the party's nature. There is a sense of power, being involved in the sexual energy. I was also amused by it. And there was some pressure because there were articles and, of course, comments about a woman playing the "Black Party," so I felt the pressure of having to deliver. But I loved every minute of playing it!

DXD: I don’t feel we have been progressive enough with women and people of color in the DJ booth since then. Compared with your experience, where do we think we are?

M: We are doing pretty good with both women and people of color in the DJ booth, considering. Outside our particular scene, there are hundreds of both women and people of color. But I think you're referring to our scene, the gay white boy scene. Here's why I say we're doing pretty good; for the most part, you usually are a part of the scene to play the scene. I chose this scene because of its music compatibility with me. I started hanging around the places where I loved the music. And I liked partying with gay men. That's not for most women. And it seems it's not for most people of color or hasn't been. However, I have never seen so many people of color in the Pines in the past two years. Ten years ago, you might have seen one person of color over a season. That's all changing in the Pines, there are more women, more people of color, and with that, in time, I think we'll see more of those groups being DJs in the scene. It's a process.

However, it's predominantly white men and muscular ones because some promoters and club owners sell the entire package. And some white men want that package. And it will be like that at certain parties. Other events, like "Ultramaroon," "The Pavilion," and "The Q NYC," have women and people of color. We all find our place where we feel accepted and where the music is right for us.

Also, your larger cities have so many different kinds of events that caters to types. So if you're a bear, into leather, a lesbian, a white muscle boy, hipster gay, a man of color, Asian, a club kid, mix straight and gay, etc., there's a party for you. We're not all under one roof. So to my original point, for a person, regardless of their color or sex, you're going to drift to the scene where you love the music and find your tribe.

DXD: I personally resonate so much more with a woman in the booth. What do you feel it is that you and your peers bring to the dancefloor that the white male dominated industry doesn’t quite capture?

M: DJing is a spontaneous emotional artform, or at least for me, and I think most DJs would agree. Somebody should take a poll on that. ;-)

We are different creatures based on egos, hormones and life experiences based on our gender; I would think that plays into it. An example of that would be, for the most part, women are nurturing creatures.

Photographer: Jeff Eason / WilsonModels Photography at Ultramaroon — Photo: Jeff Eason / WilsonModels Photography at Ultramaroon

DXD: If you could bring back any single NYC nightlife institution for one night, what would it be?

M: The Saint.

DXD: Oh, for one night only at The Saint! You’ve held a deep connection with the Pines, as does any true NYC DJ. I’m actually just going to leave this open-ended to anything you’d like to say regarding Pines Party, your Labor Day Sunday party, or anything about that special little place. I’m always up for a good Pines story that needs to be shared.

M: The special little place....

That sandbar, 55 miles from Manhattan, is so gorgeous and unique, a place for us that holds so much of our history; it's our community. It's an effort to get there, but once you're there, everything is pretty convenient.

Apart from its beauty, it's where I developed my closest friendships over the decades. Those after-party squishes with close friends filled with love, laughter, pool dancing, intense conversations, chatter about the club scene, and music. The larger house parties, smaller cocktail parties, dinners, filled with excellent food and great company. It's a place with a low-key New York vibe; it's fabulous. Everybody's on vacation.

It's the place where I had enough hours at the Pavilion, at that time, to fine-tune how not only to learn to play long hours, but to do a complete musical journey with a proper beginning, a middle, and an end. It's the place that launched my career. It's the place where I developed the closest friendships that I still have and cherish today. So it lends itself to that, and it's something, that's once you're in it, you understand why.

DXD: Speaking of the Pavilion, what is it exactly that makes your Labor Day Sunday set at Pavilion so fierce? How long has it been running and what do you feel has made it such a staple in the Pines.

M: I think what makes my Labor Day Sunday set at the Pavilion so fierce is that I have incredible support; people are excited, I can feel that. I'm excited.

This past year was my 20th year, but my first one was about 25 years ago. I took a few years off, and we lost a summer due to the pandemic. I believe it's a staple because people appreciate a tradition, and I'm part of the Pines. So many on the dance floor have attended all 20 of them, some 10 of them, others are new to it, that keeps going. That consistency and tradition is something we can all be a part of and share memories over time. It's a special night for me, and I think many of those who attended.

DXD: When you played the Pride Island Sunday dance for WorldPride 2019, how did Pride feel different from when you started DJing?

M: I was a part of 50 years of NYC history; it's magnificent to be a part of such history. But, as a budding DJ, it didn't occur to me that would happen. Being a part of World Pride in my hometown made me feel significant – I was part of that history. But, as a budding DJ, I didn't have history, though my community did.

DXD: What is something you would like to see the up and coming generation change, embrace or learn as they come into their own?

M: I'd like to see them embrace and learn their history about our community.

DXD: Top 3 things you love seeing at parties?

M: Being open to new music and sounds, having a great time, being considerate of others.

DXD: Top 3 things you loathe seeing at parties?

M: Loathe is a strong word. I'm not too fond of the excessive usage of cell phones on the dance floor. I'd prefer they didn't bring open containers on the dancefloor. And I could most certainly live without the extreme full-on sex on the dancefloor. I've asked myself if I felt that way because I'm a woman. I don't think so, but that's hard to say. I've been in a club for decades; sex has always been a part of it; I believe in back rooms if it's appropriate for the party, I’d like to see it off the dancefloor. The reality is, we are losing spaces due to sex all over the place in a club. Club owners don’t want to deal with the ramifications of it.

DXD: What’s a track/artist/set that’s especially been inspiring you lately?

M: Riva Starr

DXD: It’s Saturday night, clubs are reopening, and you’re not working. Where are you at just to have a good time?

M: With close friends wherever, that could be a dinner, just hanging out together, or at a club usually carefully selected based on the DJ or DJs.

DXD: Any last words for us all on the dancefloor?

M: Be kind to each other and yourselves.

* * *

MAY 2023 UPDATE: This Sunday, May 14,is the UltraMaroon Season 4 Closer, featuring Morabito, Someone From Berlin, and Bare Naked. You can get your tix here. You can expect a new deep dive with Morabito in time for our Pride event happening Thursday, June 22, at Musica!

Thank you Morabito! You can catch her at Ultramaroon along with Someone From Berlin and Less Talking More Dancing. We can’t wait to see you there.

Join the Morabito mailing list here to stay up-to-date on new podcasts and when she’s spinning next.

And yes M, let’s all be kind.

Xx,