Dylan Ali, 28, is not yet a household name, but she has DJed sets at some of New York City’s trendiest clubs: Cafe Erzulie in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Kind Regards on the Lower East Side, Casa Maya in Bushwick, and the newly opened Silencio in Hell’s Kitchen.
She’s been booked for New York Fashion Week afterparties, for Chance the Rapper, and for up-and-coming singer Teezo Touchdown’s album release party.
And while most DJs tend to specialize in a particular genre, Ali has built a name for herself as an open format DJ, which means she can play whatever she wants, whether it’s hip-hop, techno or underground. She performs at corporate events, small clubs and raves.
Ali is known for her style, her quips on X (formerly Twitter), her ability to draw a crowd, and her good looks — she’s modeled for GQ magazine.
She’s also earned the respect of her peers.
“She’s just got that thing,” wrote Tyler Johnson, a DJ who performs under the name Tylerfromwhere, in an email. “Call it style, swag, an aura … whatever. You can’t manufacture being cool.”
DJ Brandon Sinclair, who performs under the name Joopiter, said he loves Ali’s versatility and noted that she can “blow most DJs out of the water.”
“She’s a student of music and culture,” he wrote in an email. “She can play to any crowd at any time. It’s inspiring.”
Ali is doing what many New York City creatives dream of doing: She’s made a career out of her passion. She wouldn’t disclose what she makes from DJing but said she can pay her bills, rent and groceries, and still afford extras like traveling.
Making it as a DJ in New York City — where the average rent is around $5,000 a month and DJs often have to perform for free or for as little as $150 per set to build their brand — is no small feat.
“I, too, want the shiny things, money and accolades,” she said during an interview in her Bed-Stuy apartment in mid-February. “I do think I’m halfway there. There’s still a lot more to go.”
‘I feel like…
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