Rooftop Industry Mixer

A few weeks ago, I was booked for a private rooftop event in the Lower East Side — a low-key industry mixer hosted by a boutique creative agency celebrating the wrap of a film project. Nothing crazy, just about 40 people, mostly producers, designers, and a few artists.

They didn’t want a “club” set. The brief was simple: set the mood, keep it fresh, and make it feel like summer in the city. I started with some smooth R&B edits and chill house while people trickled in, networking over cocktails and sliders. The sun dipped behind the skyline, casting this warm orange glow over the East River, and from that rooftop, you could see the Brooklyn Bridge stretched out in the distance — lights starting to twinkle as the city came alive. The view from the Lower East Side looking out toward Brooklyn is something else — a blend of steel, water, and movement that makes you pause mid-mix sometimes, just to take it in.

As the drinks kicked in and the skyline started glowing, I slowly picked up the tempo — mixing in afrobeat, some old-school NYC hip-hop, and even flipped a few jazz records into something bounce-worthy.

The setup was clean — fairy lights across the railing, a Gemini PA speaker lighting up the night, and me tucked in the corner with my controller and laptop. It was one of those sets where everything just clicked. No requests, no interruptions, just good people, good sound, and a perfect NYC night.

By the end, someone came up and said, “Yo, you turned a mixer into a rooftop party.” Mission accomplished.