INTERVIEW: DJ Whitney Day heads to Sunday’s Climax Red Party at Vinyl

It’s August, so you know what that means: time for the Annual Climax Red Party, the official pre-party for Colorado AIDS Walk. It’s time to pull out your favorite red outfit or go shopping for a new one, and get thee to the rooftop at Vinyl. This Sunday, August 4 is the annual roof top party benefiting Colorado AIDS Project, and the kickoff for the week leading up to Colorado AIDS Walk on Saturday, August 10.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Sunday’s featured DJ, Whitney Day, talking about life in the big city, expanding horizons to new cities and being a human iPod.

Robyn Vie-Carpenter: Have you ever been to Denver before?

Whitney Day: I haven’t, in fact this is my first time to Colorado. I’m really excited.

RVC: Are you going to get to site see a little, or you just flying and flying out?

WD: I’m actually going to stay until Monday. I extended it a little bit so I could have a little extra opportunity to check out some of the other parties and events going on throughout the weekend. And just kind of hang out and catch the [LGBT] vibe…if there’s one thing I love as much as music, it’s traveling. So, if I get to go to a new place, like Colorado…I can explore and see what’s going on. It’s always really interesting to check out new cities.

RVC: This is a good weekend. There’s a lot going on. So, how did you and Tatiana meet? She’s always bringing someone cool to Denver.

WD: I was actually djing at Shedonism in Las Vegas last year. I became friendly with DJ Lisa Pittman…and one of the other promoters Pandora Events…so when they teamed up for Shedonism they brought me down and Tatiana was there…I got to meet her and we had a lot in common. She was just a super cool girl…so when she said hey you want to come out to Colorado? Of course I said yes…just let me know when…I’m always looking for a chance to travel…and play to a new crowd…spreading my music…I’m excited to bring some NY style to Denver.

RVC: Denver’s ready for it. We’ve got a lot of great things going on here and people are just beginning to catch up.

WD: I’m becoming more and more interested in the smaller cities in the US, because I feel that things are really changing. Big cities, like NY and LA, can become over-saturated at times…[smaller cities] everyone will come out to party at the same place…I’m excited to see what it’s like in Denver.

RVC: Well, big cities have a lot to offer for a lot of different people. In Denver, we kind of all party together.

WD: In NY there are parties just for latina lesbians, black lesbians…it’s really cool. But, I think sometimes is separates the community…to get everyone in a room together…like the parties that I produce…to have more of a mixed bag of people…I think that’s really cool. It’s great to be able to gather everyone in that one room for that one party…everyone is just letting go and having a good time.

RVC: We live in such a global society, our parties are going to need to reflect all of the different places that we come from. It’s more fun when you get a little bit of everybody in the room, doing their thing. Exposing people to new musical experiences.

WD: I try to make my parties unique, like I’ll bring in live musicians so it’s not the same thing every time…I’m just trying to expose people to new and interesting things. My generation has severe ADD. So [often] they want to hear the stuff that they know for like 30 seconds and then they want to hear the next thing…for me, someone that’s worked as a musician and worked in recording studios, with some DJ’s they just bring a certain vibe. You can’t describe you can only experience it. I think that’s what it’s all about. You know with technology these days, anybody can download some DJ app and anyone can basically call themselves a DJ…I feel sorry for [people] that haven’t experienced [a lot of DJ’s] and only experience music that they can sing along to…keep an open mind and open ear and discover new music…the job of the DJ is not just being a human ipod and programming music for the night…it’s to expose people to new sounds and incorporate [them] in a way that is palatable to them…so they say hey, I know that song but I’ve never heard played in that way before.

RVC: So, get ready Denver, DJ Whitney Day is bringing a NY vibe and some great music to party for a great cause. Better get your dancing shoes on.

Climax Sundays are held at Vinyl Nightclub, doors open at 6pm, no cover 21+, 18 and up welcome.