Hello y’all, today I’m kicking off the first in a series of QDJ interviews!
DJ GOTTESFINGER
I find myself on a stormy & balmy afternoon in the West Palm Beach International airport sitting at an Irish bar with companion, confident, and sibling Sarah F Gottesdiener, or known to the Portland nightlife contingent as DJ Gottesfinger. As we sip watered down cocktails overlooking a permanent diorama case strewn about with guiness parafanallia, green confetti and a vintage sewing machine, we begin our conversation.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO DJ?
-Well I’ve been a DJ since college and its because I love music and exposing people to music i love. one of the most influential events I had as a teenager was listening to the local college radio stations in Hartford, CT. That introduced me to a whole world of music that i would have otherwise never known, and not to sound dramatic, but at that time was a life jacket.
DO YOU MAKE PLAYLISTS BEFORE A SHOW?
-Yes. however, weirdly all the times I’ve spent planning out all my playlists in advance and gotten really excited about it, I have cleared the floor so I try not to do that as much! Although there are definitely genres and songs I know i can group together and play. Or, If i come across a great new song or get reacquainted with a song that excites me i make sure to play it at an optimal time in the night.
WHAT GENRES WOULD SAY ARE YOUR STRONG POINTS?
-Dance hall, particularly from the 90s and experimental electronic women’s music from current times.
WHAT IS YOUR IDEAL NIGHTLIFE CROWD TO CATER TO?
-When people are open to hearing new styles that they can dance to the they might not have otherwise heard. DJing at Nolies night Fruitcake were some of the best nights I have ever experienced in PDX; that is because the crowd was diverse , not inhibited, excited to dance and enthusiastic. I want to play what people want to hear, but I don’t enjoy playing Lady Gaga on repeat. That’s boring.
WHATS YOUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL?
-Makers Manhattan, up DUH!
IF THERE’S MORE OF ONE THING IN PORTLAND NIGHT LIFE THAT YOU FEEL IS LAGGING/SEE MORE OF WHAT WOULD IT BE?
-Do you have a minute (laughter) Maybe this exists and I just don’t know about it yet, but I haven’t come across a crowd that is interested in and excited about hearing new music when they go out to dance, or at least dancing to music outside of the 80’s.
HOWEVER, I FEEL AS THOUGH 80’s WARMS PEOPLE UP AS TO HIP HOP KEEPS THEM DANCING WOULD YOU AGREE?
-Yes, however, maybe I’m old fashioned, but I feel as though an important job as a dj is exposing people to new awesome music. When I go out to dance I love hearing new songs and being exposed to new songs I’ve never heard
IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU LOVE HEARING NEW MUSIC, SPECIFICALLY IN THE DANCE CATEGORY, WHY IS IT THAT YOU FEEL THE MAJORITY OF PORTLAND’S NIGHTLIFE MIGHT NOT FEEL THIS WAY?
-Dance nights mean different things in different cities. Maybe this is not the #1 prerogative in PDX. There are a lot of DJ s that I love in this town that do their best to expose people to new music, like Rude Dudes, Lifepartner, and Beyonda, I always love going out to see them DJ.
IN CONCLUSION WHAT NIGHTS DO WE AS GAY, CURIOUS, GAY CURIOUS AND QUEER IDENTIFIED PEOPLE NEED TO BE CHECKIN OUT?
-Well, I’m a bad person to ask cause I barely ever leave my house. That said, I would love it if everyone checked out mine and Jenny Hoystons monthly art party at Branx, also, I’ve been feeling Maricon lately, and I dont think i’ll ever miss another Bearacuda again. Watch out for a new Queer Monday at Sloans, coming soon.
WHEN YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT HOME WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PASTIMES
-I’m in two awesome bands, MAtriMoNY and ATOLE, I Am an artist, illustrator, designer and art director. I like to make art and music, organize shows and dance nights, work on various projects, garden, hangout with my dog, kick it with my awesome friends and brother, and do yoga. and juice.
Thank you for your time SARAH, I appreciate you giving me some of your honest opinions on Portland’s club life, how you would like us to grow as a community and an all around great getting to know you sesh.
