Not the first, and not the last, Crobar/Studio DJ will make his debut at Pacha NYC. Victor Calderone will “Evolve” to another level as he takes his celebrated party to the legendary 46th Street locale on May 19th. With the turbulent state of clubland in New York City, his future residency may be up in the air, but he certainly has his priorities in order. “I am looking forward to playing a set uninterrupted without any technical problems getting in the way of what I am doing,” he said, “I am going to the club a lot before the event to prep and make sure it is the way I want it to be. I really want it to be a special night so I’m just trying to go the extra mile to make sure things are correct.”
Not only can fans look forward to hearing some new productions, special edits and unreleased material, Victor has arranged for special lighting effects, which he is bringing in at his own expense, just to make his first Pacha performance even more extraordinary. Even though his set will commence earlier in the evening than usual, everyone can be assured they will get their after-hours fix. “As long as the city doesn’t shut it down, I am going to keep playing,” Victor promised. Crobar/Studio has been forced to shut down early multiple times in the past and that isn’t the only problem that Calderone took into consideration when he began exploring his options.
Noticeable issues with the sound quality at Studio also influenced Victor’s decision to make a move. “The main problem in there is the sound system, it’s just hideous in my opinion,” he said. “That’s my opinion, I think its terrible and I think a lot of other people agree with me.” He is referring to the Phazon sound system that has been maintained by the team who initially installed the system when Crobar opened. “It is such a big part of what I do- it’s such a big tool and it’s just not there,” Victor explained. “People are just not hearing the music the way it should be heard and I can’t play the way I really want to play in there.”
Also, there have been some issues there with the owners and management. This past February the venue became Studio Mezmor after internal problems caused Crobar investors to pull out of the club after three years in New York. “It’s not a secret they are having problems,” said Victor. “There also rumors that new management or owners coming in to operate the club (again) so I am not really sure what their plans are. If the club goes in a different direction, and becomes more of a bottle service thing which Mansion is known for, I can tell you for sure I am out of there.”
Eric Ortense, Studio Mezmor’s music director has confirmed that Studio will be getting a major upgrade on all levels when the club makes the transition to Mansion in August of this year. Although Victor loves the room overall, the stress from the city’s time restrictions and the unstable future of the club made him realize it is time for a change. “It’s really making me think about what I want to do. I’ve had an itch for a really long time to possibly do my own room and I am thinking about it,” said Victor. “People are really excited about the event every month. It has been an incredible vibe in there and we have been getting amazing feedback from people. It is just so unfortunate that all this shit is going on.”
The bumpy transition process, the restrictions the police have strictly enforced on the club, and the struggling sound system worked in Pacha’s favor and gave them the opportunity to house at least one Evolve party.
Eddie Dean and Rob Fernandez cannot be more pleased to welcome Victor into their establishment. “He is an incredible talent and his Evolve party is probably the best party in New York City right now and has been for some time,” said Fernandez, Pacha’s promotional director. “We’ve always wanted Victor to spin here and he feels the time is right – we’re happy about it.”
Since the club opened in December 2005, it has gained substantial momentum and recently received multiple accolades at the 2007 Club World Awards including Best Super Club, Best New Club and Best Sound System.
“He has had success around the world,” said Dean, owner of Pacha NYC. “Anytime you have the opportunity to have a Victor Calderone party, don’t think twice. He appeals to all audiences, and with Rob promoting Victor…look out!”
Look out indeed. Crowd control may be in order for this highly anticipated event, which is officially celebrating the launch of the new and improved VictorCalderone.com (2.0). The previous party at Studio Mezmor brought in an estimated 3500 people. “Let’s just say, we will be ready,” said Dean. “We have 30,000 square feet and four floors.”
Besides Evolve at Pacha (with more possible dates in the works), they will be collaborating with Neptune’s Beach Club to bring Victor out to the Hamptons for the Memorial Day opening party and the closing party on Labor Day for the second consecutive summer. “It’s become a special party,” Victor said. “The last one, I was really taken back by the energy. I did not feel like I was DJing at Neptune’s- I felt like I was in Europe or something. It was really great energy and response from the crowd. People were feeling it.”
Despite the extreme juxtaposition to the dark, shadowy environment after-hours parties are known for; the outdoor atmosphere seems to work just as well for Victor. He had his second annual successful outdoor party poolside at the Shelborne in South Beach during the Winter Music Conference on March 22nd. “It was a really good music conference for me. The pool party was just amazing- such good vibes, good energy,” he reflected. “It was great playing with Chus and Ceballos and Danny- it was a really special party- for a pool party it was insane. I’ve never seen anything like that.”
The other party he played during the conference was after-hours at Twilo with DJ Vibe. “That room is my dream room. The sound system in there was just phenomenal and really inspiring. I was in heaven playing in there. I was like a kid in the candy store,” Victor said. “I felt like I had a really great set. It was a great music conference for me and I came home really happy.”
Change of scenery doesn’t seem to faze Victor at all. Since his regular tour schedule has him traveling to far off places such as Dubai, Montreal, Taipei and Manila- just to name a few, making the jump from 28th to 46th Street in Manhattan isn’t exactly globe trotting but it he is hoping to keep his momentum alive and well as he figures out what NYC room suits him best. “I think hearing Victor on a better sound system will be fantastic and this is the first time in a while in NYC that you can hear him in an intimate main room like Pacha,” said Fernandez.
“I am really excited. It’s a new room for me, with a little bit more of an after-hours feel,” Victor said. “I really like rooms like that- Stereo (in Montreal), being one of them. That’s my favorite club in the world. I can tell Pacha kind of has that vibe just from being there, and being in the room.”
Since starting at Crobar in 2004, the Evolve parties have become a staple in the New York City after-hours scene, and quickly became known as a place where people of all walks of life found refuge on the dance floor. The sanctuary for loyal club-goers could not remain content as incidents in the Chelsea “club district” drew negative attention to clubs and lounges in the area and elsewhere.
“I don’t know what the city is looking for,” Victor pondered. “If they had it their way all clubs would close probably at 2 a.m.- that’s not New York City to me.”
With after-hours extending into late Sunday afternoon sometimes, it makes a big difference when an event is cut short. Patrons leave disappointed and clubs lose money and can even suffer large fines. “What they are doing to there club owners is horrible,” Victor said. “There was one minute they were issuing all these licenses, for example on 27th and 28th Streets. There are 10 clubs in a two-block area. Before, they issued all the licenses, and now they have a problem with it.”
With all the drama going on out there, Victor stays inspired and focused by constantly shopping for music and enjoying quality time with his wife and son: “My wife is a really big part of what I do. She is my partner in every sense of the word. So it’s not like it’s just my own thing. She is there with me throughout it all. If I am making a decision, I talk to her about it. It’s not like we have this thing where I am doing my own thing, she is there with me through it all. That helps. I consider myself pretty lucky because I am home during the week and away on the weekends so I get the chance to spend a lot of time with my son.”
The balance between touring, family and studio time seems to be treating Victor well. His album, “Evolve” was released in March and has received positive reviews- he is his toughest critic, if anyone. “It’s a mix album. For me, it’s not a monumental thing. I can’t take credit for it because there is music on there from other artists and producers,” Victor said. “I don’t consider it this big thing. I’m supportive of it and I put it out there really just for the fans. The track selection was tracks that people would email me or ask me about. I wanted a little time capsule of Evolve. I wanted people to listen to it and say ‘Yeah this reminds me of being at Evolve.’ I can’t be too excited about it. It’s not a full-length production album but it has its cause. I put it out there for the fans more than anything.”
Evolve has been like a muse for Victor. “After every one of those events, I have come home really inspired. I’m just excited about what’s going on here. I feel a great connection with the people.”
He also feels there is a lot of great music out there at the time. With that being said, he is already getting in the studio again. “Like I said before I am really inspired and I’m really excited. I feel like I am in a really good place musically,” he said. “I feel like I’ve matured and I’m still growing. I’m going to spend a lot of time in the studio and produce new material and hopefully get a full-length album out there.”
For now, he will continue to let the music and the people be his support and source of inspiration during this transition period. “Hopefully they’ll be some new rooms opening up. I’m just really hopeful things change here in New York with the amount of clubs we have, or the options I should say.”
After all, you can’t evolve without change.
By Lauren LaneNCC Editor in Chief
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