New York House DJ, producer and label head Rissa Garcia, owner of NightChild Records, has long bagged a reputation as a driving force within her hometown scene. Rinsing her vast stack of vinyl at clubs across NYC for the best part of two decades, she's shared the decks with icons Danny Tenaglia, Danny Krivit, Tony Humphries and Kenny Dope, among more.
Who Is DJ And NightChild Records Label Boss Rissa Garcia?
Rissa caught the music bug at a very early age. As she avidly recalls her childhood, memories of backyard parties within her close-knit Staten Island neighborhood cut through with a real sense of fondness and pride. Experiencing that house party vibe long before she'd firmly implanted herself on New York's hallowed dance floors stayed with her.
In 2000 she discovered Club Vinyl with NYC linchpin Danny Tenaglia behind the booth. "My soul just seemed to come alive and it completely engulfed me,” Rissa recalls. “From the lights to the vibe to the dark walls and sexiness in the air, it was exactly what I had been searching for. This was my Paradise Garage."
Decidedly hooked, she was there without fail every Friday immersing herself in club culture with Tenaglia at the helm. Emboldened by a sense of growing intuition, soon it was clear that she needed to be the one controlling the room, manipulating and utilizing rhythms to invigorate the crowd.
Rissa Garcia: From New York City's Club Scene To Dancing Room Only Events
Since landing her first gig in 2004 at an intimate lounge on NYC's Lower East Side, the artist has steadily risen through the ranks, laying down selections which dive between classics, House, funk, soul and everything in between at Cielo Club, Output, Avant Gardener, Good Room and Elsewhere Space.
From her earliest clubbing days, Rissa recognized and appreciated that the music itself is at the heart of the experience, and she shuns static crowds that favor the spectacle of watching the DJ. Preferring to remain in the shadows, she shrewdly selects tracks that incite clubbers to move, groove, flow and catch the beat to the last drop. Launching her own event series, Dancing Room Only, gave her that opportunity to come through with her own statement on what the clubbing experience should be.
"DJs are there to make you dance,” Rissa states. “I started this event to get a message out to younger generations coming through the scene that it's not all about the glamor — it's about everybody being together. Quit staring at the DJ, put the phones off and dance."
NightChild Records: What Is Rissa Garcia Doing Now?
Relaunching NightChild Records in 2018, Rissa’s label has become an exciting hub for top-notch material which reach across the house spectrum. Nearing its 100th release, recent highlights include a propulsive cut from House music icon Todd Terry, one which had the remix treatment from fellow New Yorkers Sean Cormac and Jon Billick, as well as Rissa herself. While she pours her energy into nurturing Nightchild Records, with this being where fans of her sound will find most of her club sounds, she’s also dropped releases through labels Plastik People Recordings, Jakdat Records, Rhythm & Culture and LW Recordings, among others.
Rissa Garcia's "Get Up And Dance" Weedsday Playlist
For her Weedsday Playlist, Rissa Garcia draws inspiration from the party atmosphere that has made up her career: “As a DJ, making people dance is one the most important aspects of the job and what I love most about it. Here is a list of 5 songs guaranteed to make you want to dance.”
Chaka Khan - "Like Sugar"
One of my favorite Chaka records, and no doubt she has a vast discography to choose from, but this one here has such a tasty bassline and drums that you can’t resist.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Mateo & Matos - "New York Style"
The percussion, the chords, the bassline, what a ride this song is. A classic NYC club jam from two of NYC’s finest producers John Mateo and Eddie Matos. The dancefloor erupts whenever this song drops.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Chez And Trent - "Don't Try It"
One of my favorite songs ever; I play it frequently and it hits every time. From the catchy vocals to the bumping bassline, it gets everyone up and grooving.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Black Box - "Everybody Everybody"
This is probably one of the first songs to get me into dance music. I loved this song so much growing up, hearing it on the radio, and it is still my favorite to this day. It reminds of a time of just pure happiness and joy. This was a staple during family house parties when I was a kid, and it just takes me back to that time of being so carefree.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Ultra Nate - "Free"
Talk about anthems… Ultra Nate’s “Free” came out at a time when I just started venturing into club land. I was 17 and ready to graduate from high school and this was our anthem. We were about to be free to live our lives and we played this on repeat endlessly. The melody, the groovy bass and intoxicating lyrics and it still stands the test of time. Whenever it drops you can’t help but feel euphoric and free.
Click here to play on Spotify!
For more about Rissa Garcia and NightChild Records, visit rissagarcia.com and nightchildrecords.com.
What are your favorite Weedsday tracks? Tell us about them - reach out at @honeysucklemagazine on Instagram and @HoneysuckleMag on Twitter!
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Featured image: Rissa Garcia, owner of NightChild Records, at the Cielo Club (C) David Cova
