Q&A: DJ SETH GOLD

We caught up with sexy, young DJ Seth Gold when he came back to NYC to man the decks at Splash.

Seth first became fascinated with spinning records in elementary school.  When other kids were developing rock bands in their garages, Gold was creating dance floors in his. After years of playing for friends and at private parties, he scored his first job as a professional DJ at 20. "The irony was that the guy behind the booth wasn’t legally old enough to drink.  But no one knew that," he laughs.

It's been a fast ride-to-the-top ever since. He is now a regular on the national DJ circuit, spinning mega clubs in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Texas, to name a few. Still, he finds time to come home every once in a while. If you missed him at Splash, check out upcoming gigs on his website.

How do you define your dance floor?

I play a lot of fun, energetic pop, dance mixes and mashups.

What specific tracks do you throw down?

I don’t usually know what I’ll be playing until I hit the booth. But these days you can expect some Lady Gaga mixes that no one else has, Ke$ha, Selena Gomez, maybe some Bob Sinclar and Santogold...

How are your beats different than other DJs?

Where most DJ's play strictly hip hop, strictly tribal, or another format of music, I play a wide variety and mix it all together in one package.

Do you ever leave the booth and party with the crowd?

As much as I'd love to be able to do that, it's not usually possible. I have to really concentrate on making sure everyone else is having a good time. I love when guys come up to the booth to say hi or ask for a CD. I like to meet the crowds.

Happy birthday, by the way.

Is it April already?  (Laughs) Thanks.

Are you still the youngest DJ on the national circuit?

Not sure.  I’m definitely one of the youngest.

Are there advantages to being the young kid on the block?

The biggest advantage is that I'm still in touch with what the younger crowd wants. My friends are the same age as my crowd on the dance floor.

What are the drawbacks?

Sometimes club owners aren't sure I can handle playing a big club or hold my own on the dance floor. I always prove that I can when they give me the chance.

Are you friends with other DJs... or are they your competitors?

I've been so busy myself lately that I haven't had a chance to talk to any other DJs or keep up with what the other guys are doing.

That sounds like a nice way of saying ‘no’.

(Laughs)  The DJ industry, like any industry these days, is pretty dog-eat-dog.  We’re all fighting for the same parties.

Do you ever borrow another DJ's CDs or lend them yours?

Absolutely not! I have to keep my music private in order to remain unique.

What do you think of Lady Gaga being robbed at the Grammys?

Gaga and Taylor Swift both had phenomenal records and I knew it would be close but I didn't think the night would be as one sided as it was.

Who rules the dance floor?

Lady Gaga. Crowds go crazy for her songs.

What do you have coming up next?

In the next few weeks, I’ll be playing DC, Nashville... I’m really excited to debut in Puerto Rico next week!  And then it’s Pride season which is always a busy time.  See you on the dancefloor.

Learn more about Seth on www.djsethgold.com.