I was inspired to start this series for three reasons. First, I wanted to create a platform that shines a light on artists because of their talent, not because of how many followers they have. Clout does not equal skill. Someone may be marketable, but that doesn’t mean they have artistry. Second, I wanted to feature individuals who are making moves in their communities through music and the arts. There is no ‘I’ in progress. Third, I wanted to broaden the scope of what it is to be an artist. Whether it’s music, photography, painting, fashion, etc., I wanted this series to showcase the modern day creative.
I couldn’t think of a better person to kick off the series with than the ever so talented DJ, The NY Fox. A native New Yorker and lover of music, Christyn Basiao created the alter ego The NY Fox as a way to break out of her comfort zone and better connect with people. Don’t let the name fool you. From her work ethic to her personality, Basiao is anything but tiny. She taught herself how to DJ using Youtube and continuously works to perfect her craft. Do you ever listen to a track and can’t stop moving from start to finish? Well, that’s what it’s like when you’re vibing to The NY Fox’s sets. Her transitions are effortless, and her music selection brings feelings of both nostalgia and carefree goodness. It’s always good energy! She constantly collaborates with and supports other creatives in the industry. Her motto: ‘We can all win. We can all eat.’ Without a doubt, The NY Fox is definitely an artist to look out for.
Let’s start with introductions. Tell us: Who is The NY Fox?
The NY Fox is a DJ and creative from New York. TNYFOX is actually an acronym for The New York Fox. I was born and raised in Long Island City, Queens, and I currently live in East Williamsburg with my boyfriend, who is a producer/musician, and my two ferrets. DJing started as a hobby for me. I was an all-vinyl DJ for 5 years when I first began teaching myself. I couldn’t afford a Serato interface so I stuck with records that I had been collecting. I steered away from it for 3 years to focus on music production. Then I was out of a job. I felt like I was missing out. I always dreamt of being a “party rock”, DJing for years, but I was so afraid to make it my career. But then I realized I had a trade skill; a skill I can offer to the world. I thought ‘Fuck it—I gotta use it’. So now I am a full-time artist and I freelance for digital, design and creative firms.
How did you get your start in music?
I grew up in music. My father was a musician of all trades. I would sing with him in church while he played the guitar. My mom was a DJ in Bacolod City, Philippines in her 20’s. They always played music in the house. They banged with 103.5 KTU Freestyle or 107.5 KISS FM Isaac Hayes Quiet Storm on rotation. They collected vinyls, cassettes, and CDs. They put me on to bands, talk about their history, and would debate which song was better. Music was more than a feeling but a part of our family connection. It was, and still is, the most powerful form of communication. I DJ in honor of my hardworking, immigrant, musician parents. They taught me how to feel good music. I knew I had to play good music to make people feel good. Every time I play a song they put me on to it feels like magic. That feeling reminds me that I am living my dreams.
I know women face a lot of challenges in music. Whether it’s trying to get their foot in the door, or booking gigs, or just even getting basic respect from your peers. How do you overcome these obstacles?
The music industry is a beast of its own. I figured when I got into a male-dominated field I’d deal with some dicksquad stuff. But I practice patience, kindness and diligence when I interact with men in the industry. I’m a mature, professional DJ. My DJ services carry my reputation and business. I won’t let negativity phase me because I have a business and energy to protect. I believe when you are a good person that gets the job done they can’t tell you shit! I do my own sound check, I bring my own DJ kit, I provide clean transitions and blends, I set the vibe and make every shorty dance. I’m an ally. I believe we can all win and we can all eat. Find the right team to work with and I bet you won’t be as annoyed by men in our industry.
What would you say are some of your own personal challenges in the industry?
Well, I’m so short people can’t even see me behind the decks. On a serious note though, there’s this stigma that DJs just end up either being stuck (DJing the same dive bars for years, no diversity, or attempt to do something different) or DJ’s end up losing their “DJ magic” and end up doing something else. Moving on. I believe, if you really have it, you can never lose that magic. It’s also important to have more than one trade skill to help pay the bills. In my case, I am a freelance graphic designer and brand strategy consultant. I elevate my business through digital marketing. No automation needed! I find this challenging because some “creative” companies who hire “culture managers” to find people like me are interested in my other work, but turn around and say, “you’re DJing a lot”. Most of these culture community managers are not even from New York, not even a person of color, not even from this community! It’s unfair to make creatives feel like they are doing “too much”. I know many white graphic designers who edit on the side to pay their student debt. I look at LinkedIn and see all my white friends with different titles so why is it different for us? Most corporate culture settings “accept” diversity, but then retract when it’s “too cultured”. I feel like people of color are punished for doing more, but most of us need other outlets to survive. I hope we can change the trajectory for the community.
I know you are a part of Roadie Worldwide NY. Can you tell us a little more about the events and how you got involved?
Roadie was founded and is run by one of my closest friends, my fellow pinay DJ, Lovelisa. Roadie honors womxn who are in the art and music fields from all walks of life. I’m the DJ that represents the NY Unit and Dana Lu represents the NJ Unit. We wanted to create a safe space for womxn in our industry, no matter their race or sexual identity. We also wanted an all womxn feature party, so we turned our Crown residency and relaunched! Our video and photos are run by Holyrad Studio, a creative agency and production studio revolutionizing freelance culture by providing affordable access to space, equipment and resources.
If our readers wanted to catch you spin, where can they find you? And along those lines, are there any upcoming projects you want to share?
I am part of the Lot 45 family, my favorite place to DJ <3!! Shoutout to my Bubble T family as well! You can also catch me at Kind Regards for my Lady’s Night events with my sis, DJ U.NO.HU. Some upcoming projects include Roadie’s one-year anniversary for International Womxn’s Day and my annual Filipino Independence Day Party in June. Follow my IG and check out my new website to stay up to date! You can subscribe to receive quirky monthly newsletters with Spotify playlists for you to vibe to!
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Quit that fear and get this money, honey!
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Interview by Rahel Tekle