BERLINCIAGAY #5 – DANE DEVERAUX

Interview

How have you been, and what have you been working on lately? Whether it’s sets, productions, remixes, creative projects—or your own well-being—what’s been keeping you inspired?

Honestly, I’ve been in a heavy transitional part of my life — but in a great way. I’ve recently decided to explore sobriety so I’m very curious to see what develops from it. 2025 really pushed me to my limits that tapered my focus towards defining who I am at this moment in time; as an artist and a human being. I’ve been so pressured to define my sound as a DJ but dare I say it’s impossible for me to do so. I love such a wide array of music, both for listening and playing. I love a cunty, bass-heavy set just as much as I love a deep, moody Deep House, a soulful warm classic House moment or some UKG, Drum & Bass, and Jungle. I’m always aiming to expand my palate and be better than the previous set/show/mix. Away from the art, I’m working on being a better person to myself and becoming more rooted in trusting my capabilities. Cleaning up old habits and behaviours, letting go of vices and practicing accountability with groundwork for change. There’s a big impenetrable fortress over here but to those who know me well, I’m a teddy bear inside said fortress so this year has definitely been about breaking down those barriers.

How and where did you record your BERLINCIAGAY mix? What was the idea or emotion you wanted to express with it?

I recorded this mix in bed on an app on my computer! I’ve been using this app since 2022 when I started DJing and actually recorded my very first mix on said app but on my phone, and no you cannot find It anywhere haha. Fun fact: I use the same app to record all of my mixes and radio shows since I don’t have an official setup. Normally, I always release a mix called CBD (Christmas Boner Dance) every holiday season which is always a groovy, calmer moody deep house energy but I fell behind on it this time around so this is kind of my CBD for 2025. I wanted this feeling of a constant beat of forwardness that was accompanied the weight of passing thoughts and shadows of the year as a whole. I played a lot with looping these simple vocals, which you’ll hear during the mix. 2025 was a trying year for a lot of us so I wanted to do to a mix that reflected it with a focus on powering on and staying determined. There’s a poem by Lucille Clifton that JADALAREIGN and it turned out to be the perfect description of the mix:

“i am running into a new year 

and the old years blow back 

like a wind 

that i catch in my hair 

like strong fingers like 

all my old promises and 

it will be hard to let go 

of what i said to myself 

about myself 

when I was sixteen and 

twentysix and thirtysix 

and even thirtysix but 

i am running into a new year 

and i beg what i love and 

i leave to forgive me”

Was there a special highlight for you in 2025? It can be personal, professional, or just a moment that stuck with you.

It would definitely be finding my place in nightlife in NYC. I’ve been working hard to build my sound, solidify genuine relationships with fellow DJs and people in the scene and only recently has it began bearing fruit; one of which my new friendship with Tom Peters and Dessert came along. A good friend of mine in the scene told me one day “You work so hard and you show up every time; you belong here.” That definitely sent some tears down my face haha. I’m a firm believer of everything in God’s timing and for the first time in a while, this has felt right to my spirit.

At the heart of BERLINCIAGAY is a vision of gay community. What does a safe space mean to you?

A space devoid of image-based acceptance; a space that encourages freedom. The gay community can be very aesthetically driven when it comes to being welcoming and it creates this asinine divisive atmosphere that causes some really beautiful people to miss out on parties and events that they could really enjoy. I lost count of so many places I didn’t go because of prior incidents with attendees that were rude to me simply because of my body type and skin colour. Our community has faced (and still faces) constant external adversity over the decades and it pains me to experience that same adversity come from within it. I yearn for a space that involves inclusivity and upholds it, from the organisers, to the staff, and its patrons and I’m grateful to know and have experienced a few of those spaces. Nightlife is meant for people to come and experience, release, and explore. That can’t happen if there are organisers and attendees working overtime to pander to a “prettier” demographic. Lastly, being kind to people. You never know who people are or who’s watching so let’s love more with open arms honestly and openly, yeah?

You’re trained as both a singer and a dancer. How do those disciplines influence the way you approach DJing and performance? Do you think that sense of rhythm and physical expression shapes your sets?

Dancing, playing instruments, and singing came at the exact same time in my childhood and as I got older it morphed into a unified body of expression. During my dance career, I used to dance to such a wide array of music. From working with counts to having to time movement to specific musical cues, my ear grew deeper on finding nuance and polyrhythm. I used to work on scores and lighting for dance work, including my own so when I moved into DJing it was imperative for me to maintain the integrity of both crafts as if I were staging a ballet in the club. I genuinely love sharing music with people; it’s my love language! Whether it’s a radio show, a mix for a series, or playing a club, I always aim to tell a story with my sets. Music is meant to evoke an emotion or sensation and I take the duty of selecting sounds to guide a journey from start to finish with the same detail and inspiration it gives me.

You spent time in Lithuania and became an important part of the scene there. What was that experience like—and what did you take with you from it?

Lithuania was a total fever dream, seriously. I was out there working in a dance theatre and really had no intention of really becoming part of nightlife. I met one of my now best friends at a party one night and these club owners started noticing me right away. Being Black out there definitely played a huge part in it but over time, relationships grew organically and I found my family there which gave me my platform to start DJing. Being known as the party diva there, I eventually started working alongside the clubs as an artist liaison. It taught me a lot about hosting artists, the logistics of booking them and so much more. I also became a resident of Radio Vilnius and learned a lot about operating an independent station, which I absolutely LOVE. I’m forever grateful to my time there and miss my family but I’m excited to share the dance floor with them again soon. 

Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations?

Kerri Chandler is my Beyoncé haha! When I started DJing he was the first artist’s discography I did a complete deep dive of. Aside from him, I have so many musical inspirations like Soul Summit, Ron Trent, Chez Damier, Kai Alcé, Theo Parrish, Juan Atkins, Byrell The Great, Donofrio, Mike Servito, Lauren Flax, Moodymann, Alissa Brianna, S’aint Panic, JADALAREIGN, Sally C, Patrick Mason, Will Automagic, and Nita Aviance — just to name a few haha!

What excites you about living in Brooklyn?

There is NOTHING in the world like Brooklyn. There’s a magic about Brooklyn and Brooklynites that is unmatched in rawness, authenticity, style, art — everything. I always say, if I could take Brooklyn and move it anywhere else in the world, I’d move there in a heartbeat. It’s the city that raised me not only as an artist but as a Black man and I will forever rep Brooklyn anywhere I go. It’s always Bed Stuy, do or die so talk to me nice or don’t talk to me twice!

How do you build meaningful connections within New York’s queer nightlife scene? And what does that community represent for you personally?

Showing up and showing out! When you show up to support folks it goes a long way, especially when you’re doing it from your heart. The key factor is supporting without ulterior motives. There are too many people trying to push and shove their way to the “top” of the scene and step on necks to do so. That type of behaviour is abhorrent to me and affects the scene so negatively, which is how we end up with this unhealthy gatekeeping. I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without the ongoing mutual support of my friends so you will definitely catch me in the crowd cheering someone on. New York City is one of the pillars of queer nightlife and the birthplace of Pride; to be apart of it is a blessing and I always aim to protect and uplift it.

Looking ahead to 2026—what are you excited about?

I’m really excited to return to Europe. I’ve grown so much since my debut and I’m really looking forward to sharing that with the scene that birthed me. More importantly, I’m looking forward to sharing more with NYC. There’s some things in the works but I’m curious to see what unfolds through the year in my hometown. I also really want to learn how to play vinyl this year. I had a stab at it back in 2023 where I got asked to play a vinyl only set. My very first time playing vinyl ended up being the gig itself and surprisingly it went super smoothly. I fell in love with it but haven’t made the effort to really sit and practice for real so that’s definitely a 2026 focus. As for specific goals and such, you’ll just have to watch and see when I make it happen hehe. 😉