Introduce yourself? Pronouns? Where do you currently reside? 1 fun fact about yourself?
Hi, My Name Is Teeyam (He/Him) pronounced (Tea-Yom)- Like when you drink Tea and go ommmmmm. I relocated to NYC by way of SF back in January during peak winter and covid (quite an experience for a California boy). I also just recently moved to Ridgewood!
A fun fact about me is that I won 1st place in a national scriptwriting competition for an Original Tv pilot.
Who/what currently inspires you music-wise that has nothing to do with music?
I’ve been watching a lot of Pedro Almodóvar films. The extravagant decor, cinematography, and complex narratives are filled with bright color, precision, and a bit of humor-Similar to my mixes/music tastes recently.
Favorite sound of the city? Describe how it makes you feel.
The sound of the wind whilst riding my bike along the Hudson River Greenway on a warm summer day. Hearing the gears on bicycles change along the path, the sound of the waves hitting the pier, and speeding past conversations only to experience a glimpse of their reality. It makes me feel invisible and free from all constraints, just like the wind itself.
Dream line-up?
Prince, Suicide, Drexciya, Chet Baker.
If you had to trade your USB with one DJ, who would it be and why?
Objekt – Haven’t heard anyone mix quite like TJ. A true engineer and technician with a deep understanding of how pitch, melody, and harmony coalesce to create unforgettable moments. Their knowledge of all music is extensive and I can only imagine what will be on their USB (also to see how it’s all organized!)
Favorite musical memory in deep description?
My parents dancing together in the kitchen to the Bee Gees. My dad had just come home from a hard day at work and my mom was getting dinner ready. I was working on my homework. The house was warm from the oven and smelled of Saffron. I came out from my room to greet my dad and found them dancing the cheesiest dance moves in the kitchen together.
Ways to calm your nerves before a set?
Deep breaths, stiff drink, and cold water behind the ears. Always does the trick.
Favorite thing to cook currently?
Sholeh Zard- An Iranian dessert dish that is a saffron rice pudding. The best part is you can decorate it with beautiful designs using cinnamon, pistachios, and dried roses!
Who do you think is the most underrated artist of our time?
Sepehr – The man is a timeless track machine and has one of the most energetic live sets out there.
What is the theme song of your life?
It rotates between 3-4 songs but right now it’s Love Hallucination By Colored Music.
Where do you see your musical self 30 years from now?
Recording my refrigerator and hopefully writing scores for films. Also preaching to the new generation about the Great New York Hot Vax summer of 2021 (All 2 months of it lol).
Let’s play a pipipi game… I give you a situation & you give me a track.
Lost in the Saharan desert with your best friend only one sip of water left…
Late-night grocery shopping unlimited budget
On the Titanic in a Matrix-style like rave moments before it sinks…
If you had to describe yourself as a planet, which one would you be and why?
Saturn. I like to think I have a magnetic charisma and truly value my circle of friends and my community.
What is your favorite party/collective in NYC and why?
I don’t want to play favorites, but some parties that have inspired me over the years in NYC are:
Weird Science–some of the most eclectic and strangest sets I have heard were at this party.
Synthecide–once a goth always a goth…
The Bunker- Psychedelic techno at its finest.
Lost Soul Enterprises- Some of my favorite people and great music are always guaranteed.
What was your best moment on the dance floor?
No way back in 2018 sandwiched between Helena & Nina while Patrick Russell melting our brain and body. Haven’t been the same since.
What is your favorite time of day?
The Morning, everyday natural rebirth.
Advice for being productive with music?
Write your ideas down, Create a flow chart, Listen to everything.
What is your most recent favorite DJ mix and why?
Been Revisiting the Marsman Mix for Intergalactic FM streaming festival. Lots of Trippy drum n bass and industrial leaning dub music that has me excited.
What was your first gig? How did it go?
I was 17 and Dj’d my brother’s Middle school dance. I was at my Gf’s house down the street and he frantically called me saying their DJ didn’t show up and if I could save the day. I Showed up 20 min later with Virtual DJ and a mixer. It was a hit. The kids loved it and I became the resident DJ lmao.
Any advice to upcoming DJs?
Follow your gut, not the trend.
What would you like to see in the future for the dance community?
Less Gabber…please
Artist Bio
Teeyam is a recent New York transplant by way of San Francisco, where he is known for his singularly immersive party series They’re Here and his involvement in programming MUTEK San Francisco. Drawing from his love of cinema, oblique selections traversing zones of brooding psychedelia, techno, electro, industrial, and wave, are woven together with soundbites and samples into uncanny ruminations on romance, utopia, and temporality.