Concert Review: Photay Is A DJ For Millennials
You have probably heard of Photay from Broad City, as his song No Sass was the soundtrack to one of Ilana Glazer’s iconic, hilarious scenes. It is befitting that you discover him in a show about Millennials and New York City because Photay is the quintessential of both. His mixes are representative of this generation in both beat and heart.
When Photay approaches the DJ table, he does so like a brilliant chemist mixing up magical elixirs. He hunches over and nods his head as he swindles the turntables like he were concocting potions. He does not say much, if anything at all. Yet, he is not a DJ that wants to motivate the crowd through randomly yelled quips. Instead, he lets his music speak for him, and it has a lot to say. He focuses on the details of his sound to assure each musical vibration reaches their targeted mark and places the crowd in a trance-like state. As I saw people watch Photay and swivel in place, I realized the hypnotic nature of his sound comes from its combined galactic/earthly rhythm.
It is fascinating to hear Photay’s sound because it is both intergalactic and tribal. He played tracks from his new EP, Sadie, which was released March 25, 2016 and shows his confidence in being the sole achiever of this blend. As the beats drop one by one, the music ranges from spacial synthetic rhythms to a heart-piercing bass line. He could easily be the soundtrack to a space odyssey or an earthbound fight between rival tribes. He, literally, does not sound like any other DJ, which is poignant as this generation, which his sound caters to, is unlike any other. I know that “galactic tribal music” may seem clashing with my initial note of his Millennial, New Yorker vibe, but what is more otherworldly than New York City.As I heard Photay’s vast, eclectic mix, I could not help but envision the city of New York. His music oddly embodies the ups and downs of this city through its ability to move from heart-thumping to quietly observant. It is the observant aspect of Photay’s music that makes him as one of a kind as New York. Photay’s mixes are perfect for anyone walking their daily route in The City but wanting to feel the adventurousness or intricacy of their routine. His sound boosts the mind and soul to invest in the moment and catch the details of daily life. It is both analytical and visionary.
As I mentioned Photay’s concert was not as much about dancing to the music but absorbing it. People closed their eyes and raised their hands like they were receiving sun rays. The quick, bright lighting, of the show was fantastic as it matched Photay’s music mix in pacing and potency. The lights and sound amplified the fluidity of the set because not once did a beat fail to perfectly flow into the other or a vivid light fail to change color with the rhythm. I highly recommend Photay as a DJ to watch and hear because you cannot dismiss his uniqueness.
