Meet Dan Azzo // A Smirnoff Seltzer Presented LGBTQIA+ Local Artist Feature
THIS PAGE IS FOR THOSE 18+ ONLY – GET THE FACTS AT DRINKWISE.ORG.AU
Presented by the no sugar, OG vodka seltzer baddies themselves, Smirnoff are featuring Gadigal (Sydney) based FBI Radio presenter, and self-taught DJ Dan Azzo , as our LGBTQIA+ Seltz-Ar-tist of the month!
Yep, the famed vodka favourite, and subsequent masterminds behind the brand new low sugar Spicy Margarita & Watermelon Margarita cocktail inspired vodka seltzers, have decided to use this paid article to instead promote an emerging LGBTQIA+ local music mixing DJ.
It really is big icon energy…which is impressive, given that their new Spicy Margarita & Watermelon Margarita vodka seltzers are only 107 callories per can. An impressive flex if we do say so ourselves.
So next time you’re en route to a big gay gig, having the gals and the gays round for a drink, or meeting a ferociously fabulous someone at the bar, feel free to grab yourself an equally fabulous 7% ABV (1.4 standard drinks per can) Smirnoff Seltzer.
MEET DAN AZZO
“If I’m playing music to people, I feel like it needs to be unapologetically queer. It needs to be a little bit sexy, a little bit camp,” Sydney-based DJ Dan Azzo tells A Modern Gay’s Guide about his approach to making music.
Growing up in Western Sydney, Dan (he/him) explains that his musical influences came from many different sources.
“Growing up, I was surrounded by my parent’s records, playing the likes of The Bee Gees and Abba…and I feel like there was even a Grease Megamix thrown in at some point.
“Then, coming up into adulthood in a culturally diverse neighbourhood, you’re exposed to a lot of R&B, soul and house music, so I would say that it was my childhood, the fact that I grew up where I did and my subsequent exposure to house music and house clubs overseas that allowed me to find my niche.”
Of course, it’s not only Dan’s background and heritage that have influenced his music. As a gay man, he credits others in the queer community as informing a lot of what he does behind the decks.
“I think a lot of people forget that house music came out of American queer culture during the AIDS crisis,” he says, “so with everything I do, I try to make it as some form of tribute to the birthplace and the evolution of modern-day house music.”
In particular, Dan names Frankie Knuckles, Patrick Cowley and Ralphi Rosario as his biggest idols.
“Frankie in particular played a really important role in the birth of house music. He’s the godfather of house.”
“It’s the result of these queer people that we have what we have today.”
Today, if you were to stumble your way into a DJ Dan Azzo set, it would be an, “unapologetically queer,” experience. For him, a successful set is one that, ”takes people on a bit of a journey.”
“There’s levels,” he elaborates. “Sometimes, you might have a little giggle to yourself because you’re dancing to something that’s slightly ridiculous, and then other times, you might just want to stomp it out to something that has a really heavy bassline.”
“So yeah, you’ve got to be unapologetically queer – a little bit dark and sexy – but also inject camp as well.”
To support Dan (and find out where you can catch his DJ sets) follow him on Instagram @dan_azzo. You can also regularly find Dan at Club Little Love (@club.littlelove) at the Oxford Underground, and popping up spontaneously in Sydney & Melbourne’s favourite queer venues…so keep an eye out!
DAN AZZO’S QUICK FIRE FAVES
Q1. Fave queer musician?
A. Frankie Knuckles
Q2. Fave queer venue in Sydney?
A. Oxford Underground
Q3. Fave queer event / club night in Sydney?
A. Club Little Love
Q4. Fave Smirnoff Seltzer?
A. Passionfruit
This article was written in (paid) partnership with Smirnoff, an LGBTQIA+ inclusive brand that supports A Modern Gay’s Guide’s free LGBTQIA+ offering.
