On Scene: Malcolm Zeller On New York, Dancefloor Energy And The City That Shaped His Sound
New York isn’t simply where Malcolm Zeller lives. It is woven into how he discovered music, how he spends his time away from it and, increasingly, the records he makes.
Born and raised in the city, Zeller grew up surrounded by different cultures and with early access to its arts and music. Those experiences eventually led him towards electronic music and a career that has since taken him well beyond NYC, with appearances at Club Space, Hï Ibiza and UNVRS alongside releases for NUSONIDO, Deeperfect, WHYNOTUS and South Of Saturn.
His latest stop is Ilario Alicante’s Sound D’Elite, where Lose Control pairs a disco-infused title track with the deeper, more percussive ‘High Roller’.
But wherever the touring schedule takes him, New York remains home.
“My childhood in this city was immensely impactful on my life choices and went to shape who I am as a person,” Zeller says. “From a young age I had a wide exposure to the arts and to different styles of music, as well as being surrounded by many people from different cultures and walks of life.”
His introduction to the city’s club culture was shaped less by one particular venue than by Teksupport’s parties across Brooklyn. Hearing DJs including Seth Troxler and Marco Carola helped deepen his interest in the groove-led house sound that would eventually feed into his own productions.
“Teksupport’s events in Brooklyn… have continued to serve as the main promoters championing the european/Ibiza sound here in New York.”
For a more intimate representation of what he values in a club, however, Zeller points towards Refuge.
“It’s one of the few places in the city that runs until the morning. It’s oriented for dancing - the sound system is amazing and there’s no table section.”
What appeals is its lack of unnecessary theatre. “Feels grungy and has proper, tasteful music without being too pretentious or trying to be underground/exclusive.”
For Zeller, it carries echoes of the stories he has heard about Manhattan nightlife in the ’90s and the club culture that played such an important role in house music’s development.
Away from the booth, his relationship with New York becomes less about individual destinations and more about exploring. Long walks and bike rides provide a reset from music, often with food as the destination.
Queens is particularly rewarding.
“New York has restaurants with almost every cuisine in the world, and if you’re willing to look in the deeper areas of outer boroughs (Queens especially), you can find some real gems.”
One place carries a more personal connection. Lucky King Bakery on Grand Street in Chinatown is tied to a family tradition stretching back to Zeller’s grandfather, who grew up on the Lower East Side and introduced his father to the neighbourhood. His father subsequently did the same for him.
Zeller’s order is straightforward: a steamed pork bun with an iced milk tea, or an iced coffee and milk tea combination.
“Lucky King is one of the best bakeries I’ve found there (my dad disputes this but it’s my personal fav) and it’s not too known by tourists.”
Trying to reduce New York to a single neighbourhood, though, misses what Zeller believes makes the city special.
“If you want to enjoy a stroll with trees and cafes, go to the west village or williamsburg. For nightlife it’s Bushwick. For food, queens. The parks along the west side of Manhattan along the Hudson river are especially beautiful.”
It also challenges the version of New York that visitors sometimes expect. The skyscrapers and crowds are real, but they represent only one part of a city that can become surprisingly green and relaxed once you move beyond its most recognisable areas.
That constant variation feeds indirectly into Zeller’s music. Asked which part of local culture finds its way into his productions, his answer requires only one word: “The energy.”
“New York City has a unique sentiment. You feel unstoppable and electric. It inspires me every time I step outside my apartment.”
At 3am, Zeller imagines that energy soundtracked by Julius Strieder’s ‘E House’ on 8bit Records, a record whose energetic, jazzy character captures something of the city for him.
Eventually, though, even New York has to call it a night. Zeller’s preferred ending is less glamorous than the clubs and international DJ booths that occupy his weekends, but perhaps more evocative of the city itself.
“Electric Citibike ride home late at night. Vibe is unmatched.”
And for anyone arriving with only 24 hours to understand New York, his advice is to resist spending all of them ticking off Manhattan landmarks.
“Pick an area in Queens and check it out to get the local experience. Astoria is nice - great park by the water and has some insane Greek food.”
For Zeller, that is where New York becomes interesting: away from the version everyone already knows, somewhere between a neighbourhood restaurant, a Brooklyn dancefloor and the ride home through a city that never seems to lose its momentum.
Malcolm Zeller
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