DJ Dan Slater Talks URGE Miami Festival 2023

November 22, 2023

675

Dan-Slater — DJ Dan Slater / PHOTO: Dale Stine

URGE Miami Festival returns this Thanksgiving weekend with three massive nighttime events and two sizzling daytime fetes including the Royal Palm Pool Party and the legendary Beach Party on the sands of South Beach. Produced by Luis Morera, Billy Kemp and Hilton Wolman, the LGBTQ+ festival weekend will take place November 24-27 and will feature a list of the world’s most famous circuit DJs including Grammy Award winning DJ and producer Roger Sanchez playing at the city’s most prestigious venues.

In addition to helping to usher in tourist dollars to the area, a portion of the proceeds from URGE Miami Festival will benefit Miami Beach Pride, an organization that celebrates the unique spirit and culture of the city’s LGBTQ+ population.

URGE Miami Festival kicks off Friday, November 24 at 10pm with LA LECHE at M2 nightclub. The event marks Barcelona’s Matinee Group return to the magic city and producers are promising a level of production that has not been seen before in Miami. DJ’s Orel Sabag, Jerac and Ivan Gomez will man the decks. Dancers from Spain and Europe will keep the milk pouring on the dancefloor into the wee morning hours. Guests are encouraged to arrive dressed in white.

At 2pm on Saturday is the Royal Palm South Beach pool party, presented by Mexico’s premiere party producer, ARENA. DJs Alexis Tucci and Brazil’s Rick Braile will raise the temps with their high energy beats, making extensive use of the incredible facilities offered by Royal Palm. Expect plenty of splish-splash fun and gorgeous men in skimpy bikinis.

The revelry continues Saturday night with an 80’s revival theme party at the recently remodeled MAD Live, located in the heart of the Wynwood arts and fashion district. DJs Alex Lo and Mor Avrahami will whisk music fans back in time to the era of Pac Man and the Rubik’s Cube, when MTV introduced the music video and launched the careers of many iconic artists. It leads to the signature event of the weekend: the long-established Sunday Beach Party on the sands of South Beach.

This year’s sandblast will take place at Ocean Drive at 13th Street. The Sunday afternoon event will feature a cabana stripe theme that pays homage to the mod fashion movement of 1960’s Miami. There will also be interactive activities, music by DJs Dan Slater and Joe Gauthreaux and a grand firework show. “Our beach party is one of America’s biggest LGBTQ beach parties and attracts fans from all over the world,” Wolman explains. “It is an experience in itself!”

We took the opportunity to photograph for the cover and interview DJ Dan Slater, who is 41, a Leo, and is originally from Sydney Australia (on a side note…has a very sexy accent).

When did you realize you wanted to be a DJ?

I grew up in dance and did a lot of musical theater. My last show was Chicago, before I decided to go to university. While there, I needed some creative outlet, so I decided to DJ. I didn’t tell anyone, but I really enjoyed it. Music has always been in my family so it was a natural progression.

What was your first residency, and how did that feel?

My first ever job was an opening set at Mardi Gras, but my first residency was Sunday afternoons at a bar called Hugos in Sydney. That ran for 2 years every Sunday.

What separates you from other DJs?

I love interacting with the crowd and my music is very upbeat and has a lot of vocals. I take inspiration from what I want to hear.

What are some memorable moments from the DJ booth?

The most memorable happened recently when I DJ’d at Sydney Pride for the “Domain Dance” party, and I saw my mom was dancing and enjoying my set. It was so amazing!

Describe yourself in 3 words?

Loyal, supportive, and fun

Other than DJing, what do you like to do for fun?

I love going to the beach, riding my bike, going to the gym, and watching trashy reality television.

What should the South Florida audience expect from your set at the Iconic Beach Party on Sunday, November 26?

It will be a fun, uplifting experience for everyone to enjoy and also they get to see the best that south beach has to offer.

What does the future hold for you?

I’m very excited to be teaming up with THK to release a limited edition of swimwear and jockstraps, which we featured on the cover and in this editorial.

THK stands for Thirsty Male, and is co-founded and owned by Ryan Jude Tanner, Jay Krottinger & Jesse Burgess. THK is a playful, affirming, sexy, inclusive, and thoughtful, Gay Menswear brand, of which I feel I am very much aligned with and proud to be releasing the swimwear and jockstraps together. The first THK + DAN SLATER release has vibrant colors with a classic fit that I hope helps everyone feels included and sexy.

In addition, we also featured pieces from another project I’ve been developing, DNDS Lifestyle: From go to show, DNDS is a lifestyle experience into the world of Dan Slater. Finding the balance between a fast paced, hectic, non-stop world, and the peaceful, calming, and tranquil moments in life. DNDS is Australian-owned. I have developed a range of candles, beauty products and jewelry collection, DNDS Jewelry which we also featured in this issue of Hotspots Magazine.

For more information on sexy DJ Dan Slater, you have many choices…they are:

DJDanSlater.com; Merchandise: DanceNowDanSlater.com; DNDS Lifestyle: www.dndslifestyle.com;THK x DAN SLATER: thirstymale.com; facebook.com/DJDanSlater; instagram.com/danielsl8r; open.spotify.com/artist/2vPomR7qUAlp61XOVdFmWy; twitter.com/danielsl8r; Bookings: info@DJDanSlater.com

The weekend’s Main Event takes place Sunday night at M2 nightclub. This year’s party is titled URGE-Verse and will be headlined by the Grammy Award winning DJ and producer Roger Sanchez along with Tom Stephan, flying in from the UK, and Cesar Hernandez. The décor will be avant-garde and guests are encouraged to arrive in yellow.

This year’s host hotel is the Royal Palm South Beach. With 400 rooms, more than a quarter of which are suites, the Royal Palm is one of South Beach’s largest hotels, superbly located directly on the beach on Collins at the end of Ocean Drive. It offers superior experience and will serve as the location of URGE Miami Festival’s Welcome Center and Saturday Pool Party. Complimentary transportation will be provided from/to Royal Palm South Beach for all weekend events.

Tickets for URGE Miami Festival are available now at https://urgemiamifestival.com/. GA and VIP tickets are available, as is the popular 24-hour pass that includes the Sunday Beach Party and the weekend’s main event URGE-Verse.