We were lucky to catch up with SANiTY recently and have shared our conversation below.
Introduction
In the pulsating heart of New York City’s electronic music scene lies a rising star known as SANiTY (or DJ SANiTY), whose electrifying beats and unique blend of sounds have been captivating crowds for over a decade. With roots deeply embedded in the city’s vibrant culture and a musical journey with influences both familial and environmental, DJ SANiTY has carved out a niche for himself with his signature fusion house sound.
Born and raised in the bustling borough of Queens, NYC, SANiTY was immersed in a melting pot of diverse musical influences from an early age. Also, it was his father’s legacy as a prominent east coast graffiti artist, SJK 171, that sparked his passion for creative expression and laid the foundation for his journey into the world of music and art. Drawing inspiration from the raw energy of underground hip-hop, the soulful rhythms of house music, and the gritty aesthetic of street art, DJ SANiTY found his sonic calling in the fusion of these disparate elements. The result? G house – a genre characterized by its deep basslines and chopped-up hip hop samples. In addition to house and hip hop, the infectious beats of Latin music and more recently the soulful melodies of Afrobeats are currently serving as a rich source of inspiration for the next steps of his musical journey. With a diverse palette at his disposal, SANiTY seamlessly integrates these varied influences into his specific brand of house music. It is about creating a fusion of soundscapes that reflects the multicultural fabric of his upbringing, cultivated by the streets of Queens. This sets SANiTY apart as an artist and lends his music its distinctive flavor and universal appeal.
Beyond the music, SANiTY is imbued with a sense of authenticity and honesty — a reflection of his personal journey, his diverse family, his day-one friends from all walks of life, and a celebration of the rich tapestry of various cultures that have shaped his identity as an artist. As he continues to make waves in the electronic music scene, DJ SANiTY remains steadfast in his commitment to pushing the boundaries of electronic music. Each forthcoming release explores new sonic territories and the different cultures that each genre of music comes from. He invites listeners to join him on a journey through the many eclectic neighborhoods of Queens NYC to the rest of the world.
Alright, SANiTY thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
It was January 2023 and my life was feeling stagnant. Although I was able to make a full-time living as a DJ, I was stuck in my local market. I knew I had to produce more original music to expand my following and possibly tour outside of my city, but the weekly gigs really wore me out and drained my creative energy. I had nothing left in the tank and was mentally and physically exhausted all the time. With that being said, the money was very good so I kept going. It was becoming a comfortable cycle and I didn’t see it breaking anytime soon unless something drastically changed.
I decided that the only way to truly make the transition from local DJ to touring artist/producer was to stop playing shows altogether (at least for a while). This kinda relates to how the biggest artists in the world write most of their new material when they are off tour, and then they debut new music at the start of the festival season circuit. To play the gigs I really wanted to play, I needed to stop playing (literally and figuratively). I had to pivot.
Over the next few months I worked harder than I ever did in my life and racked up as much money as I could. I was now ready to take a risk. In January 2024, I packed my bags and relocated from New York City to Los Angeles. I traveled straight from my NYE gig that night (all of my boxes already shipped over). Before the move I have never lived outside of Astoria Queens– the very neighborhood I grew up in. This life change wasn’t just for SANiTY
the artist — it was for Demitri the person. I needed to experience something different. The lessons I’ve learned that have come from moving across the country have certainly graced me with an entirely new perspective on life. I want to thank my wife Brittany Furnari Kesoglides who was the one person who supported my decision to move to LA and inspired me to take the jump.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I had to unlearn things that came with 30+ years of living a particular lifestyle and being used to the same surroundings. I had to learn how to manage, control, and communicate my emotions in a healthier way. I had to learn how to balance life outside of performing. I also had to learn how to protect my energy and not always try to people-please. I wasn’t putting myself first, and my mental health suffered because of it. I was playing gigs nonstop and I never felt centered or grounded. The high of performing was such a dopamine/serotonin hit, and the crash was depressing. I was only a casual drinker and would have 1-2 drinks here and there, so I thought maybe cutting alcohol would help with that anxiety crash? Thus, I tried going completely sober for 6 months. It didn’t change anything, I was still not tackling the issue at its root. I needed to find happiness and love and fulfillment outside of DJing and the fleeting performance high that came with it. I then went through something devastating in my personal life that rocked me to my core. I lost everything and I hit rock bottom. It was traumatic. I finally had the courage to admit to myself that things were not okay — I finally had the courage to try therapy. It completely changed my life. I stopped playing victim to my own trauma even though at first it was extremely hard to dive in head-on and dissect all of it. Everything was on the table. Therapy made me work on things about myself that I didn’t even realize could positively impact my life in a major way. I went through an immense ego death, stripped myself to be completely naked and vulnerable, and decided the person that I want to be for the rest of my life. The craziest part is that I’m nowhere near done on this journey of healing and growing. Now that I started, it’s almost impossible to stop. Therapy, meditation, grounding exercises, journaling, mindfulness, and harnessing my emotional response/reaction to something in a healthy way — these practices have altered all of my perceptions of what is acceptable for me and my newfound boundaries.
I’m glad I learned these new practices because the lessons learned also make me a more intentional artist going forward. A few years ago, I wrote a song with my brother Kritty and his partner Elise (their band Fine Life). The song was called “Life’s Stranger.” They weren’t fond of the song but went through with the recording and release anyway to appease me. During that time, I was defensive over the art I would create, and sensitive to the criticism that came with it. I regret how I handled the situation — unintentionally guilting them into finishing the song with me. Looking back, I originally wasn’t aware of this behavior on my part. In hindsight, I know now that I definitely could have communicated with the band in a healthier way about the song.
I would like to shout Fine Life out, because they remained professional and still did an incredible job on the song. I don’t regret that the song is out there. I’m actually very proud of this song, as it started as an ugly duckling and turned out to be something great. More importantly, this song has had a big impact on people outside of our own subjective opinions about it. The track was written during the pandemic, which was a time of severe worldwide angst. Particularly, the guest artist on the track, rapper Poppin’ had this to say about why he wanted to be featured and how it impacted him:
“My inspiration came from viewing how crazy the world has gotten, the lack of empathy for each other as humans…how if we can put the unnecessary to the side, we can all see we are all pretty much struggling with the same struggles and demons underneath it all. That we are all pretty imperfections and all we need is an ear to listen, eyes that will see, a mind that understands and a heart that will love without judgement.”
We ended up shooting a music video to the track, shot by Michael J. Shapiro with drone footage by Ali Marconi (Marconi Media). The visual accompaniment came out incredible and also features live graffiti art and tagging by legendary OG artists SJK 171 and Mike 171. You can see how far this song came despite all the hard lessons learned throughout its process. The trials and tribulations of collaboration between multiple artists and making sure everyone is happy with one shared vision is so important. I’m definitely still learning!
I’m so excited that we get to do a worldwide premiere of the official “Life’s Stranger” music video right here on this blog!
Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Stream it here:
https://open.spotify.com/
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
The main goal I have is to be able to help out others. Any sort of recognition (I hope to) get as an artist, I want to pass down and share the wealth. I used to give DJ lessons and primers on some music business stuff since I used to work in record labels. I love to teach, so I think that’s definitely on the horizon. I think the concept of mentoring others and helping to grow the next generation of talent is dope. I think not just the music stuff but the general life stuff has to be part of that educational process. For those pursuing an actual career in the creative arts, it takes so much courage to drop everything and just go for it. Also, in an educational environment you find yourself learning from your students/mentees as well — it’s never one-sided.
In terms of the upcoming music I’m releasing, it is definitely a product of the environment I grew up in and the people I grew up with. Think New York City’s elaborate swath of culture merged with the ever-evolving soundscapes of electronic music. My previous projects show how I’m trying to bring together different worlds and be on the same page, in an authentic and organic way. I’m collaborating with artists who exist in different spaces and can share different perspectives. Shout out the homies Baldo, NoMod, & Modo who are the artists I’ve worked with for these next releases — all completely different vibes. For a while I was worried if my music was all over the place, but maybe my signature sound is basically being able to hit different pockets of genres in a tasteful way? I don’t even know if it’s tasteful (lol), that’s completely subjective. But it definitely feels right to me.
Also, I am (finally) launching my streetwear brand, “all sanity is lost” (@allsanityislost, allsanityis
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.djsanity.
com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/DJSANiTY/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/DJSANiTY - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/ demitrikesoglides - Twitter: https://www.twitter.
com/DJSANiTY - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/DJSANiTY - Other: https://open.spotify.
com/artist/ 4e9oqglq9FZRDBoR80kVOL?si= L8qnOpR4SdCu43Z7xy61sg
https://www.tiktok.com/@
https://www.soundcloud.com/
Image Credits
@Lit.Visions