Multi-faceted artist manager, DJ, producer, remixer, music supervisor, performer, recording artist and writer Bill Coleman started DJ-ing ‘officially’ in the early ’80s when he was in high school.
"That said, I’ve always collected records since I was very young and would force anyone — friends and family — to listen to the latest finds from the record store," Coleman says. "My first professional gig was during college in the Hudson Valley where I grew up. It was a weekly alternative night that filled a niche in the area. I would play selections like Siouxsie & the Banshees, ABC, The Cure, The Smiths, R.E.M., Echo & the Bunnymen, English Beat mixed with latest finds of electronica such as Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode, Book Of Love, Lene Lovich, Propaganda and a bit of punk."
"I started working at Billboard Magazine right out of college in ’86 and would become the Singles Reviews Editor and Dance Music Editor with my own column and byline," he continues. "As a producer / remixer, my first noodling in the studio was for my friend Sinead O’Connor. I remixed the 'I Am Stretched On Your Grave' (Apple Brightness Mix) in 1990 lifted from her 2nd album, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got."
"I would continue to test the waters working on The Beloved’s 'Wake Up Soon' from their Blissed Out (1990) remix album as well as a pre 'Supermodel' single for RuPaul called 'I’ve Got That Feeling' (1991)."
Coleman says that his sound today is varied.
"I thankfully still DJ a variety of parties and roller discos as well as curate / sound design for events," he says. "I consider my style ‘genre-fluid.’ I’ve DJ’d all disco, all hip-hop and R&B; cocktail and straight up club. I feel fortunate to still be spinning after all of these years.
Whether it’s for NYC Ballet and Lincoln Center, themed roller disco parties in Prospect Park, in a club, or for our weekly and monthly mix shows on Sirius XM in Andy Cohen’s Kiki Lounge — there’s sooooo much great music around. Production and remix wise I’m generally more club and DJ centric and most recently have managed to work with a variety of artists from Lizzo and Adam Lambert to Billy Porter and Erasure."
He currently has a few different releases available.
"My production partner, John 'J-C' Carr and I (as 808 BEACH) have recently had two Top 10’s in the UK (Arthur Baker & Jesse Rankins 'GET DOWN' for Red Hot Organization and Ultra Naté, Russell Small & DNO P’s 'HAPPY FEELING')," he says.
"We also worked with the amazing Vanessa Williams on her first new music in 15 years 'Legs (Keep Dancing)' and released a new ‘ballroom’ anthem with Dashaun ‘Basquiat’ Wesley called 'OVAH THE TOP,' produced 1/2 of the recent Red, Hot + Free (Mixtape) double album compilation for humanitarian charity The Red Hot Organization, and just wrapped our very first forthcoming single release — a collaboration with singer-songwriter Amy Douglas."
As for gear:
"I’m not particularly strident about the type of gear as long as it works," Coleman says. "DJing in NYC has made me generally quite adaptable to most scenarios. But I'm still old school in that I’m still DJing CDs and occasionally vinyl. So two or 3 CDJs and a respective mixer works wonders. I also have to have a monitor. I ‘mix’ live and LOVE my music loud — so that’s imperative. Other than that, it’s about connecting to the crowd whether it’s 20 people or 2000 — cabaret vibes or basement rager. Finding that thread from the listener or dancer to and through the music is what’s most key to me."
Looking ahead, Coleman has plenty planned for the second half of 2024.
"Our residency on SiriusXM continues as well as a few guest DJ spots and pop ups all over," he says. "Super excited about our brand new remix of Vanessa Williams single, 'BOP!' Featuring Trixie Mattel and LION BABE that’s out this week and we also produced a fun and slightly jazzy new song on her forthcoming album, Survivor that is out this August.
808 BEACH just wrapped our very first forthcoming single release, a collaboration with singer.songwriter Amy Douglas. I’ve also been doing Remix A&R this Summer for long time friend Lenny Kravitz and his song “Human,” lifted from the latest album, Blue Electric Light. There’s a number of irons in the fire for the Fall for our Peace Bisquit label as well which includes a fantastic ‘Best Of’ Cazwell compilation of his hits from our 10 year collaboration. That set features two new songs we just wrapped as well."
