Years ago, partly in an effort to convince me to move, my friend Vivek would tell me about the queer hip hop parties in Toronto. At the time, the most popular queer space in Edmonton was a gay bar called the Roost. Like many small town gay bars, it was pretty much the only place to be on a Saturday night if you were gay and wanted to dance. This meant everyone would go. Like, everyone. It’s a rare thing to see gays of all ages gather and I can definitely see the beauty of that now. The music was a combination of top 40 remixes and techno sounds that were never my thing but I honestly couldn’t fathom a queer space that sounded any different and/or looked less white.
The Roost eventually closed (after 30 years) and I made it to Toronto to witness Yes Yes Y’all; the legendary monthly queer jam. Catching the party for the first time really changed everything for me. Not only was the room full of sweaty bodies of colour dancing to dancehall/hip hop/RnB/all that is good in this world but there were also cute brown people on deck. That night I bought a YYY shirt and decided that I needed to create a similar space for myself in my city and hoped that people would like it. It went well for me and I had a lot of fun despite a rocky start as an iTunes DJ *hides*. DJing was integral in gaining confidence to organize, to make art, to Heartbeats, to now. Nino Brown, Sammy and crew had everything to do with that.
I live in Toronto now and while I don’t do enough dancing, I try to make sure I catch Nino and Sammy whenever I come out of hiding. They have teamed up with Tamika to bring the good times to Montreal as COUSINS. Dreams came true when I had the chance to chill with Cousins and stare at these beauties while I took their pictures. I also gave them some homework and these are their answers. Tami finished hers first but they all get gold stars.
(from left: Tami, Nino Brown & Sammy)
YYY celebrates its 5th anniversary on Friday, February 21 with a big bash planned in Toronto (FB event page). Cousins starts off the party with a special event in Montreal on Thursday, February 20th (FB event that). Be there!
How does being a person of colour inform your style?
TAMI: I grew up in South Jamaica Queens (NY), then Brooklyn; around pretty much only people of colour until high school. I really had no other influences as a younger person. My schooling was real Afro-Caribbean-centric too. It was encouraged for us to wear traditional dress if we wanted to; sport our country flags, reference African heritage and whatnot.
I grew up pretty surrounded by hip hop so the intersection of all those things really plays a major part in the way I present myself today.
NINO: I don’t know if I really have a choice in this matter, really. Growing up in a predominantly POC environment, our influences in dress and music were pretty instilled. So back in the day, I was very much a part of that hip hop/dancehall culture and it certainly reflected in my style. We looked at the music videos, mostly of POC artists, and tried to emulate them as much as we could. Well, as much as our POC parents would let us. Nowadays, there are so many amazing POC designers and lines, many of which i call my friends (NorBlack NorWhite, Novology, HoodByAir) so there’s no need to really look further than that.
SAMMY: I think, subconsciously, its influenced my love of colors and patterns. Both my parents are of Indian descent but my mom’s family had settled in East Africa. Growing up, I was surrounded by art, photos, pictures, clothes from both cultures.
Is there a memorable style phase you had as a kid/teen?
TAMI: My brother is 12 years older and he was always on his fashion game in the 90s. He was a little dude too, so when he got tired of something I was able to scoop up his hand-me-downs. He went through a “cross-colors” faze when i was in the 5th grade…I was really stylin’ back then.
NINO: I still got the same style musts as I did when I was young: TIMS, TRACK SUITS, HOOPS.
SAMMY: Oh god. In high school I used to sew/make a lot of my clothes. So terrible. Lots of oversized ENYCE and AKADEMIKS—so fucking cringe.
How did you get into DJing?
TAMI: So many of my friends are DJs that I just figured I’d give it a go to see if I liked it or if it stuck. And I liked it and it stuck. Nino and Sammy were most def encouraging and were always down to give tips and advice here and there if needed.
NINO: By accident. Never had been behind a mixer but I was ‘spinning a party’ all of a sudden one night. Ended up getting tons of compliments though. Add that to my university woes and the rest was history.
SAMMY: I had been into the DJ culture since I was a kid. My real start was at Hump Day Bump at the Gladstone probably around 6.5 years ago. At that point, I had no idea how to beat match or mix; I would play the whole song out and push the crossfader over—again, so fucking cringe.
Any advice for people wanting to get started with DJing?
TAMI: It’s pretty fun. When you go out, just watch what the DJ is doing in their set; watch their hands on the record or cue button or on the knobs on the mixer, and try to pick up what they’re triggering as an effect for the audience. Watch the way they’re bopping to the beat—you’ll be able to get an understanding of how they’re counting the music, how they’re using they’re headphones too. Also, I loves me a youtube tutorial.
SAMMY: Be prepared to deal with the most annoying drunk obnoxious people ever.
Seeing you two was a big inspiration [Editor’s note: THE inspiration] for starting up queer parties in Edmonton. How does it feel to know you’ve made such an impact on people?
NINO: Nothing compares to that feeling and I still get it at almost every YYY. Looking around and seeing the diversity in one room still blows my mind, even 5 years later. Having an impact like that is what drives us, it always means so much.
SAMMY: That’s so cool to hear!!! I tend to forget that parties like YYY and Cousins don’t really happen in a lot of cities. I suppose I take it for granted a lot. I think we’re so lucky that these types of spaces can exist in Toronto and Montreal. So awesome to know it’s inspiring others to start up similar events in other places!!
Who inspires you?
TAMI: Nino and Sammy really got me started in DJing, and they are so good that I really get inspired when we play together, or even when I’m just watching them play. They know what time it is. I also get real nerdy on a fan tip watching DJ Craze, Four Color Zack, and Tina T.
NINO: I get inspired pretty easily. Sometimes its watching my mom cook, or watching her cuss out someone for bad customer service. Sometimes its seeing fellow DJs and party promoters like Va$htie or Venus X do their thing in NYC; knowing Toronto/Montreal have their own infectious qualities and potential. My favourite is that work/play vibe with friends. I’m inspired by FUN BUT CHILL HARD WORK.
SAMMY: Pretty much everyone around me. I’m so blessed to be around so many people doing so many amazing things.
You guys are super tight as a group. I got to witness the love during the shoot. Do you consider yourself chosen family? What does this mean to you?
TAMI: It’s definitely not by accident that our party is called Cousins. These folks are my chosen fam most def. It really is a dope feeling to have people around you that you feel an almost sibling-like comfort with. You know they have your back, you have theirs; no questions, no need for elaborations.
NINO: It is the very essence of our collective. Cousins represents that type of fam jam you always wished happened. These two are my chosen family, the siblings I never had. Whether they like it or not, and regardless of how long this party keeps going, they can never get rid of me!
SAMMY: We’re totally fam. I definitely consider Tami and Nino my chosen family. It means the world to me. Most of my family lives on the other side of the country in Vancouver so Tami and Nino (and all of other tight homies) are really my backbone and support system.
There’s constant love and vibes. I would be lost without them.
SO GREAT AMIRITE? YES. Thank you, Cousins! I’m all heart-eyes emoji over here. Oh and check out Sammy’s other talents in the sidebar up there. He’s an amazing director and photographer.
And thank you for reading. <3
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