Happy September world! Bringing us some classic feel good house vibrations is NY queen, Rissa Garcia. Check out her soulful hour mix below and take a look at our Q&A to hear more on the house music scene in NY and Rissa’s musical influences that inspired her journey.
DJ Mix: Rissa Garcia Live at 718 Sessions at Good Room 2.19.23
Recorded live at Good Room for 718 Sessions....one of NYC's best parties. Please forgive some distortion on some parts was recorded on a Pioneer record out that was hot no matter how low I had the levels and I tried to keep it a certain level but some got away from me as I got lost in the music <3
5 Magazine Mix: Rise 001 Rissa Garcia
5 Mag launches a new mix series today, with a set from our friend Rissa Garcia.
RISE is a weekly mix series, posted every Monday and featuring DJs from all genres that we cover. Not too long ago, 5 Mag used to do another weekly mix series debuting every Monday, and it seemed like it set things off in a good way – a good start to the work week and something to get you through. Words like “uplifting” and “motivating” mean different things to different people, but we hope the music brings something positive to you.
Rissa Garcia was one of those original 5 Mag Monday DJs, and is someone whose career and love of music has continued to shine. Based in NYC, Rissa is the Dancing Room Only resident DJ, a producer and founder of NightChild Records. She’s shared the decks with legends Danny Tenaglia, Danny Krivit, Todd Terry, Tony Humphries, Chez Damier and Ultra Nate; she’ll be playing with several more at the “LGNDS” event this December 17 2022 with Boris, Kenny Dope, Mark Knight and Oscar G.
Live Recording: Rissa Garcia at Good Room 8-5-22
We all know that sinking feeling, when your recorder dies halfway through an all night set. But lucky for us, Rissa Garcia managed to save the first three and a half hours when she played from start to finish in the Bad Room on August 5, 2022. Turn your speakers up and prepare for a dance through the history NY house with the Dancing Room Only founder.
DJ Mix: Rissa Garcia Live-Recorded at House of X 4.23.22
Recorded live at Le Freak with Demuir at House of X Saturday 4.23.22
Music is My Sanctuary: Touch of Love 007 Mix
“Walking through the city streets you can almost feel the stillness of autumn. Gather with friends around a bonfire and fire up this mix.
The mix starts slow and steady with a nice downtempo groove courtesy of Razor n Tape and builds momentum throughout by way of deep disco grooves and luscious house.”
Coloring Lessons: Rissa Garcia Guest Mix June 2021
New York house DJ, producer and label head Rissa Garcia has long bagged a reputation as a driving force within her hometown scene. Rinsing her vast stack of vinyl at clubs across NYC for the best part of two decades, she's shared the decks with icons Danny Tenaglia, Danny Krivit, Tony Humphries and Kenny Dope, among more.
Rissa caught the music bug at a very early age. As she avidly recalls her childhood, memories of backyard parties within her close-knit Staten Island neighbourhood cut through with a real sense of fondness and pride. Experiencing that house party vibe long before she'd firmly implant herself on New York's hallowed dance floors stayed with her.
In 2000 she discovered Club Vinyl with NYC linchpin Danny Tenaglia behind the booth. "My soul just seemed to come alive and it completely engulfed me. From the lights to the vibe to the dark walls and sexiness in the air, it was exactly what I had been searching for. This was my Paradise Garage." Decidedly hooked, she was there without fail every Friday immersing herself in club culture with Tenaglia at the helm. Emboldened by a sense of growing intuition, soon it was clear that she needed to be the one controlling the room, manipulating and utilizing rhythms to invigorate the crowd.
Since landing her first gig in 2004 at an intimate lounge on NYC's Lower East Side, she's steadily risen through the ranks, laying down selections which dive between classics, house, funk, soul and everything in between at Cielo Club, Output, Avant Gardner, Good Room and Elsewhere Space.
From her earliest clubbing days, Rissa recognized and appreciated that the music itself is at the heart of the experience, and she shuns static crowds that favor the spectacle of watching the DJ. Preferring to remain in the shadows, she shrewdly selects tracks that incite clubbers to move, groove, flow and catch the beat to the last drop. Launching her own event series Dancing Room Only gave her that opportunity to come through with her own statement on what the clubbing experience should be. "DJs are there to make you dance. I started this event to get a message out to younger generations coming through the scene that it's not all about the glamour - it's about everybody being together. Quit staring at the DJ, put the phones off and dance."
Re-Launching NightChild Records in 2018, Rissa’s label has become an exciting hub for top-notch material which reach across the house spectrum. Nearing its 100th release, recent highlights include a propulsive cut from house music icon Todd Terry, one which had the remix treatment from fellow New Yorkers Sean Cormac and Jon Billick, as well as Rissa herself. While she pours her energy into nurturing Nightchild Records, with this being where fans of her sound will find most of her club sounds, she’s also dropped releases through labels Plastik People Recordings, Jakdat Records, Rhythm & Culture and LW Recordings, among more.
TOUCH OF LOVE #04 — Hosted by Rissa Garcia (NYC)
Brought to you by Music is My Sanctuary
2020 is just about over and thankfully it feels likes the tides are shifting.
We can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel and I hope this mix will accompany you on your journey to that light. I made this mix just thinking about all the good times and good vibes we share through this music. We will dance again….
Music is My Sanctuary: Touch of Love Mixes 003
The latest edition of RIssa Garcia’s Touch of Love Mix Series is now live.
This mix was made with the intention of letting go. After 4 years of turmoil and uncertainty in the US, we finally felt able to breathe again.
With the appointment of our new President Elect here in the states, there was a palpable energy shift in the air, an electric buzz in the streets of NYC and it was inspiring. Touch of Love 003 is a mix made to just close your eyes, breathe and let go of your cares, get lost in the music because for the first time in a long time, I feel hope again.
Music is My Sanctuary: Touch of Love Mix 002
TOUCH OF LOVE — Show #02 (Hosted by Rissa Garcia)
I usually find solace in music but I must admit in the midst of a pandemic lockdown and the racial injustices that followed it was tough to wrap my head around things.