We caught up with Jolene Sound Room programmer Will Buck, who is also a DJ/producer and owner of NYC house label Off Track, to discuss the venue.
Brooklyn. N.Y. – In a city that never seems to slow down when it comes to club openings, Jolene Sound Room is a new venue that’s already standing out. Opening this past March, Williamsburg’s Jolene offers a cozy dance environment that includes top-notch sound and lighting, plus clued-in DJ bookings.
Situated next to the trendy Moxy Hotel, the Jolene vibe is classy, but not stuffy. For those who remember Cielo – the popular club that operated in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District from 2003 to 2018 – imagine a mini-version of that memorable venue. It’s simply dancing, drinks and quality DJs in an intimate, colorful space.
On the night DJ LIFE stopped in, Rissa Garcia’s Dance Room Only party presented a bumping set from Garcia herself, then a rousing performance from the legendary New Jersey house DJ Tony Humphries, which included deep groovers like Kerri Chandler’s “Sunlight” and crowd-pleasers like Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” and Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.”
Will Buck: Jolene Sound Room is the first formal collaboration between Moxy Hotels, hospitality pioneers Bar Lab Hospitality, and Link Miami Rebels/Space Invaders — the Miami-based nightlife trio formed in 2016. The Sound Room Brooklyn combines hi-fi sound with unique cocktails and great DJs. Our beverage program is run by Christine Wiseman who was just named North America’s Best Bartender by North America’s 50 Best Bars and our sound system was designed by Phonic Technologies who were behind two of New York’s nightlife institutions, Cielo and Output. The intimate room has impeccable sound and enables us to tap into the ever-growing nightlife of Brooklyn.
DJ LIFE: One may not expect a high-concept venue like this to be inspired by Dolly Parton’s oft-covered song. What’s the connection?
Buck: The space is inspired by the fierceness and femininity of Dolly Parton. The DJs who come into the sound room now often play their own take on the hit classics, which is always fun to hear.
DJ LIFE: How does this venue fit into the hotel and into the greater neighborhood?
Buck: Jolene Sound Room offers a more intimate service-focused room to experience DJs and parties in the neighborhood. It’s the final destination for hotel guests who go up to Lillistar for happy hour, eat some Tel-Avivian food at Mesiba, and then want to party till 4 a.m.
DJ LIFE: The venue makes a big point to explain that Brooklyn DJ/artists will be celebrated. Why is that important?
Buck: Our homegrown DJs and parties are what define New York’s nightlife. Our approach is to pair the best local DJs and parties with national and international house, disco, and techno acts.
DJ LIFE: What qualities are you looking for in a DJ?
Buck: We don’t have residents, but we’re lucky enough to host some of New York’s top DJs in the room. We’re looking for DJs that are dedicated to their craft and are building excitement within the neighborhood.
DJ LIFE: Tell me about your unique lighting system and how it fits into the room.
Buck: Our Madrix lighting system, operated by our talented lighting designer, Alana, is the backdrop to the music coming through the speakers. It consists of hundreds of lightbulbs laid out across three panels on the ceiling. The night usually starts with a warm red and orange glow and then builds into intricate kaleidoscopes of colors and patterns, each designed to complement elements of the songs being played.
DJ LIFE: Tell me about the architecture of the room and how the venue was set up. What kind of vibe were you going for?
Buck: We designed Jolene Sound Room Brooklyn as an ’80s rendition of Jolene Miami. Following the importance of the sound, the build-out was carefully designed to create great acoustics, but in more of a classic club layout. Wood finishes and acoustics panels were used throughout the space, as well as Jolene’s color palette of greens and burnt oranges. We created a classic ’80s vibe with the whimsical light system, as well as the bold furniture shapes and the overall feel of the room, reminiscent of clubs and dance venues of that era.
DJ LIFE: What kind of clientele are you looking for? What are you providing for them?
Buck: We’re looking for open-minded guests that appreciate good dance music and want to see DJs in a small hi-fi room with great drinks.
DJ LIFE: What do you think keeps New Yorkers coming to a particular club?
Buck: I think that New Yorkers are very busy and have a lot of options when they go out. They want to go to a club where they don’t have to deal with any drama. They expect good service and they are very discerning.
We caught up with NYC DJ Rissa Garcia, whose Dancing Room Only event recently filled Jolene’s dancefloor with proper house music – both with her grooves and the sounds of the legendary Tony Humphries.
DJ LIFE: Jolene reminds me of a mini version of Cielo. How would you describe the room?
Garcia: That’s exactly as I describe it to people and it’s what many have mentioned to me in messages after they’ve come for a visit. Both in terms of acoustics and aesthetics, it very much has a similar feeling to Cielo. The room is warm and welcoming with an inviting, intimate vibe. The sound is superb with excellent low end, clear mid-range, and crisp highs. It’s not too much on the ears.
DJ LIFE: As a DJ who runs her own party, Dancing Room Only, what makes Jolene a venue that works for your purposes?
Garcia: For me, the most important is a great sound system, but the wood floors, friendly staff, and location are all key factors. But also, the room itself should have a certain energy to it. Some spaces are great, but they don’t have that certain something that just feels right. It’s not really something I can put into words – it’s just a feeling. It sounds strange, I know, but some rooms feel cold and unwelcoming, and some feel familiar, warm, and welcoming, even though you may not have been there before…. it’s comfortable.
DJ LIFE: In the tradition of New York house music – which you obviously rep hard – how do you see your house-centric party and Jolene fitting together?
Garcia: I think Jolene and our Dancing Room Only party are an ideal fit because of the DJs we prefer to showcase are the type of guys and gals who love an intimate room with a fantastic sound system and environment that lets them just focus on music and be free. When someone like Tony Humphries doesn’t want to stop playing, it’s a testament to the room and sound system… The only thing that is missing is a disco ball [laughs]. I’m just continuing the roots and spirit of the NYC nightlife legacy and hope it carries onto the next generation.
