You stare at your calendar, gliding your finger over weekends wasted—brunching and boozing with mediocre coworkers and friends of friends you don’t really care for. “Where has the summer gone?” you wonder. “I feel like I haven’t even done anything.” The guilt, paired with the longing for something you can’t quite tap into, takes over. You start hysterically scrolling through air BnB options, texting your group chat trying to plan a Labor Day trip to avoid feeling like a complete bum. Everyone already has plans. Now what?
The search for end-of-summer fun doesn’t need to leave you jet lagged and penniless, but can be found in NYC’s backyard—Brooklyn. Nicole Moudaber, the head of label Mood Records, will be busy making your ice pops melt at her official release party for her upcoming ‘BREED’ EP at her Nicole Moudaber & Friends showcase at Coney Island’s Surf Pavilion on September 12th. To get a little preview of what Nicole brings to the stage, check the video below of her DJ set at Space in Ibiza.
The open air show will feature world class music from major techno players like New York native Lauren Lane, Swedish connoisseur Joel Mull, Vatos Locos don Hector, and a special surprise guest, along with a warm up set and back-to-back performances from Nicole. Sweating off your spray tan sure works up an appetite. Luckily, food will be sold by a dozen Smorgasburg vendors, including: Blue Marble, Bon Chovie, Dan & John’s Wings, El Gato Nacho, El Super, Excell Kingston Eatery, Home Frite, La Newyorkina, Mile End, Mofongo, Queen Cobra Thai, and Red Hook Lobster Pound.
The Nigerian/Lebanese music producer and DJ has dedicated the last few months making her EP seamlessly blend with her previous sounds, while incorporating newer musical tastes and sounds she’s developed. While living in Lebanon, Moudaber was one of the first people to bring dance music to Beirut, the capital, and deemed her parties “Trashy Renaissances.” The first-of-its-kind event in the Middle East gained recognition from international DJs including Anthony Pappa and Paul Van Dyk. Regardless of her status as Queen of swanky Middle Eastern underground, Moudaber’s career really took flight when Carl Cox described her as “the most underrated DJ” in DJ Magazine in 2009. She launched Mood Records imprint in 2012. In 2013, her debut album Believe was Number 1 for a month on deep house, tech house, and Beatport techno charts.
The Coney Art Walls, curated by art dealers Jeffrey Deitch and Joseph J Stitt, features work by more than a dozen street and graffiti artists, and captures some of the most authentic work in the city. Highlighting the most innovative street artists from the 1970’s to the present, the collection includes old-school and new-school styles. If you’ve yet to hit the Coney Art Walls, it’s a definite must-see, even Huffington Post says so.
The RPM Presents show will be dedicated to the House of Rob, the legacy left behind by NYC legend and nightlife icon Rob Fernandez. A dear friend of Nicole, Rob was instrumental in introducing Nicole to the NYC stage and championed her as he often did artists that he believed in. “I’m having this show with a lot of sadness in my heart, but also knowing that Rob is above me with a smile,” says Nicole. “I decided to dedicate this event to him because of the circumstances. I wasn’t sure the event was going to happen when Rob left us but RPM wanted to go ahead with it. It is a very special one. It’s my first festival and it’s in New York City! Rob chose the location. Rob arranged the show. And he won’t be there to see it. The only idea that keeps me going is that he would have wanted it to happen. And I want to do everything to channel all the energy on that special day, for Rob.” A portion of the proceeds will go to the Rian Fernandez Educational Fund. For more info and to donate, head here.
General admission tickets are $45.00 and going fast. Early bird tickets are already sold out.
Surf Pavilion @ Coney Island
3029 Stillwell Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11224
18+ / Doors 4pm
Rain or Shine
Find tickets here.
Subway: Take the D, F, N, or Q to Coney Island- Stillwell Avenue.
By: Sarah Kelleher