03/06/2026
HISTORY FOLKS : RE-lived...
Forbes published an article on the Twilo reunion thats happening this weekend in NYC with DannyDanny Tenaglia DJ & myself. it's great that they want to cover a story like this and showcase such a historic venue.
Below is the link to the article and I have also included my full interview as I am sure some of you might be interested in reading what I had to say.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakocay/2026/03/03/experience-twilo-a-famed-new-york-city-club-reopening-after-25-years/
• Can you give me an overview of your history with Twilo?
For me Twilo was the best club in the world that I have ever played at, primarily because of that sound system. Sasha and myself had been playing in the usa for a while but never really had much success in New York City, which was known for its huge Clubs with impressive sound systems: Dj’s like Danny Tenaglia, Junior Vasquez playing marathon sets with their New York house sound. As part of our Northern Exposure tour in 1996, we were invited to play Twilo on a Friday night. The night was successful and we were both left blown away by the room. Later on that year one of the owners of Twilo Phil Smith was in Liverpool where they had just installed a Phazon Sound system ( The make of speakers that were in Twilo Owned by Phil Smith & Steve Dash ). I was playing that night and was speaking with Phil before I went on and saying how much Sasha & myself had enjoyed the club, He suggested that we come back once a month which we both jumped at. When it was announced, none of the British Dance music press were really that supportive as there had not really been that much success with UK dj’s in NYC and I think they expected us to fail. We started our monthly residency and every month the night got better and better, with no social media, everything was spread organically by word of mouth. After 6 months the line was around the block and we were playing 11- 12 hour sets a month. Then the uk dance press took notice and wanted to come over and find out what all the fuss was about. We played every month until 2001. Unfortunately, the last 3 parties sasha sadly had an ear problem and could not fly over so I played February, March and the final party of our residency by myself at the end of April in 2001. Sadly it closed down the following week.
• What are some of the most memorable sets you’ve played there?
Every month was special for me as I really got how special this room was and playing on that incredible sound system which brought every track to life. However, our first year residency anniversary event is one that stood out. Halloween at Twilo was always incredible with so many unbelievable costumes. The 6 year anniversary party that I played with Danny Tenaglia, and finally, on one of the solo shows I did in March 2001, there was a small smouldering fire upstairs in the club, the fire brigade was called and we had to evacuate the packed club. It was an incredible scene when everyone left via the fire escapes so quickly and without questions, waited outside in the rain for the fire chief to give the OK to come back in, and when they did the energy in the room when I started the first track was unreal and still raises the hairs on the back of my neck thinking about it.
• For those of us who weren’t able to go to Twilo in its original days, what was it like? Can you paint a picture of a typical night there?
The doors would open around 11pm and we would start at around 12- 1am playing until midday. Sasha and myself would alternate 4- 5 records each for 5 or six hours, where we would build the atmosphere and the tension. We had both been influenced by the house sound of New York producers so with the luxury of having 11-12 hours to play we really enjoyed incorporating American and europeans sounds within our sets. You would have several different crowds come through the night with a fresh group of clubbers arriving around 6am that would take the energy to the next level. The club had an amazing door picker making sure only people who were there for the music got in and not a bunch of tourists that joined the back of the line. Cameras were not allowed so thats why there is not much documented on-line which meant people were focused purely on the music. Now the most important aspect of Twilo was the Phazon sound which was truly mind blowing, it was crystal clear and covered every part of the club, yet you could speak normally and your ears didn’t hurt after 12 hours of dancing on that sprung wooden dance floor. Producers started making records especially for our nights there as the sound was so powerful, records suddenly had a ‘Twilo’ sound attached to them. Lastly the Light Jockey Mike D, was exceptional in working the lights that was in unison with what Sasha & myself were playing creating the perfect atmosphere in the room.
• What will your set be like at the reunion Friday night show?
I never plan my sets so I don’t really have any idea what I am going to play at the moment. I might throw in a couple of classics but I am always about playing new music so until I get in there and start, I have no idea where my set will go at this point.
• How will that set be similar to and different from what you played at Twilo back in the day?
I am not going to try and base my set on anything in the past and play a set fitting for such a legendary room.
• What can people expect from the reunion events?
I would imagine there will be a split in the crowd with so many people who went there 25 years ago wanting one more dance in that incredible room and a whole bunch of clubbers who were too young to go when it shut and want the chance to experience a night in the room which has had so much history from Sound Factory to Twilo over the years.
• Is there anything else you think I should know?
I really can’t remember where a club that shut down has opened up again 25 years later pretty much carrying on where it left off as most of the time clubs that shut down are usually demolished and turned into apartments. This is a pretty historic night in terms of club culture for people to almost go back in time . One of the last big parties there before it closed was April 16th 2001 with Danny Tenaglia and myself playing until the early hours of the morning. I am so gratefull to Danny for inviting me to play with him on his birthday weekend in this legendary space that I called home once a month for 5 years.
