DJ Chauncey Dandridge is known for bringing excitement, personality and nonstop energy to the nightlife scene. With an incredible ear for music and a talent for reading the crowd, he creates memorable nights filled with dance classics, feel-good anthems and high-energy entertainment that keeps audiences coming back for more.
INTERVIEW >>>
What inspired you to start hosting Madonna Worship nights?
It all started back in 2009. I was hosting a monthly party called Beetlejuice at Nowhere Bar featuring music strictly from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. When August came around, I decided to dedicate the entire night to Madonna and it became an annual tradition to celebrate her during her birthday month. That was the first, and I don’t know if I came up with the “Madonna Worship” title yet, but it definitely christened this part of my legacy. This year will be the 18th Annual Madonna Worship Night at 3 Dollar Bill on Saturday, August 1st! I’ve also brought the party to Lisbon during her Madame X Tour and Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Austin, Houston and Fire Island during her Celebration Tour. I’ve also got a Confessions II/Pride party coming up at RedEye on June 13th. It’s grown in size and spirit and I’m not a one-man show anymore. My cohort, Michele Ruiz, helps produce the events we do in NYC and keeps me sane as stage mother the night of the party and being the promo bitch while I’m DJing. I always force her up on stage at some point of the night to get her flowers from the crowd.
Why do you think Madonna’s music continues to connect with LGBTQ+ audiences across generations?
Her music has always been about freedom, unapologetic expression, defying convention and celebrating the things that are taboo in society. Her songs have soundtracked much of the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community as well as victories. It just makes sense.
What’s the one Madonna track that always fills the dance floor instantly?
Good question! Depends on the party and venue, but “Into The Groove”, “Vogue”, “Hung Up” and now “Bring Your Love” definitely get the crowd motivated to dance.
How would you describe the vibe of your Madonna nights to someone who’s never attended?
The room is filled with longtime fans, as well as new fans. It really is a mixture of several generations, all there for the same reason: to worship the Queen of Pop.
You can definitely expect all the hits in their original or remixed incarnation, but I definitely love to inject some rarities and B-sides that you probably won’t hear at most other Madonna-themed soirees. I curate performances featuring local NYC talent and we always try to mix it up with crowd pleasers and button pushing performances of songs you wouldn’t expect. There’s live singing, drag queens and kings and things, and burlesque too!
Do fans come dressed in Madonna-inspired looks from different eras?
Most people tend to show off their favorite Madonna T-shirts, but there’s definitely a high percentage of people getting really creative recreating iconic looks from her vast career. It’s so fantastic what people come up with and I’m looking forward to what they serve this year with a new era unfolding.
Which Madonna tour or era has influenced your DJ style the most?
I started DJing professionally in 2002, so the American Life and Confessions on a Dance Floor albums were fresh then and I loved playing all those remixes, but when I was younger and CD maxi singles were the norm, I would listen to her remixes over and over for songs like “Who’s That Girl?”, “Express Yourself”, “Vogue”, “Rescue Me”, “Secret”, “Human Nature”, “Bedtime Story” and “Die Another Day”. She always tapped into the club underground sound and hired some of the most prolific remixers out there. The nonstop flow of the first Confessions album and the gorgeous tour that accompanied it definitely inspired me and still does.
What’s your personal favorite deep-cut Madonna song to play live?
I don’t know if it’s considered a deep cut because it was on The Immaculate Collection but “Rescue Me” will always be my favorite Madonna track to play live.
How do you balance classic hits with remixes and newer sounds during the night?
You can go down an extravagant rabbit hole on the Internet searching for fan-made remixes of classic hits. I definitely love playing album versions of her classics, but sometimes a fresh remix invigorates the dance floor. It’s always nice to surprise the crowd with a newer song blending into a rare deep cut. I’ve been a fan since the beginning, so I know her catalog really well. It’s so much fun to dive into over 40 years of music to play. There’s no need to ever repeat a song during a party because she has so many to choose from.
Have you ever had a memorable celebrity or unexpected guest at one of your events?
At my first Madonna Worship Night at Stonewall in 2014, Kevin Stea (one of her dancers on the Blond Ambition Tour) performed “Cherish” with a violinist. The night and his performance were featured in the “Strike A Pose” documentary about all of her dancers from that tour.
Plus, the amazing Amanda Lepore performed at one of our Madonna Worship-adjacent Madame X release parties in 2019.
What’s the wildest crowd reaction you’ve seen during a Madonna set?
That’s a tough one. There have been many. An unexpected transition or a deep cut favorite thrown in has definitely revved up the crowd, but I think just watching everyone do the choreography to one of her songs is always wild to witness. A whole dance floor doing the disco moves to “Hung Up” is a moment!
What role do themed nightlife events like this play in keeping queer nightlife culture alive in NYC?
I think people love a theme. It creates a purpose and it has such a campiness that queer nightlife thrives on. There’s something really powerful to be said about a room full of people that all have a love for Madonna in common.
It’s electric and warms my heart to see the older fans that might not go out as much feel that joy dancing alongside some younger fan that just discovered her a few years ago.
Which Madonna song best represents New York City nightlife energy?
I think that song will always be “Vogue”. It just encapsulates the uniqueness of New York City and pushed a legendary queer art form and attitude into the faces of America. New Yorkers are strong, smart and sassy and the song is in your face, fierce and iconic…just like NYC.
If Madonna herself walked into one of your parties, what song would you play first?
I had the greatest privilege of DJing New Year’s Eve 2019 at the Stonewall Inn. That night, she made a ‘surprise’ appearance to welcome in the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall riots. When I knew she was in the building, I did play the legendary Shep Pettibone remix of “Into The Groove”. If she walked into one of my own parties, I think I would play “Rescue Me” to convince her to dust it off for her next tour. It is one of the songs she has never performed live completely and it’s long overdue for its day in the spotlight!
Are there any special visuals, dancers, or performances incorporated into the experience?
I create most of the visuals from performances and her music videos and tour backdrops. We always have a mixture of live singers, drag and burlesque performances to spice up the night.
How has the nightlife scene changed since you first started DJing?
When I started, I used to play CDs. iPods were not that popular yet and streaming music did not exist yet. People had to wait for an album to come out physically and could only really play it at home. People had to be patient. Nowadays, any song anyone wants to hear is pretty much at their fingertips on their mobile device. It’s made people a little selfish in what they want to hear and I’ve noticed people would rather hear the original version opposed to a remix. I love finding unusual remixes of old school songs and mix them in with all the new music that comes out today. It keeps me entertained and keeps the audience guessing.
What advice would you give young LGBTQ+ DJs trying to break into nightlife?
My advice would be to stick to your guns. You definitely have to compromise a little to get your gigs, of course, but figure out your style and the types of songs and sound you want to deliver and dive in. Learn your music history and listen to disco, new wave, classic house, techno and R&B. You’ll start to notice where a lot of the current releases have borrowed from and it will eventually make your sets more dynamic and special.
Finally — in one sentence — what does Madonna mean to you personally?
Madonna means fighting for what you believe in, taking the road less traveled, always being hungry for things to inspire you, all while being a little bit of a bitch to get what you want.
If you made a top 10 Madonna list, what would it be?
I’ll do my best to give you my favorite 10 dance tracks because ballads and mid-tempo songs need their own list, haha.
Don’t miss Madonna Worship Night: Safety In Numbers Edition on June 13th @ Red Eye NY.
Follow @madonnaworship for more info.
