Herbert Holler on The Virtual Sessions presented by The DJ Sessions 6/25/24

The DJ Sessions

Herbert Holler on The Virtual Sessions presented by The DJ Sessions 6/25/24

About Herbert Holler -

Herbert Holler has been a party producer, promoter and DJ for over 25 years. He’s played at the most notable lounges, bars and dance clubs in NYC nightlife history, from Wall Street to 125th, from Brooklyn to the Bronx, not-to-mention guest spots across the globe, in cities like Tokyo, Venice and London.

He works with a growing list of high-profile clients (Samsung, Porsche, Live Nation, Sony/ATV, etc.), event-production teams (Creative Edge Parties, Glow, Frost Audio, etc.) and world-renown artists (Benny Blanco, Boyz II Men, Diplo, John Legend, Miguel, Snoop Dogg, etc.), and continues to spin some of the most celebrated annual events in NYC (like the Brooklyn Black Tie Ball and Brooklyn Botanic Spring Gala).

He’s also created the most legendary old-school dance party in history, the Freedom Party®, voted “Best Party” by Papermag, Village Voice and URB, now in its 21st year of parties with 1000+ events to date, My House™, his home for deep-house music, and Jams™, a new 2000s night!

Past

When I was little, I had problems sleeping. I wasn’t putting myself to bed ever, really. My parents tried everything in the book to get me out, but nothing worked. One night, my dad was at the bar doing his funny dance to Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” and I asked him to pick me up. Less than five minutes later, I was out. Every night thereafter, he slung me over his shoulder just before bedtime and danced me to sleep—to Queen, Styx, Chicago, Meatloaf and lots and lots of Electric Light Orchestra.

ELO was our personal favorite. I ended up memorizing every word to every song off “Out of the Blue.” Anytime we were in his Honda Accord ’87, that 8-track went in. My mom had her input, too. Mostly Billy Joel, Tom Jones, maybe some Diana Ross. She tried singing me to sleep some nights, but “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” doesn’t really set the mood for deep slumber. She gave me my very first piece of vinyl—1966’s “The Best of the Beach Boys.” After the needle gave up trying to stick to that record, she handed me the soundtrack to “Hair.” When the day finally came for me to start learning the value of a dollar and buy my own music, the first tape I went out and purchased was Run DMC’s “Raising Hell.”

How I got from 70s orchestral rock, surf ditties, and Broadway musicals to hip-hop, I’ll never know. But that diversity has stuck with me to this day. Just when I pledge allegiance to some new rap artist, I’m a bloodthirsty digger searching for a new, synthetic electronic sound I heard on satellite radio or on somebody’s blog. And then I’m back frantically Googling a soul or disco sample I recognized from an old tune, or putting the finishing touches on a Dubstep mix I took way too much time obsessing over, or re-organizing my playlists so I know the difference between bounce, trap and an old Dirty-South anthem.

The question of how I ended up spending half my waking hours in a nightclub is easy: I practically grew up in one. Again, my father’s to blame. He used to be the Food & Beverage Manager at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ, my hometown. I clocked more hours at that place than some of the people on payroll. And this was the 80s, mind you, when the casino strip was as glamorous as it would ever be: fur coats, pearl necklaces, big Cadillacs and Liberace (who I saw live…many times). The lights, the sounds, the electricity in the air, even the smells…these things never left.

Nor has my penchant for making people smile. In grade school I brought class clown to a new level. It cost me my grades, and also led to a few suspensions, but there was nothing I enjoyed more than leaving my classmates in stitches. Sometimes even the teacher had to take a second to regain composure. I thought maybe I’d make a good Psychologist, helping people smile, so I went Premed at NYU, till I realized the night before classes started that I’d have to sit still and study a lot. (Hence the B.A.) Naturally, I tried my hand at comedy, but I couldn’t afford to be broke, and I was already getting gigs and discovering my knack for making dance floors pop. So, it was settled: I was to be a professional DJ.

Present

Today, my career is in its 20th year with no signs of slowing down. I’ve played just about every NYC lounge, bar, and dance club from Wall Street to 125th, from Brooklyn to the Bronx, not-to-mention residencies and guest spots across the globe; I continue to work with a growing list of high-profile clients and world-renown artists (like Snoop Dogg, Diplo, Benny Blanco, Boyz II Men, John Legend, Miguel, Blondie…).

I spin some of the most celebrated annual events in NYC, including the Brooklyn Black Tie Ball, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Spring Gala, and Central Park Summerstage to name a few; I’ve created the most legendary old-school dance party in NYC history, the award-winning Freedom Party® (19-plus years and 900-plus parties; voted “Best Dance Party” by Village Voice in 2015); and I continue to create unforgettable nightlife experiences for people from all walks of life.

Future

After years of hard work, dedication and professionalism, my name and reputation as a DJ in the music and entertainment industry precedes itself. And though I don’t get to play nearly as much ELO at the gigs as I’d like to, and 8-track tapes (and Liberace) are long gone, my love for the music, the night, and for making people smile are still here.

About The DJ Sessions -

“The DJ Sessions” is a Twitch/Mixcloud "Featured Partner” live streaming/podcast series featuring electronic music DJ’s/Producers via live mixes/interviews and streamed/distributed to a global audience. TheDJSessions.com

The series constantly places in the “Top Ten” on Twitch Music and the “Top Five” in the “Electronic Music", “DJ", "Dance Music" categories. TDJS is rated in the Top 0.11% of live streaming shows on Twitch out of millions of live streamers.

It has also been recognized by Apple twice as a "New and Noteworthy” podcast and featured three times in the Apple Music Store video podcast section. UStream and Livestream have also listed the series as a "Featured" stream on their platforms since its inception.

The series is also streamed live to multiple other platforms and hosted on several podcast sites. It has a combined live streaming/podcast audience is over 125,000 viewers per week.

With over 2,400 episodes produced over the last 14 years "The DJ Sessions" has featured international artists such as: BT, Youngr, Dr. Fresch, Ferry Corsten, Sevenn, Drove, Martin Trevy, Jacob Henry, Nathassia aka Goddess is a DJ, Wuki, DiscoKitty, Moon Beats, Barnacle Boi, Spag Heddy, Scott Slyter, Simply City, Rob Gee, Micke, Jerry Davila, SpeakerHoney, Sickotoy, Teenage Mutants, Wooli, Somna, Gamuel Sori, Curbi, Alex Whalen, Vintage & Morelli, Netsky, Rich DietZ, Stylust, Bexxie, Chuwe, Proff, Muzz, Raphaelle, Boris, MJ Cole, Flipside, Ross Harper, DJ S.K.T., Skeeter, Bissen, 2SOON, Kayzo, Sabat, Katie Chonacas, DJ Fabio, Homemade, Hollaphonic, Lady Waks, Dr. Ushuu, Arty/Alpha 9, Miri Ben-Ari, DJ Ruby, DJ Colette, Nima Gorji, Kaspar Tasane, Andy Caldwell, Party Shirt, Plastik Funk, ENDO, John Tejada, Hoss, Alejandro, DJ Sash U, Arkley, Bee Bee, Cozmic Cat, Superstar DJ Keoki, Crystal Waters, Swedish Egil, Martin Eyerer, Dezarate, Maddy O’Neal, Sonic Union, Lea Luna, Belle Humble, Marc Marzenit, Ricky Disco, AthenaLuv, Maximillian, Saeed Younan, Inkfish, Kidd Mike, Michael Anthony, They Kiss, Downupright, Harry “the Bigdog” Jamison, DJ Tiger, DJ Aleksandra, 22Bullets, Carlo Astuti, Mr Jammer, Kevin Krissen, Amir Sharara, Coke Beats, Danny Darko, DJ Platurn, Tyler Stone, Chris Coco, Purple Fly, Dan Marciano, Johan Blende, Amber Long, Robot Koch, Robert Babicz, KHAG3, Elohim, Hausman, Jaxx & Vega, Yves V, Ayokay, Leandro Da Silva, The Space Brothers, Jarod Glawe, Jens Lissat, Lotus, Beard-o-Bees, Luke the Knife, Alex Bau, Arroyo Low, Camo & Crooked, ANG, Amon Tobin, Voicians, Florian Kruse, Dave Summit, Bingo Players, Coke Beats, MiMOSA, Drasen, Yves LaRock, Ray Okpara, Lindsey Stirling, Mako, Distinct, Still Life, Saint Kidyaki, Brothers, Heiko Laux, Retroid, Piem, Tocadisco, Nakadia, Protoculture, Sebastian Bronk, Toronto is Broken, Teddy Cream, Mizeyesis, Simon Patterson, Morgan Page, Jes, Cut Chemist, The Him, Judge Jules, DubFX, Thievery Corporation, SNBRN, Bjorn Akesson, Alchimyst, Sander Van Dorn, Rudosa, Hollaphonic, DJs From Mars, GAWP, David Morales, Roxanne, JB & Scooba, Spektral, Kissy Sell Out, Massimo Vivona, Moullinex, Futuristic Polar Bears, ManyFew, Joe Stone, Reboot, Truncate, Scotty Boy, Doctor Nieman, Jody Wisternoff, Thousand Fingers, Benny Bennasi, Dance Loud, Christopher Lawrence, Oliver Twizt, Ricardo Torres, Patricia Baloge, Alex Harrington, 4 Strings, Sunshine Jones, Elite Force, Revolvr, Kenneth Thomas, Paul Oakenfold, George Acosta, Reid Speed, TyDi, Donald Glaude, Jimbo, Ricardo Torres, Hotel Garuda, Bryn Liedl, Rodg, Kems, Mr. Sam, Steve Aoki, Funtcase, Dirtyloud, Marco Bailey, Dirtmonkey, The Crystal Method, Beltek, Darin Epsilon, Kyau & Albert, Kutski, Vaski, Moguai, Blackliquid, Sunny Lax, Matt Darey, and many more.

In addition to featuring international artists TDJS focuses on local talent based on the US West Coast. Hundreds of local DJ’s have been featured on the show along with top industry professionals.

We have recently launched v3.1 our website that now features our current live streams/past episodes in a much more user-friendly mobile/social environment. In addition to the new site, there is a mobile app (Apple/Android) and VR Nightclubs (VR Chat).

About The DJ Sessions Event Services -

TDJSES is a 501c3 Non-profit charitable organization that's main purpose is to provide music, art, fashion, dance, and entertainment to local and regional communities via events and video production programming distributed via live and archival viewing.

For all press inquiries regarding “The DJ Sessions”, or to schedule an interview with Darran Bruce, please contact us at [e-mail].