When I walked into Ty Sunderland’s backstage trailer at Planet Pride this weekend, he was in the midst of being informed that two queer A-list actors — who will remain nameless — were in the sea of 5,000 fans he performed for at the Brooklyn venue Brooklyn Mirage.
“Oh! We should’ve given them all-access!” Ty, clad in his signature black and white Valentino shirt and black glasses, told his manager.
Turns out, like most queer folks in New York City, the two actors were just fans of Ty’s events and wanted to party like everyone else. That’s kind of what Ty — a 33-year-old Hollywood, Florida native envisioned when he started his foray into nightlife. DJing may have started as a way of spicing up his “fucking boring” college in upstate New York, but it led him to becoming one of the most popular DJs in nightlife right now. Grammy-winning singer Kim Petras, who’s friends with Ty, told BuzzFeed, “Ty throws the best parties in New York.”
But beyond his mixes — which incorporate a blend of EDM, pop music, and divas of present and past — and beyond the celebrities and spectacle of it all, Ty has created a safe place where all are welcome.
“I’ve always tried to include as many groups as I can. Even when I started, I wanted to bring so many different groups of people together,” he said. “Because that’s a good party. When everyone already knows each other, it’s like, ‘Why are we doing this?’” From his pop star-themed boat parties (“The Gayflower”) to his Sunday staple “Ty Tea” in Brooklyn, Ty’s events have garnered a cult following in New York City.
Whether it’s going viral for the demon twink saga of 2021, or getting a call at 2:30 in the morning to come DJ for Janet Jackson in Soho, or hopping on an official Kelly Clarkson remix, Ty’s career seems as fun and unpredictable as attending one of his events. Still, he doesn’t take his success or the NYC fame for granted. “People grab me and take pictures. I love it! Get me while I’m here — I don’t know where I’m gonna be next year," he told me.
Here’s my Q&A with Ty. We talk about music, celebrities, and nightlife — and even have the gayest debate about Mariah Carey remix deep cuts.
Name, age, pronouns, where you’re from, where you’re from, “Hm, I might be gay” moment.
Ty. I am 33. Pronouns are he/him. I'm from Hollywood, Florida. “Hm, I might be gay” moment?
You are gay, right?
I am very gay. I identify as a faggot. I'm definitely a faggot. I’m post-twink. I think I’m too old. I think “twink” is also a certain age. I’ve aged out of being a twink. I call myself post-twink. Do you know twink death? I don’t think I’ve experienced twink death yet.
Tell me about how you got into DJing and nightlife. And did you always want to be doing what you do now?
Now, this was all an accident. I went to college upstate, and my college was so fucking boring. SUNY-Purchase. It's a very folky, country nature. It’s like a cute little liberal arts school, but it’s very country, and I’m coming from South Florida, which is, like, dance music, EDM. It was 2010, so Ultra was taking off. Dance music was taking off. House parties at my school were, like, people sitting around playing guitar listening to Oasis. I was like, “Nope.” I started throwing house parties in college and was like, “I guess I gotta learn how to DJ.”
Were you out at this time?
I think I was — what did we used to say? — “Gay By May.” You get to college, and you’re not out yet, but you’re gonna be gay by May.
So, you started to learn to DJ, and then…
I got my degree in economics, and I worked in corporate fashion right out of school. Those salaries do not pay a living wage, so I started DJing on the weekends to make extra money. So, I hated my job, and I quit. And I was like, I’m just gonna DJ until I figure out what I’m doing. … I didn’t mean to “make it.” I didn’t mean to ever get to where I am. But I was just like, “OK, this is working. I’ll stick with it.” I’m very grateful. I’m living my teenage dream. Being a student of the South Florida dance music scene, I never thought I’d get to play for 5,000 people at the Brooklyn Mirage.
And you’re, like, nice. You’re not, like, an asshole.
Honestly, I’ve met so many cunty people that I made sure that I always stay true to myself and try to be as nice to people. I mean I do have my boundaries, but I do try to make sure I’m as nice to people as possible.
Tell me about boundaries you’ve had to put up.
If someone’s, like, really drunk, I’m not gonna engage. Then, it becomes like, “I’m not your therapist.” Or someone like latching on to you. I’m like, “OK, thank you!” Say hi. Keep it cute, keep it moving. That’s how I interact with people who are famous — say hi, keep it cute, keep it moving, don’t take up too much of their time.
What is an NYC gay nightlife faux pas?
Asking for guestlist when the door’s already opened. I’m gonna be like, “Girl…” Also when I’m trying to get a drink and people are having a conversation at the bar. In the words of Kylie Minogue, [sings] “Get outta my way.”
So, what’s the etiquette?
At least the day before.
Which celebs have you connected with most? Any funny stories or moments you can share?
I’m friends with Kim Petras. I adore her. I’ve known her since her first single, right when her first single came out. I was talking to her last night. I was like, “Girl, you’ve done everything you said you were going to do five years [ago].” We were sitting at an afterparty hanging out. She barely had 20,000 followers on Instagram, and she was like, “I’m gonna get a Grammy. I’m gonna have a song with Nicki Minaj. I’m gonna sign to a major label.” And she did all three things. I adore her.
I’ve met so many celebrities. I just DJed Janet Jackson’s afterparty. Christian Siriano called me up, and it’s, like, 2 a.m. I’m in bed. He’s like, “Where are you?” I’m like, “You were at Janet Jackson’s last night, you went backstage, didn’t invite me, you knew I was there. I’m going to bed.” He’s like, “I’m with her now. Come.” It was at the Mulberry in Soho. I get there, and it’s just Janet, her dancers, and Christian. So, we’re hanging out, and he’s like, “Ty, can you DJ. Can you please go DJ for Janet?” I looked it up, and I was like, “I can be back here in 25 minutes, round-trip.” This is 2:30 in the morning. I get back and play ‘til 5:30 in the morning.
And what is she doing? Sitting? Dancing? Vibing?
She’s sitting, hanging out, talking with her dancers and her team. I have a picture with her. She was so fucking sweet. She made a point to say, “Thank you, Ty.” I was like, “Real quick, Janet, what’s the one song of yours you would want a DJ to play if you were in the room?” And she’s like, “I’m so embarrassed, I don’t know.”
Do people ever ask you for photos?
Yeah, people grab me and take pictures. I love it! Get me while I’m here — I don’t know where I’m gonna be next year.
I’m curious — do people ever fly out, specifically from conservative states, to attend your events? What does that mean to you?
I know people travel for events — especially the GayFlower. Have you been to the boat parties yet?
Not yet. I’m gonna start going to them — do you ever do Mariah ones?
You gotta go to them. I’m gonna send you the dates. And no, Mariah doesn’t have enough dance music.
Yes, she does, actually. She has a whole remix album, and you need to learn all of them. Here I am arguing with a DJ.
I know all of them. I’m really into the David Morales’s “My All” remix. Even “Butterfly,” I love that one. David has so many good remixes. Because the thing about Mariah — she rerecords her vocals. I’m a Mariah fan. I love Mariah. She has ‘90s house. I wanna hear her — in like, basement.
I try to do Mariah every Christmas just because I love Mariah, and I wanna celebrate her and play all her remixes — because she rerecords them! See! More girls need to be rerecording the vocals. They need to get a glass of wine and get in the booth with David Morales and [sings]. They don’t have the vocals. I’m a very big fan of Mariah’s remixes. They’re so good. I just discovered a new one. [pulls out his phone and plays “It’s Like That” David Morales remix] This is very Ty Tea.
I love the girls. I could talk about them forever.
I feel like I’m putting the bat signal out, like “Here, come party.” I didn’t mean to do what I do. I just kinda wanted to create spaces that I wanted to go to. That’s the whole thing with nightlife that I fell into — I want to go to things that I want to go to. Like this. What other gay event at this level is like this, that’s not playing circuit music. The live element. There’s performers. There are pop stars. EDM and pop stars. That’s my shit.
Yes! Back to people traveling for your shows.
I have people here from Australia and the UK. It is expensive to come to NYC. A lot of people come from Texas. People come from other gay cities.
There has been a lot of anti-LGBTQ legislation recently. What does it mean to you to provide such a popular yet safe space for queer folks, in such a scary time?
It’s crazy. I feel like I’m putting the bat signal out, like “Here, come party.” I didn’t mean to do what I do. I just kinda wanted to create spaces that I wanted to go to. That’s the whole thing with nightlife that I fell into — I want to go to things that I want to go to. Like this. What other gay event at this level is like this, that’s not playing circuit music. The live element. There’s performers. There are pop stars. EDM and pop stars. That’s my shit.
Do straight people come to your events?
Absolutely. With the themed parties, I’m like, of course the girls are gonna come. A lot of the girls are gonna come to the Nicki boat. I love when the girls come. When the straight men come, I’m like, “OK, welcome!” Usually, they have a great time. People are friendlier. I like to think we’re more respectful.
Your event kinda went viral in 2021 with the “demon twink” saga. Explain what that was and if there are any new developments.
Basically, I was throwing a boat party, and some young gay guy in his 20s got a little too drunk and kept jumping up on the DJ equipment with a drink in hand and spilling it. I was like, “Dude, please stop.” I had to stop the music and tell him to stop. Because we’re on a boat —
I can’t kick people off. At the end of the party, he’s in VIP getting his ass eaten. Party’s over, lights are on. He’s getting his ass eaten! I’m like, “Dude, leave!”
Did you ever track him down?
We DMed for a second because everyone had their own opinion about what I had said on Twitter. Like, that I villainized someone and made fun of someone who was overserved. I didn’t expose him or say his name. To this day, he is still anonymous. I had a party the next week, and we DMed on Instagram. He had a private account. He was like, “Hey, I just wanna say I’m sorry. I drank too much.” I was like, “You’re fine, babe. Thanks for saying sorry. But if you wanna come to Devil’s Playground and bring you up on stage and have a moment and let bygones be bygones. I’m not mad. I’m not holding this grudge.”
Be friendly. Be nice. Be considerate. I go to other cities, and people don’t know who I am. I would just say be friendly. Kindness goes a long way. I try to be as kind as I can to everybody. Don’t give off snobby, stuck-up energy. Just be nice. Don’t be a cunt. Just be nice. Be friendly. Have positive energy, and I think the universe delivers it back.
Go-to remix to play:
Kelly Clarkson — “mine” (Ty Sunderland Remix).
Anyone you’ve worked with that hasn’t been released?
Ava Max — I’m friends with her. I’ll call her out! I’ve done two remixes for you — when are they coming out? I have a remix of “Ghost.”
What is the best Ty Sunderland event?
The boat — [especially if] you have a pop girl that you love. For me, I'm a Britney fan. Britney's my No. 1. If I was new and just coming out and wanting to make friends and stuff, I would go to the Britney boat and find other people that like things that I like. You're stuck on the boat for four hours, so you have to have fun.
Do you get mad when people suggest boat themes?
It's definitely like a Twitter thing. Carly Rae Jepson sent me flowers this week, because I debuted her song "Shy Boy" on the last boat. Someone was like, "Carly Rae boat, when?" I was like, "Ok, OK, it's gonna happen." Definitely gonna do a Carly boat soon.
For someone who’s nervous or kind of unsure about attending some of your events, what would you say to them?
Be friendly. Be nice. Be considerate. I go to other cities, and people don’t know who I am. I would just say be friendly. Kindness goes a long way. I try to be as kind as I can to everybody. Don’t give off snobby, stuck-up energy. Just be nice. Don’t be a cunt. Just be nice. Be friendly. Have positive energy, and I think the universe delivers it back. Sorry for the long, existential talk.
Why do you always wear black and white?
It started as a wear-all-black thing because I thought I was being cool in New York and, like, cigarettes and fashion. And then, I got to New York, and I was like, “Everyone wears all black. There’s nothing special about that.” I was like, “OK, I have to do an accent color.” And I was on a budget. And I was like, “OK, let me do white.”
Do you have a bunch of those hats?
I have 100 of these. I have bedazzled one over there. This is like a streetwear line. I started wearing the hat out. A door guy started recognizing me at straight parties. I was a nobody.
I don’t take my shirt off — so, if you’re uncomfortable taking your shirt off, at least you see someone else in the room that isn’t completely butt-ass naked. I’ve always tried to include as many groups as I can. Even when I started, I wanted to bring so many different groups of people together. Because that’s a good party.
And with your glasses look, it’s your trademark.
This is my Tina Fey/Liz Lemon look. That’s mother. I just met Jack McBrayer, who played Kenneth on 30 Rock. I met him at the Met Gala Afterparty. Literally, I’m in the room with Anne Hatheway. He’s there as Alexander Skarsgård's plus one. I’m like, “Fuck, that’s Kenneth. I have to say hi to Kenneth.” I’m a huge fan. I’ve watched the show at least 20 times. I know all his quotes, and his energy was just inviting. I was like, “Hey, can I bug you and say hi, I adore you?” He was like, “Oh, I’m here as a plus one with my friend Alex!” He was like, “Alex, this is my friend, Ty.” And all I could say was, “Wow, you really are tall, huh?” He is tall. He’s so tall.
Why do you think your parties and events have resonated with so many people?
Because I filled this void that there was in gay nightlife. It was either circuit or it was Club Kid. That’s what I think. I don’t take my shirt off — so, if you’re uncomfortable taking your shirt off, at least you see someone else in the room that isn’t completely butt-ass naked. I’ve always tried to include as many groups as I can. Even when I started, I wanted to bring so many different groups of people together. Because that’s a good party. When everyone already knows each other, it’s like, “Why are we doing this?”
Looking for more ways to get involved? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s posts celebrating Pride 2023.
