Paul Kraft Productions

Escape’s being compared to Vin Diesel – and he doesn’t mind. He’s got Diesel looks, Deisel charisma, and the power Vin Diesel yields in Hollywood matches that which Escape holds over gay clubland.

The irony is that the gayest part of DJ Escape is where he hails – Queens, New York. Every other facet about him is, sigh, straight. But that doesn’t deter his mostly gay following from packing nightclubs across the country to experience the wonder-kid live.

“My music is more adapted to the gay party community,” says Escape, who estimates that about ninety percent of his gigs are for gay crowds. He says he has a lot in common with gay men. “Gay guys know music and they party from night until the afternoon. They’re always ready to tear the dance floor up, just like me.”

While many of today’s top DJs complain of the lull in today’s dance scene – arguing that the crowds are waning and that clubs are not investing enough money in parties these days – Escape claims the opposite. He believes the American dance scene is actually experiencing resurgence.

“The scene is more fun than ever,” he says. “All of a sudden, the industry is back to high energy, happy music. The dark, monotonous beats that took over dance floors in 2001 are history. It’s all about vocals and base-driven beats, which I love.”

“I play familiar mainstream music, but not the versions you’ll hear on the radio or see on MTV,” he continues. “I re-work the classics specifically for my dance floor. You won’t hear my versions anywhere else.”

He draws inspiration from DJ giants Eric Morillo, Junior Vasquez, Danny Tenaglia, and Victor Calderone. “Junior is the reason I turned to house music. I began as a hip hop DJ but one night on Junior Vasquez’s dance floor changed everything for me.”

“Dance music is about love and freedom,” he says. “There’s so much pressure in the world today. Work pressure, family pressure. Guys that go to the club have learned the secret to happiness. We look forward to Saturday nights when we can run to the DJ and leave our problems on the dance floor. There’s nothing better than that.” Page 2 –>A self-proclaimed evangelist for club music, Escape’s making a concerted effort on his latest tour to recruit new, younger fans to the genre. It’s no secret the gay clubbing community is getting longer in the tooth. Some estimate the average age on most floors these days is 30 – 35. The industry is keenly aware that if they don’t bring in new blood, and soon, there won’t be anyone left on the dance floor.

“I’m part of a united network of house music leaders who are dedicated to bringing dance music back to mainstream,” says Escape. “I’m in a great position to introduce dance music to young people because I’m one of the few top DJs under 30.”

Escape doesn’t mind throwing in a Hip Hop record every now and then – if that’s what the crowd wants to hear.

He’s also discovered there are added benefits to catering to the younger crowds. “The chickens attract the chicken hawks,” he laughs, referring to the older gentlemen who prefer the company of younger men. “That’s probably the secret to my packed dance floor. My floor is like a heated hunting ground, with carnivorous hunters and prey ripe for the picking.”

“It’s all in the spirit of innocent, raucous fun,” he concludes.