From Bensonhurst to the Black Sea: The Enduring Legacy of a Queer Club Icon

The sleek, minimalist lobby of a Miami Beach hotel – all glossy white surfaces, glinting gold accents, and towering green plants – seems a world away from the dimly lit, pulsating heart of a New York City nightclub. But for a DJ like Victor Calderone, the journey between these spaces is a testament to a career built on adaptation, talent, and a deep-seated passion for music.

A Full Circle Moment

Victor, a Brooklyn native, embodies a rare duality in the music industry. He's as comfortable commanding the decks at underground techno havens as he is collaborating with pop music royalty. How does someone bridge such diverse musical worlds? The answer lies in his roots, his relentless drive, and a little bit of family influence.

“My brother was a DJ,” Victor recalls. “I was hooked. I never looked back.” He credits his brother Cesare and legendary DJ Jellybean Benitez as early inspirations, setting him on a path that would span decades and continents. Loss, however, has been a constant companion. But as Victor proves, those we love live on through the passions we pursue.

We remind Victor that he honors Cesare by carrying on the DJing tradition. He has been in the game longer than most DJs, despite the death and birth of genres and clubs, friends and family.

From Social Clubs to Sonic Landscapes

Victor's early life in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, was a vibrant tapestry of food, family, and the captivating allure of the neighborhood's social clubs. "I remember seeing all these wise guys," he reminisces. "All the jewelry and the rings. I was so young, but I remember all of it."

Today, Bensonhurst boasts a different flavor, a shift from marinara to soy. Victor himself resides in DUMBO, a Brooklyn neighborhood transformed from desolate outpost to a hub of gentrified warehouses and tech startups. This constant evolution mirrors his own artistic journey, a continuous adaptation to the ever-changing landscape of music and culture. His wife, a successful interior designer, shares his creative impulses, and he lights up talking about her style and their combined inspiration.

TRADE: A Return to Raw Authenticity

TRADE, a club where Victor often plays, embodies the gritty, authentic spirit of old New York City clubs. The sound system vibrates with a raw energy, pushing basslines through the floor and into the very soul. Black walls, a minimalist dance floor, and a singular focus on the music create an immersive experience. It's a place that feels like home, a nostalgic echo of waiting in line outside The Funhouse in his youth.

The club fills with bodies moving in unison, a collective release fueled by the driving beats. Each person throws their head back with a smile, shouting, whistling. In moments like these, music transcends mere entertainment; it becomes a shared language, a unifying force.

Paradise Found: Pioneering a Queer Space in Taipei

Beyond the pulsing heart of New York, Victor's influence extends to the vibrant nightlife of Taipei. In the early days of electronic music in Taiwan, opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community to gather and dance were limited. Victor saw a void and seized the opportunity to create something revolutionary: the Paradise Party.

Partnering with Jimmy Chen, Victor transformed Club Underground into a haven for house music and queer expression. "We thought that we could create a space for gay people...a place where there was a proper nightclub set-up," Victor explains.

The Paradise Party was a true DIY effort. Victor designed and distributed flyers himself, personally inviting members of the community. The events quickly gained momentum, filling the venue on Wednesday nights – an unusual night for clubbing, but a strategic choice in a time when Saturdays were only half-days of work.

Victor recalls that even though he wanted to play house music it was not always easy because some were not accepting of electronic music. Some people that heard about the club with electronic music would enter and leave because they found the music alienating. Only after many years did a crowd build up.

Underground offered a unique experience. The entrance, hidden down a long stairwell, led to a black-lit space with powerful speakers and a two-story dance floor. It was a transformative environment, a place where electronic music fans could come together and build a community.

The Paradise Party became a cultural phenomenon, paving the way for future generations of queer artists and party organizers in Taipei. Victor and Jimmy's willingness to put on something new in the nightclub scene of Taipei was ground-breaking.

Lessons from a Legend

Victor Calderone's story is more than just a DJ's biography; it's a lesson in adaptability, passion, and the power of music to transcend boundaries. From the social clubs of Bensonhurst to the beaches of the Black Sea, he has consistently reinvented himself while staying true to his core values.

What can we learn from his journey? Embrace change, nurture your passions, and never underestimate the power of community. Just as Victor transformed spaces into havens of music and self-expression, we all have the potential to shape the world around us, one beat at a time.