Joel Lawrence’s earliest music memories are dancing around his parent’s house to Michael Jackson and rapping into his sister’s hairbrush to the Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C. It wasn’t long before he was begging his parents for the newest cassette tapes on trips to the local mall.

This boyhood obsession continued all the way through high school and beyond as Joel eventually got involved with college radio at WERS, Emerson College in Boston, hosting a weekly jazz program. It was also during this period that Joel bought himself his first pair of turntables and started collecting records. 

He began DJing in earnest in 2003 following a move to New York City and has been spinning records at bars, clubs, house parties and weddings ever since. In 2006, Joel would step out from behind the turntables to pick up the karaoke mic and become co-host of the inimitable Karaoke Killed the Cat, a long running karaoke dance party.

Today, Joel continues to throw parties in New York City and beyond bringing a warm and energetic touch to dance foors with Hip-Hop, Electronic, Disco, Reggae and Latin sounds. He’s been a resident at Pianos for 10 years and continues to entertain crowds and clients for Columbia University School of Social Work, Cause + Efect, photographer Kareem Black, and the New York City Food and Wine Festival.