Only The Light Moves, An Interview with Tommie Sunshine

October 05, 2022

Producer and DJ are just a couple of Tommie Sunshine’s passions that lead his life. Also, count on him being involved in activism, teaching at NYU, being a husband, and sober for the last 16 years! Tommie takes us through some of his journeys as a world-traveling DJ, what convinced him to get sober, and what he is doing to contribute to making a difference for the greater good. Tommie Sunshine Official Bio: Tastemaker to tastemakers, curator, and shapeshifter, Tommie Sunshine is renowned for his reputation of being consistently ahead of the curve bridging the worlds of Rave, Disco, House, and EDM while still standing firmly in the zeitgeist.

American Rave Scene in the 90s

Establishing his name throughout the American Rave scene during the ’90s, he became one of the most recognizable figures of the Electroclash movement during the early 2000s and helped set the stage for the EDM boom of the 2010s. 29 years as a DJ and 35 years as a clubber gives Sunshine his unique perspective on the business & informs his present Rave Revival sound. Set apart by his iconoclastic productions, he is regarded as one of today’s most prolific remixers providing club-ready makeovers for countless household names, including Billie Eilish, Bob Marley, Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, Sofi Tukker, Lenny Kravitz, Elvis Presley, Lizzo, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kelly Clarkson, Major Lazer, Santana, and Fall Out Boy.

What a career!

Tommie’s original production career spans collaborations with artists such as Oscar-nominated and Grammy winner Junkie XL, Chocolate Puma, Grammy winner James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, legend Arthur Baker, House Music pioneer Felix da Housecat, Peaches, The Disco Fries, and many more. His music has been released on all of the biggest dance labels in the world including Spinnin’, Ultra, Armada, Musical Freedom, Heldeep, Size, Mixmash, Dim Mak, and Mad Decent amongst others.

That tracks!

Tommie wrote and recorded 9 tracks for several editions of Konami’s classic arcade game Dance Dance Revolution (DDR). Approaching its 600th release, his label Brooklyn Fire provides a platform to young producers just getting started in the business giving their music mass exposure, DJ support from the biggest in the game & streams into the millions. Sunshine, also known as a social media provocateur, has been known to cause an uproar in his firm stance on many issues most won’t dare talk about & his activism has landed him on TMZ for gun control. Tommie served as an entertainment surrogate for the 2016 & 2020 Presidential campaigns of Bernie Sanders. 

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