DJ Holographic is Ready to Light Up Fire Island
DJ Holographic
Ariel Corley, aka DJ Holographic, is a radiant force in dance music—a selector, producer, and storyteller with roots in Detroit and eyes fixed on the stars. Her sound blends soulful house, techno, funk, and cosmic grooves, often laced with a sense of narrative and spirituality that reflects her deep connection to astrology and self-reflection. She’s played everywhere from Panorama Bar to WHOLE Festival to Movement in her hometown of Detroit, but this summer marks a special first: her Pines Party debut.
Sainte Francis caught up with DJ Holographic while she was camped out in a Berlin café. Our conversation roamed from planetary alignments to femme energy behind the decks to Janet Jackson B-sides—and landed on a shared excitement for Fire Island magic.
Sainte Francis:
I’ve been a huge fan since I first saw you play at Defected Croatia in 2022. You were my favorite set of the entire festival. You dropped a couple of Terrence Parker tracks that are still heavy in my rotation today! Since then, I’ve caught you at Movement and followed your trajectory as you’ve toured the world. You’ve had such an impressive couple of years, from festival runs to club gigs in Ibiza and beyond. It’s been a joy to watch your rise.
I’d love to start by checking in: How’s 2025 been treating you so far, and what’s been lighting you up musically these days?
DJ Holographic:
Oh my god, thank you — I feel so honored to hear that! Honestly, I’m always journaling, meditating, trying to remind myself of the good but hearing praise like that is really grounding. It reminds me why I love what I do. I just love music so much — and when people connect with it, when it moves your soul, that connection is everything. It changes your mindset, your energy, and the people you attract.
This year, I’ve met incredible people, eaten amazing food, soaked up different energies. I’ve honestly been in this whirlwind of travel—bouncing between Europe and the U.S. every month, which I’ve never done before. I have Panorama Bar this weekend, very early Sunday morning. And then I head over to WHOLE Festival with my friend Jacob Meehan. I'm so excited for that.
Sainte Francis:
How have you been adjusting to these travel demands?
DJ Holographic:
It’s a lot on the body, but it’s also been so creatively rich. Just yesterday, I made a whole song in one day—never done that before! It was like something opened up. I’ve been back in my flow, finally. That spark is coming from all the experiences I’ve had lately.
And beyond the gigs, I’m still really focused on my astrology project and album, House In the Dark. The vinyl is dropping in the fall, which is super exciting as we’re getting a lot of orders. We're in Cancer season right now, so... yeah, I’m feeling all my feelings.
Sainte Francis:
I love that. I’m a Sagittarian, by the way, and loved that track on House in the Dark.
DJ Holographic:
Oh, same! Wait, when’s your birthday?
Sainte Francis:
November 28.
DJ Holographic:
Oooh, that’s a good one. Mine’s December 9. I’m a Sagittarius sun, Taurus moon, Scorpio rising.
Sainte Francis:
No way! I’m a Taurus moon as well.
DJ Holographic:
I love that. It took me a while to embrace my Taurus moon. I used to feel guilty for just wanting to chill on the couch with snacks, like I should be grinding 24/7. But I’ve realized—no, that’s me nourishing myself. That’s part of who I am. The astrology album really came from that place: understanding myself, accepting all the parts, and inviting others to do the same.
Sainte Francis:
It’s such a cool concept—telling your story through the houses of astrology. What inspired that format?
DJ Holographic:
I’ve always been into astrology. Growing up in Detroit, they used to do these club promos on the radio like: “Cancers get in free this weekend!” And my family was deep in it, too. My family members would be like, “We don’t talk to Geminis,” and I’d be like, “You’re too much!” (laughs)
But the real shift came when I learned about the astrological houses. Each one represents an aspect of the psyche: the self, the home, relationships, rebirth. When you go deeper into astrology—like really breaking it down by sign—it starts to tell a whole new story. It helped me understand the places I’ve struggled and why I felt the way I did. In my opinion, we’re all designed to be exactly who we are. But most of the time, we don’t realize that. We’re disconnected from our design.
Sainte Francis:
That’s beautiful. So, are your next projects continuing that storyline?
DJ Holographic:
Yeah, but in a kind of reversal. The first project was House in the Dark, exploring those quiet, hidden rooms. Now I want to do House in the Light to celebrate what it looks like when you’ve embraced those parts of yourself.
I’m also doing remixes and trying to roll it out slowly. I don’t want to rush it. I’m an independent artist, not Beyoncé! I can’t just drop a 12-track album overnight! (laughs)
Sainte Francis:
I call that slow-burn the rollout “Honey Dijon rollout”—like when she released Black Girl Magic via singles over the course of several years.
DJ Holographic:
I was actually inspired by Honey’s last rollout! She pulsed it out over time, let it simmer. I want to do something like that.
Sainte Francis:
Speaking of Honey—your work often feels so rooted in strong femme energy. You’re part of a legacy of powerful women in dance music, especially coming out of Detroit. How do you think about carrying that forward?
DJ Holographic:
That’s a good question. And honestly, something I have to remind myself of. Because the goal is always to uplift others. That includes femmes and also nonbinary people.
For me, it’s about creating safety—on stage, in the studio, in conversation. Femme energy isn’t just about being soft or emotional. It’s about receiving. I can’t fully give you my magic unless I feel safe to open up.
I talk about this all the time. I’ll say, “Don’t treat me like a man. I’m not here to push, push, push. I need security, space, warmth.” That’s when I’m at my best. And it’s the same with other artists. If they don’t feel held, they can’t bloom.
Sainte Francis:
That makes so much sense. DJ Minx talked about that, too, during a recent podcast—how, after crushing a big gig early in her career, people told her she “played like a man.” And she was like… what?
DJ Holographic:
Exactly! It’s so tired. We have to allow for all expressions of power, not just the aggressive ones. I think cities like Berlin and New York are getting better at this. Places like Basement, Wrecked, Carry Nation parties—they get it. They’re feeding a community, not just booking talent. That matters.
Sainte Francis:
Alright, let’s talk about Pines Party! This is your first time, right?
DJ Holographic:
Yes! I’m so excited. I’ve been hearing about Fire Island forever. It’s been on my wish list for years. I’ve always imagined it like a kind of adult Disneyland, honestly—this magical, queer, legendary space.
I never really plan sets in advance, but it’s going to be Leo season, and you know what that means. Big energy. Stars everywhere. Showstoppers. It’s going to be a night of fiery, creative looks—and the music will reflect that. Probably leaning more house than techno, but who knows. It’ll depend on the vibe in the room.
Sainte Francis:
Same here—I’ve never been to Fire Island either, so this is going to be a first for both of us.
DJ Holographic:
Come through! Let’s do this together. Leo season, Sagittarian energy… it’s about to be a cosmic celebration.
Sainte Francis:
What excites you most about playing a party with such a rich queer history?
DJ Holographic:
The legacy. The investment. Pines Party isn’t just a party. It’s a testament to perseverance, love, and chosen family. It’s generations of people holding space for each other, despite the odds. And that’s powerful.
I think our community sometimes forgets how much we give to culture, to society. But Fire Island is proof. The art, the style, the music. It all traces back. And when I see people who’ve never even met a gay person wearing harnesses or quoting ballroom culture, I’m like… where do you think that came from?
So yeah, I feel honored to play a space like that. It’s history. It’s magic.
Sainte Francis:
Completely. Okay, lightning round—what’s in heavy rotation for you right now?
DJ Holographic:
Alright! First up: Junior Boys’ “Like a Child” (Carl Craig Remix). So romantic. I’m actually inspired to rework it in some way.
Second: anything by Josh Caffé. He’s just got this energy. I had this moment at a gig in Frankfurt where the Martinez Brothers played one of his tracks before me, and I was like—"Wait! I wanted to play that!” We had a whole ki about it. (laughs)
Third: Janet Jackson’s Control era. I’ve been going through my vinyl lately, and Janet’s just... iconic. So many singles. So much style. Always an inspiration.
Sainte Francis:
Final question. I’ve always been curious: Where does the name DJ Holographic come from?
DJ Holographic:
I’m a nerd—I love Star Trek. My parents were in the Navy and obsessed with it. There’s this thing called the Holodeck where you can create any environment, any scenario. It stuck with me.
When I started DJing, I didn’t know what my sound was yet. It was dubstep and drum & bass at first. Now it’s more house, disco, techno—but I still leave room to change. At home, I might play hip-hop or R&B, or even rock, like Bloc Party. Holographic felt like the right word: fluid, dimensional, ever-evolving.
Sainte Francis:
Thank you so much for sharing your world with us. See you on the Island!
DJ Holographic:
Yes! Let’s make it a moment.
Catch DJ Holographic at the VIVID!: A Pool Party on Saturday, August 2nd, 1pm-6pm with Anthony Velez and Joey with the Mustache.
