Revival and Resilience: A Conversation with Justin Cudmore
Justin Cudmore
Justin Cudmore has spent more than a decade shaping his presence in New York City’s dance music scene, bringing a Midwest sensibility from his Illinois roots to the city’s dancefloors. A DJ, producer, and label owner, he has released music on Honey Soundsystem and The Bunker, and co-runs Major Records alongside Carry Nation and Mike Servito, curating a catalog that blends historical New York underground sounds with modern queer energy.
From formative years at The Bunker to international bookings and milestone moments behind the decks — including sets at Panorama Bar — Cudmore’s performances move effortlessly between intimate underground spaces and celebrated club stages, always carrying a sense of connection and community. His career reflects both a dedication to craft and an unwavering commitment to the city’s music and social fabric. Ahead of UltraMaroon’s Season 7 opener at Eden, Sainte Francis caught up with Cudmore to talk about returning to the UltraMaroon floor, his journey, the ethos behind brands like Revival and Major Records, and what excites him most about the next chapter of New York nightlife.
Sainte Francis:
First off, thank you so much for doing this! We’re really excited to have you back at UltraMaroon. You’ve played the party a few times now, so could you talk a bit about what it feels like to return, especially for the Season 7 opener at Eden, a brand-new space?
Justin Cudmore:
Yeah, thanks for having me. I love Raf, I love the crew, and I’ve always had a great time playing. The first time I played UltraMaroon, it was at Blue Midtown. That’s when I really got introduced to the section of New York City that UltraMaroon has cultivated.
What really stuck out to me, besides the unique crowd, was Vivacious. She’s one of my favorite drag queens and a notable figure in the city’s nightlife. And the fact that she’s part of the UltraMaroon family is amazing. Friends would ask me, “You’re playing this thing in the city tonight — what is that?” And then they’d ask how it went. I’d tell them it was a great crowd, and Vivacious was dancing during my set. That made me feel like I was on the right track.
The second time I played an UltraMaroon party was at Red Eye, Vivacious was there again. I got a chance to talk with her, which meant a lot. Beyond that, the crew — the setup crew, the teardown crew — really feels like family. That’s endearing and cool. I’m excited to be back for the Season 7 opener, especially playing with Ladymonix, who I’m a fan of, and it’s nice to be invited to open a new space.
Sainte Francis:
Yeah, I had a similar experience. Vivacious was there when I played UltraMaroon at Musica for Pride a couple years ago. I dropped Tedd Patterson’s “Mama’s in the Kitchen” remix — she absolutely went off!
Justin Cudmore:
Exactly. Sometimes as a DJ, you look for a dancer like that, someone who gives you a little insight on the floor. If Vivacious is moving, I know I’m on the right track.
Sainte Francis:
You’ve been part of the New York scene for about a decade now. One thing UltraMaroon has been intentional about is keeping the party in Manhattan, even as so much nightlife has moved to the outer boroughs. Could you share your perspective on that?
Justin Cudmore:
I think it’s incredibly special, and hats off to the UltraMaroon team for continuing that lineage. When I moved here, there was Cielo in the city and Output in Williamsburg. I’ve watched the scene explode over the last thirteen years, and I’ve been doing this full time for about ten.
I started DJing in college in Chicago and moved here in 2013 with my boyfriend. I didn’t come with ambitions to become a DJ — I was always DJing on the side, buying records, making music on my computer. When I met Mike Servito, he mentored me, shared his music knowledge, and opened his gay NYC family to me and my boyfriend at the time. We started going to The Bunker and that’s when things really shifted. Mike helped nurture my talent and showed me that I could to turn my hobby into a career. We released a record together in 2016 on The Bunker, and things moved quickly after that.
Then, a lot of us DJs and artists really hit a wall during COVID. I was on what felt like a strong upward trajectory, and then everything stopped. It took years to rebuild.
But long story short, to come back to your question, we can't forget about Manhattan. And as much as love my little neighborhoods in Queens, and spaces like Basement and Public Records — it’s important to still pay homage to Manhattan. And I like that UltraMaroon is continuing to find new spaces in the city. That's not something can be forgotten.
Sainte Francis:
Coming out of COVID, you launched your party series Revival, which felt very intentional. How much did that moment shape what you wanted the party to be?
Justin Cudmore:
Revival started in partnership with Hue Hallums. After COVID, connection felt difficult. Things got dark. Clubs were dark, foggy, basement-oriented. We wanted to do a Sunday daytime party where people could actually connect. You’re in a different mindset — maybe you wear a nice shirt, have a cocktail, and talk to people. It’s a tea dance, a Sunday thing.
I love that daytime house energy. It’s something I really appreciate from Panorama Bar daytime sets, and it was missing in my New York sets. Revival let me explore that again and dig into music I hadn’t spent much time with. Opening Revival and setting the tone for the party felt great. We had guests like Derrick Carter, Lakuti, Tama Sumo, DJ Holographic, and DJ Minx. It was really about music, dancing, and community.
Sainte Francis:
Yeah, absolutely. You booked some of my all-time favorites on that party, it was such a pleasure to attend! And now, five years out from the start of COVID, nightlife feels like it’s at an interesting moment. From your perspective, what do you hope the next chapter looks like?
Justin Cudmore:
I hope it keeps moving upward, but with more focus on community. As things get bigger, it’s important to find spaces that feel healthy and supportive. Nightlife became a lot about escapism during and after COVID, which makes sense, but I think we’re at a turning point. There are healthier ways to engage — going out, hearing a DJ play, being present, meeting people, making new friends. Not everything has to be about forgetting the week. Sometimes that’s important, but there’s value in just being on the floor and listening to the music.
Sainte Francis:
Looking ahead a bit, what’s keeping you excited right now?
Justin Cudmore:
Major Records is entering its fifth year. I started it with Carry Nation, and we brought Mike Servito in last year. The four of us together is a really strong hive-mind. We’re close to our 40th release, with at least 12 more planned for the first half of the year. Curating that keeps me energized.
Last year, I had the huge pleasure of closing Panorama Bar. When the email came in, I spoke with Will, Nita, and Mike, and they were like, “Of course you have to do it.” That pushed me to face some fears and grow as a DJ. I was definitely scared — I’d never played that long before and had to have some 10-minute bathroom break tracks in my back pocket — but after a few hours, I was comfortable and in the zone. People were giving me advice like to change my socks or shoes to keep my feet fresh, but I didn’t. I definitely brought a lot of snacks, which kept me going.
Sainte Francis:
Oh, cool! Ladymonix also mentioned that closing Panorama Bar was a huge highlight for her last year.
Justin Cudmore:
Yeah, it was really something. Beyond that, I’ve been working on new music, including a potential release with Cromby on his Potency label. And 2026 marks 10 years of my release “Crystal” on Honey Soundsystem. I’ve been talking with Josh Cheon from Dark Entries about doing a re-release that incorporates more history about Crystal LaBeija and the ballroom scene.
I also partnered with Jeffrey Sfire on a new daytime event called J&J’s Repairs, which we’re doing in DIY spaces. That’s been a new challenge, but the response has been really positive.
Sainte Francis:
Justin, you have such an exciting 2026 lined up—congrats! And super excited to have it kick-off with UltraMaroon. This has been such a pleasure.
Justin Cudmore:
Thanks, I really appreciate it. Can’t wait.
Sainte Francis:
See you there!
Catch Justin Cudmore and Ladymonix at the UltraMaroon Season 7 Opener on Friday, January 9 at Eden NYC.
