She Thinks She's Fierce (And Is): A Conversation with Michael Cignarale
Michael Cignarale
Ahead of his UltraMaroon Pride appearance, New York DJ, producer, vocalist, and performer Michael Cignarale reflects on house music history, live performance, queer community, and the dance floor's power to unlock something deeper.
Before the interview even began, Michael had already spent more than an hour sharing production tips, dissecting works in progress, and offering feedback with the same generosity that has earned him a reputation throughout New York's dance music community. It's a fitting introduction to an artist whose career has been shaped as much by collaboration and mentorship as it has by his own creative output.
Over the last few years, Cignarale has become a distinctive voice in the underground dance music scene. As a DJ, producer, vocalist, and live performer, his work bridges the worlds of classic house music, queer nightlife, and contemporary club culture. His tracks draw from decades of dance music history while remaining firmly rooted in the present, infused with vocal flourishes, cinematic storytelling, and an unmistakable sense of personality.
That momentum has only accelerated in 2026. Between an expanding catalog of releases and remixes, increasing bookings across Europe, and a return to some of New York's most respected dance floors, Cignarale is entering one of the busiest chapters of his career. Ahead of his appearance at UltraMaroon Pride, spoke with Sainte Francis about the influences that continue to shape his sound and why every great dance track begins with a feeling.
Sainte Francis
Michael, it's nice to finally meet in person! We've known each other online for years at this point, but I realized before today that I couldn't actually remember how we first connected.
Michael Cignarale
Instagram!
Sainte Francis
Was it really?
Michael Cignarale
Yeah. I think you had posted one of your tracks. I commented on it, and then you sent me something you were working on. It was the one that sampled Paris Is Burning.
Sainte Francis
“Fundamental.” That was the first track I ever released.
Michael Cignarale
Yes, and I ended up putting it on one of my playlists, Dancefloor Drama.
Sainte Francis
Thank you for that! I've really enjoy watching everything you've been building. You've had a busy year already. What have been some of the highlights?
Michael Cignarale
Getting to DJ more in Europe has been huge. That's something I've wanted to do for a very long time. And getting asked back to play Basement. It's one thing to play somewhere once. Being invited back feels different.
What actually gave me the confidence to reach out to their team was hearing my own music played there. I was at Basement one night and heard “She Thinks She's Fierce” or one of its remixes three different times throughout the night. Then I heard another one of my tracks later on.
Now, this June will be my third time playing there.
Lately, I've actually had a surreal few moments where I've walked into rooms and one of my tracks was already playing. That's been pretty wild. One night I was being introduced to a couple of people, and they asked what kind of music I made. Right as they asked, “She Thinks She's Fierce” came on in the club we were in.
I was like, "Well, this is one of them."
Sainte Francis
So, you don't think you're fierce. You are fierce. (laughs)
One thing I think people might not realize about you is that your musical background actually starts long before DJing and production.
Michael Cignarale
My musical journey starts with classical music. I've been a classical singer since I was around 11 or 12 years old. I spent about a decade doing that, and then I discovered house music and nightlife and pretty much walked away from classical music completely. Nightlife led me into DJing. DJing led me into production.
Then when I was getting back into DJing, one of my friends, Sam TBD, encouraged me to start experimenting with live performance. It became a staple at the party we started, Medusa. We'd play together and he'd literally hand me a microphone and say, "Do something."
A lot of the vocals that eventually ended up on my records started in those moments. We'd be in a room full of people and I'd just make something up. That was the moment I realized I could actually bring singing into nightlife.
Now my vocals are something I use when it feels right. I think of it the same way another DJ might think about an acapella. Sometimes it brings a lot of energy into a room. Sometimes people just want to dance. You have to read the room.
Sainte Francis
One thing that's always stood out to me is that you're not just a producer, DJ, or a vocalist. You're a performer. There are a lot of different elements at play.
Michael Cignarale
I think all of those things inform one another. The singing informs the production. The production informs the DJing. The DJing informs the live performance. They all kind of feed each other.
Sainte Francis
You've been producing dance music for about a decade now, too. What's that journey looked like?
Michael Cignarale
There's almost a dividing line between making music and releasing music. Once I started releasing records, everything changed. You become more confident. You meet more people. One person teaches you something, then another person teaches you something, and it keeps building.
Honestly, production has probably been the best way for me to find community. It's introduced me to so many people. I could do it all day. If I could spend every day making music, I would.
When I first started taking production seriously, I almost viewed it as a calling card. It was a way to introduce people to my point of view as a DJ and artist. Then somewhere along the way I realized I genuinely love the process.
This is how I want to spend my time.
Sainte Francis
Something that struck me while we were talking earlier is how intentional you are about building a world around your tracks. Even when you're talking about a remix, you're thinking about a specific moment, a specific reaction, a specific feeling. Why is that?
Michael Cignarale
I can answer that very plainly. I didn't start as a DJ. I didn't start as a producer. Honestly, in this world, I didn't even start as a singer. What I started as was a dancer. That's the thing that sits underneath everything.
I love house music, but I'm also always thinking about how people are going to dance to something. If I'm making a track, what do I hope happens when somebody hears it? Not just rhythmically, but emotionally?
There's usually some kind of visual in my head. Sometimes it's just a snippet or a feeling, but that's usually where things begin. Then I build from there. A huge part of my process is listening. I'll put a track in my headphones, walk around, dance to it, hum melodies, imagine new directions for it.
More recently, because I'm DJing more often, I'll play unfinished tracks out and hear what's missing. Sometimes I'll hear something in another record and think, "That's the thing." Then I'll go back into the studio and continue building.
The dance floor tells you a lot.
And a lot of my music tends to live in a handful of emotional spaces. Some of it is very turned-out and horny. Some of it is fierce. Some of it is about femininity. A lot of it is about release.
One of the things I love about queer dance floors is that they've historically been places where people could access parts of themselves that maybe didn't have room elsewhere. A dance floor is an opportunity to unleash all that inner femininity.
Sainte Francis
Earlier you mentioned a remix where you intentionally carved out an entire breakdown for hair-flips.
Michael Cignarale
Yeah! I was working on a remix for Fugaz, and I literally carved out almost an entire minute-long breakdown just for drag queens to flip their hair to.
That's how my brain works. I think that's also why I enjoy remixing so much. People probably come to me because they want a certain sound, but I usually see a remix as an opportunity to experiment. I've made jungle remixes. I've made acid house remixes. I've made ballroom-inspired remixes. I don't really want them all to sound the same.
A remix gives you permission to play.
Sainte Francis
You've also spoken a lot about music history. Who are some of the people that continue to inspire you?
Michael Cignarale
Junior Vasquez is a huge one. Danny Tenaglia. DJ Pierre. Chicago house. Early New York house.
I always go back to the source. Every time I revisit those records, I hear something new.
Lately I've also been listening to a lot of electroclash. Tiga has been really inspiring me recently. There's something about that early-2000s energy that still feels fresh.
Sainte Francis
Who are some people closer to home that continue to inspire you?
Michael Cignarale
Without a doubt, Carry Nation.
What I love about Carry Nation is that their work is deeply rooted in house music history, but it never feels nostalgic. It never feels retro. It feels completely present. I feel like good art is always in conversation with what came before it.
They're also incredible mentors. Whenever you're lucky enough to be in their orbit, they're willing to share advice about production, DJing, nightlife—whatever they can. I've learned a lot from them.
Sainte Francis
You've got a packed June coming up.
Michael Cignarale
I think this is the first June where I'm DJing every single week. I'm going back to Pittsburgh, which is one of my favorite crowds. I'm playing Berlin for the first time. I'm playing Chattanooga Pride. There's a lot happening, and I'm really excited about all of it.
Sainte Francis
And then, of course, UltraMaroon.
Michael Cignarale
UltraMaroon actually has a really special place in my heart.
When I first moved to New York, it was one of the first parties I really went to regularly. Some friends brought me there and we had an absolute blast.
When I think about UltraMaroon, I think about meeting people and building friendships. People throw around the word “community” a lot, but I think that's one thing UltraMaroon genuinely does well. I've met people there who became real friends. Not just people I see at parties, but people I've spent time with outside of nightlife too.
That's always what I think about when I think of UltraMaroon.
Sainte Francis
Everybody says that.
Michael Cignarale
Because it's true. And Pride is always special. There are certain songs that become Pride songs. They're almost like Christmas carols. Everybody knows them. Everybody loves them. They exist for a reason.
I'm excited to find ways to play some of those records without necessarily playing those records. There are so many powerful gay anthems, and those songs sustain your spirit for the entire year. And honestly, I think my usual self is Pride enough.
Sainte Francis
Ok, final few rapid fire questions.
Michael Cignarale
Let’s do it.
Sainte Francis
Three tracks heavy in your rotation right now?
Michael Cignarale
Just Come (Raphi’s Main Mix) by Cool Jack
Viciosa (In-Progress Mix) by Valeria Vix
The Return (Girl Unit Remix) by The Carry Nation
Sainte Francis
One track that always hits, no matter the room, the time of day, or where you are in the world?
Michael Cignarale
Morel's Diva's - All You Boys and Girls Get On Up (Morel's Pump Mix)
Sainte Francis
What something people don’t know about you?
Michael Cignarale
I make all my graphics, art and music videos.
Sainte Francis
That’s a wrap! See you in a few weeks!
Michael Cignarale
See you then!
Catch Michael Cignarale with Morabito at UltraMaroon Pride on Thursday, May 25 at Eden NYC.
