DJ Kelly Cole never plays the same set twice. His pleasure in djing comes from the jouney
and improvisation of the set. Learning to DJ in the 1980s, his is more of a disco aesthetic,
with no scratching, and no short edits. He plays the song. Drawing from 20+ years of
djing, he prides himself on an incomparable ability to read any crowd, from a fickle, rowdy
club dancefloor, to the most refined cocktail party. It’s all about tailoring the musical
landscape to the specific group in front of him. And indeed he has seen and done it all.
As a DJ, Venue Creator, Designer, and Actor, Cole is a lifelong veteran of the Entertainment,
Fashion, and Art worlds, and a pioneer in the event industry. A seminal figure on New
York’s late 80s/90s art and club scene, Cole was integral in creating many of Manhattan’s
most memorable nightspots and events, most notably as co-creator/operator of the
now-legendary SPY lounge, and rock and roll bistro BLACK AND WHITE. As a DJ, Cole has
played extensively at premier events in New York and Los Angeles and has held residences
at top clubs in both cities including Lot 61, Lotus, and Bungalow 8 in NY, and Trousdale,
Hwood, Hyde, Teddy’s and the Spider Club in LA. He has appeared as a guest DJ at
innumerable clubs in the US and Europe. His event clientele has included The Rolling
Stones, Madonna, Heidi Klum, Charlize Theron, and Brooke Shields as well as numerous
corporate clients.
Cole’s Legendary music-centric improvisational retail space/gallery and lifestyle brand,
Lo-Fi, was a favorite among the young Hollywood elite including Ben Harper, Johnny
Knoxville, Ashlee Simpson, and Winona Ryder. The Lo-Fi gallery hosted full-scale
exhibitions of the work of Mick Rock, Michael Muller, and Jeff Vespa. His new retail
location, Kelly Cole Extraordinarium, expands on the idea.
In addition to his retail and fashion businesses, Cole’s unique creative perspective has
contributed to the interiors and concepts of many businesses and private residences.