Real Scenes: New York | Resident Advisor

Not too long ago, it looked like New York's glory days as a center for dance music had passed. As the birthplace of disco and hip-hop and the home of legendary nightclubs like the Paradise Garage, Limelight and Twilo, the city has long been part of the cultural fabric. But as the notoriously grimy city of the late 20th century transformed into the sleek and hyper-gentrified metropolis of today, its thriving underground lost its foothold.
New Yorkers have long flourished under adversity, though, and its now bustling party scene is a testament to this. Promoters, producers and DJs jumped the East River to establish Brooklyn as a new creative center. Lofts and warehouses filled the void left by Manhattan's shuttered nightclubs, and a new generation of producers is infusing the city's musical legacy with the sounds of the international scene. But the luxury condos rising along the waterfront are a constant reminder that the city's relentless evolution could easily stamp things out again. We burrowed deep for our latest Real Scenes film, discovering how some of the key players in this vast scene are hustling hard to make it last.
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NY Real Scenes was produced in collaboration with this months New York edition of the Red Bull Music Academy. For a full list of upcoming Academy events across the city click here: www.redbullmusi...
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Music in order of appearance:
Steve Moore - Frigia [L.I.E.S.] 2011
Marcos Cabral - 24 Hour Flight [L.I.E.S.] 2011
Sepalcure - Carrot Man [Hotflush Recordings] 2011
Alex Burkat - Shower Scene [Mister Saturday Night Records] 2013
Alex Burkat - Ammadomyownthing [Mister Saturday Night Records] 2013
Archie Pelago (live recording) 2013
Falty DL - For Karme [Ninja Tune] 2013
Sepalcure - Outside [Hotflush Recordings] 2011
Paradis - Je M'Ennuie [Beats In Space Records] 2012
DJ Romain - All Day, All Night [Romatt Music / King Grooves] 1996 & 2010
Braille - A Meaning [Hotflush Recordings] 2011
Credits:
Producer and Director - Patrick Nation
Associate Producer - Jordan Rothlein
Editor - Sim Higginson
Executive Producers - Paul Clement, Ryan Keeling, Nick Sabine, Ed Williams
Camera: Dan Higginson, Sim Higginson, Patrick Nation, George Nevin (www.georgenevin...)
Production Manager - Lisa Telfer Brunton
Film Production - Clockwise Media

[@djexitvideos]

as a new yorker usually around winter i start feeling down and i come and watch this documentary and it inspires me to keep going for the love of music

[@mossy84]

"You have to work, pay your bills, and put food on the table man" Yeah...That's pretty much how it is everywhere.

[@zerof0x1]

new york city is an entirely different animal

[@SIl_Ae]

right, but the COST OF LIVING HERE IS ABSURD.

[@matiasss550]

you don't even know what inflation means, wtf?! you are pussy when talking about struggling and cost of living

[@plundaphonikz2570]

NYC Is rated to be some of the most expencive cities to live. Some people work 2 jobs just to pay rent, Then you gotta hustle for food and other shit. Not even speaking about creative endeavors and the money you have to invest into that. Big Propz to the New Yorkers

[@andrewlavore1447]

If you didn’t grow up here you don’t get it absurd doesn’t justify the cost of living compared to just about anywhere in the US

[@langlanggalang]

Drama queens.. first world problems. I'm going to watch the Johannesburg one again to lift my spirits after that emo shytt.. Joburg (where they have real problems)

[@Lancey999]

I hate entrepreneurial crap, I hate corporations, I hate the rich. The underground scenes, the real creative wacky people are for me. That's not me trying to be cool, that's just embracing being human and not being a slave to money. These real scene videos are comforting to watch, it's good to know there are many communities around the worldvwho share my viewpoint.

[@yushpeaceandlove]

Loved this - hearing these guys reminded me of how huge NYC is - not in its real estate but more in its density, diversity and infrastructure and to survive in it - doing creative work is very difficult so the ones who endure are legends.

[@etiiiiiii]

One of the best Real Scenes documentary out there. Although it probably depicts quite accurately the current scene in New York, I was kind of taken aback by the negativity. These people all share a passion, and I find it sad that they are not able to look past the daily struggles and enjoy what they have created and are creating. This is easier said than done, but perhaps a more open mindset would lead to even more creativity and even better, livelier scene. Good luck to all you musicians, promoters and music-enthusiasts out there!

[@interracial2564]

if you want a lively scene kill the elite

[@daz2640]

I think New York has a nightlife, but only for people who can afford it. The type of clubs where you pay a month salary for a drink and where music is played that you hear 20 times on the radio. The best underground scenes are in Europe, no doubt about that.

[@plusfuture]

born and raised on LI, tons of weekends in flushing and FH. went to college in NYC. been living in Japan for over 3 years now but damn this makes me miss home

[@foreverseethe]

I'm grew up in LI too. did BMCC in manhattan. In Italy 10 years now.

[@calypsoinferno]

Typical old guard mentality New Yorkers have: "I'm so much more New York than you can ever be". Get over yourselves and change and welcome. No wonder your scene is a stagnant pool of ego.

[@billie44]

These people are not real New Yorkers

[@SIl_Ae]

except i'd have to say your totally incorrect about that. i mean, you posted this three years ago, but there is a massive shift in the culture occurring here. stagnation is brought about by these types of changes, not what has been here. that sai, i do agree that (although i enjoy the scene here) it is a lot of the same kind of music. but within that similar genre (house), there is a LOT of variety and lots of international talent coming in. but one last thing. there absolutely is a difference between someone who's lived here without privilege and someone moving here because of their privilege.

[@andrewlavore1447]

Mayb I’m blind to it but inside the walls of the right venue and the djs set turning the chaos into magic everyone had something in common the music so it really didn’t matter who you were if you were there for the music

[@Chuubie]

All I gotta say is, the underground scene is BOOMING in NYC rn and has been for the past few years. It's a really really great time to be in this city for electronic music. RA should do an updated documentary for NYC next year!

[@Chuubie]

Dance Bitch's party maps are usually pretty good to follow to find a party that fits your personal tastes: thump.vice.com/en_us/article/we-made-an-epic-party-chart-to-ensure-your-new-years-eve-in-nyc-doesnt-suck

[@djexitvideos]

I live in New York City, every time I feel down and out like im done with this city in the past 3 years ive come back to this documentary and it really inspires me and give me hope for the future, the words of these people the music and the great technical ability of the people who put this together, meaning everyone at RA that had any say in this makes shitty days worth living, and for everyone who doesnt understand this and doesnt live here i can only tell you that this is 100% real and i live it every day.

[@interracial2564]

micro parties makes you happy .vs the amazing scene you used to have ?

[@johnwalcott4453]

This hit the spot man...this is REAL NYC. Nobody EVER gets the real shit.

[@IElrekkaI]

opening track is steve moore - frigia and track at 4:44 is marcos cabral - 24 hour flight

[@Yado03]

Mr Saturday nigth on the Sundays summer session!!!!!! Feel like back home!! Just about music, groove and community!!! Love it.... Thanks RA

[@BrailleSounds]

I miss these guys. What a time. Happy to have been a part of it. ❤

[@johnnypal716]

man. I left Brooklyn 5 years ago and this really makes me feel like I missed out on something beautiful taking shape.

[@shygirl8000]

This video is such a perfect summary of what is New York. I though I was the only one thinking that way.

[@motionvoho]

A Very slick production about inspirational and extremly interesting people. Thanks for sharing

[@StrangeProphet]

This is an amazing documentary.

[@brigitteiodine142]

these are all so wonderfully shot and the narrative is also beautiful....dope

[@Hsv587]

It’s hilarious you watch the London one and it’s all about the mix of diversity and joy that the best scenes bring. I get the idea of the politics of clubbing and the wider city, I mean look at Sydney... Clubbing is meant to be political of course, but it should be about escapism and freedom in the environment in which you find yourself as well.

[@StarvingPoet]

there will always be some good underground stuff like this just based on the size of the city, but it looks like the majority of nyc and a lot of other global cities have become very suburbanized and/or just become playgrounds for the cosmopolitan rich

[@saschai]

Where are the black people !!!!!!

[@rine303]

output in brooklyn was dope

[@ritec]

Awesome video series as usual! I identified a lot with this one, living in Williamsburg from 2005 until 2009 being displaced to Crown Heights because the rent had massively gone up and then ultimately getting away from the city because I needed to go live in a "small village". Thanks again RA

[@n8spectacular]

This was amazing! Pretty real and true to life. I ❤ BROOKLYN! It's got the best vibes and this film captured a small slice of the underground scene! Im so glad they focused on the loft party scene. It may have vanished already, but a few years back, there were hardly any clubs and loftlife was where you could get the good music and partylife!!!

[@cmeyer1977]

those guys speak so much sense .......respect the past embrace the future , only looking back for reference ......if you look bk for anything else it depresses you

[@Chpimpas]

The guy with the wool hat is cool!!!

[@mybeatFix]

Way too dramatic, we think. You have to hustler in NYC, sure, but there is a really positive energy flowing in Brooklyn right now from a lot of event producers and people that weren't mentioned here. As beautiful as it was, this piece didn't mention all the awesome stuff happening in NYC and BK. Read more on our site!

[@crtdust]

I was walking downtown in Athens yesterday. There was a group of 5 South Africans dancing like crazy and singing and clapping - I bought a cd and they were smiling a lot. 100 meters away there was a UK 'songwriter' playing achingly slow and melancholic Bon Iver covers.

[@54lash]

So true. I have lived in both and I think what they are saying is true for any art industry in any location!

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Breathtaking!

[@Zen5656]

I first thought this is another paradise garage storytelling but it turned out way better.

[@garygrant2000]

When has liking Rap music, house music and jazz ever been weird?

[@hannawn3971]

Who made this? This does not reflect the electronic scene in nyc at all. What about 718 sessions, Soul Summit, and before Cielo closed Roots?

[@yankeenut24]

Yest, there are tough cities all over the world, no one said there weren't. These people are speaking from their experience, and it is exceptionally difficult to stay afloat in ny. the cost of living is really high, and keeps going up.

[@AedyAte]

Big up to RA and our beast coast brothers/sisters to the north NYC represent!

[@CeciliaMiaoTV]

is there a real scenes: chicago in the making?

[@copyqueen10]

+Cecilia Miao right!? been waiting for a while now

[@chico1342]

i wish chicagos scene was more inclusive, i’ve encountered a lot of clique - ish behavior here

[@DjShadowsound265]

I see why people are criticizing the things they're saying here but I notice something here. New York has always been about the hustle and business and making money, the home of finance and wall street and moving fast to the next big opportunity etc. Creativity is something that takes time, cities like Berlin and Paris are much slower paced and they have a lot of room for people to experiment and live creatively, and New York may lack that and the people who are creative there and want to be creative and artistic are not in the ideal environment and so they either adapt to the new ways or they move on/die (figuratively).

[@FlowPhille]

Track id 00:00 - 04:40: Steve Moore-Frigia

[@annawester2865]

Oh god, how could RA try to make a video about the NYC club scene and not ask for the opinion from one single woman. Haha lol, this video does obviously not represent the reality here in New York.

[@amaldc-brc]

or anyone who wasnt white

[@KaisTTE]

Real talk, Ron & Francis!

[@metaldeath0]

Headed to NY this winter. Awesome content

[@shlotion]

this is a very genuine portrayal of current new york.

[@bingrim]

Where's the Black and Latino people at??? Wtf! One dude on this thing says... "As much as there is a tradition and as much as there's a sense that there's a history, culturally in New York, THERE'S NO REAL SENSE THAT YOU HAVE TO ADHERE TO IT OR THAT YOU'RE BEHOLDEN TO IT....FOH!!

[@bingrim]

You got some cool cats in this doc. Can't knock it too hard. Some elements of pioneering and passion lie within the few individuals, but it offers complaints placed by people who live up around displaced people of color inside of OG NY. Poor brooklynites.

[@motogte]

Depressing to see how far nyc has fallen same can be said about London at the moment two places that are over populated by wannabe's out for themselves, Id like to see more docs about the smaller cities that actually have thieving club scenes and artists adding to the scene check out Ireland Belfast, Dublin and Derry were creative musicians are common and there are no shortage of underground parties with electric atmospheres.

[@tris421]

Londons still got way more going on than NY. Well it was last time i was there a couple of years ago. Although i think the last year in NY more stuff was happening again. But yeah London is full of underground parties with electronic atmosphere. I mean i guess its not even underground in London.

[@raedius_music]

hbe421 London has a thriving commercial scene as of 2018 I would say the underground element is about 5% compared

[@SDMOBILEDISCO]

I wanted to hear more about the parties and the nightlife scene.

[@KindOfLittleSalty]

Where the black people and spanish people? Hiphop, graffiti, salsa, freestyle etc were created by this cultures in nyc.... Also, Brooklyn ? There a way better underground scene in the Bronx....

[@djexitvideos]

there isnt its barely starting

[@asylumDAYS]

New York is by a Lot of people arround the world, are a Lot of things

[@Teejel]

Why is everything about identity? Why judge a book by its cover? Why do human physical traits matter more than culture itself? Is nothing objective anymore? Races of people aren’t different species.

[@JosephMarchitect]

Makes me love Johannesburg even more...

[@sirlordcomixx1]

Very touching on some of the scenes in NY.Gr8

[@Divinitykim]

Such an amazing documentary, it's truly inspiring and raw for someone young like me aspiring to make it there! Love that concrete jungle where dreams are made of.

[@jabari]

Amazing work, incredible! Very thorough

[@kylesullivan9595]

Maybe I watched a different video than you and Mr Dubstep from pristine NYC did, but the video I watched captured the passion for the industry, and the desire to keep the trendy wannabe celebrities out of it, and yeah, some classically jaded NYkers that existed long before RA event dreamed of making such a video. I don't think anyone is saying it isn't difficult to live in other places, but New York isn't a walk in the park, especially with the influx of the wannabe VIP celebrity dorks.

[@BrendanJack]

Seems to be mostly bearded white dudes in NYC/Brooklyn. Good job RA, keep the cities coming.

[@calvinguile1315]

I’ve been watching all of these Real Scenes series, and it sucks how all of the cities in the world have the same problem, the powers that be don’t want anything to do with culture or especially dancing and music, mainly electronic music 😢

[@samlang8542]

Loved this keep em coming

[@celadonjade5622]

just ran into this video..great..enjoyed it

[@josephhertzberg2734]

Rip club Vinyl Hudson and Hubert Dance Ritual Body&Soul Shelter I miss you

[@cordelljohnson1060]

My boy Sonny Daze in A-1 hanging out...@6:26. Respect to Mr. Saturday Night Crew, I've heard about their parties and I have a couple of things on their label... I see Francis from Dope Jams and Hitomi @19:25!!

[@PhumlaniNkosiyaphaNtshangase]

??? What is the name/title of that Live tune by Archie Pelago, sounds very fresh!

[@Mickla]

im 40 seconds in and all im hear is NY must be the only city where you have to pay rent and buy things to survive.....unlike everywhere else in the world ever.

[@Yado03]

This is not depressing, just Shows the battle of keeping the real Underground and puRe culture of electronic music in NYC, a real music lover would understand 100% what are they talking about and why show it so real and sentimental. I moved in to NYC 4 years ago from DR(little island in the Caribbean) coming to the big city looking for the electronic music community and the hit manhattan "so disappointed" the. After 2 years by mistake one Sunday of summer hanging out in Brooklyn got into

[@MAMP]

This is a pretty solid take on where it stands though. NY dance scene is in a weird place right now.

[@placid212]

Great piece!

[@buble55]

Part two of an awesome interview with Queen's producer Madteo! talks about the accuracy of This Video (RA's NY Real Scene) Mister Saturday Night, the roots of Studio 54, Ethnic music bars in Queens, Tin Pan Alley, thrashed vinyl and flea markets amongst other things. Great insight into the music scene in other areas of NY! bodytonicmusic (dot) com/words/2013/may/29/clousure-and-communication-madteo-interviewed-ii/

[@rollyhustle]

Really starts to pick up around 9:00. Mister Saturday Night Feature is good. Seems similar to what Wolf + Lamb has going on. Would be nice to have something on the Marcy. "If you don't work and make money and eat, you die." Sounds like everywhere else in the world. So profound. You know where else it's extremely expensive? Paris...Berlin... Oh, other places RA has featured. No one in any of those videos complained about working. This is about music.

[@dekindzondervader522]

Actually enjoyed viewing this video, I can imagine some things they're saying are a bit exeggerated but still a good vid. How about a Real Scenes: Amsterdam? Would love to see that!

[@codyblaise9825]

what song is playing when they are in the record store and the guy in the brown beanie spins a vinyl?

[@1800KLIENFELD]

NYC FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!

[@anotherytnameyk]

i hope london is next! thanks for this one

[@AlexVilla88]

please come to Romania and make a documentary about Bucharest underground night life , you guys will be amazed :)

[@skiprage9466]

Thank You,

[@AudiodOughnuts]

Mister Saturday Night, inspiring rave makers all over the world.

[@ashes57]

Such a good documentary !

[@DaSkeeZer1]

Love this series

[@llennonbrown]

I find it hilarious the real scenes set in south Africa was über up beat and really up lifting (south Africa is genuinely quite fucked up) and then the contrast with these guys in the intro with their first world problems....

[@mattrob5422]

Completely agree lol

[@Lautre343]

still missing track ID at 10:00. anybody?

[@razordefined]

love that line.."anythang goes wrong in what you do..your fucked!"

[@vf1skull1]

You guys need to do one of these on st. Louis

[@aksa8c]

"No dancing allowed"!!! In NY? I'd thought that's where dancing began.

[@correaplayz01nunya93]

I get what the one dude said about in hard times, people party hard, you gotta let go and release sometimes..

[@dagoblinn2350]

I lived in New York & Montreal in the mid to late (90's no more.Love being creative wish I could live in New YorK ..Im In small town now so I can survive and crteate

[@jeffrichter8224]

So good!

[@JohnLRice]

Well done and interesting!

[@mundano]

Archi Pelago's track title is missing. Does anyone know the name of that track?

[@timhogenboom8008]

On 10:46 you see some decoration at the party, is someone able to help me how to find this stuff? It looks awesome! Love the documentary!

[@ColourSoundAudio]

Alex Burkat - new favourite producer...

[@joby92]

7:54 Queensboro Bridge, as seen from Roosevelt Island tram

[@richardbaker2701]

This channel is some of the realest shit on the internet

[@ctmexperiment]

I think many people are missing the point of this doc. It's not about ALL scenes, or even the history, it's about what's currently happening in the underground aka the real scene... not what goes on at Pacha or Provocateur or other mainstream fist pump bottle popping nightclubs. If you want that there are a million other videos with Tiesto or Paul Van Dyk you can check out. I'm sure Electric Zoo has videos circulating around.

[@facedorateur]

WHAT ARE THE TRACKS THAT YOU USED FOR THE SOUNDTRACK!!!!

[@abyadb]

big.up dr.nick!

[@CPUGODdubstep]

I agree. I'm a New Yorker and I still found this to be rather preachy and whiny. Yes, gentrification was bad before the internet, but would you rather deal with continuous poverty, broken homes, and a music scene that only exists by GETTING AWAY WITH ITS OWN EXISTENCE? I am part of the NYC underground music scene and I know from personal experience that it is not impossible to exist and form a community within an increasingly more pristine environment. I don't expect any better from RA, though.

[@carminedegennaro5759]

the amazing scene

[@SobayoSowemimoCoker]

Good documentary

[@MathematicianDr]

This video should be renamed: "Pretentious grumpy hipsters full of resentment".

[@christianrgartrell]

Thats nyc

[@djustin9819]

steve moore frigia, great pick for intro

[@JohnSanjay123]

That's not victor from Washington heights at 6:20 by any chance!!!

[@SRDhain]

Woah. ..This makes NYC sound like the last place in the world you'd want to be , for longer than a week. The hustle and being on your feet is part of living in any big metropolis. That's irrespective for everyone , bar those who have live in butlers et al & are perpetually chauffeur driven. Each to their own , but that's their luck and karma , too. It's swings and roundabouts.

[@PipinhoSnow]

:) Great images