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Since the venue opened in 2021, Sophie’s has hosted an array of disc jockeys, dedicated to setting the lounge’s musical atmosphere. While some have come and gone, a few have remained as resident DJs, welcoming both current and new fanbases to enjoy their vibe curation on designated nights.

The foundation’s Promotions and Event Manager Nanyamka Ewing says a new residency program aims to bring fresh perspectives to the turntables while advancing the DJ scene.

“We’ve been able to really capture the essence of the DJ scene in St. Louis, as well as extending out,� Ewing says.

The vision of the residency is two-fold: Ensure that patrons continue to seek out the venue as a space of creative optimism while helping St. Louis DJs expand their brands and develop in their craft. Selected DJs would be allotted one to two nights a month to spin at Sophie’s while broadening their professional fanbases and getting paid.

“We want to find joy, bring joy and give people opportunities to really grow into themselves,� Ewing says.

Local mix masters were invited to submit online applications between March and April for a chance to land a residency spot. Ewing says the foundation received an overwhelming number of applicants, with a healthy mix of seasoned professionals and fresh faces. With such an abundance of talent, she says, “it won’t be easy to pick� as the foundation prepares to announce residency winners in mid-May.

Currently, Sophie’s has a handful of resident DJs, including DJ Mahf, 18andcounting and DJ Sno. It also hosts other creative residencies, like the monthly burlesque show with St. Louis-based entertainer Hoopsie Daisy.

James Biko, formerly known as DJ Needles, has been a resident DJ at Sophie’s since it opened, DJing many of the venue’s Saturday night soirees like Fly by Night and Spin Deep. Knowing that the DJ plays a major role in setting the tone for the evening, Biko says he’s excited to see new faces mixing on the ones and twos.

“I want them to be as successful as we’ve been and really just continue on with giving the scene what it’s been missing,� Biko says.

Although Biko already had an established brand after being an on-air radio DJ in the early 2000s, the Sophie’s residency has allowed him to tap into a level of creative freedom other spaces don’t offer to DJs. Instead of sticking to a strict playlist, Sophie’s vibe leans more into artistic exploration that appeals to regular patrons and newcomers looking for a difference experience.

“I love being so free to try new things, to explore creatively and really bring something new to these crowds.�

Biko says it’s important for the community to remember that Sophie’s is a listening lounge, not a club. These unique creative spaces, where patrons can enjoy music, drinks and art in one place, are essential to the St. Louis nightlife scene.

“There should just be more options,� he says. “There shouldn’t just be a narrow type of thing for nightlife. Creatives want to party, too.�

Beyond evening fun, Biko says Sophie’s is also a place of discovery where guests come expecting to hear one style of music and accidentally fall in love with a song they’ve never heard before.

Now, patrons have a chance to fall head over heels for the new DJs preparing to take the reins at the artist lounge.

“I just want people to really recognize who and what they have in St. Louis and support it,� he says. “That’s the only way it’s going to strengthen and get bigger.�

Ewing agrees with Biko, saying that Sophie’s is a space where creatives can discover each other and make connections that’ll lead to future collaborations. With things constantly changing at the venue, Ewing has listened to patrons to find out what music they want to hear while gauging fresh creative themes to usher in with the new DJ residents.

“It’s almost like training your audience to know what to expect, but it’s still very unexpected at the same time,� Ewing says.

Although only four DJs will be chosen for this year’s residency, Ewing encourages applicants not to get discouraged if they aren’t chosen. Instead, Ewing says they intend to use the residency applicant pool as a go-to list for selecting DJs for future events at Sophie’s and across its Kranzberg partner venues like the Dark Room and the Grandel.

“We’re just really trying to connect all our resources, share it with our St. Louis audience and our artists and let them know there is a future in art,� she says.

Sophie’s DJ residency program will begin in June 2025 and run through the end of the year, with a second session running through the first quarter of 2026.