Carol Sharks is a girl who loves to party and has been doing it on the New York scene for over a year. Alongside fellow DJ and boyfriend Joshua Wildman, these two crank up the heat in the Lower East Side. Next time you're feeling cool, just ask yourself whether or not you've partied with Bill Murray or bummed cigarettes from Chloe Sevigny at a young age. If the answer is no, then you're not as cool as the maiden of Thursday nights at Darkroom, the dirtiest dance party in town-- in the best sort of way.
NiteSIde caught up with DJ Carol Sharks about her band, what she misses about the NYC party scene, and how Lindsay Lohan can ruin a great venue with just one visit.
Have you had any memorable nightlife encounters over the last decade? What about a standout party? I used to think it was hilarious to keep bumming cigarettes from Chloe Sevegny at the Hole when I was really young. I didn't even smoke, it just cracked me up. Celebrities are always funny to me. Who knows what's going on with them when they come out of the spotlight and hang out with the rest of us. I party everyday. I feel at home when I'm out. So celebrities always seem like a guest on my turf and a lot of the time they look pretty stressed out. One time, after having dinner with Bill Murray and Jenny Lewis, I took Bill to Lit and the place went mad. When hipsters lose their cool. ...That was that night -- we had to get a security guard to create a blockade just so we could chillout behind the DJ booth.
Tell me more about White Diamonds. How do you know Prince Terrance and when did you guys decide to get together? My favorite description of White Diamonds came from the 92 St Y website. "If the Coney Island Mermaid parade got knocked up by a Waterworld drifter while getting baked on a Friday night in billiburg and their spawned love-children formed a dancepunk/nu rave band, they might call themselves White Diamonds." - Discosalt. We're recording our first EP currently. It's taking forever.
Terry and I met through my boyfriend, Josh Wildman. They were DJing at Avenue together. Terry's kinda quiet, he picked me. He'd seen me perform and asked me to play keys for Hussle Club. He's a really great musician and I'm psyched to be a part of Hussle Club. It's a club, I was recruited. The Darkroom party fell into place at just the right time. The owner had offered me the night, and I just thought to ask Terry if he wanted to join forces. We're a good team, people like to party with people who love to party.
What are your favorite tracks to spin, perform and/or dance to? I love punk music, but it doesn't always mix into a dance party. I like to play jams people are familiar with so they light up and spaz out. 2009 Tracks form Passion Pit, YACHT, XX, Discovery, Major Lazer, obviously Pheonix and Lady Gaga, though they're burning out quickly. ... Then I like to throw in older 90s like En Vogue, Whitney Houston.
Darkroom has a bit of a reputation for throwing some of the dirtiest dance parties in NYC. I think that's a compliment, you? Darkroom is really freaking dark. It's like walking through a fog sometimes I don't see my favorite friends right in front of me! Hell, it's the Lower East Side, it should be dark and dirty.
You and Josh are both DJs. How does that affect real life for you guys? Hahaha - real life? Is DJing not real? We're living everyday doing whatever we wanna do -- it's fantastic. Where's the award for best downtown night life couple? It's a match. No one can keep up with me but him and no one can keep up with him but me.
