Brooklyn DJ and producer Will Buck utilizes his musical expertise to produce top-of-the-line programming for the new venue.
If you’re looking for a refreshing, intimate venue in the heart of Brooklyn, then look no further than Jolene Sound Room. Located at the luxurious Moxy Williamsburg hotel, this state-of-the-art sound space is equipped with retro-themed decor, sonorous acoustics, and Marquee-style lighting. With its grand opening back in March, Jolene Brooklyn is the first prototype of the Jolene concept. It also marks the first formal partnership between Bar Lab Hospitality, Space Invaders, and Link Miami Rebels. The second edition, Jolene Miami, just opened its doors a few weeks ago.
Jolene Sound Room Brooklyn upholds a vision inspired by the past and built for the future and invites club-goers, young and old. Pushing the envelope of DJ-driven experiences, Jolene sheds light on local Brooklyn artists as they perform the best house, techno, and disco the scene has to offer. Brooklyn local Will Buck is responsible for coordinating the musical catalog week-to-week.
I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts with nowhere to go out or party, so DJing in clubs really appealed to me. I started when I was in college in Florida in 2005. I would hand out flyers on campus and we played on CDs back then. I met a lot of people and got to play in some cool places and eventually it became less about partying and more about the music. For the last ten years I’ve been living in Brooklyn, DJing, making music and building my label, Off Track.
Will Buck
Exhibiting a strong passion for the art of DJing, he brings a “good understanding of the scene but not a lot of experience as a booker,” he says. “I knew what parties I liked and what DJs were doing cool stuff, but not how to run a club.” So he expanded his knowledge and used his resources as a DJ/Producer to help prepare him for the job. His experience, combined with his roots in the Brooklyn music scene, is the perfect recipe for success in the Programming Director role. But how did he first connect with the team behind Jolene?
Elad Zvi created the concept of Jolene originally with a space that he was introduced to in downtown Miami, which is now Jolene Sound Room Miami (just opened in May). He and my best friend David Sinopoli, who lives in Miami, approached me to be involved with the Brooklyn concept at Moxy Williamsburg. I helped by being a guide to the neighborhood and introducing them to some of the local DJs and promoters.
Will Buck
Jolene Brooklyn | Photo Credit: Michael Kleinberg
As the venue’s Programming Director, he says his day-to-day duties are “a bit hectic.” Not only are you constantly on the hunt for booking breakthrough artists, but you also have to maintain the venue’s brand and reputation while doing so. And when you’re in constant competition with other venues in one of the biggest cities in the world, it’s imperative to find ways to make yours stand out.
The challenges so far have been building our team and creating the processes we need to execute well-organized shows 3 or 4 times a week. Also there’s a lot of talented promoters and bookers in NY who are competing for the attention of the crowds here and we’ve had to find our place in the mix. I’m fortunate to have the Space Miami and III Points team behind me to help and make connections.
Will Buck
Will Buck has even had the honor to play a set or two in Jolene himself. He says, “I feel very grateful to have the opportunity to do it. It’s a big platform to be in charge of, and I take that responsibility seriously.” However, his main focus is “filling the summer calendar with the best line-ups that I can. I’m looking for interesting pairings and ways to connect the dots between DJs and parties that reach different crowds. I aim to deliver consistent cool programming and keep introducing new talent.”
Looking to the near future of Jolene Sound Room Brooklyn, many exciting plans are in the works. To give you a taste of what’s to come, Will reveals, “Some legends are coming to play the room this summer. A few we’ve got lined up are Maurice Fulton, Karizma, Tony Humphries, Soul Clap, and Crazy P Soundsystem. Some DJs I’d love to have play, Theo Parrish, DJ Harvey, and Mr. G.”
Jolene Sound Room fills a gap between small hi-fi rooms and bigger 400+ person electronic music venues…Guests can expect quality music, great drinks and a diverse crowd. I hope that people will leave Jolene happy and want to come back regardless if they know who’s playing or not.
Will Buck
Jolene Sound Room Brooklyn is open Thursday through Sunday from 10pm-4am, so follow them and check out their upcoming events to experience this one-of-a-kind venue first-hand.
Kennedy's passion for electronic dance music runs deep. After discovering EDM back in 2014, she's attended hundreds of concerts & festivals across the country. But it wasn't until she hosted her own EDM radio show in college when she realized she wanted to make it her career. Fast forward to today, she's interviewed artists all over the musical spectrum such as Nitti Gritti, ARMNHMR and Jason Ross. When she's not writing, she works full-time as a Project Manager for iHeartMedia.
