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Spotlight Records

Music in praise of the Moon
Mix series hosted by Stathis and Luigi Di Venere
16th Episode by Chris Cruse (@chriscruse) 
Artwork by Thodoris Dimitropoulos

Moon Gazing 016 by Chris Cruse

@chriscruse closed out The Grove stage on Thursday night, completing the Club Toilet trifecta with Jeffrey Sfire and Ryan Smith. He sent the crowd into a frenzy with a beautiful set of euphoric house music.

Campout Mix Series: Chris Cruse

BUY: https://fanlink.to/FV015CoupleLooking
Couple Looking - For You EP
FV015: Funnuvojere Records, 09 June 2023

Funnuvojere is thrilled to present Couple Looking, a new project uniting the label’s mastermind Massimiliano Pagliara with fellow Berlin-based dj Chris Cruse. Celebrated on the international electronic scene, Cruse is the force behind Los Angeles’ finest queer party Spotlight, and part of the crew behind the legendary Club Toilet in Detroit.

This cheeky duo invites listeners into their world of rich sonic textures and uplifting pitches. This is evident in the juxtaposition of raw and refined acid lines of A1 "For The Remote," and the distortions that characterise also A2 "For A Snack." On the B side they're looking "For K+," an addictive Balearic groove interweaving luxurious pianos and other-worldly vocals. In the end, they are looking "For You" in the B2: a future classic Italo pop song heralding new possibilities, good advice and sweet resolutions.

https://funnuvojererecords.bandcamp.com
https://instagram.com/funnuvojere
https://soundcloud.com/funnuvojererecords
https://facebook.com/funnuvojererecords

For You EP

Couple Looking - For You

Couple Looking - For A Snack

Funnuvojere is thrilled to present Couple Looking, a new project uniting the label’s mastermind Massimiliano Pagliara with fellow Berlin-based dj Chris Cruse. Celebrated on the international electronic scene, Cruse is the force behind Los Angeles’ finest queer party Spotlight, and part of the crew behind the legendary Club Toilet in Detroit.

Couple Looking - For K+ [Funnuvojere Records]

We are straight outta the bank holiday here at Phonica and right back into business with another killer mix in our Phonica series from one of our all time favorites of late; Spotlight Records and Panorama Bar regular Chris Cruse.

We are straight outta the bank holiday here at Phonica and right back into business with another killer mix in our Phonica series from one of our all time favorites of late; Spotlight Records and Panorama Bar regular Chris Cruse.

Chris has been a predominant figure in the queer dance scenes in America and in Europe over many years having represented his mainstay party, now label, Spotlight from L.A., the Club Toilet Crew from Detroit and now residing in Berlin the last couple of years where he holds down regular slots at the city's major clubbing institution Berghain / Panorama Bar (most notably the party Snax which takes place there). Chris has dug deep  and worked hard with these residencies to showcase the queer roots of house, techno, disco, and other forms of dance music.
For Phonica 118 Chris takes us on a heated, hot and heavy club ready mix which would get anyone out to party. We sat down and had a lovely chat with Chris about his mix, his approach to DJing and what he has got up his sleeve for the future.For Phonica 118 Chris takes us on a heated, hot and heavy club ready mix which would get anyone out to party. We sat down and had a lovely chat with Chris about his mix, his approach to DJing and what he has got up his sleeve for the future.

Phonica Mix Series 118: Chris Cruse

Radio On Vacation with Chris Cruse

It’s giving funny
It’s giving tough
It’s giving money
It’s giving up

Release date:
(It’s) Thanksgiving 2024

It's Giving Theme

Still Giving (Dub)

This is my closing set recorded live at Faggots Are Women in NYC. FAW isn’t one of those mid parties begging for attention, promising collective moral high ground without doing anything. This party is an entire world—full of gags, friendship, and intention. The art, copy, door policy, sound, lights, chill areas—and its very existence in today’s USA—is T. It bubbled up from a scene that needs it, agitates the status quo, and doesn’t seek outside validation—IYKYK.

Its theme: “Faggots are FLINTA*s: Escape from Berlin.” We know New Yorkers love to say “Berlin is over” (while others say NYC is over). Some say Berlin is known for cheap living, liberated mindsets, world-class nightlife, and hot people - but it’s also dark and easy to disappear. For me, how you feel there has always been an inkblot test: it depends on who you are right now. 

But since Oct 7, 2023, Berlin has changed radically. A place known for freedom of expression has descended in to a McCarthyist hellscape for pro-Palestine activists. Cultural institutions cooperate by silencing dissenting views, and police enforce this with overtly racist brutality. It affects everything — everyday life, art, music, dancing and fun.

Obviously the political situation is similarly bleak in the US. It feels like a bizarre time to celebrate, but also a critical time to be together with the people you love. This is why the level of intention here is important: worldbuilding by and for a community, even just for a night, has the power to nourish us in so many ways.

And so I tried to match that level for the closing. Not gonna spoil the references, but they are thick and deep, and call on some very important voices. It’s usually hard to listen back to a live set without focusing on the flaws. But in this recording, I think of Charlene giving me a quick face beat en route, the unsure gays when I started, the grind-train of culturatti dolls towards the end, and the gaggle of Colombian queers losing it for Shakira. The room was unhinged and alive, full of the best. This is for those who were there—and for those who get it.

Live at Faggots Are FLINTA*s

Part of the NTS family since day dot, Moxie has held her Wednesday show since the stations first broadcasts. Inviting esteemed guests for interviews & mixes and breaking new, unreleased music, she’s got your Wednesday afternoons covered... Tune in to hear anything from Soulful House, Garage, Afro beats and all the way through to rolling techno. 
Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/moxie/episodes/moxie-chris-cruse-25th-june-2025

Moxie w/ Chris Cruse 250625

054 - CHRIS CRUSE

Saturday night at the Downlow

💖🌱 to @gideon_dj_official for having me, and 🙌🏼 to Jonny Woo on the mic 🎤. 
More sets available at: http://thenycdownlow.com

Saturday night, 26 June 2019
0100-0230
Mixer: Vintage Rodec MX180 MKII

Glastonbury Festival 2019

Live at NYC Downlow, Glastonbury Festival 2019

Broadcast 05 Sept 2017 on WNYU
https://beatsinspace.net/playlists/902/

16. Timmy Thomas – Rainbow Power – Glades
17. – –
18. Risse – Chain of Fools (Cruse Edit) – Atlantic
19. Persnickety All Stars – Tittle Tattle – Persnickety
20. Pleasure Inc – Sexy Dancer (Stripped Down Butt Naked Mix) – New World
21. Kat Williams – That Track By Kat – Shadowprint Records
22. Bizz O.D. – I’m Coming Out Of Your Speakers – Force Inc. Music Works
23. Dee Jay Alicia – I Want It Rough feat. Black Widow – T’s Box
24. The Youngsters – Third Knife (Matthias Tanzmann Remix) – 20/20 Vision
25. Sil – Windows (A Brersoul Scrub) – Work Records
26. Mr. Assister – Jordan – Beam
27. Direct – Let It Ride – Allabi Records
28. Robotiko Rejekto – Rejekto (US Dub) – ZYX Records
29. Kris Baha – Start Over – Cocktail D’Amore [Forthcoming]
30. The Rimshooters – All I Need – Cosmic Club
31. – –
32. Code 718 – Equinox (Total Eclipse Of The Dub)

www.beatsinspace.net

Beats In Space #902 with Chris Cruse

Just in time for Berlin Pride, we bring you a series of recordings from the last Cocktail d'Amore at Griessmuehle. In this, LA DJ and Spotlight honcho Chris Cruse moves through the gears from head-down steppers to euphoria-inducing rave pianos and strings.

Get the full tracklist at https://crackaud.io

To keep going, we need your help. Become a Crack Magazine Supporter: https://crackm.ag/support

Live from Cocktail d'Amore - Chris Cruse

Dub by @krisbaha

From 1989-1992, Club Fuck! ran every Sunday night at Basgo’s in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. It was a party and a social gathering space for the BDSM, tattooed, pierced, gender-fluid, sexually adventurous crowd — basically anyone who felt like an outsider. In modern terms, Fuck! could be described as a queer club, subverting what was considered acceptable for the gay and lesbian scene in Los Angeles. Furthermore, the focus on body modification was a powerful way to reclaim some control over a corporeal body - for many who suffered from HIV+ and other life-compromising illnesses.

Much has been written about the artists who emerged from this scene. Ron Athey, Club Fuck’s go-go dancer and resident artist, became internationally renowned for his transgressive bloodletting performances. Catherine Opie, now a board member at UCLA and MOCA, got her start making portraits and photographs of those in the scene. It’s been said that Madonna’s Erotica was influenced by this scene (although door girl “Sweet P” claims she didn’t actually let Madonna in).

The records DJ’d at the club were described by its founders as “industrial and proto-trance music,” challenging the aesthetics of so-called “gay music” like disco and pop. There were live performances as well, from homegrown LA bands who responded to the vibe and made it their own. Drance was such a band, formed by frontman (and Club Fuck! resident DJ) Robert Woods, with friends Brandy Dalton and John Munt.

Drance's songs reflected an uneasiness towards disease and modern culture, a lust for the forbidden, and a raw power and rage to stay alive on their own terms. Their live shows were visceral and energetic. They played the MOCA opening of the "Helter Skelter: L.A. Art in the 1990’s” exhibit, as well as benefit shows for ACT UP and Queer Nation. Their music appeared in Gregg Araki’s 1992 film The Living End, and they provided the soundtrack to The Wild Ones, a hardcore condom-based porn produced by the Tom of Finland Foundation in 1994.

However, they released only one album, and despite their proximity to Hollywood, did not find much success beyond their scene. Robert died from AIDS-related complications in 1995. Brandy and John continued to write music, experimenting in new genres, but did not record any more albums. Brandy died in 2006. John Munt lives in Washington D.C. and is still writing and composing music.

"Latex Love" has been remastered for its first release on vinyl, nearly 30 years later. The Instrumental Version was transferred from the original DAT tape used by the band for their live performances. Kris Baha's inspired dub is essentially a cover, re-made from the ground up. And this is the first official remix from Spotlight's Chris Cruse. The vinyl record package includes never-before-seen photography from Michael Matson, an essay from Ron Athey, and a reproduction of the original Drance sticker.

Distribution: Sound Metaphors
Mastering: Mike Grinser, ManMade Mastering
Photography: Michael Matson
Art Direction: Brian Emrich

This project was made possible by John Munt, Robert and Brandy's families, Michael Matson, Tom of Finland Foundation, and Ron Athey.

At the request of the families, all profit will be donated to AIDS Project Los Angeles 
aplahealth.org

Drance - Latex Love (Kris Baha Dub)

Remix by @chriscruse

From 1989-1992, Club Fuck! ran every Sunday night at Basgo’s in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. It was a party and a social gathering space for the BDSM, tattooed, pierced, gender-fluid, sexually adventurous crowd — basically anyone who felt like an outsider. In modern terms, Fuck! could be described as a queer club, subverting what was considered acceptable for the gay and lesbian scene in Los Angeles. Furthermore, the focus on body modification was a powerful way to reclaim some control over a corporeal body - for many who suffered from HIV+ and other life-compromising illnesses.

Much has been written about the artists who emerged from this scene. Ron Athey, Club Fuck’s go-go dancer and resident artist, became internationally renowned for his transgressive bloodletting performances. Catherine Opie, now a board member at UCLA and MOCA, got her start making portraits and photographs of those in the scene. It’s been said that Madonna’s Erotica was influenced by this scene (although door girl “Sweet P” claims she didn’t actually let Madonna in).

The records DJ’d at the club were described by its founders as “industrial and proto-trance music,” challenging the aesthetics of so-called “gay music” like disco and pop. There were live performances as well, from homegrown LA bands who responded to the vibe and made it their own. Drance was such a band, formed by frontman (and Club Fuck! resident DJ) Robert Woods, with friends Brandy Dalton and John Munt.

Drance's songs reflected an uneasiness towards disease and modern culture, a lust for the forbidden, and a raw power and rage to stay alive on their own terms. Their live shows were visceral and energetic. They played the MOCA opening of the "Helter Skelter: L.A. Art in the 1990’s” exhibit, as well as benefit shows for ACT UP and Queer Nation. Their music appeared in Gregg Araki’s 1992 film The Living End, and they provided the soundtrack to The Wild Ones, a hardcore condom-based porn produced by the Tom of Finland Foundation in 1994.

However, they released only one album, and despite their proximity to Hollywood, did not find much success beyond their scene. Robert died from AIDS-related complications in 1995. Brandy and John continued to write music, experimenting in new genres, but did not record any more albums. Brandy died in 2006. John Munt lives in Washington D.C. and is still writing and composing music.

"Latex Love" has been remastered for its first release on vinyl, nearly 30 years later. The Instrumental Version was transferred from the original DAT tape used by the band for their live performances. Kris Baha's inspired dub is essentially a cover, re-made from the ground up. And this is the first official remix from Spotlight's Chris Cruse. The vinyl record package includes never-before-seen photography from Michael Matson, an essay from Ron Athey, and a reproduction of the original Drance sticker.

Distribution: Sound Metaphors
Mastering: Mike Grinser, ManMade Mastering
Photography: Michael Matson
Art Direction: Brian Emrich

This project was made possible by John Munt, Robert and Brandy's families, Michael Matson, Tom of Finland Foundation, and Ron Athey.

At the request of the families, all profit will be donated to AIDS Project Los Angeles 
aplahealth.org

Drance - Latex Love (Chris Cruse Spotlight Mix)

From 1989-1992, Club Fuck! ran every Sunday night at Basgo’s in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. It was a party and a social gathering space for the BDSM, tattooed, pierced, gender-fluid, sexually adventurous crowd — basically anyone who felt like an outsider. In modern terms, Fuck! could be described as a queer club, subverting what was considered acceptable for the gay and lesbian scene in Los Angeles. Furthermore, the focus on body modification was a powerful way to reclaim some control over a corporeal body - for many who suffered from HIV+ and other life-compromising illnesses.

Much has been written about the artists who emerged from this scene. Ron Athey, Club Fuck’s go-go dancer and resident artist, became internationally renowned for his transgressive bloodletting performances. Catherine Opie, now a board member at UCLA and MOCA, got her start making portraits and photographs of those in the scene. It’s been said that Madonna’s Erotica was influenced by this scene (although door girl “Sweet P” claims she didn’t actually let Madonna in).

The records DJ’d at the club were described by its founders as “industrial and proto-trance music,” challenging the aesthetics of so-called “gay music” like disco and pop. There were live performances as well, from homegrown LA bands who responded to the vibe and made it their own. Drance was such a band, formed by frontman (and Club Fuck! resident DJ) Robert Woods, with friends Brandy Dalton and John Munt.

Drance's songs reflected an uneasiness towards disease and modern culture, a lust for the forbidden, and a raw power and rage to stay alive on their own terms. Their live shows were visceral and energetic. They played the MOCA opening of the "Helter Skelter: L.A. Art in the 1990’s” exhibit, as well as benefit shows for ACT UP and Queer Nation. Their music appeared in Gregg Araki’s 1992 film The Living End, and they provided the soundtrack to The Wild Ones, a hardcore condom-based porn produced by the Tom of Finland Foundation in 1994.

However, they released only one album, and despite their proximity to Hollywood, did not find much success beyond their scene. Robert died from AIDS-related complications in 1995. Brandy and John continued to write music, experimenting in new genres, but did not record any more albums. Brandy died in 2006. John Munt lives in Washington D.C. and is still writing and composing music.

"Latex Love" has been remastered for its first release on vinyl, nearly 30 years later. The Instrumental Version was transferred from the original DAT tape used by the band for their live performances. Kris Baha's inspired dub is essentially a cover, re-made from the ground up. And this is the first official remix from Spotlight's Chris Cruse. The vinyl record package includes never-before-seen photography from Michael Matson, an essay from Ron Athey, and a reproduction of the original Drance sticker.

Distribution: Sound Metaphors
Mastering: Mike Grinser, ManMade Mastering
Photography: Michael Matson
Art Direction: Brian Emrich

This project was made possible by John Munt, Robert and Brandy's families, Michael Matson, Tom of Finland Foundation, and Ron Athey.

At the request of the families, all profit will be donated to AIDS Project Los Angeles 
aplahealth.org

Drance - Latex Love (Instrumental Version)

Drance - Latex Love (Original Version)

Drance - Intro

Rubi & Chris b2b, recorded in Berlin Friedrichshain.
Watch the full video including the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0giY7a4sDi8&ab_channel=Dr.Rubinstein666

Quarantine FM #19 Dr. Rubinstein & Chris Cruse

⭕️ @spotlight-la party + label, resident @powerdanceclub, club toilet crew
⬇️ Upcoming Dates ⬇️
01 Jan - TBA (Amsterdam)
01 Jan - Power Dance Club (Berlin)

Previous 🌴
20 Dec - LOSO (Richmond)
06 Dec - Adonis (London)
05 Dec - Carbs (Madrid)
15 Nov - Savage (Hanoi)
08 Nov - Klymax (Bali)
01 Nov - Zero Chill (NYC)
31 Oct - Battle Hymn Halloween @ Refuge (NYC)
18 Oct - Klubnacht @ Berghain / Panorama Bar (b2b2b with Massimiliano Pagliara and Luigi Di Venere)
11 Oct - Power Dance Club (Athens)
03 Oct - Lab.Dance @ Berghain / Lab
06 Sep - House Therapy (Ljubljana)
13-18 Aug - Crew @ Honcho Campout
09 Aug - TeQCno Fierté (Montréal)
08 Aug - LOSO (Richmond)
02 Aug - Pines Party (Fire Island)
26 Jul - Club Raum (Amsterdam)
25 Jul - Multisex (Berlin)
24 Jul - Möbel Olfe (Berlin)
02 Jul - Fagbash (Provincetown)
28 Jun - smartbar (Chicago)
27 Jun - Merge Pride (NYC)
26 Jun - Block9 @ Glastonbury Festival
14 Jun - Kalt b2b Massimiliano Pagliara and Luigi Di Venere (Strasbourg)
07 Jun - Klubnacht @ Berghain / Panorama Bar
07 Jun - IsBurning x Fluid (Utrecht)
31 May - World Pride Capital Cup (DC)
25 May - dbar. (Detroit)
24 May - Club 🚽 Crew (Detroit)
10 May - Just Like Heaven Festival (LA)
09 May - Vice Underground (LA)
04 May - Spaghetti Strap (NYC)
02 May - Heatsink (Denver)
01 May - Sound Metaphors ♡ FREE PARTY ♡ (Berlin)
20 Apr - Gay Haze (Brussels)
19 Apr - Snax @ Berghain / Lab.oratory 
29 Mar - Stereo621 (Mannheim)
28 Mar - Power Dance Club (Berlin)
02 Mar - Multisex (Berlin)
22 Feb - Heyday @ Sneaky Pete's (Edinburgh)
15 Feb - Studio @ Basement (NYC)
08 Feb - Klubnacht @ Berghain / Panorama Bar
21 Jan - Modular (Cape Town)
17 Jan - Wolfkop Weekender (Citrusdal, South Africa)
1 Jan - Silvester @ Berghain / Lab.oratory 

2024:
28 Dec - LOSO (Richmond, VA)
14 Dec - Oh Honey @ Club Capital (Antwerp)
30 Nov - Goethebunker (Essen)
24 Nov - Sunday Sunday (CDMX)
23 Nov - XOXR @ Marble Bar (Detroit)
22 Nov - ⭕️ Friends & Family (LA)
21 Nov - Might Be Magic (Austin)
16 Nov - Faggots Are FLINTA*S (NYC)
15 Nov - Rex Club - b2b Cinthie (Paris)
02 Nov - Antik (Costa Rica)
25 Oct - Ladyfag presents: Halloween (NYC)
20 Oct - Klubnacht @ Berghain / Panorama Bar
14 Sep - CRUISE @ Blitz (Munich)
09 Sep - Mercury Rising @ Pikes (Ibiza)
07 Sep - Robert Johnson (Offenbach)
31 Aug - Le Mazette (Paris)
30 Aug - Antiparos
24 Aug - Studio @ Basement (NYC)
14-19 Aug - serving at Honcho Campout
10 Aug - smartbar (Chicago)
04 Aug - Club Raum (Amsterdam)
28 Jul - CSD Klubnacht @ Berghain / Panorama Bar
27 Jul - Feel It (London)
26 Jul - Möbel Olfe (Berlin)
20 Jul - Gewölbe (Köln)
14 Jul - Love International (Croatia)
30 Jun - MyPleasure (Madrid)
29 Jun - Lux Fragil (Lisbon)
28 Jun - Meat Rack @ Glastonbury Festival
28 Jun - Maceo's @ Glastonbury Festival
22 Jun - Klubnacht @ Berghain / Panorama Bar
14 Jun - Gundled @ Ficken3000
08 Jun - Catch One (LA)
01 Jun - Flash (DC)
31 May - Studio @ Basement (NY)
30 May - The Lot Radio (NY)
25 May - 🚽 Club Toilet Crew (Detroit)
18 May - Just Like Heaven Festival (LA)
11 May - Pornceptual (Berlin)
08 May - Stereo621 b2b w/ Massimiliano Pagliara (Mannheim)
04 May - Kockiri (Seoul)
03 May - Pawnshop (Taipei)
27 Apr - Confide @ Gasometer (Melbourne)
26 Apr - Club 81 x The Monarchy @ Connections (Perth)
25 Apr - Caterpillar Club (Sydney)
24 Apr - Club Mince @ Kinselas (Sydney)
20 Apr - Snug @ Savage (Hanoi, VN)
19 Apr - Observatory (Ho Chi Minh, VN)
12 Apr - Los Ninos @ C12 (Brussels)
05 Apr - SMD (LA)
28 Mar - BUTT Magazine party (Berlin)
23 Mar - The Black Party (NYC)
16 Mar - 9000 Dreams @ Fold (London) 
16 Mar - R3 Soundsystem - House Against Hate (London)
10 Mar - Nowadays Nonstop (NYC)
09 Mar - Void (Philadelphia)
01 Mar - Lab.Dance @ Lab.Oratory (Berlin)
23 Feb - Power Dance Club @ Ohm (Berlin)
09 Feb - Night Tales w/ Dr. Rubinstein (London)
20 Jan - Gaze @ PRST (Vienna)
01 Jan - Silvester @ Berghain / Lab.oratory

Chris Cruse

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