Hey, I’m Brian Nagele. I’m a consultant living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I am a fan of music, technology, food, and marketing. I’m also interested in entrepreneurship and fishing.

Kult, Nervous, Dance Lab, TechTribal

With the popularity of house music DJs continuing to expand literally by the second, it has become increasingly difficult for anyone talented to really stand out. Everyone is a DJ anymore so the title has really lost a lot of meaning, but … not everyone is an artist. Chris Costanzo is not only a DJ and an artist, but he is also a force and a hell of a strong one at that. This thirty year veteran of the DJ/music scene has quickly infiltrated the producer scene as well, and has outshone a large amount of up and comers causing a bit of a commotion amongst producers worldwide. Where in the world did this guy come from?

“With an appetite for massively destructive hands-in-the-air anthems, tough tribal beats, and pumping underground house sounds, Chris knows how to bring a dance floor to its knees.” – Eddie Cumana, Owner, Kult Records

The evidence speaks for itself. Chris hit #1 on the Latin Dance Music chart, and #3 on Billboard Magazine’s Club Play chart for the 2008 remixes of India’s, “I Can’t Get No Sleep.” The song also took the #2 spot on the DJ Times February dance chart, and #4 on the DJ Times March dance chart. He often smashes the #1 spot on Spanish download site Tracking Spain, and hits top 100 on the infamous dance music digital hub Beatport. Chris’s remix of “Explanations,” by dance group Exit 59, hit the #1 spot on djpool.com and masspool.com, along with #2 on fusionchicago.com.

“Combining a lifelong love of music with a passion for the dance floor, Costanzo works to create a type of energy on the floor that only he owns.” – Charlie Solana, Owner, Southside Recordings

As the gossip about this mystery producer began, WMC 2009 excitement also filled the air. Costanzo accepted a very intimate and private gig that ran into the wee hours of the morning. The bombs were just relentless. He gave an amazing and very creative show. Miami lived for him,” says legendary gay dance music vocalist/icon Michael M, who also gave a performance at the event. Presently, 2010 has proved to be an even better year for Costanzo. Playing this year’s conference, Chris blew the roof off of Suite B in Orlando for a WMC pre-party event. In support of two of the labels he works closely with in Miami, Southside Recordings and Music Over Life, Chris was recognized as giving a very memorable performance. Chris showcased a variety of his remixes as he featured titles such as, “Charge” (a remix of the new Alan T Kult Records vocal), “We Should Fall,” (a remix of Sweden’s Disdishdance, of which iconic DJ/producer Cevin Fisher was also to remix), Michael M’s “Dale,” (which has commanded the attention of artists like Miami’s Oscar G), and Dextro’s “Ma Beats,” (Costanzo’s remix was selected and featured on the new Asseteria compilation mixed by Chris Vargas) which even more so solidified the night as his own.

“Chris unleashes tidal wave after tidal wave of energy with his seamless style of mixing and a self-proclaimed natural ability to connect with his audience on the most intimate of levels.” – Lilla Vietri, Owner, Kult Records

Conference 2010 really inspired Chris, provoking him to engage in (in his own words), “a shutout session in the studio”. He laughs aloud. “A shutout session! You know. When you don’t let anyone in or out for hours or sometimes even days! Ha ha! My wife sends in food through the crack under the door,” he proclaims. The fruits of his labor were showcased a few months later as he handed a new white label record that featured newly cut Alan T vocals to Danny Tenaglia for a test-run at Pacha Nightclub in New York City. The crowd was mesmerized, and Tenaglia applauded Chris’s production on the project. As flattering as the compliments were, Chris took the record back into the studio to try an entirely different direction altogether. “To be okay and wonderful is really quite easy, but to be absolutely f*cking amazing is what I’m about. I create. I don’t follow.”Since then Costanzo has been playing a lot of underground New York City parties and has been targeting the city of Philadelphia with a vengeance! Chris has been very focused on rebuilding the Philadelphia house music scene, and started a new party, “Dirty Audio” held monthly at Philly’s Zee Bar. Managed by industry veteran Cortney Callanan, Chris is shattering the limitations imposed on him by competitors, with an infectious sound like the love child of when Vibe met Calderone. 

David Bara is following