Max Mara creative director Ian Griffiths named his resort 2022 collection “Local Color”.  Inspired by a collection of stories by the writer Truman Capote the show was staged on the island of Ischia, Italy, at the Hotel Mezzatorre overlooking the Gulf of Naples.  Models walked below the striking 16th-century watchtower surrounded by bountiful geraniums.  The show was filmed by Ginevra Elkann, a director and niece of Marella Agnelli, one of Truman Capote’s “swans”.
Vocals by Alba Clemente & China Forbes.

Max Mara Resort 2022, Ischia, Italy

For Spring/Summer 2022 Max Mara Creative Director Ian Griffiths looked back to the beatnik era. He was inspired by “Bonjour Tristesse,” the 1954 novel by Françoise Sagan describing the rebellious 17-year-old Cécile’s dramatic summer vacation on the French Riviera. 

The lyrics are by Ian Griffiths. The vocals are by Ian Griffiths & Ana Schurmann. Piano & synth by Alberto Bravin, guitar by Michele Sponza.

Max Mara Spring/Summer 2022, Milan

For Fall/Winter 2021, Creative Director Ian Griffiths paid homage to established house codes, while also referencing style icon - Queen Elizabeth II. Celebrating its 70th anniversary, Max Mara transformed its runway show into a muted Royal coronation.  Set behind the backdrop of Milan’s Triennale Design Museum, models dazzled in signature house colors and silhouettes.

Max Mara Fall/Winter 2021-2022, Milan

Ian Griffiths' Fall/Winter 2022 collection for Max Mara celebrates Sophie Taeuber-Arp, a true modernist who manages to add a sense of magic and mystery to everyday objects. The marionettes and costumes designed by the artist for her most famous work, “King Stag” exude energy and kinetic spirit. Fairy-tale characters suspended between animal and robot worlds, which inspire the powerful, surprising silhouettes of this new collection, that speaks the language of the modern elegance of Max Mara.
Thank you Alberto Bravin for the keyboards.

Max Mara Fall-Winter 2022-23, Milan

For Mark Kamins: RIP - VIP

The recent Netflix release of STYLE WARS (the Eighties graffiti documentary) features JOHNNY DYNELL's first record - the 1983 classic JAM HOT - throughout. This track included Johnny's signature rap, an homage to the taggers and breakdancers of that fabled era in NYC: "Tank, Fly Boss, Walk, Jam, Nitty Gritty" and the rest of the "Boys From The Big Bad City." The JAM HOT rap has had an extraordinary 30 years in the popular culture, including sampling by NORMAN COOK (BEATS INTERNATIONAL) on the 1990 U.K. #1 "DUB BE GOOD TO ME" and worldwide fan interpretations on YOUTUBE.
Johnny's first release of 2014, TANK FLY BOSS WALK is his Hip House/Tech House reworking of the rap, out 1/15/14 on ENDLESS NIGHT MUSIC. TANK FLY BOSS WALK is dedicated to original JAM HOT producer MARK KAMINS, who died in 2013. 

Tank Fly Boss Walk (Original) - Johnny Dynell

Opening set for the Carry Nation 10th Anniversary party at Good Room, November 18, 2022.

When DJs Will Automagic & Nita Aviance aka CARRY NATION asked me to be part of their 10th Anniversary 3-Night DJ Blowout at Good Room I was honored. I've known them since they were DJ babies and over the years, I have been so proud of their success. They asked me to do the opening set on the first night. They said, "We thought that you should be the first one to start it all off". Honored, I thought that I should get the party started by playing Disco Classics and fun songs from some of the clubs that we have worked at in the past. I wanted the set to be happy and upbeat, just like CARRY NATION.

Good Room Carry

This is the vocal, album version of "Bring it!" from the upcoming album "Shwam!"

Johnny Dynell feat. Sade Pendavis & Paul Alexander - Bring It! (Old School Mix)

Johnny Dynell remix of Blondie's "Sugar On The Side".
"Sugar On the Side" is the opening track on, and second single from, Blondie's tenth studio album Ghosts of Download.


FREE DOWNLOAD

Sugar On The Side (Johnny Dynell Remix) - Blondie

DJ Johnny Dynell at PENTHAUS at The Copacabana NYC
Thursday August 28th 2014, Labor Day Weekend

Johnny Dynell Labor Day Weekend 2014

This is the first part of my set at "HOT FOR YOU", a monthly party at The Parkside Lounge in New York City. Described by promoters Justin Caron & Robert Phillip Smith as "A backroom disco for the family", it is one of the hottest parties right now. On December 17, 2024 I was honored to be asked to play for the 50th birthday of DJ Superstar and one half of The Carry Nation, Will Automagic.

Hot For You 1

This is the second part of my set at "HOT FOR YOU", a monthly party at The Parkside Lounge in New York City. Described by promoters Justin Caron & Robert Phillip Smith as "A backroom disco for the family", it is one of the hottest parties right now. On December 17, 2024 I was honored to be asked to play for the 50th birthday of DJ Superstar and one half of The Carry Nation, Will Automagic.

Hot For You 2

This is the third part of my set at "HOT FOR YOU", a monthly party at The Parkside Lounge in New York City. Described by promoters Justin Caron & Robert Phillip Smith as "A backroom disco for the family", it is one of the hottest parties right now. On December 17, 2024 I was honored to be asked to play for the 50th birthday of DJ Superstar and one half of The Carry Nation, Will Automagic.

Hot For You 3

This is the forth part of my set at "HOT FOR YOU", a monthly party at The Parkside Lounge in New York City. Described by promoters Justin Caron & Robert Phillip Smith as "A backroom disco for the family", it is one of the hottest parties right now. On December 17, 2024 I was honored to be asked to play for the 50th birthday of DJ Superstar and one half of The Carry Nation, Will Automagic.

Hot For You 4

Javier Ninja & The House Of Ninja payed tribute to their fallen leader Willi Ninja on his birthday. I made this 6 minute tribute mix for their performance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willi_Ninja

Johnny Dynell tribute to Willi Ninja

Jackie 60 was an underground party that ran from 1990 - 2000 in New York’s then unexplored Meat Market. As the Jackie 60 DJ I had the pleasure of playing records from Danny Tenaglia, David Morales, Louie Vega, Oscar G, Ralph Falcon, Angel Moraes, Liz Torres, Barbara Tucker and Joi Cardwell to name just a few. This podcast is a little taste of what Jackie was like and I hope it brings back some memories for the people who were there and inspires those who missed it.

That Jackie Feeling: Jackie 60 Pt. 1

Max Mara creative director Ian Griffith’s muse this season was Marilyn Monroe—the bespectacled, brainy, bookworm Marilyn, the desperate ex-wife of Arthur Miller, the former Norma Jeane—photographed by George Barris, windswept at the beach in 1962.
Music: Johnny Dynell

Max Mara Fall/Winter 2015-2016, Milan

Princess Xtravaganza - Battlecat (Cotton Club Mix)

Luv Dem Beats (Johnny Dynell Mash Up) - Todrick Hall

Johnny Dynell House Remix of "Una Notte a Napoli" by Pink Martini.

A Retrospective

Una Notte A Napoli

Una Notte A Napoli (Johnny Dynell Remix) - Pink Martini

Tensnake Remix of "Jam Hot" by Johnny Dynell

Jam Hot / Big Throwdown

Jam Hot

Jam Hot (Tensnake Remix) - Johnny Dynell

Circe was classified as a nymph, a fairly low grade on the scale of immortals. Amphritite, on the other hand, was the great granddaughter to Gaea, amongst the ‘chiefest of the goddesses’ according to Homer, queen of all the oceans, its fauna and flora. That was before Poseidon came along and tricked her into second place. Now, after aeons in obscurity, Amphritite’s time has come again!


Max Mara creative director Ian Griffiths takes inspiration from these divine heroines, and dips into Max Mara's own fabled history. Anne- Marie Beretta was the brand’s designer in the 1980’s; she too was fascinated by the potent symbolism of the classical world. 

Myths and legends; epic tales that illuminate eternal human experience. The stories are as unchanging as the well worn stones of an ancient city -and yet each age extracts lessons relevant to its own time. Just as academics are unearthing forgotten evidence of the female hand in history, so too the classical anthology is getting a rewrite -from the woman’s perspective. Emily Watson’s is the first translation of ‘The Odyssey’ by a woman (how the choice of a single word over another can recast a story in a completely different light), Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Penelopiad’  tells pragmatic, smart and longanimous Penelope’s side of the story, Madeline Miller’s ‘Circe’ recasts the much maligned witch who turned Odysseus’s men into swine as a strong, brilliant woman who dared to know her own mind.

Max Mara Spring/Summer 2019, Milan

Johnny Dynell's Carnegie Hall remix Of Scissor Sisters' "Fire With Fire" from the Night Work album.

Scissor Sisters - Fire With Fire (Johnny Dynell's Carnegie Hall Remix)

David DePino's original mix of David Ian Xtravaganza's 1989 Voguing classic "Elements Of Vogue".

Elements Of Vogue

Johnny Dynell feat. David Ian Xtravaganza -Elements Of Vogue (David Depino's 1989 Original Mix)

Johnny Dynell's original mix of David Ian Xtravaganza's 1989 Voguing classic "Elements Of Vogue".

Johnny Dynell feat. David Ian Xtravaganza - Elements Of Vogue (Johnny Dynell's 1989 Original Mix)

Spank Vocal Remix of David Ian Xtravaganza's 1989 Voguing classic "Elements Of Vogue".

Johnny Dynell feat. David Ian Xtravaganza - Elements Of Vogue (Spank Vocal Remix)

Spank Dub Remix of David Ian Xtravaganza's 1989 Voguing classic "Elements Of Vogue".

Johnny Dynell feat. David Ian Xtravaganza - Elements Of Vogue (Spank Dub Remix)

Johnny Dynell's 2012 Remix of David Ian Xtravaganza's 1989 Voguing classic "Elements Of Vogue".

Johnny Dynell feat. David Ian Xtravaganza -Elements Of Vogue (Johnny Dynell's 2012 Remix)

Max Mara Fall Winter 2019: The Politics of Glamour
A new sense of glamour energizes Max Mara’s idea of power dressing this Fall/Winter 2019, creating a chic collection that is sharper and sleeker than ever.

Max Mara Fall/Winter 2019-2020, Milan

London's Batty Bass Records presents "Marie Montana" - Johnny Dynell featuring David Ian Xtravaganza - Historical Runway Beats from House Of Xtravaganza.

Johnny Dynell feat. David Ian Xtravaganza - Marie Montana (Sveta & Tokoloshe Remix)

Johnny Dynell feat. Jamil LaBeija - Bitch U Better Don't (Original)

Every holiday season over 2,500 people come together for a night of cocktails and dancing called the TOYS PARTY.  This annual event has collected hundreds of thousands of toys and raised millions of dollars to benefit SAGE and their work with LGBT elders. The TOYS PARTY was started 35 years ago by New York powerhouse Robby Browne. Sadly we lost Robby this year but to honor him and his legacy of the TOYS PARTY I've made this 90 minute podcast. It contains hits from past TOYS PARTIES as well as some of Robby's favorite songs. From Liza to Lizzo Robby Browne's taste in music was a mirror ball and like Robby the crowd - from 18 to 80 - reflects that. DJing for this happy event is always a high point in my year. Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced the cancellation of the in-person 2020 TOYS PARTY but I hope that this mix brings back some fun memories as we toast the late great Robby Browne.

You can donate to SAGE here:
https://give.sageusa.org/give/316558/?fbclid=IwAR2tNI7qPccjBiCDaPgFoT3ujm_o_NbE19vkTvUGsiRJhJ-XdW9lCFZCHeU#!/donation/checkout

Toys Party-Robby Browne Tribute

JOHNNY DYNELL is the New York City DJ, producer, songwriter, remixer and impresario who has been practicing his art and craft for over three decades. His DJ style is infectious and inclusive, and he is a long-time favorite of New York's art and fashion crowds as well as generations of Club Kids. He is equally at home spinning black tie galas like the annual Elton John Academy Awards Viewing Party and the AMFAR party at the Cannes Film Festival or underground club events like the Saint at Large Black Party.

His NYC DJ residencies read like a nightclub history of the 1980s, 1990s and beyond. They include The Mudd Club, Danceteria, The Pyramid Club, Area, BoyBar, Susanne Bartsch parties, The Palladium, The Tunnel, The Limelight, The Roxy, Jackie 60, Crobar, Mr. Black, Greenhouse, Le Bain and The Ice Palace, Fire Island.

Known for his quirky records like the 1983 classic "Jam Hot" and his 1989 pioneering Vogue (dance) anthem "Elements Of Vogue" he brings an impressive knowledge of diverse musical genres to everything he does. He has collaborated with artists including Malcolm MacLaren and Pink Martini and is a frequent commentator on NYC music and cultural subjects. A founding producer of the NYC performing arts collective The Jackie Factory, he also serves as the Musical Director for the fashion house Max Mara World.

Popular tracks by Johnny Dynell