Podcast Summary: "Sharon White Rewires Disco"

Podcast: New Books Network
Episode: Soundscapes – Sharon White Rewires Disco
Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Christy Soares & Ryan Purcell
Guest: DJ Sharon White

Episode Overview

The season finale of Soundscapes, a podcast exploring the sonic and cultural history of New York City, features legendary DJ Sharon White. As the first woman to play at the Saint and the only woman ever to DJ at Paradise Garage, Sharon White offers a first-hand account of New York’s disco era, its underground club scene, and her pivotal role in creating space for women and LGBTQ+ artists. The conversation traces her musical journey, the importance of mentorship and collaboration, her technical innovations, and the personal and political dynamics of disco culture. The episode provides both an intimate portrait of White and a panoramic view of disco’s evolution.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sharon White's Early Days & Breaking Barriers

• First Experiences as a Club DJ:

  • Started DJing in 1975, after a period as a radio DJ and musician.
    [04:14]
  • Became the first woman resident at the Saint and the only woman to play Paradise Garage.
  • Faced industry politics and gender barriers but succeeded through patience, humility, and collaboration.

• Innovation and Technical Influence:

  • Sharon and peers were approached by audio companies like Panasonic and Sony to test and provide feedback on then-experimental DJ turntables—a story of how slipmats became industry-standard.

    "...My best friend Roy, his mom was a seamstress...I made a circle...took the rubber off the turntable. Now you can vacuum it...Necessity is the mother of invention." – Sharon White [17:55]

  • Developed or beta-tested equipment now ubiquitous among DJs.

Life at the Clubs: Milestones and Soundscapes

• Sahara Club: A Lesbian Nightlife Hub

  • Located on the Upper East Side, run by five lesbian women, also served as cabaret, disco, and gallery.
  • One of the only clubs focused on queer women; an incubator for innovation and community.

    "It was a club for women, for lesbians. It was a cabaret, it was a disco, and it was also a gallery. So we had a lot of stuff going on." – Sharon White [17:28]

  • Sharon leveraged her Billboard DJ status to gain international attention for the club.
  • Involved in saving her own sizable record collection when the club suddenly closed. [23:32]

• Paradise Garage and the Saint

  • While the Saint was more exclusive and monitored (she had no anonymity), Garage allowed her to blend in as a dancer and peer.
  • Stepped in as a DJ when Larry Levan (Garage’s iconic DJ) was absent; describes these as “anonymous honors.”

    "I was tuning the room...it was an honor to be there but it was an anonymous honor..." – Sharon White [34:49]

  • Both venues had legendary sound systems (Richard Long’s work) but contrasting atmospheres.

• Hurrah and Studio 54

  • Hurrah: a favorite for its open format, industry crowd, and rock/disco hybrid nights. White became resident almost by accident, exemplifying her ethos of mutual support.

    “I got all the excitement without the drama... always one of my top five clubs...” – Sharon White [32:57]

  • Studio 54: a circus of celebrity culture, but she was drawn by the sound system and the musical freedom.

    "It was a great sound system. That was an attraction...if you hire a clown, you get a circus..." [41:20]

  • Describes the grind and competition: working multiple clubs, long shifts, and the risk of being replaced if absent even one night.

Mentorship, Collaboration, and Community

• Key Philosophy:

  • Advocates for collaboration over competition ("I'm not one to kick down doors; I'm one to open them quietly and enter the room and absorb everything going on around me...” – Sharon White [10:50])
  • Known for mentoring and supporting other women DJs (credited by Liz Kritzer, Wendy Hunt, etc.).
  • Asserts, “Don't make enemies when you can make allies. It is as simple as that." [13:59]

• Chosen Family and Artistic Bonds:

  • Found "family" among DJs and artists; created lasting friendships with artists like Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, and Elton John. [55:59]
  • Recalls story of meeting other figures (e.g., Annie Lennox, Robert Moog, Robert Mapplethorpe) and the value of humble introductions.

    “I never start with my last name. He goes, and you shouldn't either.” – Robert Moog, recounted by Sharon [48:07]

Industry Politics, Gender, and Race

• Challenges as a Black Queer Woman:
  • Discusses NDAs and lack of credit for her production and remix work; highlights broader discrimination faced by women in the music industry.

    “NDAs really short circuit you... we wanted the opportunity to be able to go into the studio and do mixes, so we gave everything up to do it...” [10:30]

  • Comments on the irony of playing iconic tracks at male-dominated clubs (e.g., the Saint) even as women’s presence was debated. [00:33]

The Power and Purpose of Music

• Personal and Collective Importance:

  • Music as therapy, connection, and community – transcends language and cultural barriers.

    “If you put 10 people in a room that don't speak the same language and put on a piece of music, they find a way to enjoy it together.” [60:30]

  • Deep family ties to music, both from birth family and found family; music as survival.

• Reflections on Legacy:

  • Humble about being called a pioneer or legend; prefers to acknowledge the collective over the individual.

    "When people say, you're a legend...don't call me a legend. Legends are dead people." [32:55]

  • Considering new adventures in Europe, sees herself as part of an ongoing story, encouraging new generations of women and queer producers.

The Shifting Club Landscape & Political Changes

• Discusses the mass closure of iconic NY clubs in the late '80s (Paradise Garage, the Saint, Limelight, the Tunnel) – blames political crackdown led by Mayor Giuliani.

  “Within one year, everything anyone wanted to be a part of was gone.” [40:55]

  • Reflects on the loss of physical community spaces but notes that digital platforms have (imperfectly) filled some gaps.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Playing "Last Dance" for the First Time:
  “I played it in a club called Sahara...at one point, I was playing five different clubs...people were really trying to get me out of the mix...That was like a political end of it that I kept myself away from. I just wanted to play music.” [08:30]

• On Being a Mentor:
  “...each one teach one. So yeah, I wish more people thought that way because we wouldn’t be in the situations we get into now…” [14:12]

• On Her Role in Technological Advances:
  “...there were things that we did that no one even thinks about...necessity is the mother of invention. And technology started to catch up...” [17:27]

• On Community and Chosen Family:
  “...sometimes when you’re trying to create something or remix something or just be there for an artist, these bonds develop that are really important...” [55:59]

• On the Importance of Music:
  “Without it, I would probably be insane, literally...it’s the one thing that we all have in common, no matter what culture you come from, music is a root in your culture...” [60:30]

Important Timestamps

• 00:31-00:44 – The irony of the Saint club’s attitude toward women, Sharon’s powerful unifying moments as a DJ.
• 06:01-06:53 – Behind the scenes on the documentary about Sharon White, visits to historic club sites.
• 08:27-10:11 – Sharon discusses being the first DJ to play "Last Dance" and early career challenges.
• 13:59-16:09 – Sharon’s philosophy: collaboration, generosity, and the importance of making allies.
• 17:27-23:32 – Innovations at the Sahara Club and impact on DJ technology; story of recovering her record collection.
• 28:48-32:57 – Sharon’s reflections on Hurrah’s unique scene and serendipitous path to resident DJ.
• 34:49-38:51 – Experiences at Paradise Garage and the Saint; the emotional impact of club closures.
• 41:20-45:16 – Life and chaos at Studio 54, influence of her mother and family roots in music.
• 48:07-49:54 – Meeting mentor Robert Moog and thoughts on humility in celebrity culture.
• 50:11-55:07 – Consulting on Sylvester’s "Step II," achieving industry recognition, forming chosen family through music.
• 55:59-61:38 – The power of music to create community, solace, and shared understanding.
• 62:34-63:22 – Acknowledgments from the hosts and Sharon’s gracious response.

The Episode’s Legacy

• This finale underscores Sharon White’s crucial, often untold role—not just as a musical innovator but as a mentor, collaborator, and creator of inclusive spaces. Her story complicates the narrative of disco as a "dead" genre and demonstrates its ongoing vitality through community, technology, and the personal stories of pioneers.
• Sharon’s humility, humor, and wisdom leave a lasting impression, reminding listeners that behind the soundscapes are people whose kindness has shaped music history.

For more on Sharon White’s continued work or to hear her mixes, visit her SoundCloud or Mixcloud pages.
For updates on Soundscapes NYC and related projects, follow @soundscapesnyc on Instagram.