1998 was the year that drove Hillary Snyder (A.K.A. DJ: Unknown) to wear a paper bag on his head. The New York club scene had fallen into a closed loop of Hip Hop, House, Techno and assorted Mtv approved alt styles. The raw, break out energy that once made New York a night clubbers paradise had faded to black. Dancing, deemed a crime through archaic NYC Cabaret laws put a strangle hold on what was left of that energy. Striking a pose rather than stooping to a base activity like dancing was always a preferred stance to take for the snobbery and nervous new comers anyway. In short, the famed NYC night scene had become nothing more than an urban legend. In an effort to slap the scene into consciousness, a good sight gag was in order. That and a few crates of records that reached for a mind set as opposed to a single genre. The late 70’s and early 80’s in New York City were nothing less than a cultural big bang. Punk Rock, Hip Hop, Ska, Disco, Reggae, Dance Hall, House, Techno, Hi NRG, No Wave, New Wave, etc. All were cross-pollinating and energizing each other. Knowing the Pavlovian response he would get, DJ: Unknown mixed 1 part NY underground with 2 parts Punk Funk/Neo Electro. Around that time he was introduced to and became friends with Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner. After witnessing the legendary first performance of Fischerspooner at Starbucks on Astor Place, Hillary immediately offered to play as a side act. At that time there were no other DJs spinning electro-centric sets in New York. Playing with a paper bag on his head, DJ: Unknown soon had a cult following. People were more than ready for some humor and individuality. Originally worn as a commentary on the state of the club scene and a nose thumbing to the dj fame game, the paper bags ambiguous nature soon took on a life of its own.
Since the creation of DJ: Unknown, Hillary has gone on to Dj / Promote major Neo Electro nights in NYC. Including NYs first Neo Electro night called Nite Magic at Gavin Browns Passerby Bar (1998-2003) with like minded dj Nite Dog (Kevin Carney/Generic Costume). The Atari / Commodore fetish night called Blip pulled together the fractured 8 bit fanatic scene for the first time (1999). Featuring music and digital art curated by artist/music producer Corey Archangel and Michelle Thurz (The New Museum/ Michelle Thurz Gallery) all based on or dramatically influenced by early video games. Unknown’s set for the night might include original video game scores mixed with bleepy French House, Hip Hop, Electro old and new, Space Disco, Italo, Techno, Dance Hall and anything else he could find that had incorporated the now famous SID chip sound as ear candy. The Profile Oscuro parties were a joint effort between DJ: Unknown and the east coast record distributor team Safety In Numbers. Profile Oscuros mission was to bring in Electro heavies from around the world who had either been neglected or over shadowed by the Larry T Electro Clash media blitz. Among them were Hong Kong Counterfeit, It and My Computer, Ed DMX, Carl Finlow, Crossover etc. In recent years his instincts and record collection have turned him into a frequent flyer and positioned him on club nights with the biggest names in the Punk Funk/Neo Electro scene.
Some Recent Activity:
* Co-Producer for group Stabwounds!! ( http://www.last.fm/music/stab+wounds!! ) with Dopewerewolf.
* Recording Artist for Scatalogics, Xylophone Jones, Coco Machette, Rad 23, Booty Bar.
* Co-Producing / Music Supervising the feature length documentary film “98 - 08”. This films focus is on the past 10 + years of D.I.Y. music, emerging technologies (early adapters, social implications, etc.) and how the music industry has ultimately been transformed forever.
* 4 yr residency on the Nationally broadcast XM80 Satellite Radio show “REDUX”. With fellow residence DJ Simon, Larry T, John Selway, Tommie Sunshine and John B.
* 3 yr residency on the East Village Radio (Internet) show “PUSH” with fellow resident Cowboy Mark.
* Sound Designer for Brooklyn based artist Peter Caine (PS1 “Greater New York” (2005) / Derek Eller Gallery 2009)
* Ultra Music Festival- Vice Magazine Raw Power Event with: DJ: Unknown, Tommie Sunshine, Avenue D, Swayzak, Adult, LCD Sound System, 2 Many DJs, The Rapture, Miss Kitten
* Revolver 2 (Tribeca Grand Hotel, DFA, Adidas, Output, Paper Magazine) with: DJ: Unknown, Swayzak, !!!, Black Strobe, Mu, The Juan Maclean. Trevor Jackson, Dead Combo, Headman, James Murphy
* Xylophone Jones Recordings Party with: DJ: Unknown, Tommie Sunshine, Felix The Housecat, Arthur Baker, Junior Sanchez, Traxx, Selway, Hollatronix, DJs are not Rockstars, John Acquaviva
* Dj / Promoter of 3 Fischerspooner after parties for Deitch Project performances with Tommie Sunshine, John Selway, Ulysses and Nite Dog (NYC)(2003)
* Opened for the Buzzcocks at the Bowery Ballroom (NYC)(2003)
* Beastie Boy DVD Release party at Passerby Bar (NYC)
* P.S.1 (MoMA) After party for the exhibit Around 1984 (NYC)
* Cornerstone Promotions - Cornerstone Player 34
* Music Supervisor on a series of 3 Levis commercials
* Live televised interview and performance on Bouge (Quebec, Canada)
* DJ: Unknown has also been featured in the publications: GQ, Shout, IN, Self Service, L.A. Weekly, Vice, Foul and Time Out NY.
* Assorted headlining slots in Europe, Canada, North and South America
http://www.beastiemania.com/whois/snyder_hillary/
