In this lively Virtual Session, The DJ Sessions host Darran Bruce reconnects with New York City’s Herbert Holler, one of the most versatile and respected DJs on the East Coast. Known for his long-running Freedom Party and countless weddings, mitzvahs, and private events, Herbert reflects on his career, his philosophy, and some unforgettable experiences.

The conversation opens with humor and honesty as Herbert talks about fitness, mental health, and how exercise and mindset shape not only the body but also creativity and resilience. He and Darran explore the role of positivity online, social media’s darker side, and how technology has changed the way audiences experience music. Herbert emphasizes his goal behind the decks: to make people dance without their phones in hand, creating true connection.

He shares one of his biggest recent highlights - DJing for NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon segment at a Fordham University graduation, where Fallon brought out The Weeknd for a surprise performance. Balancing nerves and preparation, Herbert describes the moment as surreal and unforgettable.

The discussion also dives into the importance of trademarks for DJs and brands, why registering your name protects your work, and the everyday grind of balancing weddings, clubs, and family life. For Herbert, success isn’t measured by money or status but by contentment - finding peace in your craft, building community, and staying true to yourself.

From the magic of Circle Line cruises in Manhattan to late-night house sessions at PMT Dance Studio, Herbert continues to bring people together through music, proving that authenticity and persistence are what keep a DJ’s career thriving.

Show Notes – 

Host: Darran Bruce

Guest: Herbert Holler

Location: Virtual Studios, Seattle WA & New York City, NY

Overview:

Darran Bruce reconnects with NYC DJ Herbert Holler to talk about his philosophy on success, unforgettable experiences, phone-free parties, and balancing music with family life.

Topics Covered:

• 
  
  
  
  • 02:21 Fitness, discipline, and mental rewiring for positivity
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 05:16 Social media algorithms, negativity, and Threads/X dangers
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 07:14 Phones on the dance floor and the “Offline” party concept
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 11:01 Circle Line Sip & Groove cruise and global unity on the dance floor
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 16:14 Jimmy Fallon graduation event with The Weekend — nerves and triumph
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 22:58 Trademarking DJ and party names: protecting your brand
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 28:27 Persistence in DJing: no overnight breaks, only daily work
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 30:42 Balancing artistry vs. business and staying true to yourself
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 34:22 DJ booth setups, streaming, and being on the dance floor with the crowd
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 37:46 First records, Marc Anthony requests, and bringing joy to audiences
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 39:19 Defining success: contentment over status or money
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 47:07 Househead Sessions, Soul Summit, and NYC’s underground house culture
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 48:52 Balancing career and family life with structured routines
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 56:05 Shifts in nightlife: earlier events, healthier culture, less drinking
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 57:18 Favorite NYC restaurant: Keens Chop House and its history
  
  
  
  

• 
  
  
  
  • 59:08 Who would play Herbert in a movie? Jonah Hill or Larry David
  
  
  
  

Call to Action:

Visit HerbertHoller.com for event details, bookings, and updates.

Discover more exclusive interviews and live sessions at thedjsessions.com

About Herbert Holler -

Herbert Holler has been a full-time party producer, promoter and DJ for over 25 years. He’s played at the most notable bars, lounges and dance clubs in NYC nightlife history, from Wall Street to 125th, from Brooklyn to the Bronx, not-to-mention guest spots across the globe, in cities like Tokyo, Venice and London. 

He works with a growing list of high-profile clients (Samsung, Porsche, Live Nation, Sony/ATV, Apple…) and event-production teams (Creative Edge, Glow, Frost Audio, Sequence…), has spun for world-renown artists (Snoop Dogg, the Weeknd, Diplo, Benny Blanco, Boyz II Men, John Legend, Mark Ronson…), was recently seen on a segment of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and continues to spin some of the most celebrated annual events in NYC (the Brooklyn Black Tie Ball, the Brooklyn Botanic Spring Gala, SummerStage…). 

He’s also created the longest running and most legendary hip-hop dance party in world history, Herbert Holler’s Freedom™ Party, voted “Best Party” by Papermag, Village Voice and URB (now in its 22nd year of parties with over 1000 events to date, touching dance floors on a monthly basis in New York and Philadelphia), My House™, a highly sought-after dancers’ destination for deep-house music, and his latest production, Jams™, a new dance party centered around hits from the late-90s and 2000s. 

Herbert Holler’s success is due to his sensitivity to music’s energy, his versatility and wide scope of music knowledge, his incredible passion for making people happy, an uncanny ability to improvise, and an undeniable, driving rhythm that ties it all together into one, magnificent mix of music.

https://www.herbertholler.com/

www.instagram.com/herbertholler

www.facebook.com/herbertholler

www.threads.net/@herbertholler

www.youtube.com/@HerbertHollerDJ

www.gigsalad.com/herbert_holler_new_york_city

www.mixcloud.com/herbertholler

www.soundcloud.com/herbertholler

About The DJ Sessions -

“The DJ Sessions” is a Twitch/Mixcloud "Featured Partner” live streaming/podcast series featuring electronic music DJ’s/Producers via live mixes/interviews and streamed/distributed to a global audience. TheDJSessions.com

The series constantly places in the “Top Ten” on Twitch Music and the “Top Five” in the “Electronic Music", “DJ", "Dance Music" categories. TDJS is rated in the Top 0.11% of live streaming shows on Twitch out of millions of live streamers.

"The DJ Sessions" is listed in the Feedspot directory as one of the Top 60 EDM Podcasts.

It has also been recognized by Apple twice as a "New and Noteworthy” podcast and featured three times in the Apple Music Store video podcast section. UStream and Livestream have also listed the series as a "Featured" stream on their platforms since its inception.

The series is also streamed live to multiple other platforms and hosted on several podcast sites. It has a combined live streaming/podcast audience is over 125,000 viewers per week.

With over 2,600 episodes produced over the last 16 years "The DJ Sessions" has featured international artists such as: Matt Staffanina, BT, Plastik Funk, Redman, Youngr, Dr. Fresch, Ferry Corsten, Robert Owens, Darude, Herbert Holler, Meecah, YORK, Martin Jensen, Sevenn, Amber D, <a href="https://www.thedjsessions.com/podcast/joey-riot-on-the-virtual-sessions-pr