With tens of millions of streams on everything from originals to remixes, and an unique background which includes stints as a West Point cadet and a wide receiver for the Army football team, NYC-based solo artist Party Thieves has swiftly made his presence known in the music world. His ability to be able to take any track or idea and make it his own has been recognized by renowned names like RL Grime, Skrillex and Diplo. Producing for years now, Party Thieves is known for his bassbin-rattling hits, ‘Origin’ and ‘Poppy Seeds’, both tracks expressing his unique style from the moment the vocals hit in a rush of adrenaline and endorphins, combining hard hitting trap elements and with a deep musicality.
Party Thieves has also inspired a movement called the Theft Army; an army hungry for the incredible music he consistently puts out. Going beyond just the music though, Party Thieves uses his platform and following to make a bigger difference within communities. Often, a percentage of his merchandise sales are allocated to aid various organizations and causes like the Anti-Gun Violence campaign. Being able to unite his passion for music with his philanthropic values, the Theft Army movement goes beyond celebrating a killer track or party. Party Thieves has created a movement to help change the world for the better, one song at a time.
One of the biggest draws to your sets is that they truly are quite the party. What’s your secret in finding the right combination of hype tracks and melodic breaks?
I stay very up to date on new releases, edits, bootlegs, etc. My team also does a fantastic job at making sure there is not one hype track missing from my sets. Teamwork makes the dream work.
How did you decide that trap was the genre of EDM that you wanted to pursue?
I have always been a fan of urban music and trap was a lane that really fit that for me.
What do you think you would be doing right now if you were not making music? You were in the military academy so would you have taken that route?
If I didn’t get injured at school, I had always wanted to be in the NFL. Same goes for serving. If I had not gotten injured, that’s probably where I would have ended up.
What genre of music inspires you the most outside of EDM?
I love rap and hip-hop. I love just sitting in the studio and creating beat after beat.
Recently you collaborated with Wells on track “Realm” which has already taken off massively! What led to the collaboration?
Wells and I have been pretty close over the last few years. He is an unbelievable producer and when he sent me a rough version of ‘Realm’, I knew I had to put my touch on it and get this one out to everyone.
Your remixes are just as massive as your original tunes. How do you decide which tracks you want to remix, and is there a process you go through when breaking it down?
To be honest, I haven’t released many remixes lately due to touring so much and releasing original content. When I was releasing remixes it was really all about how the original was received by the fans and then putting my own spin on it. Really bringing the record back to life!
Something that you do differently than many artists is your approach to releases, by building hype with short videos. Do you feel visual elements bring more life to your tracks?
100%. My demographic and the demographic of this industry love to see visual elements along with the song. It really helps capture the hype of the record if you were to hear it out live. It truly adds to the overall experience of the release and record itself.
How does the scene in New York compare to other cities you’ve performed in?
New York will always have a special place in my heart, for one because that is where I grew up. The history, the culture, doesn’t compare to any other city. Each city has its own unique spin on the industry. It is sad to see Webster Hall shut down for a bit so I hope NYC will be expanding their scene over the next few years.
Since launching your career in 2013, what has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
Every day I am accomplishing something new in my career. Definitely coming off my first World Tour was a huge accomplishment. To be able to play in North America, South America, Australia, and Asia were crazy and something I will never forget it. Now it’s time to take it up a notch and hit every continent on the next tour!
Your most loyal fans and followers are part of the ‘Theft Army’. Do you have a message you can share with them?
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You are all the reason for my success and you are all part of this movement. I promise to continue to keep growing as an artist and as an individual. This is definitely only the beginning!
Finally, since you’re from New York, you most definitely have a favorite place to grab a slice. Where is it, and what toppings do you get?
For sure one of my favorites is right outside MSG, called Pizza Suprema. I am for sure an original slice type guy. You must make sure the pizza is crispy, cheesy, and topped off with amazing red sauce. You cannot go wrong in NYC!