How to get your song request played by the DJ at The Workman’s Friend
The Workman’s Friend in Plaza Midwood offers warm, low-key vibes, an underrated patio, friendly bartenders and one seriously unexpected twist: a Friday and Saturday night soundtrack that will make you want to dance. Need early 2000s hip hop in your life? Hoping to hear that song that’s always on the radio? DJ Stephen Warwick is on it. He stepped back from the turntables long enough to spill the secret to getting your request played, three songs you can count on hearing if you go see him, and his ultimate guilty pleasure track.
If you want to get your request played, what should you do?
Just be nice. Sometimes I’m in a zone and it’s hard for people to tell, like if I’m mixing. I don’t particularly like requests, but obviously I know they’re going to happen, so be friendly. Don’t bark the request or keep coming over. I like to smoothly mix one song into another, and not go from a slow song to a fast song. Someone could just play an iPod and that could happen, so I’m trying to create more of an atmosphere and read the crowd.
If you could take a song out of rotation forever, what would it be?
“Closer” by The Chainsmokers. I HATE that song with a passion. I’m sure that’ll get replaced with something else down the road, but at that moment that song gets my blood boiling.
What’s your guilty pleasure song of choice?
I really like “Sorry” by Justin Bieber. I don’t know why. It’s not the fact that Justin Bieber is singing it, I guess it’s just the melody and it’s got some dirt behind it because they didn’t pay for that sample they used in it so they’re getting sued.
If you need to get the crowd hyped, what will you play?
Usually everyone likes Michael Jackson, but if it’s a younger crowd maybe I’ll play Biggie. He gets people hyped no matter what age they are. Yeah, I’ll play “Mo Money, Mo Problems” or “PYT” or “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson.
What are you listening to during your time away from the DJ booth?
Led Zeppelin. That’s my go-to all-time favorite band. There’s a band called The Lemon Twigs. It’s two brothers and it’s one of those bands that I can’t tell if I like them or not, but I’m intrigued by them so I’m listening to their songs. I’m also listening to Spoon, a band out of Austin. It’s all mostly rock stuff.
What are the three songs you’ll always play when you’re deejaying?
“Ignition Remix” by R. Kelly, “My Boo” by Ghost Town DJs, and “Are You That Somebody” by Aaliyah. Those are just the three jams right there. Those will forever be jams.
If someone wants to go dance and they can’t come see you, where should they go?
I like DJ Aswell, who’s covered for me at Workman’s before. Justin Blackwood is his real name. He bounces around on the weekends; he’s been at VBGB before. He has a regular Monday night at Snug Harbor called Nocturnal.
Catch Stephen at The Workman’s Friend on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 10 p.m. You can also check out Stephen’s band, Ancient Cities (on Instagram and Facebook). Their song “Juice” was scheduled to air on the Nov. 13 episode of Showtime’s “Shameless.” They’ll also be collaborating with Birdsong Brewing to put out a limited release beer. Sample it and catch a performance from the band on Dec. 22 at Birdsong.
Photo: Courtesy of Stephen Warwick
This story was originally published November 13, 2016 at 9:00 PM with the headline "How to get your song request played by the DJ at The Workman’s Friend."