About

$mall ¢hange (aka Jim Dier) has been selecting records for close to three decades. He started out collecting vinyl as a teenager and in college started doing radio on KUCI in Irvine. Landing in NYC in the mid 90s, he soon got involved with world renown freeform station WFMU, and been doing a weekly show there for over 20 years.

Archives and playlists can be found here. WFMU

From radio $¢ soon transitioned into playing warehouses, loft events, bars, clubs, festivals, and on and on and on. He has been a very active staple of the NYC underground since the mid 90s, featured at parties and spaces like Rubulad, JunXion, House of Yes, and APT, where he also served as music director. $¢ has thrown a number of his own loft parties under the names Jackpot!, Lose Your Shit, No Parking on the Dancefloor, and many other one offs. He is currently involved with El Cortez, a restaurant / club in Bushwick with Funktion One sound.

$¢ is a longtime ‘burner’ and has been going to Burning Man every year since ‘99. He helps manage the main radio station BMIR, and played for related camps like PEX, PLF, Kostume Kult, Disorient, Bubbles and Bass. Outside NYC he is a frequent guest at LA’s Funky Sole, and has played at SXSW, WMC, Glastonbury, Europe, Mexico, Australia.

And perhaps your friend’s wedding…$¢ has been doing private events since the mid 90s, and has done hundreds of private and corporate events, more info on that here.

$¢ is known for his truly eclectic sets, deep library, and serious music knowledge. In general his selections are percussion heavy, and mostly centered on a groove. Sometimes not. Anything raw or original, new or old, from classic jazz and blues, soul and funk 45s, disco and boogie, salsa and cumbia, bass and breakbeats, house and techno, hip hop and dancehall, punk and garage, tropical bass, african, Brazilian, downtempo, ambient and experimental. He has a roomful of LPs and 45s, and even more digitally. A very open minded selector who leans towards non-commercial sounds.

Like Duke Ellington said, “There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind…”

He’s shared a bill with folks like: Shuggie Otis, Francois K, Diplo, Bonobo, Mayer Hawthorne, Grand Wizzard Theodore, Kool Herc, Large Professor, DJ Day, Scottie B, Cosmo Baker, Nick Hook, Doc Martin, Roots Manuva, David Holmes, Whiskey Barons, Waajeed / PPP, Rich Medina, Just Blaze, Nickodemus, Quantic, Rub n’ Tug, Fort Knox 5, Ursula 1000, Ashley Beedle, Atrak, Charles Bradley, Just Blaze, Osunlade, Chuck Brown, The Avalanches, Aloe Blacc, DJ Vadim, ESG, Andy Smith, Jamie Lidell, Coldcut, The Slits, Andy Votel, Zero 7, Freqnasty, Crazy Legs, etc etc…

You can find some of $mall ¢hange’s musical productions, collaborations and remixes here.

$mall ¢hange eclectic tastes and years of experience behind the decks have given him a lot of versatility in his career as a DJ and the types of events he has spun. From high end lofts and rooftop cocktail bars to downtown clubs and afterhours warehouse parties, $¢ plays what works, guided by his own taste, sensibility to what is needed, and a very deep knowledge of music. He is excellent at reading a crowd, keeping the energy up, the dancefloor moving, and the volume on point. This is why he’s been a full time professional DJ for many years.

While underground club DJs may have great record collections, they sometimes lack the understanding and subtle details of what it takes to rock a private party, wedding, or similar event. Conversely, ‘professional’ wedding DJs sometimes have cookie cutter playlists with the same played out tracks. Its about finding that balance of knowing what works for a successful event AND playing quality music. $mall ¢hange has done hundreds of events at this point, has whatever sound is needed and is fully insured. Tons of music and experience, but never a snob–the main emphasis is that everyone is having a good time