DJ Susan: The Story, the Music, the Vibes
DJ Susan, real name Steven Glathe, is a much-loved tech house DJ and label head. With his fantastic tunes, friendly vibes, and great mustache, this popular figure has become an unexpected leader of dance music culture. Built on peace, love, unity, and respect (PLUR), this inspiring scene brings people together and gets them moving as one. DJ Susan’s sets are celebrated on and off the dance floor, and his record label is championed by DJs and listeners from all corners of the world.
Let’s dive deep into the DJ Susan mission and story and review some of the tracks that have defined his career so far.
The Mission
To understand DJ Susan’s popularity, you need to appreciate his role as a dance music motivator. More than spinning tracks, he brings a unique sense of energy that inspires people to move and connect on the dance floor. The original values of dance music are brought to life with DJ Susan behind the decks, as he energizes the room and lifts up everyone in it.
DJ Susan has a philanthropic approach to house music, and it manages to inspire everyone around him: “We don’t rise alone. We rise by lifting others, and the more we support each other, the more it’ll create a bigger and more prosperous space for everybody involved in this game.”
The Story
Steven Glathe started life on America’s West Coast, with this inclusive environment always influencing his music. DJ Susan grew up in San Diego, a national hot spot for dance music and tech house in particular. From this California base, he educated himself on dance music and learned to energize crowds with high-energy tunes and massive smiles. Throughout his formative years, he made lots of connections and built a solid reputation as a DJ and performer.
Along with his San Diego home, DJ Susan has a special relationship with Miami. Florida’s cultural capital has long been an epicenter of dance music, but like many places, it’s had ups and downs over recent years. For many people, DJ Susan embodied the triumphant return of dance music in Miami after the brutal pandemic.
Music lovers still talk about his epic set at the Ultra Music Festival and his prominent role in bringing the city’s hotels and clubs back to life. He played at Miami Music Week and other major events, fostering a local fan base while actively engaging with fans on social media. Miami entered a brand-new era of electronic music since the pandemic, and Steven Glathe was a major force in its reawakening.
According to the man himself, Miami at this time “was incredible…It was a place for artists and fans alike to connect without any borders and create a beautiful space for all of us to thrive together through our art and passion for music.” In 2022, which was “unmistakably the year of house music” for Glathe, his new record label, Hood Politics Records, started to take shape. DJ Susan was already a renowned tastemaker in the tech house scene — the new label just made it more obvious.
Introducing Hood Politics
Spearheaded by Glathe, Hood Politics is a collective of DJs and producers with a shared appreciation for house and techno. Largely self-taught, this group has connected with some of the best underground producers in the global scene. Hood Politics has released over 150 records since launching, from established artists like John Summit and Vanilla Ace to a growing roster of exciting local talent.
Hood Politics is based in San Diego, with “America’s Finest City” influencing the sound and vibe of the label. Most Hood Politics tracks are produced in a grittier hip-house style, which is different from many DJ Susan sets. The label has cultivated a signature sound over recent years, and it’s also known for helping out young producers and putting on outstanding parties.
Since the beginning, the label has helped young producers to get their tracks heard. Hood Politics is all about community, and it loves supporting the people who make the magic happen. Rich DietZ puts it best, with the fast-rising producer calling Hood Politics “a big family…It has to stem from the guy up top, DJ Susan. He’s just out here spreading the love and reminding us all why we got into this scene.” Today, Hood Politics sits at #19 on Beatport’s Overall Tech House Labels Chart.
Three Music Releases
The following three tracks represent some of DJ Susan’s best work, both solo and in collaboration:
DJ Susan – Rewind
This track is built on familiar tech house elements. As you might expect, however, things are mixed up and moved around to keep them fresh. This tune has a fun and bouncy groove made from swung percussion, offbeat bass, and cut-up vocals. With his unique skills, DJ Susan manages to breathe new life into this fairly typical arrangement. Musical elements are removed and reintroduced at novel places, which adds a sense of syncopation without losing dance floor energy. “Rewind” was released in October 2024, and it’s still getting lots of love from DJs in America and around the world.
DJ Susan & GUDFELLA – Sweet Melody
This vibey track starts with a gentle arpeggio, which bubbles below the surface while a vocal introduces the “sweet melody.” A deep bass rumble then rises before stripped-back percussion brings that familiar tech-house groove. As the track progresses, the vocal line is cut up and filtered down to great effect. A bass line is introduced during the main drop, propelling the track forward while effected vocals and percussion come from all sides. “Sweet Melody” is tailor-made for the dance floor, with DJ Susan working his magic alongside upcoming DJ and producer GUDFELLA. It was released in April 2024 and was a massive hit over the summer months.
Who is GUDFELLA?
Also known as Kyle Domingo, the DJ and producer GUDFELLA has made a huge name for himself over recent years. Currently based in Los Angeles, he moved to America from the Philippines during his childhood years. GUDFELLA quickly fell in love with West Coast music and culture, teaching himself to mix and produce records from an early age.
This young artist has released lots of great records in his short career, including some exciting collaborations. “Feel This Way” featured multi-Grammy nominated Bipolar Sunshine, “back2u” was a collaboration with Disco Lines, and “Rule The World (Everybody)” was made with Tiësto, Tears For Fears, and NIIKO X SWAE. GUDFELLA can also be heard singing on his tracks, which adds something unique to many of his releases.
DJ Susan & SQWAD – Get It Right
Released on August 2024, this track sees a new partnership emerge between DJ Susan and SQWAD. “Get It Right” is based on swung tech-house percussion and dank synth bass, creating a dirty sound that’s ideal for sweaty dance floors. It doesn’t have the tight, minimal feel of other DJ Susan tracks, but it certainly brings the vibe. The offbeat percussion and playful vocal chops of bass house bring old-school electro vibes, and it’s the ideal sound for many modern dance floors.
Who is SQWAD?
SQWAD is an electronic music duo comprised of Etienne & Antoine, with their music creating an interesting synergy with DJ Susan. They produce an innovative style of dance music that blends tech-house grooves with elements of bass music. This French duo debuted on the label Monstercat with their song “St Tropez,” which was made in collaboration with Tony Romera. They also released a remix of the song “MS69” by Tony Romera, which was featured on the Introspection (Remixes) release. With SQWAD now connected with DJ Susan and the Hood Politics scene, we can expect more great music in the months ahead.
Past & Upcoming Shows
DJ Susan played lots of fantastic sets in 2024, including one memorable night at Trio in Charlotte. On February 14, 2024, he bombarded the crowd with non-stop tech-house beats and inclusive feel-good vibes. He cued up energetic tracks from Hood Politics and beyond, which sounded spectacular through the venue’s sound system. While DJ Susan has an amazing presence that few can match, he makes everyone feel like the life of the party.
For the remainder of 2025, DJ Susan will keep spreading his positive energy across the dance floor. There are four dates listed so far: February 28 in Reno, NV; March 15 in Bellevue, WA; March 27 in Miami, FL; and April 25 in Pensacola Beach, FL. Check his website and socials on a regular basis, with more dates surely listed as summer swings into gear. There are also many great merch available so you can represent DJ Susan and Hood Politics in style. If you want to experience a fun-filled dance floor fueled by great music and real human connection, DJ Susan is definitely the man for the job.
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