It's hard to believe how long I've known some of the people I met during my earliest years in New York. Partly because, in my head, I still think I'm 18. One of the greatest gifts of staying in this city, though, is getting to watch people grow. Friends build careers, families evolve, and the kids you once knew become remarkable people in their own right. Jivan Calderone is one of my favorite examples of that.

I met Jivan the same way I've met so many of my favorite people in New York: through friends in Montauk, surfing, and through volunteering with a cause that's incredibly close to my heart, A Walk On Water.

Yes, Jivan is the son of two New York icons, Athena and Victor Calderone. And yes, I've always admired Athena's effortless style and impeccable taste. But if I'm being honest, the family became even more legendary to me when I realized that Victor was the Victor Calderone, the house music pioneer behind remixes on one of my all-time favorite albums, Madonna's Ray of Light - an album holds a special place in my heart. (my sister performed "Frozen" at our elementary school talent show and I will argue it's one of the greatest albums ever). Victor and Athena's influence on dance music and design stretches far beyond records and major eyeswoon following because what has always stood out most to me, though, has nothing to do with their careers or reputation.

The Calderones are simply wonderful people. Year after year, they've shown up as host committee members for A Walk On Water's annual fundraiser, supporting a cause that changes lives. Their consistency, generosity, and willingness to give back have always meant far more to me than any amount of style, success, or status. That's the kind of legacy that leaves the biggest impression.

Over the past few years, I've watched Jivan step into his own. While his father's influence is undeniable, he's steadily built a career that's distinctly his, and I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before people started taking notice.

Anytime I open Instagram, he's playing another iconic venue. From Under the K Bridge Park and the Todd Snyder New York Fashion Week show to The Surf Lodge in Montauk, Virgo in New York, and The Snow Lodge in Aspen alongside some of the biggest names in house music, Jivan is quickly becoming one of the scene's most exciting rising artists.

I caught up with him to talk about the evolution of his sound, life behind the deck, the creative influences that have shaped him, and what it means to forge your own path while growing up in one of New York's most creative families.

When you think back to music in your childhood, what’s the first memory that comes up - a specific song, a room, a person?

It's hard to pick just one memory because music was always a part of my childhood, but the first thing that comes to mind is Miami Music Conference. Every year my dad would play these pool parties, and since they were during the day, they were some of the only shows I could go to. We would go every year since I was born but for this specific memory I was probably around eight years old. My mom, grandma, and I would spend time in the booth before wandering down to the beach. At that age it was probably more about running around on the beach with my family then the loud music and crazy people lol. Although, the moment I cherish the most is my dad picking me up and holding me up in front of the crowd. I can still picture looking out at all those people with the music blasting.When I went back to school the next week, we had to draw and write about something and I drew a picture of my dad holding me up at the show and remember being so proud to share it with my class.

Was there a particular artist or album that felt like it belonged to your family- something that defined a time or place growing up?Me and my mom would always have dance parties to Michael Jackson at one of the first apartments I lived in. That's definitely a core memory. My dad was always gone on the weekends and my mom typically stayed home to watch me so we would have our own little dance parties to Michael Jackson since we couldn’t go to my dads parties.

One of my all time favorite songs is As by Stevie Wonder, probably because it’s one of my dads favorite songs and I remember him showing it to me when I was pretty young.

Do you remember the first time music felt personal to you, not just something in the background or associated with your dad, legend Victor Calderone :)

I don’t think I have a specific memory for that. I’ve always been surrounded by music so there was never a moment where it went from being my dads thing to being mine. I’ve always had a deep passion for music even before I thought of it as a career path. I was always the one showing my friends new music and constantly had headphones on wherever I went. Funny enough though it took me a while to truly realize I wanted to pursue music for a career. I think most kids don’t want to follow in their fathers footsteps when they're younger and for some reason I didn’t fully appreciate what it meant for my dad to be a DJ.

It was so normal to me from such a young age that for a while I became numb to it. It wasn’t until a night my dad was playing at brooklyn mirage probably around 8 years ago that it all started to click for me. COVID also played a big role in further fostering my passion. That's when I really started to pick up DJing and production.

Has New York shaped the way you experience music or creativity at all or does it feel separate for you?

100%, in numerous ways! I think New York has shaped me in more ways than I can even put into words. My pride and love for this city runs deep. I didn’t really realize it until I tried to live in California for a year. I love to surf and snowboard and I was doing that a ton, I had good friends, and didn’t totally hate Chapman (The college I went to freshman year) but for some reason I just wasn’t that happy. Something just felt off. The hustle, the community, and the energy of NYC is almost like a drug. Once you experience it or especially if you grow up with it nothing else can come close. And I feel the same way from a musical standpoint. Before I was into house music new york rap defined my life. I was never into that mumble shit, from a young age I loved 90’s boom bap. Nas, mobb deep, Wutang, Big L. As for the newer guys, Joey badass, ASAP MOB, and flatbush zombies was the soundtrack to my highschool days.

NYC’s influence is also prominent in my house music taste. My dad (obviously), Angel Moraes, Dennis Ferrer, Danny Tenaglia, Harry Romero, etc. are all major influences on my sound. I love long genre blending sets that really take you on a journey. Very different from the 1 hour sets that are becoming the norm nowadays. I want to try to bring back some elements of the glory days of the nyc house scene I hear so much about.

“Once you experience it or especially if you grow up with it nothing else can come close. And I feel the same way from a musical standpoint.”

— Jivan on NYC

If it’s one of those gray, low-energy New York days, what’s your instant reset? (A walk, a place, a song, a ritual.)

Probably a good pasta. I love Al di la in Park Slope. I’ve been going there with my parents since I was a baby and I’ve yet to find a better bolognese, pacherri, or saltimboca. If I’m really feeling down I try to work on music or at least start a little song to take my mind off of whatever's stressing me out. My brain doesn’t have enough capacity to work and worry at the same time so being in the studio is pretty therapeutic for me.

You go to Ibiza with your family every summer - what song(s) remind you of your time there?

Last year I brought 3 friends along with me. We had a long night out at DC10 and got back home at around 5am. It was our first day at the villa and for some reason the alarm system started going off. It was ear piercingly loud and was a whole debacle for over 30 minutes. We finally got it off by climbing onto the roof and pulling the wire for the speaker. I put on this song - There Would Come A Day by Ivory (IT) and we smoked a joint on the roof as the sun rose. I think that’s a memory none of us will forget.

What does your environment need to feel like for you to actually create music – silence, chaos, a certain neighborhood energy?

I don’t really have a specific environment in which I like to create. I think most of the time it just happens. Sometimes I reach flow state sitting at my desk, sometimes I’m in the studio, and sometimes I’m just sitting by the pool. I will say that some of my favorite songs are made quickly in random locations or environments. When all the pieces start falling together quickly and nothing feels like a struggle you know you’re onto something.

What have you been listening to lately?

When The lights are out (Late Night mix) - Maceo Plex
I got You - Mathias Kaden
Changin - Gorge
Heaven Knows - Angel Moraes
Anemone - Brian Jonestown Massacre
Right Back at You - Mobb Deep
Belly of the beast - Joey Bada$$

We can’t not touch on surfing, have you been keeping up with it? Why is it important to you to continue

Not nearly as much as I would like to. Adulting sucks lol! I surfed less than I ever had this year and I hate it. Nothing helps me to connect to nature and clears my mind like being in the water. Its played such a huge part in making me who i am today and to surf less and less every year definitely hurts my soul. I felt like I was going a little stir crazy in the city this spring and winter and I was craving that reset that the water gives me.