Zachary David Palmer

It is said that radio is for the unattractive and, if you know your Fame quotes, that "tits book bands" so, seeing an impossibly attractive woman in the DJ booth is often seen as played out marketing, but June Deuell is less D'arcy being marginalized to the bass guitar and more Gwen Stefani singing some of the most catchy pop songs of the 90s.

It is an easy assumption that June D is an accessory of the men in the DJ booth alongside of her, but it is they who are getting her drinks. Eight years after she uprooted herself from her upstate New York hometown where music was her only creative outlet, June D still remembers both her initial fascination with the industry and her first experience at Limelight, where she felt like one of the stars of nightlife. Working with model promoters in top clubs like Lotus and Suede, she had her first lessons in promoting and hosting. By going out, meeting and working with everyone in nightlife, she learned how to drive a party. Years later, she discovered the colorful downtown nightlife scene of MisShapes, Tiswas and Rated X, and became fascinated by Michael T, Theo Kogan and Justine D. At Motherfucker, she first felt like she belonged.

In 2005, after living in Berlin for a year and falling in love with that city's soul parties, she and an ex-boyfriend of hers started SoulPusher in the basement of B3 Café. The party was an immediate success and, after two nights, it was relocated to Sutra. Soon after that move, Georgie Seville (of Motherfucker) brought the party to The Delancey, a venue with an 800 persons capacity. Their first night there, the SoulPushers broke The Delancey's capacity record. After June D and her ex partnered with a third colleague, SoulPusher acquired a third DJ: June D.

Once the party was securely in the downtown scene, the SoulPusher Triumvirate earned a residency at Beauty Bar and was guest DJing at parties like Shindig!, Motherfucker, Byte, MisShapes, Rated X and Trash!; clubs like Movida; and for companies like GBH and MyOpenBar.com.

Falling in love with DJing, June D incorporated into her sets contemporary music that either drew or sampled from funk and soul artists. As her music library grew and she came to a broader knowledge of music, June D realized more deeply how contemporary artists are borrowing from music history. Wanting to tell the story of music evolution, her sets feature songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, mixed together with contemporary music. Having grown up with Motown, the Doors and the Beatles, but loving contemporary, envelope-pushing artists, June D can cater to any venue. Letting the audience's energy guide her sets, she always aims to help the partiers forget about the troubles that they have.

Using SoulPusher as a showcase for bands and platform for her talents, it was for that party that June D booked some of New York's most exciting underground talent, and gave international acts their New York premieres. She booked bands like The Living Things, 33hz, Rahim, Elkland, The Infadels, Datarock and Annie.

With the success of Soulpusher, June D began a career as a touring DJ. Having appeared in Miami and Los Angeles, doing guest DJ appearances at parties like Club Moscow, Hang the DJs and Revolver, she now goes a few times a year on week-at-a-time trips to LA and Miami. In New York, she has had residencies at Diesel clothing stories, Fat Baby, Beauty Bar, Studio B and Movida.

After Soulpusher ended in 2006, June D started WhiteDove — a monthly party at Studio B which features all-female talent from DJs like Princess Superstar, DJ Cat and Kim Ann Foxman.

Later in 2006, her partner and she premiered to New York The Ed Banger Record DJs (Busy P, Uffie, Feadz, Para One, Sebastian and Mehdi). June D has always been a fan of electronic music, but watching them was the first time that she felt as if she were watching real DJs. At the party, people were "losing their minds", and the dance floor became a world of color and harmony which she had never before experienced. With that night in mind, she strives to book talent which pushes the edge of DJing, acts who create their own remixes and drive the world of dance music.

SoulPusher saw June D's metamorphosis from promoter to DJ to booker, and she remains as all three. Now, she has a bi-weekly party with DJ Stretch Armstrong, and throws a weekly party at Studio B called Fun. Past acts include The Rapture, Lady Sovereign, Optimo, Girltalk, The Teddybears and Diplo.

With up-and-coming producer Streetlab, June D has recently produced and recorded vocals on two tracks that will be released in early June 2007.