How It Girl DJs Angel + Dren Are Keeping The Party Alive From Home

Back in the old days (i.e. four months ago), when parties were still aplenty, one surefire way to get any discerning reveler to RSVP to an event was to have Angel + Dren listed on the invite as the evening's music curators. Trust, when sifting through invitations is a part of your job description, you know what to look for when it comes to a fun fete. 

And though the dilemma of having an overbooked social calendar is now, tragically, a thing of the past, one thing hasn't changed: we still can't miss a DJ set by the It Girl twin duo.

Since the early days of lockdown in NYC, Angel and Dren Coleman have taken their sound skills to Instagram Live, hosting DJ sets for the dance-deprived masses. From their impressive at-home turntable setup, the pair has managed to keep the party alive through quarantine. That may seem like quite a feat, but even virtually, their vibes can effortlessly command the room.

In the midst of a summer sadly still devoid of social gatherings (well, any decent ones at least), we checked in with the stylish sisters responsible for some of our favorite dance floor moments to see how they're holding up at home.

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Outside was/is amazing 🙌🏾 but really been enjoying this time working on ourselves and leaning into music.☀️☀️ happy Wednesday everyone // back on LIVE tonight
A post shared by angel + dren (@angelanddren) on May 13, 2020 at 10:55am PDT

Where have you both been hunkering down?
Dren: In NYC (Harlem to be specific).

How'd you spend your last real night "out" in the city?
Dren: Our last night out was in Miami. Angel and I had a set at the Edition Hotel. We were there for two days, and the day after we got back home to NYC, everything started shutting down. Gigs started cancelling, clubs closed, events rescheduled…. So, In retrospect, I’m really glad we had that last trip to Miami.

Angel: MIAMI was our last hoorah, but we didn’t know that at the time. I think it was actually Spring Break too, and I’m choosing to remember it like it was our Spring Break.

How have you been keeping up spirits/staying healthy at home?
Dren: I make fresh juice at least once a day (if not more). I feel like I’ve been eating the healthiest I ever have in my life, mostly because I’m cooking everything and making decisions that have nothing to do with being hungry at 2am after a DJ set. I also try to do something active daily (go for a run, jump rope, some boxing, etc).

Angel: I hang out on the roof, exercise, and listen to music… Sometimes if I feel a little stressed, I’ll clean for a few hours. I cleaned our stove from the inside out the other day (lol) and it was actually really relaxing. I know when I need to channel my energy externally.

Why did you decide to start streaming DJ sets on Instagram? How are they going?
Angel: The online sets started in late March/April. We were at home with our equipment and missed playing. We play a lot of music at home by ourselves anyway so it was cool to be able to share that. I like the IG sets a lot actually - they weirdly feel intimate. It’s really interactive beyond just playing music.

Dren: We started doing DJ sets on IG Live in April, and now it’s hard to remember a time when we didn’t do digital sets. As much as I love being in front of a live crowd, I love our virtual sets too. More people are able to watch and access our sets.

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A post shared by angel + dren (@angelanddren) on Jul 26, 2020 at 12:00pm PDT

Do you have any go-to favorite "songs of the summer"?
Dren: I don't know about specific songs, but genre wise, I’ve been listening to a lot of R&B and reggae this summer.

Angel:
Same So - Protoje
Buju Banton - Blessed
Cafeteria - Chase B & Don Toliver
Brent Faiyaz
Tryna Smoke - Jhene Aiko
Slow Down (Ft H.E.R.) - Skip Marley

I might as well have made a playlist!

What are your thoughts on the current state of the DJ/events industry? Do you think there will be ways to adapt?
Dren: I think this is an exciting time for the music/ events industry. There’s nothing like connecting with people in person, but this is a unique moment to innovate and rewrite the going out experience. No one knows what is going to happen, and no one knows how long we will be in this predicament, but I know that Angel and I’s role in music can and will have to be multifaceted. I’m excited to see how others answer the questions of “how can we connect in 2020?” and “how can we connect safely/remotely?”

What's your dream night out after this is over?
Dren: It’s not a night out. It’s a whole Caribbean vacation!
Angel: Ok my dream night involves a Caribbean sunset. I want to have dinner by the ocean, go out to a party and get into something after.

[Photos by Chase Freeman, wearing Marcelo Burlon County of Milan][Instagram photo by Amina Gingold]