Kozlow's "Pleasure Pack Vol. 1" Captures the Raw Energy of NYC's ANTHR FCKNG PARTY Scene
There's a particular kind of alchemy that happens when a party becomes a movement, and when a movement becomes a platform. Kozlow—the classically trained violinist turned underground dance music provocateur—has been quietly building that alchemy in New York City for years through his ANTHR FCKNG PARTY (AFP) events. Now, with the launch of his AFP label and the arrival of "Pleasure Pack Vol. 1" on January 9, he's documenting what's been happening in those sweat-soaked rooms and translating it into something tangible.
This isn't your typical label compilation. "Pleasure Pack Vol. 1" is a snapshot of a living, breathing scene—music that's already been battle-tested on AFP dancefloors and artists who've proven themselves in the rooms that matter. The roster reads like a who's who of the AFP ecosystem: Mona Matsuoka, Rachel Winters, Jasa, Tolga, CHASKE, and Kristos, plus a fresh cut from Kozlow himself titled "Bark." These aren't random picks or playlist fodder—they're working DJs who move crowds, hold residencies, and represent the sound of what's actually happening in NYC right now.
"I started the 'Pleasure Pack' VA series to show what we've actually been building in real life, not just online. It's about the crew," Kozlow explains. "All the artists featured are working DJs who are in the rooms, playing our parties, moving dancefloors, and DJing all over the city on any given night. This is the music we're playing and listening to right now in NYC. It's about shared taste, trust, and tracks that have already been pressure-tested at our parties. The Pleasure Pack name and the condom artwork reflect how we think about releases. They should be functional, meant to be used, and ideally not disappointing. The series will keep popping up throughout the year as a way to spotlight the artists who feel central to where AFP is headed."
That last bit—the condom artwork, the emphasis on function over hype—tells you everything about Kozlow's approach. There's a refreshing irreverence here, a rejection of the overly polished, algorithm-friendly dance music industrial complex in favor of something grittier and more honest. The compilation format becomes a quarterly platform to highlight the people who power AFP's events across North America, with new volumes rolling out every few months as an ongoing documentation of the scene's evolution.
For those unfamiliar with Kozlow's backstory, the journey is kind of wild. He's a classically trained violinist who's shared stages with Carl Cox, Green Velvet, Cedric Gervais, and Alesso, and DJ'd direct support for heavyweights like Carlita, DJ Tennis, LP Giobbi, Diplo, John Summit, and SG Lewis. His production credits include work with Scott Storch, FunkFlex, King Von, and Burna Boy—basically, he's got range. These days, he holds monthly NYC residencies at Outer Heaven and Gospel, where his sets weave live violin with left-field house selections in a way that shouldn't work but absolutely does.
But it's AFP—ANTHR FCKNG PARTY—where Kozlow's vision really comes into focus. What started as a scrappy DIY NYC party with a strict no-lineup, no-phones policy has grown into something larger: a cultural movement that drew over 10,000 people in 2025 and is now expanding into a full-fledged label. The ethos remains unchanged though—community, chaos, raw energy. It's about creating spaces where the music and the moment matter more than the Instagram story, where trust is built through shared experience rather than follower counts.
To celebrate the release and his new track "Bark," Kozlow is hosting a launch party at Outer Heaven on January 10—because of course the best way to mark a compilation rooted in real-world dancefloor experience is to throw another one. "Pleasure Pack Vol. 1" isn't just a label debut; it's proof that in an era of hyper-curated playlists and algorithmic recommendations, there's still space for scenes built on trust, taste, and tracks that actually move bodies. And honestly? That feels like something worth protecting.
Listen to "Pleasure Pack Vol. 1":