Chris Cruse

Berlin-based selector championing the queer roots of house and disco through infectious, sleazy grooves.

Chris Cruse is a DJ and producer originally from Los Angeles and currently based in Berlin. He is the founder of the influential queer warehouse party and record label Spotlight, as well as a core member of the Club Toilet crew in Detroit. Cruse is known for a tough, sleazy, and soulful sound that bridges classic house, disco, and chugging techno. In the studio, he frequently collaborates with Massimiliano Pagliara, notably forming the project Couple Looking to release the For You EP on Funnuvojere Records in 2023. A regular fixture at international institutions like Panorama Bar in Berlin, smartbar in Chicago, and BASEMENT in New York City, he has also brought his infectious grooves to stages at Glastonbury and Coachella. By consistently championing the queer roots of underground dance music, Cruse remains a vital and unifying force across the global club circuit.