NiteTalk: Two J's Julio de la Mata on Where to Party the Day After the World Ends

Very few party people plan past the next big bash even during the best of times, so it’s highly unlikely many of ‘em have even penciled anything beyond what may be the very last big bash on Earth. Smarter party people though figure since the world wasn’t built in a day, it probably won’t end in one either -- Armageddon or no Armageddon. That’s why Two J’s Julio de la Matta and Javier Perez started the Day After Tomorrow Project. And why the afterdark ops have a mass of mad racket-makers like Sazon Booya, The White Panda and Problem Kids throwing down at Villa 221 once 12/21 has done its thing. Niteside got de la Matta to provide the who/what/where/when/why.

Briefly, what’s the big idea of the Day After Tomorrow Project? DAT Project is a celebration of life through music and charity on the day after the day the Mayans say it’s all supposed to end.

Who’s behind this big idea anyway? My partner Javi and I are running the show, but the idea is my fault alone. I had been back and forth about doing something themed around Christmas, and I wanted to avoid putting together another “cookie-cutter” Miami event. I get all my creative ideas before I go to bed because that's when my mind is most active. I noticed the Mayan calendar ended on a Friday and started playing with the DAT project name and called Javi at midnight and knew I had it after he was all for it.

Do you two have any contingency plans in place in case the world does end the day before? I have a few, but I'd have to kill you if I told you.

That’s okay, we’ll all be dead anyway ... Yeah, but you’ll be dead one day sooner than everybody else.

How about if, say, only a portion of the world ends? The show must go on!

All kidding aside, The Day After Tomorrow is for a seriously good cause, isn’t it? It would not feel right to have a celebration of life knowing there are so many people without too much in their lives to celebrate about. We hope to use the holiday spirit of that day to brighten up the day for a few children. We chose Toys for Tots because it benefits the children of the men and women who have sacrificed the most for us. We are not only honoring those children but the men and women in uniform also.

What live acts have you lined up to celebrate the world’s surviving? That's a really tough question with over 20 acts. The White Panda has to be who I’m looking forward to the most. Those guys have toured alongside Mac Miller, Mike Posner, Wale and Ghostland Observatory—and shared the stage with Tiësto, Benny Benassi, Steve Aoki, and Lupe Fiasco. Sazon Booyah is a great Moombaton production duo, and the local Problem Kids are definitely going to put on a show.

Are there any other action we need to know about? Let's see ... those who donate a teddy bear for Toys for Tots receive a free drink ... those who show us their best Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elf or Rudolph may win thousands in prizes ... Sushi Sake is comping sushi from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. ... Nestor Miranda Collection is giving away cigars from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. ... N&K Designs is giving away glow accessories at sundown ... and Alessandro Martino Photography will be shooting comp holiday group shots all night long!

If you had only one sentence to sum up all these parts for the prospective party people, what would it be? DAT Project will be the be-all to end-all, whether the world ends or it doesn't.

Two J’s presents the Day After Tomorrow Project Saturday, 12/22, from 2 p.m. till way late at Villa 221. For more information log on here.

Contact Us