If you’ve hit a dance floor anywhere from Europe to New York City (especially on the legendary paradise known as Fire Island), you have danced to the sensational sounds of DJ Lina Bradford. While this DJ/activist/nightlife doyenne may have departed Fire Island several years ago, she has launched a talk show (In The Dollhouse with Lina) and during this momentary pause in nightlife, has been spinning from the comfort of her own home with Logo TV, expanding her fanbase to an even bigger audience. As a woman who has lived more lives than many of us, it was the perfect time to look back at her life and career, with her documentary, aptly titled LINISH. As Lina brought LINISH to the masses, we caught up for an exclusive chat where we talked about her nightlife memories, music in a very new world and why putting her life on screen in documentary form “just felt right”

Michael Cook: What was it like putting your story out there in documentary form in LINISH? 
Lina Bradford: It was natural for me to be open because I’ve always been that way with anything. That it is that I do, that was a part of me that was more open because it was my last year after ten years of being on Fire Island. It was very cathartic and surreal, and I always follow my heart and my spirituality that guides me. It just felt right and so beautiful to have that time capsule in this beautiful documentary. 

MC: What did your boyfriend Claudio think about being included in the documentary? What does it mean to you to have him standing by your side on this journey of life? LB  Claudio is all of the dress rehearsals for previous relationships that has shown me what real love and a relationship is. He is the most supportive man I’ve ever met in my whole life. He is a guiding force in my life and so supportive and he’s by my side for anything that I do; we got it like that!

MC: What are some of your best memories of the era of New York in the 90’s/2000’s that you helped usher in along with Candis Cayne, Sherry Vine, Jackie Beat and so many other legends? 
LB: Wow that’s a hard question. When I look back at all of that legendary good times, I’m so blessed and honored to have been a part of such an amazing part of New York culture. It’s as all so much and we were and still are so connected because of that. It was prior to social media (Thank God!) we did not have phones. We are very dialed in and I think that’s why we’re also on point and together to this day. We had that ‘Realness’ in the ground, deep into the soil that keeps us right for a blood type! Having my sister Candis by my side from then till now has been everything; she is my Everyness. 

MC: Do you think your passion for music has changed since the pandemic? When you get back into the booth, what kind of music can we expect? 
LB:  I know I didn’t expect to see my whole music evolution to go where it has these last ten months. DJ’ing on my Instagram Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays with Logo TV has been so monumental! To be able to touch people who live by themselves and they send me messages telling me how this is helping them through… It’s not only helped me because that’s who I am as a person, but it’s also help me step up my game with my music. After twenty five years, I love the fact that you can never feel like you’re done learning because when you do it’s all over; I love that. I’ve gotten these beautiful gifts throughout this pandemic.

MC: What do you celebrate the most about yourself? 
LB: That’s a really beautiful question.  I celebrate the fact that I am so in tune with my spirituality and my love and my light for people. It never dwindles and continues to always be the driving force in everything; that it is that I do. 

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