the party

DJ Taela Naomi launched Rum + Pum Pum Shorts in August of 2017 out of a desire to bring culture rich experiences into elevated spaces. Featuring a soundscape heavy on Afrobeat, Soca, Reggae and Dancehall music, the party series celebrates the diaspora through music and dance. Rum + Pum Pum Shorts launched at the exclusive Jane Hotel rooftop in Greenwich Village with its resident DJs Taela Naomi and DJ IM. So many people showed up that the party had to be moved to the Jane Hotel’s large and gorgeous ballroom an hour into the party. Since then, RPPS has continued to grow and has found its home at The DL Rooftop on the Lower East Side in NYC and plans to expand the vibes to other cities in the months to come!

the dj/creator

Taela Naomi is an award winning DJ, model and educator based in NYC whose talent and presence have gained attention both in NYC and internationally. Raised in Brooklyn, NY, Taela's early musical influences included everything from classical composers Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky to Curtis Mayfield, James Brown, and Michael Jackson. After earning her B.A. from Amherst College, Taela performed as a dancer with shows including The Producers, Dreamgirls, and Bill T. Jones' Broadway adaptation of Superfly. With her knowledge of diverse musical genres, natural ability for cutting and blending, impenetrable focus, and bubbly spirit, Taela has risen to become one of NYC's most sought after DJs. She has played all over NYC and has earned praise from the legendary DJ Red Alert and played alongside the great DJ Tony Touch. Her signature party, The Dance Party, has become a weekly go-to event for music lovers, dancers, and NYC trendsetters. Her latest party series, Rum + Pum Pum Shorts which features Afrobeat, dancehall, reggae, and soca music, has been selling out in record time since it launched in August 2017. Taela won the prestigious Uptown Battle of the Bars competition, earning her the title "Best Uptown DJ," as well as the Festival At Sea’s DJ Battle, judged by the incomparable Kid Capri. As an educator, Taela created a course in the Art of DJing, which she teaches in public schools in Brownsville Brooklyn and the Bronx. Taela's mission is to transcend the typical club experience to get people to connect and to move, to be present, and to boldly fall back in love with dance parties.

the co dj

Growing up on an eclectic diet of music, Isaac Middleton IV, aka DJ I.M., has a very vast musical background. However, with his family being from the beautiful island of Barbados, DJ I.M. has a deep passion for Soca music. Bringing the vibes of crop over every month to Rum + Pum Pum Shorts is his way of sharing his love of his culture with all the people of different cultural backgrounds who attend the event.