There’s always one night that sets the tone for the summer. This year, it happened in Montauk—specifically at The Surf Lodge, where DJ-producer HRSHY delivered a set so immersive it felt less like a performance and more like a shared pulse. The occasion: Cory Paul Martin’s birthday. The result: a gathering so finely tuned, so deeply personal, that those in attendance are still riding its frequency.
Cory, an internationally recognized model and lifestyle curator, doesn’t throw just any party. He orchestrates them, each detail considered, each moment intentional. This year, he kept it tight. A rented house in Amagansett. A curated guest list of close friends flown in from around the world. A sunset-laced main event hosted by nightlife legend Jayma Cardoso. And at the center of it all: HRSHY.
For the uninitiated, HRSHY is a West Coast-based DJ and producer with a global sensibility and a deep, emotionally intelligent sound. He’s performed everywhere from Dubai to Delhi, opening for the likes of Miss Monique and Francis Mercier, and his style, rooted in techno, Afro house, deep house, and progressive leaning more on soul than on spectacle. “I want people to feel something real,” he said. At Surf Lodge, he did exactly that.
HRSHY (Image by Mai Medina)
The vibe was unmistakably elevated. Guests arrived in breezy linen and soft tailoring, drinks in hand courtesy of TO Mezcal—the artisanal spirit co-founded by Cory and a constant presence throughout the weekend. There were no velvet ropes, no step-and-repeat. Just a perfect collision of style, connection, and music.
And the music delivered. HRSHY’s set built gradually, a slow-burning soundscape of rhythm and melody that washed over the space like the ocean just beyond the deck. Each track was chosen with precision, allowing the energy to evolve naturally. No obvious drops, no shortcuts—just a carefully woven narrative that held the crowd in rapture. It was subtle but potent, the kind of set that doesn’t demand attention but earns it, deeply and quietly.
HRSHY and Cory Paul Martin
Midway through the night, a surprise appearance by Turkish musician Bora Uzer brought an added dimension to the experience. Known for blending live vocals with ethereal instrumentation, Bora’s performance over HRSHY’s mix felt like a conversation between kindred spirits—two artists speaking in a shared language of emotion and atmosphere. It was a standout moment, but not a disruptive one. Instead, it layered into the night seamlessly, the way only truly intuitive collaborations can.
As the night wore on, the party transformed. The crowd, small but charged, danced barefoot and blissed-out, mezcal in hand, beneath string lights and a slowly fading sky. Conversations drifted from fashion to travel to music to nothing at all. And when Cory’s birthday cake—a sculptural confection that could’ve doubled as an art piece—made its entrance, there were cheers, laughter, and a few misty eyes. It wasn’t just a party. It was a shared moment of joy, memory, and presence.
Cory Paul Martin (Image by Mai Medina)
Photographer Mai Medina captured the night with a warm, unfiltered eye—intimate portraits, quiet exchanges, kinetic dance-floor snapshots. Her lens told the story the way the night unfolded: naturally, without force.
For Cory, who moves fluidly between fashion weeks and spiritual retreats, it was another chapter in an ongoing personal mythology—one where the birthday becomes less of a milestone and more of a ritual. And for HRSHY, it was another chance to remind the world what a real DJ does: not just fill a room, but elevate it.
What happened that night at The Surf Lodge wasn’t for everyone. That was the point. It wasn’t about scale. It was about resonance. And for those who were there, moving to HRSHY’s sound as the mezcal flowed and the sky turned ink-blue, it was exactly the kind of night you don’t try to recreate. You just remember it—somewhere between the bassline and the breeze.
Written in partnership with Tom White
