Vjuan Allure (born Warren Edward Bembry; July 24, 1965 - March 15, 2021) was an International DJ, remixer, producer, and artist, recognized as a ballroom icon and a key figure in the development and global rise of ballroom music and vogue beats. Born in Atlantic City and raised in New York City, he played a pivotal role in shaping Ballroom Beatz, a genre that became a defining element of ballroom music and gained international prominence in club culture.
Allure's innovative approach to music production significantly influenced the ballroom scene, particularly in the 2000s and 2010s. Throughout his career, Allure performed at major events such as the Winter Music Conference (WMC), the Streetstar Festival, and the Latex Ball. He collaborated with artists including MikeQ, Ultra Naté, and RuPaul while also maintaining a solo career as a producer.Resident Advisor "Vjuan Allure: Biografia", By RESIDENT ADVISOR Crack Magazine "8 essential Vjuan Allure tracks", By JASMINE KENT-SMITH In 2019, he was named Godfather of the Iconic House of Saint Laurent, mentoring its members and contributing to the preservation of its legacy.
There is some discrepancy regarding Allure's place of birth. While the official obituary lists his birthplace as Atlantic City, New Jersey, some unofficial sources claim he was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Early years Allure was born on July 24, 1965, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and was raised by his parents, Thomas and Mary Bembry. When he was three years old, his family moved to Pleasantville, New Jersey, where he attended elementary and middle school before graduating from Pleasantville High School in 1983.Legacy.com "WARREN BEMBRY Obituary", By THE WASHINGTON POST (April 30, 2021)
From an early age, he developed a strong passion for music and dance, drawing inspiration from a wide range of genres, including 1960s soul, 1970s rock, funk, disco, and rap, as well as 1980s electronic music and its subsequent evolutions. At the age of nine, he initiated playing the electric guitar and displayed notable skill on the keyboard. In the late 1970s, he discovered turntable mixing, which soon became his primary focus. Studying the techniques of pioneering DJs, he honed his skills in mixing and beatmaking, laying the foundation for his future career.
While his mother traveled internationally for business, Vjuan stayed in New York with an aunt who allowed him greater freedom in exploring the city's nightlife. His cousins, who were frequent clubgoers, introduced him to the scene, and by the age of eleven, he had already begun making a name for himself as a battle dancer. After persistently requesting to visit a club, he was finally taken to a night filled with house music.
Despite his young age, Allure was already attending smaller clubs and participating in dance battles in New York. By building friendships with dancers and security staff, he became deeply immersed in the culture. This eventually led him to frequent legendary venues such as The Sound Factory in 1989, during Junior Vasquez’s era.Red Bull Music Academy "Interview: Vjuan Allure", By THE NIALLIST (May 22, 2013) He became an active member of the scene and was present at Sound Factory the night Madonna visited and selected voguers Jose and Luis Xtravaganza for her music videos and tour.Vice Magazine "Listen to ‘Wherkk,’ the Latest EP From Ballroom Sensation Vjuan Allure", By THE NIALLIST (Feb 18, 2015) In February 2015, Vjuan Allure reflected on his musical experiences from that era, stating:
After graduating from high school, Vjuan Allure enlisted in the United States Navy, where he specialized in electronics and advanced to the rank of Petty Officer First Class. Over the course of his 20-year military career, he received multiple commendations for his performance and retired with an honorable discharge in Maryland. Following his retirement, he continued working in the same field, returning to Bethesda Naval Hospital to further his career in electronics.
While in college, Vjuan Allure participated in a cultural exchange program in Italy, which required prior training at a protocol school in the Washington, D.C. area. As a result, he spent a considerable amount of time in Virginia and Washington, D.C. During this period, he visited Tracks, a nightclub where he was first introduced to the music of DJ Sedrick, whose distinctive style blended techno, house, and Baltimore club beats. Sedrick would later become his mentor, guiding his artistic direction in music production and DJing. Although Allure was a fan of Junior Vasquez, he was particularly drawn to Sedrick's beat-driven style. The club's music, heavily influenced by Chicago house and Detroit techno, played continuously, fueling intense dance battles and audience interaction. Sedrick's dynamic DJing, which incorporated live microphone engagement and spontaneous record scratching, helped establish Tracks as a major nightlife destination, attracting clubgoers from across the United States and beyond.
Influences and underground scene Vjuan Allure's earliest inspiration for voguing music did not come from New York, like many ballroom DJs, but from Washington, D.C., particularly at Tracks, a major LGBTQ+ nightclub known for its electrifying atmosphere. Unlike the traditional ballroom sounds of New York, the music at Tracks featured a distinctive blend of minimal, house-infused techno that was unconventional and experimental. The synergy between DJ Mike's selections and Sedrick's commanding presence on the microphone created an intense energy on the dance floor, leaving a lasting impression on Allure. Tracks such as DJ Rush's "Looking for Excitement," Lil Louis’ "Blackout," and M1's "Dynomite" played a crucial role in shaping his musical style and influencing his later contributions to ballroom culture. However, the first track that truly ignited his passion for ballroom was Reese and Santonio's "Rock to the Beat," which he described as the ultimate expression of the genre. He regarded it as the pinnacle of ballroom music, characterized by its dramatic beats and open spaces that allowed for creative expression through dance.
Having lived in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region since the 1990s, he was deeply familiar with its club scene. He described Washington, D.C.'s music landscape as raw and diverse, shaped by influences from Detroit House, Techno, and Hard House. During D.C. Tracks nights, Hard House tracks were frequently played, providing a seamless fit for his sound. In contrast to New York's more curated and selective approach to club music, D.C.'s scene was driven by emotion and audience response.
Baltimore Club, a genre rooted in Miami Bass, emerged as a dominant musical force. According to Allure, it was influenced by New York/Chicago Hip House, with artists such as K-Yze, Doug Lazy, Tyree Cooper, and Fast Eddie playing a key role in its development. He noted few direct connections between Baltimore Club and Garage. His connection to the genre developed naturally, as his first record was Hip House, and upon discovering Baltimore Club, he immediately recognized its similarities. Despite the geographical proximity of Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, their music scenes remained largely distinct—Go-Go was unique to D.C., while Baltimore Club gradually gained traction in the capital due to its popularity and strong presence in dance and rhythm culture.
Allure strengthened his ties to Baltimore's music scene through collaborations with Scottie B, remix work for Unruly Records, and a residency at Ultra Naté's Deep Sugar party. He described his first encounter with Baltimore Club music as an experience of instant connection. While traditional club music was not commonly played at ballroom events, Allure recognized similarities in the relentless rhythmic structure of both styles. His remix of Schwarz's "Lose Your Fvkin Mind" exemplified this fusion.
Vjuan Allure, who pioneered the Ballroom Beatz genre over two decades ago, played a key role in the underground scene's rise to prominence. This evolution was further reinforced by DJs such as Kingdom and MikeQ, and by labels such as Night Slugs and Fade to Mind. He noted that audiences sought new sonic experiences, moving away from traditional ballroom and hip-hop patterns. Allure emphasized the significance of house and disco music in AfroLatinx LGBTQ+ culture, noting their influence for over 60 years. He attributed this connection to the power of rhythm, which transcended race, creed, and color, fostering expression and movement. According to him, house and disco have always conveyed a range of emotions—from joy and love to sorrow and introspection—while continuing to uplift and inspire the community.
He always felt a deep connection to music, though he did not initially recognize his path as a DJ. Vjuan developed a passion for collecting music early on, first influenced by his mother and later curating his own extensive collection. Even as the ballroom scene emerged, he remained dedicated to vinyl collecting. In the late 1990s, Allure relocated to Naples, Italy, where his vast music library became the foundation of his burgeoning DJ career.
Career When Vjuan Allure arrived in Naples, Italy, often referred to as his "second home", he encountered a music scene vastly different from that of the United States. While hip-hop and R&B dominated the charts in American cities, house music was the prevailing genre in Italy and across Europe, playing on nearly every radio station. As a dedicated house music enthusiast, he aspired to break into the Italian nightlife scene. Nevertheless, entry was challenging due to the dominance of exclusive DJ collectives, or "societies," which limited opportunities. As a result, many talented DJs in Italy never had the chance to perform.
Vjuan Allure started his career as a DJ after relocating to Italy, where local audiences primarily sought hip-hop, while he was drawn to house music. Adapting to the demand, he gained popularity as a hip-hop DJ, introducing a fresh element to the club scene. However, it was his talent as a dancer that initially set him apart. In 1998, he and a friend were dancing, when Angels of Love invited them to perform on stage at a huge venue, an opportunity that led to his inclusion in the renowned Italian DJ crew Angels of Love. Initially brought on as an MC and hip-hop DJ, Allure was determined to establish himself in house music. Within the team, he refined his skills, learning mixing techniques and track transitions. Over time, he incorporated elements of tribal and "cunty house" into his sets, further shaping his distinctive sound.
Vjuan Allure began producing music as a hobby in the late 1990s, using Dr. Rhythm samplers and a Kawai drum machine. Without access to turntables, he relied on a Tascam mixing board to refine his production and mixing skills through manual practice. Due to the equipment's limited memory, his early tracks were only two to three minutes long. However, after learning to transfer and edit music on a computer, he was able to extend them to six to eight minutes. Allure sent his early recordings and edits to DJ Sedrick in the United States, unaware that his work was gaining recognition in the ballroom scene.