Dr Séculaire

Your host & resident DJ

Dr Jean-Paul Séculaire is the founder, curator, resident DJ, and host of Right On! It’s his job to keep the dance joyful and safe, and he is committed to curating a Queer-friendly, Trans-inclusive space free of bigotry, predatory behaviour, and aggression.

Dancer to disc jockey

Jean-Paul grew up in London surrounded by old-school Black music. His earliest memories include breakdancing on a piece of lino in his grand­mother’s living room to the sounds of his uncle’s record collection.

After clubbing non-stop throughout his early twenties, Jean-Paul found himself longing to dance to a wider range of music. So, in 2001, he began DJing and launched Right On a year later.

Non-electronic Black music

Now a highly regarded selector and collector of vintage vinyl and 78s, Dr Séculaire specialises in non-electronic dance music from across the Black dia­spora.

Although known to play hot jazz, swing, bebop, and jump blues from time to time, his Right On sets focus primarily on the music of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s: calypso, mambo, rhythm ’n’ blues, ska, rumba, kwela, high­life, soul, doo wop, samba, funk, Latin jazz, soul jazz, boogaloo, salsa, reggae, mento, spouge, Afro­beat, and more.

DJ to scholar & back again

After fifteen years of DJing, Jean-Paul decided to shift gears and left London to pursue academic research in Bristol. His DJing and dancing continued intermittently during this time—but came to a halt with the COVID pandemic of 2020.

In July 2024, however, he was awarded a PhD and proudly returned to London five months later as Dr Séculaire. On his return, he found his passion for clubbing had been re-kindled as he began to DJ again.

Dr Séculaire soon found himself immersed in the capital’s post-pandemic nightlife and realised the time was right to reinvent and relaunch Right On! He is now looking forward to welcoming new generations of dancers to the club to discover the joys of vintage Black music.

From burlesque clubs to reggae concerts

Here are a few selected highlights from Dr Séculaire’s résumé:

1. 2024

   DJing at Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues—London’s longest running weekly club night.

2. 2016

   DJing on NYE at Hellzapoppin’—London’s legendary swing dance.

3. 2013

   DJing at the Royal Festival Hall as part of The Rest Is Noise festival.

4. 2011

   Touring Italy, including the Angelo Mai in Rome and the Arci Biko in Milan.

5. 2008

   Supporting reggae pioneers Prince Buster and Toots & the Maytals.

6. 2006

   Hosting a weekly modern jazz show on Station FM community radio.

7. 2004

   Helping soundtrack the UK’s burlesque & cabaret revival from 2004–2014 via sets at the Lady Luck Club, White Mischief, the London International Burlesque Festival, etc.