Curating is the fun (and sometimes risky) part
Some ramblings on when curating a line up works out (and also when it doesn't) and a deep dive into our artists performing on Saturday
Following on from my last email, where I shared some thoughts about the negative feelings surrounding promoting right now, I wanted to share some slightly more positive feelings which I have around the idea of curation.
I’ve been lucky enough to feel quite supported on this solo journey, often via fellow party organisers. One of these lovely people expressed their disappointment in a recent artist pulling out / a curation they’d put together falling through. It made me think about all the parties that never where, but also the love & time that goes into putting these curations together. When it works the feeling is unparalled but obviously in the same light when it doesn’t it’s devastating. My love goes out to this person, if you’re reading this you’ll know who you are <33
This actually happened to me and a few friends a couple of years ago when we were starting a new party ‘off limits’, which sadly never got off the ground. We had a really clear vision & wanted to prioritise booking artists from overseas for their uk debuts and pairing those with local artists who we felt were underrepresented. Our first booking was Sunju Hargun, and the reception to this was unreal, but sadly 3 weeks before the show we got news that he was having difficulties with his visa & that he wouldn’t be able to make the show. Devastated we were faced with the choice of finding a suitable replacement (someone we all loved & hadn’t made their uk debut yet) or cancelling the show.
We explored a few options but ultimately came to the realisation it was fairly impossible to replace someone who you built the whole show around so we decided to pull the show. Funnily enough though so, as we didn’t want to let the venue and artists down, this actually ended up being my first (extremely impromptu) kinetic party and perhaps without the show going ahead I would’ve never had the guts to throw my own parties.
I guess my point here is that there are so many things that go into pulling a line up together. Sometimes it come together exactly like you’d planned it and other times it fall into place through a series of events out of your control. This brings me onto our next event, which has by far been my favourite event to curate and also my favourite line up.
I met a friend for a coffee a couple of weeks ago & when we were discussing the upcoming party he described the line up as being a ‘risky’ one.
I have to admit I hadn’t actually thought of it in that way until then, but I guess he’s right. There’s no BIG name who will automatically sell tickets, but instead artists who I truly admire & I think as a whole will tell a beautiful story from start to finish.
I can’t find the original tweet or who wrote it but I saw a tweet recently which said something along the lines of; anyone can learnt to beatmatch - but what makes someone a true artist / DJ is when it goes above and beyond that. Dj voices writes a similar statement here about another one of our faves, CCL.
I whole heartedly agree and being honest there’s only a handful of artists I feel this way about, and all the artists on this lineup I believe have this shared vision and approach.
NONO GIGSTA
As I think I spoke about when I originally announced this party, I’ve been following Nono for a little while now, since watching her boiler room from years ago. I loved the way she weaved together sound textures with jungle with dubstep - breaking down the norm and starting fast and gradually getting slower (this is something I’ve tried to explore before in extended peak time sets, usually with varying success but I can confirm its not an easy skill to nail keeping the energy and progression going whilst slowing down the tempo, especially in a set that isn’t a closing set)
After this I started listening to her Fictions shows on Cashmere Radio, which are absolutely incredible. Now 68 episodes deep, the dedication, thought, time and love that goes into creating such a portal of work shouldn’t be underestimated.
Each episode follows a specific theme for the hour. Sometimes it can super niche such as a show only using tracks which sample laughter, a show with only tracks by french artists, a show using only tracks with bells in), other times it’s more broad with titles such as ‘at the afterz’, ‘at the post office’ & ‘on a train’. What is clear from these shows is her range as a DJ & the depth of her musical knowledge. This is a deep deep digger who will always aim to surprise you.
I absolutely adore radio shows like this & have often toyed with the idea of making my netil show more theme based to fit in with the premise of the mix series. Maybe it will happen one day but right now I actually just don’t think I have the time OR knowledge it would take to be consistent with something like this, so hats off to Nono.
Nono gigsta will play from 01:30 - 02:00 (set is 90 mins, clocks go back at 2am)
MARYLOU
I actually first heard Marylou via a couple of her Hör shows (back when any of us used to watch / partake in them), and I was drawn to the creative storytelling unfolding in her sets. I also felt a similarity in our tastes & the way she blended together more abstract bass heavy sounds with deeper rolling techno, jazz, noise & whatever seems to take her fancy to be honest. The fact that her and Nono are good friends makes total sense as you can see their brains & relationship with music are wired in a similar way.
Marylou has quietly played some of your favourite parties & festivals over the past few years and is someone who clearly remains true to her craft, not playing or probably saying yes to every offer that comes her way.
Marylou will be playing 02:00 -03:30 tomorrow night.
SINNY
If I book you to play the warm up at my party, then please know this is the biggest compliment I can give you as there aren’t many people who I feel can truly nail a warm up & yet I honestly believe its one of the most important sets of the night.
Aside from also being a generally lovely human being, sinny is undoubtedly a shining light within the london scene & someone who uses their platform & artistry to consistently support and speak out on important issues.
Evident no more than in his Radio Alhara residency where he uses his artistry to explore his connection to his roots, but also his Kindred shows & podcasts such as his ‘shine a light on’ mix for Ransom note.
I first saw Sinny play at Spanners and was captured in a way that I haven’t been by many warm up sets. Often a set so misunderstood, this was someone who clearly prepares & understands what a warm up set should be, always exploring, diverting and testing whilst remaining focused towards the ultimate end goal - warming up & uniting the dance floor.
I know the dance floor will be in safe hands with sinny leading the way & I know he’ll be preparing something extremely special for all of us.
He’ll be playing 23:00-00:30 so make sure you get down early.
TUTU TA (live)
Our only live set of the night will come from mysterious west london producer Tutu ta, who has been quietly releasing some of the most interesting music over the past 12 months. Clearly very influenced by all forms of dub & sound system culture, tutu ta’s weird & spooky off-kilter sounds feel fresh and exciting.
He’s put together a special live set for us which will be performed from 00:30 - 01:30
As a DJ, there’s only been a handful of parties that I’ve played at where I’ve felt completely free to play whatever I want. The reason I think I find it hard to fully let go is that we’re so often concerned with the expectations of the crowd, the venue but also the promoter.
I want to create a space where everyone feels free to express themselves and I hope by bringing all of these artists together who are connected by their abilities to construct a story in the way not many artists can, all of them will feel safe enough to fully express themselves and in turn, you the dancers will feel this way too.
Join us this Satuday and find out. We are still sharing the discounted newsletter link until the day of the event, so if you’d like a £5 ticket now is your time!
Just wanted to also say thanks for all the feedback / words of encouragement on my previous post. It’s been nice to speak to so many people who are feeling a similar way & definitely feels like there’s some fairly widespread instagram fatigue going on.
I’ve started putting together some questions that I think I’ll share with you all after this event which hopefully might help myself & others gain some clarity on what people really feel like they want & need right now.
Big love & hope to see you this Saturday!
<3