We talk Caribbean restaurants and mass sit-downs with the London promoters.
Chances are you may not have heard of Art of Dark. You won't find their name plastered over every lampost with an East London postcode, nor will you find your social media bombarded with requests and updates from their HQ. In fact, admission to their parties is by request-only. But such is the reputation of their underground warehouse jaunts that each one manages to fill up with scores of house and techno lovers despite happening under the radar. Their next party is a 12 hour marathon this Saturday at Village Underground, a rare appearance in an 'above board' club, where the AoD boys will be joined by a trio of DC10 residents. I caught up with owners Dan and Colin pre-party to tap into the AoD ethos.
First up, how did Art of Dark start? What was your first party like?
Dan - We have both known each other for a while, coming from the same area in North London and being involved in house music. We'd talked a lot about a way to create a party which had a filter in place which meant only people who were coming out to party gained entry, not based on appearence or age or any of the things a 'door picker' might look for, but based on attitude and a genuine love for music. Age, dress, nationality, doesn't matter. As long as your coming to party!
Colin - The first party was unreal! After searching for a space which was suitable, we landed Clockwork for their UK debut and held it in a gallery space in Shoreditch some of you may know. Even though we had gone through the process of being really strict with the tickets it was sold out, but full of the right people who were purely out to party with us and check out Clockwork. That's how it's been for us ever since!
Dan - We still maintain that privacy policy today at most parties, except the occasional showcase event where we open it up to the public. We've grown over the past year, but it's still done on the basis of people requesting a ticket link after them speaking with us direct or knowing someone who comes to the party.
Have you had a strict music policy from the start, or do you like to change it up?
Dan - If I had to catorgorise it, i'd say our sound is based around deep techno infused house music with a few twists and that's what you'll generally get in various shades from our residents, but we're most focused on forward thinking styles and try to be as cutting edge as possible with our guest bookings. In the past year we have had the UK debuts of Clockwork, Lilith, Egal 3, Ultrasone and Larse, as well as Rodriguez Jr's exclusive album tour.
Colin - I think we are both fairly influenced by time spent on the floor at DC10 too, that shows itself in both our bookings and the sound of the party in general. Andrew Grant, DJ W!ld, Tato and Sossa have all been great for us last year and we're really looking forward to having Willie Graff, Tuccillo and Negru join Tato this Saturday at Village Underground for our first ever 'Day & Night Party'. A lot of those guys will also feature on the forthcoming record label too.
Have you ever had a party go tits-up?
Dan - Unfortunately it comes with the territory when running warehouse type parties. The venues are rarely used which makes it raw and exciting, but there's always the risk of problems. Generally this is down to shall we say 'miscommunication' from space owners/agents. For example, about the level of soundproofing they have and the council or authorities stepping in to stop it happening when it turns out they haven't got enough, if any.
Colin - We had only our second ever party shut down in the early hours for that reason, we turned up to find the soundproofing which was promised to us hadn't been done. By 2am we had half of Hackney at our front door trying to join the party as you could hear it from streets away. Then last week we got the news that the council had objected to our venue for this Saturday! Nightmare to say the least! Luckily after much frantic searching and calling in of favours we managed to secrure Village Underground, and in all absolute fairness we've fallen on our feet as I've always loved VU. Cancelling wasn't an option.
Dan - Every cloud has a silver lining! The party will be bigger than planned so we have opened it up for everyone to join us this time like one of our occasional showcase events!
What's the key to pulling people back through the door each time?
Dan - I think with us it's the freedom and the vibe that comes from holding what is essentially a private event.
Colin - The music, having good residents, good headline acts and good sound! Having somewhere tucked away so you can have lots of fun always helps too!
What’s been your favourite venue in London so far?
Colin - That we've used so far? We recently had a party in Hackney Downs Studio's and that is a cool space! Same place that Loco Dice selected for his Under 300 party. We opened up the whole warehouse and used other parts of the space that have never been used before when 'Tale of Us' joined us for a 5 hr set.
Which guest DJs have impressed you the most?
Dan - hahaha. that's a loaded question!! Hector has to get a special mention here as he's become a semi resident for us over the past year with 3 absolutely amazing sets, one starting at around 4am and ending at 8;30am as the sun shone in through the windows of the warehouse like Panorama Bar in Berlin. Insanely good times!
Tell us a story - what's been the best Art of Dark moment so far?
Dan - There's been so many! Hector getting the first ever sit down I have seen outside of DC10 was very cool. Igor from Ultrasone drinking a bottle of Vodka straight whilst playing and then ending upside down in a cupboard was pretty awesome too!
Colin - For me I'd have to say getting asked to host room 3 at Fabric for WYS! has got to be up there, one of the best clubs in the world without a doubt and spinning there alongside the rest of the Art of Dark residents was something I'll never forget.
What would be your dream line-up? Anyone dead or alive.
Dan - How many can we have on the bill? We have so many favorites! Personally I would love to bring Magda to the party.
Colin - Daft Punk......
Best/weirdest afterparty moment?
Colin - There's been loads, bundles, most of which you'll probably not be able to print.
Dan - I'd have to say stepping out of Hackney Downs warehouse and into a strange little 70's French disco style club in Dalston for our afterparty was pretty weird!!
Coiln - When it finished at around 12 midday, we came up the stairs to see that the ground floor was actually a Caribbean restuarant and there were families sitting around eating.
What nights are you going to when you're not doing AoD?
Colin - We have lots of friends putting on parties, we both love Half Baked, WYS!, ToiToi are cool too.
Dan - Yeah i'd agree...Fuse is always great for a Sunday too of course!
Art of Dark presents Youth Invasion Musik takes place this Saturday 19th May at Village Underground.
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