What a fabulous night.
SoCiety is a relatively new apparition in the mysterious world of progressive dance music and die-hard nightlife culture. Me thinks, in important ways an exciting one for our local progressive/creative scene.
The guys at the controls have paid their dues the good-old hard way. In their eyes, behind the glint of a certain knowing, you can see something of the spirit that I happen to know drove them to play four hour sets of pounding hard rock guitar to ? and beyond the point of bloody fingers, to self-fund gigs in shady venues and much more. But sit down for a chat and you will also find a friendly warmth. I think its one of those things that come from having what it takes juggle a high pressure career and nurturing a young family while not sacrificing that special kind of magic that happens in the intimacy of after hours. They call it artistry.
Saturday night?s event marked the South African launch of John Digweed?s new album ?Transitions?. A quick bit of context; Digweed arguably exemplifies the progressive club-oriented trance and house music culture. A music scene that emphasizes sophisticated production values and artistic integrity, with the intent of pushing the boundaries of ecstacy. We are talking about stuff that typically satisfies both the avant-garde tastes of hard-core dance fanatics and then invariably gets accepted and assimilated into the fashion-fickle mainstream of commercial dance. Did I mention he?s been DJ-ing since age 13? This guy doesn?t just know the underground, the global underground is his very own personal backyard.
This perhaps explains his phenomenal success at – and reputation for – introducing new talent. My point in highlighting all this is that being associated with him via the labels Renaissance, Global Underground and Bedrock, ads a certain credibility to some of the statements in SoCiety?s promotional bumf, specifically to the more critically minded sceptics among us. It perhaps also goes some way towards explaining the confident understated nature of the somewhat minimalist promotional communiqu鳮 This is not, and I quote ?the mainstream dance music product,? mass sheep-fodder, rather than artistry?, or in other words, with SoCiety we are talking surgical grade goef-ta-da-dish in stead of the sadly ubiquitous auditory salmonella of doef-de-de-doef? if you know what I mean.
Returning for the moment to Saterday?s gig, it was my first ?let-my-hair-down? session in a very long time, and will probably also have been the last one in an even longer time. I for one was not disappointed.
Do you remember the ?old-?Krypton??, ?funky house?, ?d-rail? and ?hideout?? Saterday night, I very fondly did.
DCM as a venue gets full marks ? clean and superbly organised to start with ? but more importantly for this kind of gig, managed to maintain that through-out the night. This is no easy task. But wait, there is more? it is hard to express my delight at discovering a gem of a relatively rare ?raw-spirit? in the VIP bar. The ?dram? in question being 10-year-old Bruichladdich, all the way from the Scottish island Islay. Not quite as in your face with the distinct Islay ?strange, fierce, acerbic? character (to quote mr. Iain Banks), as my favourite Laphroaig, but a delightful bonus to the evening. Something else that impressed was the quality of the venue?s crew, notably the security component. To call these friendly and polite, decidedly jacked guys ?bouncers?, borders on insult. Especially considering Jo?burg?s less than inspiring seedy-bouncer-brutality history. In fact, my partner for the evening did a significant amount of fantasizing about taking one of these guys home with her!
We called it a night at a responsible 4:30, but only because we had another important engagement first thing in the am, would have loved to stay longer.
So who or what exactly is this so called ?SoCiety? you may be asking. I posed a few questions to one of the minds behind SoCiety:
Q: Was saterday?s event a success for Society and why?
We all understand that it’s going to take time to entrench the brand, but the time seems right to start as more and more expectation is placed on electronic music to live up to the artistry of say, live bands. The label product (i.e. Renaissance, Global Underground and Bedrock), have not bought into the top 20 mindset and are very particular about the producer-artists they compile and remix, including their own stuff they release. Basically in terms of brand development, we’re looking at slowly getting the brand recognized as a unique entity rather than a mainstream monster (Soul Candi itself, although independent, is still a successful commercial label)
Q: Who or what is SoCiety?
A sophisticated event that encompases electronic (dance) music. Society is a sub brand of music company, Soul Candi http://www.soulcandi.co.za which caters for the house music market. Soul Candi recently acquired half of Boomerang Music, a distribution house that represents some of the most respected, but not extremely locally popular European dance music labels such as Renaissance, Bedrock and Global Underground. These labels produce CD/DVDs and vynil records for a select urban niche globally who purposely avoid the mainstream dance musicproduct because they judge it to be mass sheep-fodder, rather than artistry.
Q: What is Society about?
The latest, cutting-edge electronic music from the world’s most experienced DJs.
Q: Does SoCiety represent a philosophy, lifestyle or, God forbid, an ethos?
heh, heh, yes it’s not a good idea to broadcast any specific philosophy, but it must be said, that the brand will associate itself with quality before quantity, integrity, and artistry before a quick buck. (although the primary focus is to expose and sell music)
We plan to spend some time and money on decor, as well as customised visuals
As the events grow, so will those experiential aspects. We’ll also be bringing CT Djs to Jhb/Durban/PE and vice-versa to keep the music diverse and dare I say it ‘fresh’… (The CT Djs we wanted were playing at the Dbn july, so this last one was a sole JHB SoCiety DJ line up)
Q: What are SoCiety’s intentions for the future
So far Opium (night club in CT) and DCM (club, Jhb), have agreed to give the brand/event a three month stint to prove itself. If all goes well, we’ll get another three months and so on. We’ll also be staging the Soul Candi Events at those venues too. The aim is to have a rotating event in every major city each month (8 events in total).
Both these clubs supported the first tour we did in December last year which landed in PE (52 on Parliment), Dbn (still negotiating), CT (Opium) and Jhb (DCM). We were well received. (Google the ‘Future of Summer Tour’ for results on that tour…)
The reason we deal with these venues is because they understand our intentions, they are professional, want to be part of the growth and understand the value of everyone involved getting a fair deal, especially the customer/music lover.
Currently Society showcases local DJs (has partnered on one other international DJ tour earlier this year). We’re aiming to tour associated international DJs later this year and into 2007, – in this regard things are looking very good and the first international should land here between September and December.
Q: What does your sponsorship look like?
At present the sponsors involved are the venues themselves, Soul Candi, Boomerang, Slappa (CD Wallets -very nice) and UDG (Ultimate DJ Gear). The reason these brands are associated with SoCiety is because Soul Candi distribute them and are part of their core business. Other sponsors will support the events if they grow, through additional funding for decor, drinks specials, DJ fees etc., but the brand has to prove itself first (obviously) – we’re confident it will.
We’re also heavily tied in with Global Breakthrough (see Global Breakthrough Clubland and Love Cape Town) -they deal only with Cape Town. SoCiety will be looking at handling those tours outside of Cape Town in Jhb, Dbn and PE.
Q: I was most impressed with DCM as a venue, did it work for SoCiety?
I think your comments (above) outline why we’ve decided to partner with these venues, they’ve invested a lot of time and money in their venues and staff, specifically for audience satisfaction, service and quality. Please drop them an email and let them know how you feel, they really are hard workers in this regard…http://www.heartlands.co.za
Q: Anyone else you?d like to mention?
MarketingServices.co.za rock.
That?s it folks, I suggest keeping an eye on Society and Soul Candi and consider showing some support when and where you can, I look fwd to seeing more from this outfit.
SoCiety at DCM 1 July 2006, in retrospect
What a fabulous night.
SoCiety is a relatively new apparition in the mysterious world of progressive dance music and die-hard nightlife culture. Me thinks, in important ways an exciting one for our local progressive/creative scene.
The guys at the controls have paid their dues the good-old hard way. In their eyes, behind the glint of a certain knowing, you can see something of the spirit that I happen to know drove them to play four hour sets of pounding hard rock guitar to ? and beyond the point of bloody fingers, to self-fund gigs in shady venues and much more. But sit down for a chat and you will also find a friendly warmth. I think its one of those things that come from having what it takes juggle a high pressure career and nurturing a young family while not sacrificing that special kind of magic that happens in the intimacy of after hours. They call it artistry.
Saturday night?s event marked the South African launch of John Digweed?s new album ?Transitions?. A quick bit of context; Digweed arguably exemplifies the progressive club-oriented trance and house music culture. A music scene that emphasizes sophisticated production values and artistic integrity, with the intent of pushing the boundaries of ecstacy. We are talking about stuff that typically satisfies both the avant-garde tastes of hard-core dance fanatics and then invariably gets accepted and assimilated into the fashion-fickle mainstream of commercial dance. Did I mention he?s been DJ-ing since age 13? This guy doesn?t just know the underground, the global underground is his very own personal backyard.
This perhaps explains his phenomenal success at – and reputation for – introducing new talent. My point in highlighting all this is that being associated with him via the labels Renaissance, Global Underground and Bedrock, ads a certain credibility to some of the statements in SoCiety?s promotional bumf, specifically to the more critically minded sceptics among us. It perhaps also goes some way towards explaining the confident understated nature of the somewhat minimalist promotional communiqu鳮 This is not, and I quote ?the mainstream dance music product,? mass sheep-fodder, rather than artistry?, or in other words, with SoCiety we are talking surgical grade goef-ta-da-dish in stead of the sadly ubiquitous auditory salmonella of doef-de-de-doef? if you know what I mean.
Returning for the moment to Saterday?s gig, it was my first ?let-my-hair-down? session in a very long time, and will probably also have been the last one in an even longer time. I for one was not disappointed.
Do you remember the ?old-?Krypton??, ?funky house?, ?d-rail? and ?hideout?? Saterday night, I very fondly did.
DCM as a venue gets full marks ? clean and superbly organised to start with ? but more importantly for this kind of gig, managed to maintain that through-out the night. This is no easy task. But wait, there is more? it is hard to express my delight at discovering a gem of a relatively rare ?raw-spirit? in the VIP bar. The ?dram? in question being 10-year-old Bruichladdich, all the way from the Scottish island Islay. Not quite as in your face with the distinct Islay ?strange, fierce, acerbic? character (to quote mr. Iain Banks), as my favourite Laphroaig, but a delightful bonus to the evening. Something else that impressed was the quality of the venue?s crew, notably the security component. To call these friendly and polite, decidedly jacked guys ?bouncers?, borders on insult. Especially considering Jo?burg?s less than inspiring seedy-bouncer-brutality history. In fact, my partner for the evening did a significant amount of fantasizing about taking one of these guys home with her!
We called it a night at a responsible 4:30, but only because we had another important engagement first thing in the am, would have loved to stay longer.
So who or what exactly is this so called ?SoCiety? you may be asking. I posed a few questions to one of the minds behind SoCiety:
Q: Was saterday?s event a success for Society and why?
Q: Who or what is SoCiety?
Q: What is Society about?
Q: Does SoCiety represent a philosophy, lifestyle or, God forbid, an ethos?
Q: What are SoCiety’s intentions for the future
Q: What does your sponsorship look like?
Q: I was most impressed with DCM as a venue, did it work for SoCiety?
Q: Anyone else you?d like to mention?
That?s it folks, I suggest keeping an eye on Society and Soul Candi and consider showing some support when and where you can, I look fwd to seeing more from this outfit.