As You Like It & Fault Radio Present: Coast To Coast Atlanta
Coast to Coast
In Focus: Atlanta
July 17, 2020
For the third installment of the As You Like It & Fault Radio Coast to Coast residency, we’re excited to shine light on the new South - Atlanta, GA.
Atlanta’s long impact on the America’s cultural pulse cannot be measured. The new South bridges traditional soulful house roots with the burgeoning underground queer community and the Midwest’s bumping house legacy. Here’s your opportunity to experience Ash Lauryn, Kai Alce, Vicki Powell, Stefan Ringer and Polyglamorous’ BEYA. San Francisco and Atlanta have long had a close relationship. Let’s keep that going. Atlanta brings the party. As You Like It hopes to contribute to maintaining a domestic network, connecting us now and building toward a post isolation world. Take a moment and learn about each of the of our guests and join us July 26, on Fault Radio.
Kai Alcé
Perhaps it’s a combination of his Haitian roots, his youth spent in St. Croix, and his New York City upbringing: It is evident when he steps behind the turntables or CDJs, where he is at once clearly comfortable and believe it or not, just a tad bit nervous. After more than 20 years in the business, yes, “The Kaizer” still gets butterflies. That’s probably what makes Kai Alce (pronounced al-SAY) such a force: He doesn’t settle down, blend in or go along. That integrity comes through in every gig he’s worked – from his early days at Detroit’s Music Institute when he was just teenager, to the 10-year-long DEEP legacy at MJQ that he co-founded, to the production company, NDATL, that he created in 2008.
Venmo: @kaialce
Interview:
1. Tell us about who you are as a DJ. What kind of music do you play and what inspires you?
I am a lover of music born to Haitian parents, lived in New York, raised in Detroit and now live & thrive traveling the world while living in Atlanta. All types of music inspire me, but mostly jazz, classic soulful R&B, which reflects into the electronic house music that I play today.
2. What local projects (events, crews, labels, and beyond) are you involved with?
I own NDATL Muzik label, co-founder of House In The Park & am currently working on "Kai Alcé Eyewear".
3. What makes your local scene special?
Atlanta being a newer scene compared to Detroit, Chicago or New York has made it's own way. Having been a part of those original vibes and still seeing it genuinely grow has been amazing!
4. What do you hope to see happen once we come out the other side of this crisis?
More of an appreciation for what we do. Even through this pandemic, DJs have been there to give you that little bit of escape from home, giving you sounds, so that if only for a moment the problems seem to fade away.
Vicki Powell
Vicki Powell is a veteran of the queer dance underground, Atlanta-based DJ and event producer. Founder of Deep South DJ collective.
Venmo: @VickiPowellATL
Interview
1. Tell us about who you are as a DJ. What kind of music do you play and what inspires you?
I’m a selector that plays from the heart. I started out DJing when I was 12 at the roller rink and basically never stopped! I play music that I love that spans many genres, but primarily House, Disco, and Techno. My sets are upbeat and nostalgic, driven by my urge to see the crowd move their bodies. While I have a huge soft spot for the classics, I am also constantly digging for that rare new gem, you can hear just about anything from me.
I'm blessed with a loyal crew of dancers in my hometown, Atlanta, and our practice of showing up for each other is a sweet synergy that keeps me inspired and energized. The whole community here keeps me inspired to keep digging and creating community.
I'm especially inspired when I have the opportunity to mentor and teach up and coming djs. As someone who has worked hard at this for many years, I feel that it’s my responsibility to share what I’ve learned by providing instruction and access to equipment that may not be readily available to someone just starting out. I love being a part of someone's musical journey in any way I can, sharing knowledge and learning from each other is what’s important.
2. What local projects (events, crews, labels, and beyond) are you involved with?
I am part of Deep South ATL collective, along with Ash Lauryn and Brian Rojas. From the beginning, we've made it our priority to highlight and create space for POC, femme, and nonbinary artists at our monthly parties and quarterly afterhour warehouse raves, as well as in the weekly podcast we produce.
I also have an event in Atlanta called Sunday Service at a bar called Church. It’s a monthly patio party featuring gospel, disco, and house, which kicks off each year with our huge Sh-Easter revival and runs until winter. We’ve been getting lifted for a decade. People say it feels like a queer family reunion, with everyone dressing up in their Sunday best to boogie with their lovers and friends.
I'm also finally stepping into production. It feels exciting to take this new step. I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on.
3. What makes your local scene special?
Atlanta isn't called Magic City for nothing. It truly is a magical place with so many wonderful scenes that overlap and ramble off into exciting new directions. There is always so much happening in my city. There is a lot of crossover promotion and support for one another. I think the size of our city works to our advantage in that way. It's easy to attend multiple events in one weekend and we keep our cover charges pretty low so events are accessible. This keeps everyone in the scene connected and non-competitive, which nurtures the family vibe and keeps us all close.
4. What do you hope to see happen once we come out the other side of this crisis?
It’s been hard being apart from each other for so many months with no certain end in sight. I think our eventual coming back together is going to be absolutely epic. Imagine an entire dance floor of phoenixes rising from the ashes together. Sounds like the best rave of my life.
I am personally keeping myself afloat dreaming about this. I think we are going to bounce back stronger and more united than ever. I think we’ve all had a taste of just how fragile we are, but also how unbelievably resilient. We’ve all had to tap into new reserves to keep ourselves safe and sane, and when we are together again it’s going to be wonderful to show and tell and share.
We’ve learned that the structures meant to support us are not working and we need to rely on one another and the network that we have created amongst ourselves. This is the time to hold each other up while making sure these networks don’t let Black people fall through the cracks. Dance floors are going to be spaces of great collective healing. We have Black people to thank for literally every good groove, and we need to collectively honor that by making sure pro-Blackness is at the front of our minds always when we are booking talent and spaces, with extra rave elbows out for our trans sisters. I am so excited for all of us to be together again, we better work!!!
Ash Lauryn
Ash Lauryn is a DJ, Writer, and Radio Host hailing from Detroit, MI who is currently based in Atlanta, GA. Ash specializes in underground dance music, and says most of her influence stems from her roots back home in Detroit. As an active member of the dance music community for over a decade, she hosts her own event series alongside Stefan Ringer called Expressions, and is currently a resident DJ with Atlanta’s Deep South collective. In addition, Ash run’s a blog called “Underground & Black”, that shares the title with her monthly NTS radio show- the blog explores her experiences as a black woman and rising DJ on the dance music scene. Ash also hosts events under the Underground & Black moniker, with the inaugural edition taking place in NYC at Bossa Nova Civic Club, and the second to take place in Detroit during Movement Festival Weekend 2019.
Venmo: @ashlauryn
Interview
1. Tell us about who you are as a DJ. What kind of music do you play and what inspires you?
I'm an electronic music DJ who is inspired by as well as dedicated to the black roots of House and Techno music.
2. What local projects (events, crews, labels, and beyond) are you involved with?
Underground & Black (blog, party, podcast, Monthly NTS Radio), Deep South Atl (resident DJ), Expressions (Monthly residency at the Sound Table w/Stefan Ringer)
3. What makes your local scene special?
It's a melting pot of people from all over the US and abroad, and regardless as to what "sound" you're into, there's a little something for everyone here. We're also a close knit community that has mutual respect amongst us for the most part.
4. What do you hope to see happen once we come out the other side of this crisis?
I'd like to see more black people being booked, as well as being placed in behind the scene positions such as club bookers, booking agents, music journalists, etc.
Stefan Ringer
Stefan Ringer is a producer and DJ hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. Since he started out releasing music under the moniker REKchampa in 2010, he has garnered attention with his unique take on house, techno and everything in between. Four years later, Stefan released on legendary house label NDATL, and is a frequent collaborator with label head Kai Alcé. Stefan has a myriad of other releases and credits on various labels and has also started his own imprint, FWM Entertainment, which is home to his most recent works. Stefan has been an influential force in Atlanta’s dance community, and holds a residency at the Sound Table with Ash Lauryn. In addition he curates and produces a monthly party called Kudzu which has become an underground dance music destination in the southeastern region of the US. Through his DJ sets, productions and contributions to the culture; Stefan is building a legacy.
Venmo: @Stefan-Ringer
Interview
1. Tell us about who you are as a DJ. What kind of music do you play and what inspires you?
What inspires me is a love for making music and playing my favorite music for the dancers. I play a variety of dance music. Disco, funk, and soul-- all the way to ghettotech.
2. What local projects (events, crews, labels, and beyond) are you involved with?
I have my own label called FWM Entertainment. We just dropped our third release actually! FWM releases music and curates events, here in Atlanta. I've also been involved with NDATL Muzik as well as Underground and Black for some time now. There are others I'd like to showcase as well, Harsh Riddims, Lava House, No-Lite, and Alley Cat Music Club.
3. What makes your local scene special?
The scene in Atlanta is still growing, I think that is what makes it special. There are so many different collectives with their own unique sounds.
4. What do you hope to see happen once we come out the other side of this crisis?
I hope we will be able to get together and dance again. Without masks "officially". Meaning to truly be able to not be worried about spreading the virus.
BEYA
San Francisco-based DJ and event producer. Co-founder of Polyglamorous, a monthly event at F8.
Venmo: @Benjamin-Bellayuto
Interview
1. Tell us about who you are as a DJ. What kind of music do you play and what inspires you?
I grew up on the rave scene in the late 90s early 2000s in New Orleans. I always gravitated away from the big trance rooms to the side room that had funky house music. There is still a place in my heart for jungle and trance and other music of the time. I always reflect that in what I play. I guess you would say it's modern nostalgia. The fact that I also have a place in my heart for New Orleans means I love instruments in my mix. So some tracks with sax or trumpet and piano usually find their way into what I'm playing. My other inspiration just comes from the queer scene. Being in the queer nightlife always pushes me to experiment and seeing what all the queers bring to the table really keeps you on your toes.
2. What local projects (events, crews, labels, and beyond) are you involved with?
In SF, I am a founder and part of the collective Polyglamorous. We throw queer events under our name as well as other one off or annual parties like Sneaks, and PINK BLOCK.
3. Tell us about your relationship with Vicki and Ash. How did Polyglamorous first connect to them?
Vicki has been a long time friend of Polyglamorous. The first time we met was in 2015 at the very first Gays Hate Techno. It was kinda the original queer rave campout and so many cool djs and party folks were there. We booked Vicki after that to headline for Polyglamorous, it was a fundraiser for BAAAHS burning man camp at Oasis. Since then, there have been countless occasions our crews have connected. Pride, Provincetown, Palm Springs, Ptown, you name it and we have probably been there together at some point. When Ash was added to Deep South's roster, we immediately booked her for a Polyglamorous party at F8. She did not disappoint. Vicki is one of my favorite humans and Deep South is def one of my favorite crews. Look forward to where our paths will cross next!
4. What do you hope to see happen once we come out the other side of this crisis?
I hope to see more unity in the gay culture. I realized that there are so many different parties going on that we have self selected to only dance with folks that are just like us. Bears have their events, Underground queers theirs, and so on. I'd like more occasions for everyone to come together over music. At Polyglamorous, we try to create more events where that happens. Less focus on what makes us different and more focus on what makes us the same. And we can all share the love of music. So on the other side of this, I wanna see more joy and less taking it all for granted. And one last thing I hope happens on that note..... including our trans and black queer brothers and sisters more. Lifting their voices, bringing them in because BLACK and TRANS LIVES MATTER.
interviews by Chris Zaldua, Jeremy Bispo & Kylie-Ayn Kennedy
