A conversation with Kraft und Licht.
For the fifth regular season finale of UltraMaroon, the theme of this episode is connecting UltraMaroon to the Amsterdam underground. As Someone From Berlin says, UM does not produce an underground event; however, it is informed by what is happening in underground scenes globally, and then does its own thing. With this in mind, we are proud to present a collaboration with Kraft und Licht, as part of their creative team, Subduction and VentroMedial, represents a taste of how their production crew creates audio-visual experiences together. We asked DavidXDaisy to chat with our Amsterdam friends as they prepare to bring the underground to our house under the ground.
UltraMaroon joins forces with Kraft und Licht this Sunday, April 28 at Blue Midtown as Subduction and VentroMedial of KuL join resident Someone From Berlin on the decks with an opening set by Sainte Francis.
DXD: Kraft und Licht had its official start in 2018, but what are your respective nightlife histories coming into that?
KuL: We both started going to electronic dance events from an earlier age. It is a Dutch tradition to give your firstborn an ecstasy pill and a ticket to a rave on their 15th birthday (kidding, of course,) but we took it upon ourselves to explore the nightlife. First it was bars and clubs, but very soon we escaped this scene with its commercial music and high prices, because we were looking for a deeper sound and open minds. We went to explore festivals in other countries and Berlin became our favorite place to be.
DXD: How was Kraft und Licht initially conceived?
KuL: Amsterdam had a great nightlife, but the clubs that we loved the most were closing down – Trouw, Studio 80, Cruquiusgilde. These places that played quality underground dance music were where we felt safe, free, and at home. Also, the rave scene was at a low point due to stricter government rules and policing. So after an inspiring weekend in Berlin, we decided to bring the rave scene back to life with a vision of creating a free space and stage for young talent to show their sound and skills.
We spent days looking on Google Maps and biking around to find fitting locations for the rave. We found a long sandpath leading to an open spot hidden between a railroad and the highway with no residential area nearby – perfect for a rave. After finding this location we planned a date, created a secret FB event and gave 15 people from different groups within the scene the responsibility to invite fitting open-minded people into the event called Kraft und Licht.
On the day of the rave, we drove to the location in a van filled with speakers, lamps, truss, and décor. The moment we got on the long sand path, the van instantly got stuck deep in the loose sand. Our companion who just bought the van got very nervous of breaking his van and wanted to cancel the rave. We persuaded him to go through with it and made the plan to post that we were open and ask the first people that showed up to push and dig the van out of the sand. It took 15 people to get the van loose and drag the big sound system to the designated dance arena. This is what Kraft (German for power) stands for – the power of the community and the soundsystem. The Licht (German/Dutch for light) stands for the atmosphere and the ambience, the things you feel and see but cannot touch.
DXD: We usually ask all our guest DJs to describe their sound in their own words, but since KuL encompasses more than that, how would you best describe the KuL experience?
KuL: We call it “hybrid underground” as a mix between tribal grooves of house, the deep sounds of techno, with the pulsing drive of (psy)trance. It is a musical journey through time and space. We create a safe, open-minded space for everyone. The synergy between the energy of the crowd and the DJ with an artlike lightscape around the dancefloor.
DXD: Someone From Berlin knows you all from Burning Man. How have your playa experiences impacted your approach to your productions and how you play in the booth?
KuL: Being part of building up our sound camp from scratch with people all over the world was a magical experience. And sharing the music with all the talented musicians and DJs was an unforgettable feeling. We have taken all the amazing structures that we saw on the playa with us, all the lights being used, the animal build themed sculptures, and art cars inspired us for the upcoming festival season.
DXD: KuL is very much considered part of the underground in your scene. What does “underground” mean to you and how has that changed as KuL has grown over the years?
KuL: The underground is a place for untamed events where people of all walks of life dance side by side. A place where they can explore music and sexuality, and feel free to be how they wanna be without judgment of society. By throwing illegal raves, we were also able to show what we could do without being restricted by permits and high club rents. By using minimal resources in creative ways, we were still able to create an intimate festival experience.
Over the years, these illegal raves grew to club nights in underground clubs in Amsterdam. But we never stopped supplying and throwing underground raves to stay true to our roots.
DXD: Amsterdam has such a vibrant music scene, including Amsterdam Dance Event and Milkshake Festival. What do you feel contributes most to that?
KuL: Amsterdam is one of the backbones of electronic music and seeing how this hit its peak during ADE by having five days with more than 200 music events per day is something special in our opinion. It really shows the passion and commitment to the music scene. And of course the contribution of Milkshake Festival, one of our favorite events, truly shows there is a place for everybody. It demonstrates what a vibrant open-minded city we are. Since three years ago, we also have a stage there in the Gashouder, and it is fun to add dancers and performers to the musical journey of Kraft und Licht.
DXD: As a collective known for its sound system and the recent resurgence of sound system culture in the underground, what would be your advice to music lovers unaware of sound system culture?
KuL: We always had the mission and vision to become one of the best sound systems of Amsterdam. The sound system is such a vital element for our events because we want to offer the musical journey as vividly as possible so the art truly comes alive and resonates with the dancefloor. Listening to music over a high-quality and well-tuned sound system is like wearing glasses for the first time and seeing all the details you never saw before.
DXD: Light is a core aspect of KuL, and lighting design used to be much more highly billed on events compared to recent years focusing solely on DJs. What would you want audiences to be more aware of how important lighting design is to the experience when it works in harmony with the music?
KuL: We have always put in the extra step when it comes to the production of our events. We want to offer the full dance floor experience and this means having the right balance of sound and light. 60% of the experience is the music, the DJ, and the sound system. The other 40% is the lights and the ambiance in the venue. But this 40% is where you can differentiate your event from all the other parties that also have cool DJs and good sound, and bring it to the next level.
This is why we build a custom installation and make lamps that nobody has ever seen before. It's our way to use the venue as a blank canvas and make an evolving painting of light. Using our experience of dancefloors all over the world to fine tune the synergy between the music and the lights: from the dancefloor, for the dancefloor.
DXD: You also have the label, Kraft Records, which released its first album, ‘Various Abstractions 001,’ in Dec. 2022. What was the approach to crafting that album to best represent the sound of Kraft Records?
KuL: From the beginning we really wanted to set up a label to extend the possibility of being a stepping stone for the young talent we saw and heard in our environment. Together with the monthly producing master classes and demo nights, we would select tracks and artists that fit the feel and vibe of the label.
DXD: As such a fully-realized production group, what do you feel is most important for creating safe(r) spaces, especially for queer communities?
KuL: What we think is most important for creating safe spaces is communication and awareness on and around the dance floor. It’s making sure staff and security are briefed properly and aware of the open-minded approach of the events. It is also having an awareness team to guide the communication with the crowd and make them feel heard and guarded. In addition, there is the possibility to send anonymous messages to the team for complaints or other more sensitive situations. And last, a good door host that knows how to read people and their fit with the crowd is important.
DXD: You will not only be bringing the sound of KuL to UM this month, but also the light. What can guests expect to be different in our house for this event?
KuL: We will try to bring one of our custom signature fixtures if I get it through airport customs without them thinking it's alien technology. It's a very multidimensional fixture that is used in our shows and creates a nice atmosphere over the dance floor. We will also bring some custom visual content made by our talented 3D visual artist, Sytske Nijp.
DXD: KuL also has a focus on community events and education via Krafthaus. How do you feel the dance music industry at large could be better stewards of the community outside of the club?
KuL: In our opinion, the underground scene doesn't stop outside the walls of the club. It's a large group of people that dare to think differently, that stand together, and are passionate about creating experiences to express themselves and share with others.
For us, the sharing is guiding people to learn how to express themselves and find a way to get the inner art out there. Giving them the tools to create and seeing beautiful things rise from that.
DXD: Where do you look for inspiration outside of the industry?
KuL: We do have to say that sci-fi movies have always been an inspiration for light fixtures and show designs. Like you’re having a ride in a UFO. For me, it creates the feeling of being on this adventurous journey, meeting other aliens and hearing sounds from distant galaxies while trying to navigate space and time.
DXD: What is Kraft und Licht looking forward to most for your upcoming Sunday at UltraMaroon?
KuL: We are really looking forward to feeling the dancefloor energy and seeing how the crowd reacts to sounds and settings. It's sort of a quest where we have to experience dancefloors all over the world to see, hear, and feel how they differ from each other.
Thank you Subduction and VentroMedial of Kraft und Licht. Keep up with them on Instagram and Soundcloud. Join us for the UM x KuL experience this Sunday, April 28, as they join resident Someone From Berlin with an opening set by Sainte Francis. Get your tickets here. Doors open at 5pm at Blue Midtown.
And make you plans now for the third annual UltraMaroon kickoff to Pride weekend in NYC at Musica on Thursday, June 25 with special guests, Bears in Space!
Xx,
DavidXDaisy