UltraMaroon Pride 2024 – Bears in Space.
As UltraMaroon launches into summer programming, we begin with our third annual Pride event. This year, Someone From Berlin welcomes very special guests from the West Coast, Bears in Space. As a continuation of connecting queer space creators near and far, Bears in Space shares many similar values as UltraMaroon, served with their own particular panache. Composed of Chris Bowen and Victor Rodriguez, this duo has been keeping it queer, weird, and underground in California for more than fifteen years as well as making the festival rounds together at Love International, Somos, Desertopia, and Camp Caftan. If that wasn’t already enough, then this self-description absolutely seals the deal:
“Two old queens with an undying love for music traveling through the galaxy. Transmitting cosmic soundscapes and beats both new and old for all willing ears. Picture drinks with Statler and Waldorf at Judy Garland’s summer house on Venus.” - Bears in Space
To get us ready for this special Pride edition, DavidXDaisy speaks with the full lineup, including resident and curator, Someone From Berlin, Bears in Space, Elijah Curry, and Anthony Velez. Be sure to snag your tickets today to join us at Musica on Thursday, June 27!
DXD: Welcome to your summer programming SFB! What is the broad scope of what you have been planning for us?
SFB: Oh hi! We do three events over the summer: Pride in the city, followed by IndepenDANCE and Pines Party on Fire Island. It's a lot of lifting, particularly IndepenDANCE for which we construct and install a pool cover in one day, and then take it down the day after the party, but we love what we do. I'm particularly excited that we’ve been able to book and present an awesome range of queer and diverse selectors over our three summer events.
DXD: As we begin with UM’s third annual Pride event, please tell us more about our lineup for Musica this Thursday.
SFB: Last year was the first time we programmed our Pride event around connecting with producers who are creating queer spaces in other cities. Continuing with that framework, we’ve asked Bears in Space – and they are an *institution* in LA – to bring their energy into our space. For the opening sets we asked Elijah Curry and Anthony Velez to jump in after each delivered excellent warm-up sets during our regular season.
DXD: As we exit Pride weekend, the UM team joins forces with Free Radical Design Group to produce IndepenDANCE: Cher+Nobyl in the Pines the next Saturday. What in the world does this theme hold for guests?
SFB: If I told you I'd have to kill you! No really. Last year we really did something borderline with our Jennifer Coolidge party, and coming off that high we started asking the question: how the hell are we going to top that? Well, turns out we know a thing or two about topping! All I'll say is we’ll have more choreography, more performance, and more production – all while celebrating Our Diva Cher.
DXD: What is the BRC Municipal Pool, and what does that mean for summer fun activities?
SFB: You may have seen us reshare BRC Municipal Pool events on our instagram – I, along with some close friends and our production partners at Free Radical Design Group, have started a new Burning Man camp. We’re veteran burners, but creating our own thing that we are excited to fully realize. Building what we want to build is expensive, so our crew will be around Fire Island this summer hosting pop-up fundraisers and engaging in general ridiculousness as we prepare to head to Nevada. Keep an eye on our Instagram @brcmunicipalpool for announcements and come shimmy with us!
DXD: As you’ve closed out the fifth season of UltraMaroon and continued partnered events in the city, on Fire Island, and into Burning Man, what has been your biggest takeaway in creating queer spaces?
SFB: I find it really rewarding to give guests a high quality product, both in terms of sound and production, in a space where they can let loose and be themselves without pretense. I also find it important to give talented performers the opportunity to make a buck and feel valued for their talent. With all that said, I think the takeaway looking back at Season 5 specifically is that (a) it takes a while to build something organic without compromising, and (b) it takes a village. Thanks to all the crewmembers who made Season 5 possible – I couldn't have done this on my own.
DXD: How would you describe the Bears in Space sound?
BIS: I think it's mostly house and disco with a bit of camp. We lean toward a more uplifting sound and almost always play B2B. I think we do our best to stay true to the roots of disco that began in New York in the seventies in black, brown, and queer scenes.
DXD: How has the Bears in Space experience evolved since its inception in 2009?
BIS: It has definitely grown since that time period, but I don't think it's changed a great deal. We started the event as a response to LA Pride where we didn't really feel completely represented. We thought there may be others that felt the same way and started the party with that in mind. I think LA Pride has also changed a great deal since that time and I'm extremely proud of the direction they've gone in the past couple of years. I think they've really done an excellent job of listening to critics and responding in a positive manner.
DXD: Where do your respective tastes in music most align and what are the differences that elevate your work together?
BIS: We both began buying disco records in the early seventies so we are truly aligned there. Victor has a much greater knowledge of house music than I do – he continually inspires me to dig deeper. I tend to embrace my techno side a bit more when left to my own devices.
DXD: You also produce events, notably your infamous Akbar lot parties. What is your perspective on creating queer spaces in line with the Bears in Space mission?
BIS: I'm not sure we really even have a mission. We just want everyone to feel welcome and everyone to have a good time to be honest.
DXD: You’ve hosted a monthly radio show on DubLab since 2019. What do you love most about working on that show that you can’t sometimes do at a live event?
BIS: The radio show gives us much more latitude to go in a non-dancefloor direction, which can really be refreshing. There are so many great records that don't necessarily work on most dancefloors so we get to experiment a little more.
DXD: You also collaborate frequently with Horse Meat Disco. What is the secret sauce in your work that keeps bringing you all back together?
BIS: We've known all four of the boys for at least the past fifteen years and have such a close friendship – it's like playing with your family at this point. We're all around the same age and grew up on many of the same records, so it just works.
DXD: What are you looking forward to most about your upcoming Pride set at UltraMaroon?
BIS: We tend to find beauty and joy in music and I think it's our goal to try to connect with others through that medium. When that happens, it's pure magic. That's what keeps us going, so we're hoping to feel that connection with the dance floor.
Instagram | Soundcloud: Chris Bowen, Victor Rodriguez
DXD: You’ve now opened for legends Stacey “Hotwaxx” Hale and Al Esther during our fourth season as well as for Juliet Mendoza during IndepenDANCE FIP last year. What was your mindset going into such special nights sharing your work?
EC: My mindset shifts a little depending on who I’m setting the room for, but mostly I’m thinking about how I can break down any barriers for the next DJs. By the time I’m done, I want the floor to feel the love, feel the groove, and feel ready to go on whatever ride is up next – musical foreplay, I guess. I think it’s important to get the room excited, moving, and grooving; but leave space to go all night long.
DXD: How has UltraMaroon played into your nightlife experience?
EC: Allow yourself to escape into the dance floor and you never know what connections and relationships you’ll build. That’s a lesson I’ve learned from my first season with UltraMaroon, and I carry it with me throughout nightlife. UM is where I’ve met some of my best NY connections and people I explore nightlife with, and that’s only because when I entered the party, the space allowed me to be present and authentic.
DXD: As you prepare to open this Pride edition, how do you feel your sound has progressed from your start?
EC: I feel my sound has moved to a more confident, soulful pocket while exploring the power of letting the lyrics, bass, and syncopation speak for itself. I take a lot of inspiration from Rimarkable, Dee Diggs, Musclecars, and Tedd Patterson. What I learn from listening to them is to swing big with conviction and the room will follow. Send out the energy and music you would want to receive yourself. If I wouldn’t dance to it, I’m not playing it.
DXD: You’re going to be taking us to the rooftop at Musica! Is there anything you have in mind to set that mood?
EC: Rooftop sets always make me feel free and lifted, and that’s what I’m going for – starting the night off with some house classics, soulful grooves, and the spark to keep you going all night long. Pride is about celebrating being our full selves, and this set is about joy. We all need some more of that.
DXD: This will be your fourth time playing for UltraMaroon, and your second UM Pride. How do you feel your sound has changed since you began?
AV: First and foremost, I deeply appreciate continuously being asked to return and share my music with a party that has meant a great deal to me since I moved to New York City – thank you! My sound has been quite different each time I’ve played UltraMaroon and this Pride will be no exception. My UM debut was a mere two months after my first public gig, so it was sonically representative of a pretty underdeveloped library and a desire to simply showcase exciting songs that I liked. My most recent appearance was focused much more on demonstrating the proper way to warm-up a room, allowing dancers to ease into the experience comfortably with sounds that felt cozy and welcoming. Throughout my career, the emphasis of my music has always been on the melody (be it instrumental or vocal,) but the way that I lead with a soulful touch now is probably what is most different since I first started selecting. I like my audience to feel an aural hug before raising the temperature.
DXD: You’ve recently been sharing your sobriety journey along with your work. How do you feel friends and loved ones can show respect to others celebrating Pride sober in the nightlife scene?
AV: Thank you for asking this. As someone who once undoubtedly partook in the party substances I now practice sobriety from, I understand firsthand the ways they can heighten the experiences of music, dance, and community – I will always find beauty and value in that, regardless of my lifestyle choices now. With the knowledge that substance presence is inextricably linked to the spaces we congregate together the most at as Queer people, my sobriety has challenged me time and time again to dig deep and identify what my intentions are when I attend any party – the answer is always to experience the music, the dancing, and the opportunity to connect. I think the most respectful things an individual can do before entering these spaces is consider the various intentions of others, consider the intention of the party especially, and check in with themself to identify why they’re showing up and if it aligns with the experience the producers, hosts, DJs, and venue staff have worked hard to provide. We gather around music for a reason. Remember that we are each responsible for what and how much of what we consume, and how that can affect those around you who have shown up for the enjoyment of music and community. Make sure you never lose the ability to connect from a sound mental state. Set the music at the forefront of your experience; the rest falls into place.
DXD: That is a great note for all as Pride weekend begins! What are you looking forward to most about opening the room at Musica?
AV: I am of course excited to play at such a prestigious venue where those I look up to have played before. It’s a gorgeous, well-designed space with a stellar sound system – a DJ’s wet dream. Setting the stage for Bears in Space is a high honor as well, no doubt, and I’ve been inspired to set a sensually melodic vibe to kick-off Pride weekend, encouraging the audience to get in touch with why we recognize Pride every year – the relentless protest to be free, to celebrate, to express our Queer bodies, and the many iterations of that.
Thank you to our entire UltraMaroon Pride lineup! You can hear them all live as we kick-off Pride weekend in New York City at Musica on Thursday, June 27. Doors open at 8pm. Get your tickets here!
Xx,
DavidXDaisy