This weekend is a great weekend for music in Houston. We had a chance to catch up with Sarah, one of the key players in DEFUNKT, to hear about her big event this weekend: Hyperbole.
The Department of Dance: Sarah, what got you in to throwing events?
Sarah Lachhman: I love putting together shows because it brings people together and connects them with new music. One of the most rewarding feelings in the world is seeing everyone enjoying themselves while listening to some great music in good company. It’s very hard work but absolutely rewarding. My family is very big on entertaining (it’s part of their Caribbean heritage) and I was an Event Hostess at the Student Activity Center when I was studying at UT in Austin. That definitely pushed me towards organizing events.
DoD: So DEFUNKT. What is it?
SL: DEFUNKT is a collective of experimental electronic musicians and visual artists. We are focused on music that showcases innovative sound design and encompasses unique techniques and approaches to composing and performing. For our monthly showcases, we are heavily centered on live performance so that the audience can see firsthand how the artist is creating their sounds, versus a DJ who is playing tracks back.
DoD: That’s an exciting experience, especially considering what Day for Night is bringing to Houston this weekend. Is this what inspired you to throw the event?
SL: When I found out that some of my biggest inspirations, Aphex Twin and Squarepusher, were performing in my hometown, I felt compelled to host an afterparty just to celebrate such a momentous occasion. I was in shock when they were announced. In the early days of DEFUNKT, I had joked about Aphex playing out here in Houston – it just didn’t seem possible. But it’s actually happening and that alone is means to celebrate. There are so many amazing musicians making the pilgrimage out here to see him perform and everyone wanted to play a show so I decided to put together Hyperbole in collaboration with Soundsystem Cultures.
DoD: What about the headliners made you choose them?
SL: We chose these headliners because of their amazing contributions to this sort of electronic music and because they rarely make appearances in Texas. As I said, we like to focus on sound design and techniques, live performances versus DJ performances and Richard Devine is definitely at the top of the list as far as that goes. Telefon Tel Aviv is another legendary IDM musician and he just re-released his first album ‘Fahrenheit Fair Enough’ so it was perfect timing. Qebrus is amazing sound designer and musician from France. I’ve never heard anything like his music. He’s gained a lot of attention recently from the electronic community and we absolutely wanted to have him perform here. Cygnus from Dallas recently toured with Autechre and I had the chance to see him in Austin on that tour. His set was incredible and we wanted to bring him on for some really amazing dancey electro tunes. Hitori Tori from Canada is considered one of the best breakcore performers of all time and was interested in performing as soon as we mentioned the event to him.
DoD: Who in particular are you most excited to see? Any up and comers?
SL: In addition to the artists above, I am very excited to see Surachai from Chicago. He makes his own reactive visuals and has a very stimulating live set. Rose Croix Badass jungle artist from Occult Research (Los Angeles), Five Step Path from Chicago, Shwex, Luuli, as well as our entire DEFUNKT crew – Trip the Light, Dylan Cameron, Trax Rebo – all from Austin. Daed (who’s also playing Sunday morning at Day For Night) PLXTX, Acid Jeep, and Slacktivist from our Houston DEFUNKT crew. Seriously amazing talent in everyone performing, but I’m especially looking forward to seeing them. They are all making huge waves.
DoD: What can we expect about the venue? Is it close to Day for Night?
SL: Vanguard Warehouse is about 15 minutes from the fest. It’s actually two adjacent warehouses combined into one mega warehouse. The Main stage (Inertia) takes up the entirety of one warehouse and the second one is split into two other stages, Photon and Aeon. Expect gritty, underground warehouse vibes with lots of light and visuals. Funktion One is providing sound for the stages so it will be pristine and easy on the ears.
DoD: What genres will we hear at the event?
SL: We have a little bit of everything ranging from techno, IDM, jungle, glitch, acid house, breakcore, electro, digital hardcore, ambient, downtempo, and braindance. Seriously something for everyone at the parties.
Thanks, Sarah, for givings us great insight to Soundsystem Cultures x DEFUNKT Present HYPERBOLE. It’s surely an event to be remembered, presenting music lovers of Houston, native and visiting alike, an innovative and exciting warehouse afterhours party unlike any other. For tickets and more information, visit http://defunkt.co.
Journalist/blogger since 2009 and music lover since 1980. Bex now travels the world and writes and takes photos of dance events, creates art in various media, sings quietly to her cat in the shower, and occasionally builds something that tends to involve a blowtorch. She can usually be seen hiding behind some sort of camera rig.
