The place is the digital clubbing going from right here?
Digital experiences exploded during the global pandemic. As physical events are reintroduced in many countries, we talk to the people behind the Club Qu virtual nightclub about how we get inspiration from gaming and why digital events aren't going away
After a long wait, the return of nightlife as we once knew it is finally in sight in the UK, joining countries like China and Australia where clubs have already reopened their doors. Although somewhat ironic, it is just as virtual events and platforms begin to iron out teething troubles and think more creatively about what they can and should be.
While at the beginning of the pandemic many brands and organizations did a “lift and shift” contract, Club Qu (formerly known as Club Quarantine), led by Ryan Miller, Claudio, is a platform that comes up with ambitious ideas early on the blocks came Banti and Carlo Luis Ruben Schenk. All three are embedded in the electronic music scene and have worked in the areas of artist and label management as well as event production.
As many countries closed for curfew last year, the trio sensed what this would mean for nightlife and the people who rely on it to discover music and make connections with other people. They banded together to get a virtual experience up and running as quickly as possible, and used their network of creatives and friends to find everyone from creative directors to designers to technologists.
The first event, which started almost exactly a year ago – a virtual 36-hour rave over a weekend – was shot within a few weeks. Since then, Club Qu has launched more online marathon parties in the spirit of all weekend organizers, hosted a deep space rave, and created a virtual environment exploring the expression of queer with real-life dancers using motion capture in digital beings are translated.
Above and above: The Club Qu event with the CTM Festival was initiated by Sam Aldridge from IOR50 Studio and presents a queer motion capture archive in the virtual club area