Back to Basics, Forward to Joy: Inside The Loft

The Loft x Edition Events house party t akes us back to basics with its stripped down approach to the “party” event, but in doing so, it creates a space that not only transcends what it means to play house music but also the idea of curating music and atmosphere.

It was a pretty windy evening when I arrived at the Old Biscuit Mill. I had never been there after hours; the space was empty, devoid of daily market attendees or the smell of freshly cooked bao buns in the air. What was in the air, though, was a deep, earthy thrum, a thrum I was all too familiar with from my Joburg club hopping days: the thrum of a bass amp beaming sample after sample of bolstered house tracks.

The roof, a reflective plane of silver roof sheeting, pot plants, and a collection of secondhand (or not) thrifted shirts and clothing memorabilia, hung from the DJ desk and bar. Edition Events (founded by Léa Debbah) had transformed the space into your best friend’s rooftop party, and everyone was invited.

House music has always been a genre that brings people together. From its deep roots in the culture of oppressed minorities to its use at giant club events, house music has always united people, regardless of space, time, or culture. The Loft event wanted nothing more than for us all to move as one, and move as one we did.

The curated list of artists included Joburg heavyweight Soulfreakah ; Cape Town sonic curators Fizz and Shai A; Danideevine , who emerged from a long hiatus from the scene; and the stylings of Loft regular Chef KD, along with cofounder Longwabo “Man of Lemon” Mgoduso, w ho closed out this immaculate list of sound painters.

The Loft’s main thematic throughline was a “less is more” approach; there was no barrier between the DJ and the crowd outside of the desk itself. There was a bar, a few tables, and a big space to move. While this might sound a bit lackluster, it all paid off a thousandfold. The space had constant motion, the dance floor always occupied by some of the most wholesome clubgoers I have experienced in a while. The sound beaming from the speakers left you with nowhere to hide; the music was always there, holding you like a good sunset.

There is something truly great about getting a beer, only to turn around and see a full crowd of people popping off to the break the DJ just dropped.

The Loft x Edition Events succeeded at every possible step with this event, from the visual execution to the audio resolution, pure, perfect curatorship.