“Organic Grooves, NYC”: Dozens of locations, six years of experience, four musicians and three DJs make up one of NYC1s most enduring and unique underground experiences. From Brooklyn warehouses, to Queens lofts, from piers on the West Side to antique shops on the east, Organic Grooves has held underground events throughout the last six years that fuse the sounds of contemporary dance music and traditional world music in untraditional settings. The travelling event started in an apartment building basement on Manhattan1s Lower East Side, where four musicians came together, wanting to play music that didn1t exactly fit into the club scene, without any of the scene1s restrictions. The early events drew a like-minded crowd willing to experience a new take on dance music and clubbing. “If you wanted to come in, you weren1t picked, you weren1t chosen. It was open ears, open attitude,” says Erika Lively, Organic Grooves1 party organizer. Defining Organic Grooves is problematic. The best word is probably “collective.” The collective was originally made up of the core musicians, event organizers and faithful fans. As time passed, the number of musicians, the size of the crowds and locations and the means for expression all grew. Now, in addition to the musical group, there are numerous DJs and a variety of visual artists who participate in the events. “I think the reason that we1ve had such longevity is because Organic Grooves isn1t just a party, it1s a happening and an event. And, the people help to make the event happen, it1s not just us,” says Lively. Additionally, the ever-changing locations keep the party fresh and different. “Every time the party took on a new feeling whenever you walked into it. But it was still the same in regards to the content of the music and what we do.”The music stands at the center of every Organic Grooves event. It1s nearly impossible to guess what the night1s music will sound like, but one can be sure it will be eclectic and danceable. The current incarnation of the band has seven members playing turntables, trumpet, keyboard, melodica, kora and multitude of percussion instruments. Various types of world music, deep house and Afrobeat all meld together to create a distinctive sound. “Recently, the Afrobeat has become very popular. But this other style of music, which mixes in everything, whether it be hip-hop, electronic beats or horns from Yugoslavia has already been mixed into our stuff.” There is something magical about the energy of Organic Grooves1 music, which creates a unique mood at the parties, at which they are always the headliners. With the DJs usually placed near the back of the group, the focal point is always the drummers, who energetically lead the dancers. It is not just location and music that make the party; it is also the loyal fans who are willing to travel throughout the boroughs to catch the latest Organic soirée. “We know that we are going to provide a good base with the location, atmosphere and music,” says Lively, “but (our success) also has to do with the energy of the people who attend.” Like the music, the crowd is quite eclectic. Artists, club kids, hippies, music industry types and a large international contingent all come together to experience the Organic Grooves happening. The desire to keep such a well-rounded crowd is one of the things that have kept the party out of the clubs. “I don1t want to got to big, major clubs who are going to shut down what we are about, who restrict who can come through the door,” says Erika. However, underground locations are becoming quite difficult to come by in New York, due to the city1s clamp down on unlicensed venues as well as the big clubs. There is a constant search for new locations, though Erika concedes that they often haphazardly discover spaces: “That1s the whole Organic Grooves thing.” With such a “go with the flow” attitude, it appears that the event will never be predictable, which is what keeps it so fresh and organic. Nonetheless, the collective has big plans for the future. They started a Studio K7-distributed label, Codek Records, whose intent is to give the rest of the world exposure to their unique music. Organic Grooves has also started taking their happenings on the road, travelling throughout the States and abroad. However, Organic Grooves will continue to concentrate on their innovative New York productions. In addition to monthly events, they will start holding small-scale parties “where we don1t advertise, and you have to call our line to know what is going on,” says Erika. In a city where cynicism, greed, pretension and politics often dominate the dance music scene, Organic Grooves offers a refreshing alternative to the conventional event. This happening is about people coming together to dance, where the music is more important that the fashion. Despite their success, the music and parties refuse to be constricted by any of the rules that dictate clubland. Always evolving and changing, Organic Grooves judges it1s success not by how much money they make, but how many people they move. -Orion Ray-Jones / Mixer Magazine (August 2001)